Here is the next list of modern-day writers who, in their own way, have paid homage to Jane Austen’s legendary stories. The entire list below is actually by one author – Rebecca Ann Collins – who wrote books inspired by Austen’s characters.
The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins
“The Pemberley Chronicles: A Companion Volume to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: Book 1”
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
The weddings are over. The guests wish the two happy couples health and happiness. As the music swells and the credits roll, two things are certain: Jane and Bingley will want for nothing, while Elizabeth and Darcy are to be the happiest couple in the world! The couples’ personal stories of love, marriage, money, and children are woven together with the threads of social and political history of nineteenth century England. As changes in industry and agriculture affect the people of Pemberley and the neighboring countryside, the Darcy’s strive to be progressive and forward-looking while upholding beloved traditions.
The Women of Pemberley by Rebecca Ann Collins
“The Women of Pemberley: A Companion Volume to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (The Pemberley Chronicles)”
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
This book follows the lives of five women, some from the beloved works of Jane Austen, some new from the author’s imagination, into a new era of post industrial revolution England, at the start of the Victorian Age. Vast changes are in motion, as they were throughout this dynamic century. The women, like many of Jane Austen’s heroines, are strong, intelligent individuals, and the depth and variety of the original characters develop into a series of episodes linked together by their relationship to each other and to Pemberley, which is the heart of their community. The central themes of love, friendship, marriage, and a sense of social obligation remain as do the great political and social issues of the age.
Netherfield Park Revisited by Rebecca Ann Collins
“Netherfield Park Revisited (The Pemberley Chronicles, Book 3)”
Publication Date: September 1, 2008
Three generations of the Darcy and the Bingley families evolve against a backdrop of the political ideals and social reforms of the mid-Victorian era. Jonathan Bingley, the handsome, distinguished son of Charles and Jane Bingley, takes center stage, returning to Hertfordshire as master of Netherfield Park. A deeply passionate and committed man, Jonathan is immersed in the joys and heartbreaks of his friends and family and his own challenging marriage. At the same time, he is swept up in the changes of the world around him.
The Ladies of Longbourn by Rebecca Ann Collins
“The Ladies of Longbourn (The Pemberley Chronicles)”
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Anne-Marie Bradshaw is the granddaughter of Charles and Jane Bingley. Her father now owns Longbourn, the Bennet’s estate in Hertfordshire. A young widow after a loveless marriage, Anne-Marie and her stepmother Anna, together with Charlotte Collins, widow of the unctuous Mr. Collins, are the Ladies of Longbourn. These smart, independent women challenge the conventional roles of women in the Victorian era, while they search for ways to build their own lasting legacies in an ever-changing world. The ladies find strength, companionship, and friendship together as they work to build a children’s hospital, deal with a deadly outbreak of influenza, and help a gentle lady flee a violent and destructive marriage.
Mr. Darcy’s Daughter by Rebecca Ann Collins
“Mr. Darcy’s Daughter (The Pemberley Chronicles)”
Publication Date: November 1, 2008
Charming, beautiful, and intelligent, Cassandra Darcy is undeniably her father’s daughter. When her brother Julian falters in his responsibilities as heir to Pemberley, Darcy and Elizabeth turn in desperation to their daughter, and Cassy is thrust into the role of surrogate heir. It will take all of Cassy’s inner strength and ingenuity to raise Julian’s son, attend to her own happy marriage and children, and keep Pemberley’s tenants satisfied. When she is faced with a series of crises—her daughter appears to be involved in an unsuitable affair and her son is unwittingly drawn into a murder investigation—Cassy must act before circumstances spin out of control. Set against a vivid backdrop of dramatic political and social changes sweeping England during the Victorian era, Mr. Darcy’s Daughter is the remarkable story of a strong-minded woman in a man’s world, struggling to balance the competing demands of love and duty as a daughter, wife, mother, and sister.
My Cousin Caroline by Rebecca Ann Collins
“My Cousin Caroline (The Pemberley Chronicles Book 6)”
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Mr. Darcy’s cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth’s cousin Caroline Gardiner take center stage in this book. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Caroline, develops from a pretty young girl into a woman of intelligence and passion, embodying some of Austen’s own values. Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, and the Wickham’s all move through the story as Caroline falls in love, marries, and raises her children. Caroline rejects the role of a compliant Victorian wife and mother, instead becoming a spirited and outspoken advocate of reformist causes in spite of the danger of scandal. Caroline’s advocacy of reform, undaunted by criticism, demonstrates strength in a time when a woman’s role was severely restricted.
Postscript from Pemberley by Rebecca Ann Collins
“Postscript from Pemberley (The Pemberley Chronicles Book 7)”
Publication Date: December 1, 2009
Young Darcy Gardiner has fallen for Kate O’Hare, a newcomer to Pemberley whose beauty and intellect fascinate him. Kate is more interested in discussing the merits of Darwin’s The Origin of Species than the latest fashion in gowns. Her unladylike involvement in the scientific controversies of the day invite malignant forces from her past that pose grave risks for her friends. But in her very difference lies her charm, especially for young Darcy Gardiner. The original Jane Austen characters—Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley, and Jane—provide the framework for new characters and unfolding events set against a backdrop of the social issues of the time. This next generation proves as lively and complex as Darcy and Elizabeth’s own.
Recollections of Rosings by Rebecca Ann Collins
“Recollections of Rosings (Pemberley Chronicles)”
Publication Date: March 1, 2010
Sisters Catherine Harrison and Becky Tate, daughters of Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, have very different personalities and temperaments. Both grew up in the shadow of Rosings Park, domain of the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, but as adults their paths diverged dramatically. When a catastrophe at Rosings Park brings Becky back to visit her sister, the two clash about their aspirations for the marriage of Catherine’s young daughter, and both women are forced to confront the ghosts of the past-in particular, Lady Catherine’s cruelty and deception. As the shocking truth emerges, the Darcy and Bingley families rally. But it may be too late for the sisters to find the love and happiness they were denied so long ago.
A Woman of Influence by Rebecca Ann Collins
“A Woman of Influence (The Pemberley Chronicles)”
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
Becky Collins has always been determined not to submit to the pressures of Victorian society. But her marriage doesn’t bring her the opportunities she’d hoped for, and her outspokenness does not find favor with the gentrified ladies of Pemberley. As the unintended consequences of her errors in judgment engulf her, Becky begins to understand what’s really important in life. But has she learned her lessons too late?
The Legacy of Pemberley by Rebecca Ann Collins
“The Legacy of Pemberley (The Pemberley Chronicles; Pride and Prejudice Sequel Series)”
Publication Date: November 1, 2010
It has been fifty years since Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth Bennet as his bride, and through half a century of both true happiness and difficult trials, their love has never faltered. When Charles Bingley’s declining health forces Darcy and Elizabeth to travel with their dear friends to Europe, it will fall to the next generation to continue the legacy of love and family their parents have spent a lifetime establishing. Reunions of old friends go hand in hand with the introduction of new adversaries, and long hidden secrets come to light. But as this chronicle comes to a close, the sadness in parting is tempered not only by splendid memories, but the knowledge that the legacy of Pemberley will live far beyond the written page.
More lists coming soon…
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