Review: Darcy and Anne by Judith Brocklehurst

Perfect for : Personal reading, book club read

In a nutshell: Pride and Prejudice was always a favorite of mine, and I always wondered what would happen to Anne, the daughter of Lady Catherine De Bourgh. In Darcy and Anne, Judith Brocklehurst did a wonderful job of revisiting Anne and Catherine to give readers a story for Anne. Lady Catherine de Bourgh always seemed to be bossy and in-charge. While traveling to Pemberly, she suffers an accident and breaks her arm. While she is recovering, Anne is befriended by the Caldwells as she steps out on her own to take care of things, thus spreading her wings for the first time in her life. This really had me grinning. Anne was finally able to do things she wanted, and got to make decisions without having to simply follow her Mother's wishes and demands. What transpires is a delightful story that allows Anne to discover who she is and what she wants from life. The story also continues the story of Darcy and Elizabeth (now married), and Darcy's sister Georgianna, among others. I love the gift that Judith Brocklehurst has given to Anne in writing this story!

Extended Review:
Characters: Return to Austen favorites like Darcy, Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Anne. . . and meet new favorites such as Mrs. Endicot, Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell and their son Edmund Caldwell. Additionally, Ms. Brocklehurst was able to capture the pride and authority of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and to use that as a strength in this story.

Story-Line: The story flows nicely and really brings some new and delightful changes for Anne as she gets out from under her Mother.

Readability: A very nice and enjoyable book to read.

Overall: Another great continuation to the original Pride and Prejudice story by Jane Austen. This one still contains some favorite characters, but focuses more on Anne and developing her character.

Book Description From Sourcebooks:
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Lady Catherine will never find a husband or Anne…

When a fortuitous accident draws Anne away from Rosings and her overbearing mother’s direct influence, she is able to think and act for herself for the first time ever. In the society of her cousins Darcy and Georgiana, and, of course, the lively Mrs. Darcy, Anne reveals a talent for writing and a zest for life.

Meanwhile, Lady Catherine is determined to choose a husband for Anne. But now that Anne has found her courage, she may not be so easy to rule.

Anne de Bourgh is a sympathetic character whose obedience and meekness were expected of women in her day. As she frees herself from these expectations, Anne discovers strength, independence, and even true love in a wonderfully satisfying coming-of-age story.

About the Author: (from The Bracebridge Examiner and Gravenhurst Banner, article, October 15, 2008, edited to shorten)

Judith Brocklehurst, writer, teacher, lay minister, died on October 4, 2008, aged 72. Judith came to Canada in 1966 with her husband Brian and two daughters, Clarissa and Maria. They intended to stay for two years, but Judith and Brian grew to love Canada and life in Bracebridge.

. . . Her own love of books led her to the study of Jane Austen and she became an insightful expert on Austen’s writings, so much so that she was able to write unerringly in the same style. She wrote two books, a sequel to Pride and Prejudice titled A Letter from Lady Catherine, and a sequel to Mansfield Park titled Maria of Birkthwaite. The first of these will be published by Sourcebooks in 2009, which made Judith very proud and happy. She was working on a sequel to Emma when she died.

Darcy and Anne
by Judith Brocklehurst
Sourcebooks Landmark (September 1, 2009)
Fiction / Austen/Historical Romance ~ 208 Pages

Edition Reviewed: Uncorrected Advance Copy - Many thanks to Sourcebooks for sending me a review copy!

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