After Darcy by Joanna Nadin #Review
It is a truism, frequently invoked by the
members of the Meryton Women's Guild, that one is only ever as happy as
one's unhappiest child. So, with five daughters and four grandchildren,
it was a miracle Mrs Hester Bennet ever raised a smile. At best, she
was only ever tentatively pleased, and even then understood that her
contentment rested on the edge of a gaping precipice into which she
would inevitably tumble the second Kitty or Lydia (it was almost always
those two) messaged in the clutches of yet another existential crisis…
Lydia, home from Paris on New Year's Day in a welter of hangover and humiliation, finds herself swearing off drink, drugs and sex for the next 12 months. Through her unfamiliar sobriety, she'll see a landmark year for all the Bennet sisters, including a disruptive 40th birthday, an engagement and a funeral: and, maybe, coming to terms with the results of a run-of-the-mill run-in with a jackknifed lorry on a wet stretch of the M1…
A sharply funny and unexpectedly tender modern sequel to Pride & Prejudice, this is a story of sisterhood, survival, and second chances. For fans of Marian Keyes, Dolly Alderton, and anyone who's ever wondered what the Bennet sisters would be like in the age of therapy, WhatsApp, and wellness trends gone rogue.
My Thoughts
It took me a little time to settle in to the world of the Bennets but once I'd sorted them all out in my mind, the story flew by. With wit and humour, the Bennets appear before us, each with their own stories to tell. We are given a 21st century version of the family, with all the pressures of social media, drink, drugs, sex and money. Without giving anything away, the original story has moved on and there have been some traumatic events which have affected everyone. With echoes of Pride and Prejudice, themes and characters are woven together but what emerges loud and clear are the siblings' feelings for each other. As new characters are introduced, first impressions are once more shown to be misleading.
The book covers a whole year as you follow the sisters through some trials and tribulations. With love, loss and fresh starts, there are plenty of surprises and unexpected happenings. Mr and Mrs Bennet are as dysfunctional as ever but as in the original story, Colin appears as the most unintentionally entertaining. You also get to see the next generation who turn out to be as varied and sometimes outrageous as their aunts. Their doubts and worries are very 21st Century. One striking change is the level of independence which the modern characters have as opposed to their nineteenth century counterparts who rely on marriage to afford them status and security in the world.
In short: old ties and new beginnings
About the Archers
Joanna Nadin is a former broadcast journalist, political speechwriter and special adviser to the Prime Minister. Since leaving politics she has written numerous books for children and adults, including an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility for younger readers, the Carnegie Medal-nominated Joe All Alone, which is now a BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated BBC drama, and the Flying Fergus series with Sir Chris Hoy. Originally from Essex, she now lives in Bath, and is Associate Professor in Creative Writing at University of Bristol.
You can follow Joanna here: website | Threads, Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook
Thanks to Joanna Nadin, Bedford Square Publishers and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Check out the rest of the tour!
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