Mr. Darcy has taken it into his head that his wife’s portrait must hang next to his in the gallery at Pemberley and wishes to visit the Summer Exhibition at the Academy with a view to selecting a painter. For my part, I told him, there are already more than enough Darcys hanging in the gallery, and in any case, why go to the trouble of taking a likeness of merely tolerable beauty? A face once taken was taken for generations, I pointed out. Mr. Darcy, who slowly becomes used to my teasing, replied that it is intolerable that my memory so perfectly recalls events it should have forgotten long ago.
(from Letters From Pemberley, page 34)
Letters From Pemberley is an epistolary continuation of Pride and Prejudice that is a pure comfort read. It contains the letters written by Elizabeth Darcy to her sister Jane Bingley during her first year as Mistress of Pemberley, from February to December 1813. I read the book in just a couple of hours, and it was a pleasant way to spend an evening.
The novel basically is a one-sided conversation, as only Elizabeth’s letters are featured, but Dawkins does a good job showing how Mr. Darcy has changed since their marriage and the stresses Jane must endure in living so close to their mother. Elizabeth’s fears about entering society as Darcy’s wife are detailed in the letters, and of course, readers see her become more and more comfortable in her role.
The best part about this little book is how Dawkins plays homage to Austen characters in other novels, as Darcy’s neighbors at Pemberley closely resemble such characters as Sir Walter Elliot, Anne Elliot, and Lady Russell from Persuasion, Emma and Mr. Knightley from Emma, and the Dashwood sisters from Sense and Sensibility. Readers come to know these characters as Elizabeth describes dinner parties for her sister in great detail, and I thought it was fun to pick out the references to Austen’s other novels and even her own life.
There’s not much else to say about Letters From Pemberley as there isn’t too much that happens plotwise. It’s just a fun Pride and Prejudice sequel that provides a couple of hours of light reading spent with some beloved characters. I enjoyed it so much that I was excited to see that Dawkins wrote a sequel, More Letters From Pemberley, and I quickly gobbled that one up, too. Stay tuned for that review!
Disclosure: I borrowed Letters From Pemberley from the public library.
© 2012 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
Fun is also nice!
LikeLike
For sure!
LikeLike
Sounds like a nice inside look into Lizzy’s experiences and fears as the new mistress of Pemberley…I’d be interested in this one.
LikeLike
I think you’d like it.
LikeLike
I do love a good epistolary novel!
LikeLike
Me, too!
LikeLike
Sounds like a delightful comfort read!
LikeLike
Totally!
LikeLike
Looks like you’re having fun with these Austen-inspired books!
LikeLike
I sure am! Have a couple more in the review queue. 😉
LikeLike
I’d love to read this one 😀
LikeLike
Oh, you should! I think you’d enjoy it.
LikeLike
Sounds like it is for die-hard Austen or P&P fans. (which would not be me! )
LikeLike
LOL, you’re probably right about the target audience! 😉
LikeLike
As a reader who enjoys books in epistolary form, Letters from Pemberley sounds like an enchanting book to spend an evening with. I look forward to you review of More Letters.
LikeLike
I think you should definitely give them a try if you love epistolary books!
LikeLike
Lovely review.
LikeLike
Thanks, Ella!
LikeLike
[…] Comments « Review: Letters From Pemberley by Jane Dawkins […]
LikeLike
Sounds like a good book to curl up with. Thanks Anna 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, especially with the chilly fall air moving in…
LikeLike
This is a series that I must add to my list!!
LikeLike
I think you’d enjoy it when you’re in the mood for some light reading and Darcy. 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds like a fun and quick read, Anna! I, too, love picking out references to Austen’s other works or her life in novels! Sounds great! 🙂
LikeLike
That was the best part about this book for me.
LikeLike