That he had wanted to impress on her the depth of his love for her, to ask her to believe that he still loved her, that he had dared even to suggest that his affections were deeper and stronger than Colonel Brandon’s could have been — in all these claims, Marianne wanted to believe him. Not because she had spent the intervening years longing for his return, for she had long accepted that he was gone out of her life forever, but because she still wanted to believe that he really had been the romantic young cavalier she had fallen in love with when she was seventeen. It had been the strongest, most passionate experience of her young life; nothing, certainly not her subsequent marriage, had surpassed the exquisite excitement of that first love, and Marianne wished to treasure it.
(from Expectations of Happiness, page 163 in the ARC; finished version may be different)
I haven’t read Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility since 1995, and though I hope to re-read it by the end of the year in honor of the 200th anniversary of its publication, it was a pleasure being reunited with the novel’s characters through “a companion volume” by Rebecca Ann Collins. When Expectations of Happiness opens, Elinor Dashwood and Edward Ferrars are happily married and living in the parson’s house at Delaford, while her younger sister, Marianne, is living with her husband, Colonel Brandon, in Delaford Manor. Their youngest sister, Margaret, is now 21, teaching at a ladies’ seminary in Oxfordshire, and living with her close friend, Claire Jones.
With Colonel Brandon away on business in Ireland, Marianne spends her days bored and moping, and Elinor worries that she is unhappy in her marriage. Marianne always was a romantic, and Elinor is concerned that the feelings she developed for Colonel Brandon after she was jilted by Mr. Willoughby may have worn off. Elinor is alarmed when she learns that the scoundrel Willoughby is living in a nearby county, and when Marianne is invited on a holiday with the Perceval family, Elinor fears Marianne’s and Willoughby’s paths will cross — and who knows what will happen, with Marianne feeling so low, having already forgiven him for the wrongs he committed, and still longing for a romantic hero?
Knowing how close Marianne is to their mother, Elinor hopes to convince Mrs. Dashwood that Marianne’s reputation and marriage may be in danger. But Mrs. Dashwood has, much to Elinor’s surprise, proven herself capable of managing a large estate and has taken up residence at Barton Park to help her cousin, Sir John Middleton — who had been kind enough to provide a home for her and her daughters after Mr. Dashwood’s death — recover from the sudden death of his wife, Lady Middleton. Mrs. Dashwood is so preoccupied with her new role that she pushes Elinor’s concerns aside, and Elinor — who feels she cannot even confide in Edward — feels an obligation to protect Marianne but doesn’t know how.
At the same time that she continues the stories of Elinor and Marianne, who were the focus of Austen’s novel, Collins also creates a story for Margaret — a young women without a fortune but much intelligence who enjoys history and travel and hopes to become a writer. Having been so focused on her studies, Margaret hasn’t had time for love, but a trip to the south of France with Claire leads her to Daniel Brooke, an Oxford historian, who proves to be her intellectual equal, but nothing is easy when it comes to matters of the heart.
Expectations of Happiness breathes new life into Austen’s beloved characters, and while Edward and Colonel Brandon sit on the sidelines, the Dashwood sisters, as expected, do just fine in the spotlight. Collins stays true to Austen’s characters, with Elinor once again embodying all that is sensible, Marianne getting caught up in her emotions and romantic ideals, and all the secondary characters playing their same roles. Additionally, she transforms Margaret into one of the strong heroines Austen fans have long appreciated, and she even creates a host of interesting and original characters, with a list at the end of the book so readers can distinguish between Austen’s characters and those introduced by Collins. Moreover, fans of Collins’ Pemberley Chronicles Series will be happy to see Mr. Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, and her husband make an appearance.
I enjoyed Sense and Sensibility, but it has never been my favorite Austen novel. Until reading Expectations of Happiness, I never really thought about all the possibilities for variations of the novel, but Collins certainly helped me to see the characters’ potential. Her writing has an Austen feel to it, which enabled me to lose myself in the story, and what I enjoyed the most was watching Marianne’s character evolve. Of the three Dashwood sisters, I think Marianne had the most to learn about life and love. Having been so madly in love with Willoughby, it’s doubtful that Colonel Brandon’s affection changed everything for her overnight. I’d always been skeptical of their happily ever after, since she was so young and on the rebound, and I think Collins does a good job portraying Marianne’s confusion when she comes face-to-face with Willoughby after nearly seven years. Knowing Marianne, it was easy to see how she could forget everything she knew about him and get lost in the moment and the what-ifs.
Expectations of Happiness is a commendable sequel to Sense and Sensibility, one that I think Austen herself would have enjoyed. I definitely recommend it for fans of Austen variations, especially those who think Pride and Prejudice shouldn’t get all the attention.
Disclosure: I received Expectations of Happiness from Sourcebooks for review.
© 2011 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
It sounds like this is very well done. I haven’t read any Austen or Austen re-telling in years.
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This was my first-ever variation based on Sense and Sensibility, and now I hope to find more.
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One of these days I’m going to read an Austen variation that I enjoy. Sounds like this might just be a good one to make that happen.
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I hope you give it a try!
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Since I have never read anything like this (S%S that is) it would be so fun
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It was a lot of fun seeing what happened to characters that I haven’t connected with in years!
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What an awesome review! After I saw this book in your mailbox post a while ago I asked for a copy and they gladly sent me one. I am anxious to get to this one next week.
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I’ll keep an eye out for your review. Can’t wait to see what you think!
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As you know S&S is not my favorite either, but sounds like this would be a good follow up.
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It was! I know how much you dislike Marianne, but I think you’d enjoy her story here.
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I have yet to read S&S. This does sound like a nice variation. I do need to read the original.
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Yes, you must read the original first, in my opinion. It’s been awhile since I read it, and at least I remember the basics; I wish I’d had a chance to re-read it before reading this one, though.
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Rebecca Ann Collins new book is one I think I definitely have to read. For whatever reason, Sense and sensibility is one of Austen’s books that I loved although I know it’s not a favorite of most Austen fans. I really enjoyed the relationship between Elinor and Marianne, their innocencr and desire to fall in love, how cute they were when the men they liked came around and how strong they were in dealing with their life circumstances, not bemoaning what happened to them for long.
Collins’ book sounds like a terrific off-shoot of Sense and Sensibility. I don’t advocate for cheating in marriage but I am thrilled that Marianne may see Willoughby again. I was ticked off at him and upset when things didn’t work out between them. Colonel Brandon is a very nice man and I don’t wish him any pain or sadness but I believe Marianne and Willoughby belong together….I’m excited to see how I feel after reading Expectations of Happiness!
I’m also thrilled that Collins doesn’t leave Margaret out of the mix but gives her a stroyline. She was adorable in Sense and Sensibility and is not the perfect age to marry.
I’m glad you enjoyed this book, Anna! You’re review is terrific and I’m looking forward to Collins’ book/ It’s getting a spot at the top of my TBR!
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I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! S&S might not be my favorite Austen novel, but I did enjoy it. Although Edward and Colonel Brandon aren’t as exciting as Mr. Darcy and Captain Wentworth, I do love the Dashwood sisters; I think all of us can relate to them a little bit.
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and it looks like a John Singer Sargent painting on the cover! one of my favorite painters.
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I had no idea! I was curious about the painting, but the ARC doesn’t mention the artist.
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Really?! Hmmm, I know not the best way to verify a painting but I suggest you google JSS and see if you like his stuff. He was a famous portrait artist to the wealthy when they all had gobs of money to do such. (or do they always have gobs of money to do such- oops, politic rant – another time, another place…) Sargent did BEAUTIFUL work.
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I have seen some of JSS’s work, and I agree that it’s beautiful. I’m just not good at identifying artwork on my own…well, aside from Monet. 😉
Btw…I did find this painting when I googled him, so you certainly have a great eye!
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I loved the movie Sense and Sensibility and this plot is by far one of the best I’ve heard so far as a spin-off from the original. I would definitely reads this one. Thanks for highlighting it.
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It really was a perfect sequel, in my opinion. It was a nearly seamless transition from Austen. When I finish re-reading S&S, I must watch the movie. I don’t remember ever having seen it, amazingly.
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Thank you very much Anna, for hosting this discussion on your blog- It has been really terrific for me to see your readers’ comments and I do hope that some of them will send me their “revews’ of “Expectations of Happiness” direct to my website at http://www.rebeccaanncollins.com
I should love to hear if their ‘expectations” have been realised.
I have been so pleased to see how many of your readers agree with me about the need for sequel writers to maintain the continuity of character and themes with the original author’s basic concept.
In an era when so many “sequels” seem to take off into weird worlds of vampires and werewolves- far removed from that of Jane Austen’s down to earth 19th century English countryside- I am truly gratified to find so many readers enjoy the real thing. Thank you again Anna,
Best regards,
Rebecca Ann Collins.
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You’re very welcome! I’ve read so many different kinds of Austen sequels, and while I don’t mind deviations that are unique and fun, I really appreciate those that try to pick up where Austen left off as if she was continuing the story herself.
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[…] Finlay has won a copy of Expectations of Happiness by Rebecca Ann […]
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