November 27th, 2009 — Guest Blogger, Jane Austen, M-O, Regency
by Kathryn Nelson, guest blogger and author of Pemberley Manor
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Of all of the dozens of sequels to and adaptations of Jane Austen's work, none, including mine, claim to approach her extraordinary style and ability to delight and endure, but I see my book as an entertaining adjunct to her work. The reader is quickly drawn into a maze of confusions and missteps which leads them, Jane Austen style, to a happy ending - or does it?
From a review by Laura Boyle in the Jane Austen Regency World Online Magazine:
Scenes of marital felicity between Darcy and Elizabeth abound and are explored in a delicate and tasteful way. Sometimes heartbreaking and often humorous, the story will keep readers intrigued to the last... "
I recently heard a writer interviewed who said he doesn't like to read, and doesn't have time for it anyway. I can't wrap my mind around either of those thoughts, and when the two are put together, I'm lost. If I didn't read, I don't think I would write. My writing is the product of being poked and prodded by things I've read or heard into a new direction of thought. Every answer creates a question for me.
I have to admit that writing a sequel to someone else's story is taking that concept a bit further than I ever imagined. The writing of Pemberley Manor was an obsession that took hold of me after watching the BBC/A&E production of Pride and Prejudice in 1995. Jane Austen's works seem to call out for sequels unlike any other author I know. The works of other great authors often call for adaptations, interpretations, modernizations. Austen has garnered more than her share of those too, but no other author living or dead has, to my knowledge, inspired as many direct sequels - continuations of the lives of her characters - as she has.
I have at times wondered if Jane herself is channeling, stirring the pot to see what people make of her couples. Surely she knew that their lives after marriage would be a different story, and if it wasn't her story to tell, it doesn't necessarily follow that she wouldn't have found it interesting to contemplate.
For me, the struggles and disastrous misunderstandings, the unfolding of a deeper understanding between two people, can't really happen until the happily ever after is well on its way. And Jane Austen gives us scant help in judging how this marriage will work. One day, well into the ramble that eventually became Pemberley Manor I actually spent a day copying out the words of Fitzwilliam Darcy to try to make out his character, following Elizabeth 's example when she danced with him at the Netherfield Ball. Taken altogether, Darcy's words in Pride and Prejudice amount to a very few pages, including one disastrous monologue meant to serve as a marriage proposal and one terribly long letter, only marginally better.
In both cases, Darcy admits unapologetically that he persuaded his friend Bingley to stop romancing Elizabeth 's beloved sister Jane. Did he think that would endear him to her? Did she forget that small detail when she visited his estate in Derbyshire and blushed at the thought of being Mistress of Pemberley?
I find Darcy impenetrable, just as Elizabeth did initially. She, in the meantime, uses her arsenal of alternately witty and angry retorts to hide her own feelings, which she surely must have noticed some time before she saw the extent of his property. Right up until the wedding brings everything around right, Jane takes her characters only a small step toward mutual understanding, from shredding one another to a gentle teasing. Their only serious conversation happens during his second proposal, and once Darcy has laid his soul bare, Elizabeth jumps into the breach and begins to joke again.
I'm banking on a difficult marriage here. Nick and Nora Charles meet Catherine and Heathcliff. Take the wedding night, for instance. Darcy behaves in a most ungentleman-like manner, not for the first time, and Elizabeth throws in the towel, leaping to a conclusion in her usual style:
"Mr Darcy, pray allow me to suggest a remedy for your most evident distress. Since our marriage has not yet been consummated, I believe you would find little difficulty in securing the offices of a good clergyman in the neighbourhood to perform an annulment immediately. It can serve neither of us to continue as man and wife when there are so little grounds to suppose we could offer one another any reasonable hope of future happiness. Indeed, it seems certain that our expectations of one another are wholly irreconcilable."
She was not prepared for the anguish that met her eyes when he raised his head.
"Is that your wish, madam?" he asked hoarsely.
Well, of course that's not her wish, or Pemberley Manor would have been a very short novel. I hope I'll be forgiven for treading on sacred ground. The truth is, I just couldn't stop myself. Thanks for allowing me on board. I'd welcome feedback from your readers on the subject of sequels: are they flattering or flagrant abuse of an author's property?
As a special treat Kathryn Nelson is giving away one copy of Pemberley Manor to one lucky person. Enter by answering her question above or asking her one of your own. This giveaway is open to US and Canada readers only. Winner will be announced April 2, 2009.
Originally posted 2009-04-01 05:54:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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October 16th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Movie Reviews, Regency
The Masterpiece Theater version of Mansfield Park is my first foray at watching this particular novel come to life. True Austen purists will find the film a disappointment. Too many characters are left out and several are given so little back story that newbies to Mansfield Park will be a bit confused at the beginning. But I honestly enjoyed it despite its flaws.
Quick Story Overview:
Fanny at the tender age of ten was sent to live with her aunt and uncle, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram. She soon ran across four cousins, two male and two female. Life eight years down the road depict them to be thus: Tom is the eldest son, but he parties and gets drunk in excess; Edmund is the second son who is destined for life as a clergyman; Maria is engaged to be married to Rushworth; and Julia is the youngest daughter. The story starts when Sir Thomas leaves freeing the occupants of Mansfield Park from his tyranny.
The actors and actresses were engaging and you even like the slimy characters. There is no trouble at all in locating the Mr. Wickham in this novel/movie. It’s plain as the nose on your face. Henry Crawford and his sister Mary are both trouble at a glance. Henry is told to focus on Julia, but his attentions turn inevitably to the more beautiful Maria. Can we say scandal in the making? Why yes, we surely can. Mary is disappointed to learn that Tom is not at home and has in fact run off to London, where she can’t follow because her father has installed his Mistress into their home. Instead she focuses on Edmund, much to Fanny’s displeasure.
I found Edmund, the hero, to be wonderfully cast with Blake Ritson. Very Byronic hero. He was handsome, of good character, a little blind to what was going on around him perhaps but eager to throw off his unfortunate decision to love Mary Crawford and start anew with what was right under his nose the whole time. His epiphany scene is really quite phenomenal and will surely make your heart leap out of your chest. For no other reason, you should rent the movie to see that scene.
Fanny, played by Billie Piper, is the heroine and she is lively with a wonderful smile. At some points you think she’s holding an orange peel over her teeth when her mouth is closed. Is this something that the British do? I noticed this in BBC’s Persuasion
that characters held their mouths funny. Her dark eyebrows and blond hair is a bit of a distraction too. She wears her hair down for the movie so if this Regency inaccuracy is going to bug you, you are now forewarned. Over all I found that Billie played her part quite well.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
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Originally posted 2008-10-11 09:38:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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April 16th, 2009 — 1 Star, 4 Stars, Book Review, Estranged, Farming, G-I, Gentry, Great Britain, Historical Romance, Mistress or Courtesan, Movie Reviews, Pregnant, Rape/Abuse, Rogues and Rakehells, Runaway, Secret Baby, Survival, Virgin Heroine
The movie: BBC 2008 v. staring Gemma Arterton, Eddie Redmayne, and Hans Matheson
I read this book in eighth grade at the urging of my English teacher who thought I would enjoy this book above all others he had offered up for students to read and on which to do a report. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Tess of D’Ubervilles was my first DNF (did not finish) ever. I learned how to speed read with this book. I learned out to read the bare minimum and still understand what was going on in the book.
I suppose it is meant to be one of the greatest love stories ever written but even watching the movie, a much condensed version, acted wonderfully makes me want to find the eight hundred plus page book and hurl it at a wall.
There is so much sadness in this story. Lots of spoilers; in fact I tell the whole story below:
Mr. D’Uberfield finds out he and his family are of noble blood and when things go badly on the farm sends Tess to speak with their rich relatives. Alec D’Ubervilles immediately lusts after her and offers her a position in his family’s home. At first opportunity he rapes her. Tess runs back home, pregnant from the event. The baby dies.
Tess goes off again to work as a dairy maid. There she meets Angel Clare and falls in love. He does too. They marry. He finds out about Alec and the baby and leaves her. For a year perhaps two I’m not quite sure but he stays away in South America.
Meanwhile Alec finds Tess again and pursues her like a dog after a bone. Tess writes to Angel begging his forgiveness and his help. Angel never got the letters but after surviving yellow fever goes back to England determined to find Tess. He searches and searches and follows Tess’ trail until finally he finds her as mistress/wife to the object of her downfall.
Tess tells Angel to go away and never return because she’s already dead. Brokenhearted all over again Tess turns and goes upstairs where after a confrontation with Alec she kills him with a bread knife. From there she runs to Angel’s side and tells him she’s murdered the man that has ruined her/them and now that she has can he forgive her and take her back. They run off together, find an empty home and for the first time he makes love to Tess.
When they are found by a servant they run off again. They stop at Stone Henge. Tess talks about dying. Tess begs him to take care of her family and marry her younger sister. He begs her not to ask this of him. They fall asleep.
Upon waking they are surrounded by law enforcement agents. There is no escape. The story ends Angel and her younger sister wait outside the city where the bell tolls Tess’ execution.
Book: 1 Stars because the story is completely terrible and angst driven. There’s no happiness to be found not even in Tess and Angel’s stolen moments.
Buy Book: Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Buy Audio Version: Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Mini-Series: 4 Stars… the acting, scenery, and script are all perfectly executed. Gemma makes a lovely Tess, you really feel for her. Eddie is perfect as Angel, beautiful, sweet, kind, loving. Alec could not have been betters played by anyone. Hans does a phenomenal job. He’s easy to despise; playing the entitled gentleman who thinks little beyond his own pleasures so adeptly.
Buy Mini-Series: Tess of the d'Urbervilles
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April 3rd, 2009 — Author Interviews, Jane Austen, M-O
Today I have the pleasure of introducing to readers Kathryn Nelson, the author of Pemberley Manor, by interviewing her (asking nosy questions.) Grin. Please join me in welcoming her warmly and enthusiastically to Love Romance Passion.
Keira: Why were you drawn to write in Austen's world?
Kathy: It was a case of being possessed. I really had no lifelong romance with Austen. The 1995 BBC/A&E miniseries of Pride and Prejudice captivated me and led me down the road of reading and watching everything Austen I could get my hands on. Out of the reading came a craving to try her style and delve deeper into the unexplained reaches of her characters.
Keira: Who are your favorite authors besides Jane Austen?
Kathy: John Gardner (not the detective novelist) is hands down my favorite wordsmith next to Jane Austen, but I read everyone. At this moment I'm loving Anne Fadiman, and I've spent a lot of time with V.S. Naipaul, John Irving, Lorna Landvik and Toni Morrison. It's hard to stop...
Keira: What was the hardest part of writing your book, Pemberley Manor?
Kathy: The writing was purely joyful, although I think I strained relationships with family and friends for a couple of years as I was always in a hurry to get back to my story. My business partner (my brother) was especially patient on those days when I just had to pick it up in the middle of the day.
Keira: I noticed the themes of pride and prejudice continued in your novel. Could you expand for readers a little on how you used them to influence Darcy's and Elizabeth's actions?
Kathy: I see Darcy and Elizabeth both as fully formed, flawed humans, and I start from the assumption that getting over the hurdle of the wedding is not going to significantly change their basic characters. Both were guilty of rapid and inaccurate judgments and they were equally stubborn about giving up a hastily-formed opinion. I'm a bit like that myself, so it was easy to envision how that might get in the way of marital bliss.
Keira: Do you consider yourself to be a plotter (knows every detail before writing) or pantser (make it up almost completely as you go along)?
Kathy: Oh, pantser all the way. I had no idea where I was heading with this story when I started.
Keira: Oh goody there's another one! I'm a panster myself. If you could be one of your characters - who would you be?
Kathy: That's a great question. As I scan through the list, I realize that I'm really all of them in one way or another. Maybe that's why I was so drawn to Austen's characters in the first place - they have such recognizable human traits. I'd love to be as optimistic as Elizabeth, and sometimes I am, but I can find a little snarky Caroline Bingley in my tone of voice at times.
Keira: What do you think is the greatest creative risk you've taken?
Kathy: Admitting that I'd actually written a sequel to Pride and Prejudice would top the list. It has literally taken me years to come out of that closet, especially at a Jane Austen Society meeting. If it weren't for the company and encouragement of delightful authors like Jane Odiwe and Diana Birchall, I would still have the manuscript hidden under my bed.
Keira: How do you define love?
Kathy: I've been married for thirty-three years, so my perspective is all about the long haul. It was so easy to be passionately attracted, and so difficult to sustain that through the inevitable rollercoaster ride. The kind of feeling of wholeness, one-ness with another person, an ability to share even the most horrible flaws of our character - that is, to me, the fullness of love.
Keira: What are some challenges in writing Austen based romance?
Kathy: Oh, the delicious difficulty of learning a new (old) language, trying to get it just right. Then the awful responsibility to not mess up her characters. I was terrified of hearing that Austen fans would find me lacking or disrespectful in either sense.
Keira: Got any pet peeves when it comes to reading or writing romance?
Kathy: For those who've read Pemberley Manor you might guess that explicit sex scenes are not my thing. I am much more stimulated by the suggestion of great sex than I am by a blow-by-blow that leaves me with nothing to imagine.
Keira: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
Kathy: I want to thank you for inviting me to your site. Until recently, the world of blogs was a complete mystery to me, and I'm having a wonderful time romping around these days. I can't tell you how many times I've repeated the phrase "Who knew?" in the last few years. It started with the revelation, after I'd finished my book, that there were not only other sequel writers, there were dozens of them! Now it applies to the amazing network of readers and writers that gather day after day to share stories and opinions. What a hoot!
Thanks, Kathy
Keira: Thank you Kathy for joining me and talking shop! I am wishing many happy sales coming your way. You can learn more about Pemberley Manor at Kathy's website or by checking out LRP's review.
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