Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Is there anyone out there who does not know this story? A classic romance, full of wit, social satire, as well as memorable characters and dialogue, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen remains one of the most beloved novels of all time. The timelessness of this work is evident not only in the number of movies it has inspired (I'll take the Colin Firth Mr. Darcy any day,) but also additional novels involving many of the characters from the original story.

For those of you who love the story, here are some of the additional novels that might be of interest to you:

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough. Did you ever wonder what ever happened to Mary, the most serious of the Bennet sisters? Here is the rest of her story, beginning twenty years after the close of Pride and Prejudice. Colleen McCullough, author of The Thorn Birds, imagines a very different life for Mary than what many of us would expect.

Pemberley by the Sea by Abigail Reynolds. A modern-day Pride and Prejudice, which also happens to be marine biologist Cassie's favorite book; however, when a real-life Mr. Darcy walks into her life, she's not buying it. Can Calder convince her of his genuine feelings for her?

Lydia Bennet's Story by Jane Odiwe. Lydia's story picks up with her heading to Brighton with the Forsters prior to running off with George Wickham. Do she and Wickham live happily ever after, or does Lydia face the consequences of her impetuous and selfish actions? Will Lydia ever grow up?

Letters from Pemberley: The First Year by Jane Dawkins. Elizabeth is married and settled into her new home at Pemberley estate. Can she adjust to being the grande dame of her husband's familial home while maintaining her sense of self? Her letters to her sister Jane will tell the tale.

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and Darcy and Elizabeth by Linda Berdoll. What does life have in store for the Darcy's following their marriage? This is author Berdoll's take on Elizabeth and Darcy's marital bliss. These should be read in order, starting with Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife.

Pride and Prescience, or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged by Carrie Bebris. This mystery samples sorcery, murder and general mayhem as Elizabeth and Darcy turn super sleuths to solve a mystery at Netherfield. This is the first in a series of Austen-related mysteries, all by the same author.

Jane Austen in Boca by Paula Marantz Cohen. Pride and Prejudice repackaged. Rather than being set in a rural English village, the story takes place in Boca Raton, Florida. Instead of young marriageable sisters, the characters are elderly Jewish widows. Find out what other P&P similarities abound in this fun-loving book.

Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field by Melissa Nathan. When Jasmin, a well-known columnist for a women's magazine, is cast as Elizabeth Bennet in a charity event's staging of Pride and Prejudice, she has no idea that it will trigger an general implosion of her life. Lucky for her, hunky Hollywood hotshot, Harry Noble is playing Darcy. Romantic and funny.

Pemberley, or, Pride and Prejudice Continued and An Unequal Marriage, or, Pride and Prejudice Twenty Years Later by Emma Tennant. The first book, Pemberley, is set one year into the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy. The follow-up, twenty years later, follows the trials and tribulations of the Darcy's and their children.

Presumption by Julia Barrett. This tale follows Fiztwilliam Darcy's younger sister Georgianna, as she must choose between two men - one in the military, the other an architect.

All of these books can be found at the New Lenox Library, and are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Austen-related materials. If you are interested in reading further, please stop by the Reference Desk and let us know how we can help.