My October book for the Pride & Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge:
Presumption: An Entertainment: A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice; Julia Barrett.
A sequel to Pride & Prejudice, picking up after Darcy and Lizzy’s marriage. The story focuses on Georgiana, who has been disappointed with love in the past and is determined to make better decisions in the future. Perhaps, she will never marry–and then she meets an eligible, charming young navy captain. He’s everything she would want in a husband, were she looking for one. There’s an eligible young architect working at Pemberley, and Mrs. Darcy seems to find him friendly enough, but he’s cold to Miss Darcy.
As the story progresses, Miss Bingley continues to be a trial, Lady Catherine disapproves of everyone who doesn’t do what she says, Mr. Collins is a terrible bore and toadies to Lady Catherine, and the Bennett family is still scandalous. It’s not just the Bennet daughters, even the adults misbehave, and the family finds themselves embroiled in another scandal. The Darcys can weather a lot of things, but this might be too much for even them.
The writing captures the style of Austen’s prose fairly well, and the plot echoes P & P, with familiar misunderstandings and difficulties. Perhaps a little predictable because of that, but the story is enjoyable and the ending satisfying.
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