Pride and Prejudice experts please: Which modern sequel?

[boogiewoogie]

I've just visited Lyme Park and have seen a few P&P inspired novels at the gift shop and wondered whether to read any of them or will they would ruin the original for me.

Has anyone read "Mr Darcy's Diary"? I believe that there are two of the same name. I looked up on Amazon and there are dozens of so called sequels but they all seem to have very mixed reviews. Opinions please especially if you consider yourself an Austen aficionado.

It's late now so I won't be posting anymore tonight but will return around 9ish tomorrow evening when the dcs are asleep.

[Poledra]

Do NOT read 'Pemberley' by Emma Tennant - not good (IMHO, of course) turns Elizabeth into a wimp. Hated it.

Course, that's just my opinion

[NotQuiteCockney]

Surely Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is what you're looking for.

(No, I've not read it.)

[Heated]

Pemberley is probably the best known but is more a Bronte plot-take on Austen characters imo.

Have you read the other Austen novels, especially Persuasion?

[babyignoramus]

'Mr Darcy Takes A Wife'- utter filth but so bad it's hilarious.

[ellingwoman]

Actually I quite enjoyed 'Pemberly' in a weird sort of way. The sequel to that - 'An Unequal Marriage' is absolute arse and Emma Tennant must have been REALLY ill-advised to carry on with such weak depictions of our beloved characters.

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Watch Lost In Austen on dvd - it's brilliant.

[missingtheaction]

Why would you want to read a sequel not written by Jane Austen? i have only read pemberly and thought it was TERRIBLE - mills & boone quality writing, utter drivel. You won't get a fix of austen unless she actually wrote it herself.

Read her others (again); see if you can track down the early unfinished stuff like the one called Susan something, and her letters.

Mind you, will be amazoning Mr Darcy Takes a Wife. I always thought Willoughby would be good in the sack too...

[Poledra]

D'you not think Willoughby would be a bit selfish? Can see him as a roll-over-and-snore type. Now, Capt Wentworth, on the other hand......

[janeite]

'Pemberley' by Emma Tennant is almost certainly the worst, most sacrilegious and appalling book I ever ever read. I had a ritual burning of it (and I say that as somebody who generally thinks books are sacred).

Bridget Jones is daft and frivolous but actually quite in keeping with P&P in many ways.

There is one about the lost sex scenes of Austen, which is very funny.

Anything claiming to be 'the gripping sequel, which truly captures the gently ironic tone of Austen and continues her little pieces of ivory in an intriguing and sympathetic manner' should be avoided AT ALL COSTS.

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

LOL @ Janeite being so angry about it.

[janeite]

[boogiewoogie]

missingtheaction I have already said in my op that I was intrigued by Mr Darcy's Diary after seeing it in the gift shop at Lyme Park, i.e. where the BBC version's of Permberley was shot.

Surely, if they thought it was that bad then they wouldn't want to sully their reputation by putting it in their gift shop iyswim?

Anyway, I must confess that I have yet to read the other Austen novels but will soon be inheriting a dear late relative's early editions in the summer so I will be getting an intense Austen fix then!

I've also seen the reviews for "Darcy takes a wife" and "Nights at Pemberley" which both received poor ratings. I just need an easyish read that will liven up the commute which is less around 20 minutes.

[janeite]

But the gift shops sell absolutely anything, in the hope that they will then make more profit. Taste doesn't necessarily come into it!

Austen fudge anybody?
Darcy shortbread?

[babyignoramus]

Ohh, forgot - try 'Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field' by Melissa Nathan. Modern chick lit and surprisingly good.

[Piffy]

Mr Darcy Takes a Wife and Nights and Days at Pemberley (this last one is a sequel to the sequel). I agree with babyignoramus they are filthy and terrible but a good laugh if you don't take them too seriously and at least Elizabeth doesn't let the side down and become a wimp. My sister and I are huge Austen fans and both of us liked these although we have started calling them 'carry on at Pemberley' and 'carry on again at Pemberley'. That probably gives you an idea of what they are like! But def worth a look.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

I hated Pemberley with a Passion. Glad to find I am not alone in that.
You'd be better off with a good Georgette Heyer.

[psychomum5]

you need to get this one

bought it today, the contents list is so funny

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Why do sequels always make strong heroines wimpy? The appalling 'Scarlett' did it to Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With The Wind, and that was the authorised sequel permitted by the Margaret Mitchell estate
I suppose anyone can write a Jane Austen one because it was long enough ago.

[Yurtgirl]

I dont think I would enjoy reading a sequel to p&p - sacriligious etc
I have got the Jane Austen guide to dating by lauren henderson - which is quite good but in the 2 years I have owned it I still havent read it properly yet!

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Psycho that looks brilliant. ROFL!

[psychomum5]

flame found it.....handed it to me, I read the inside, and had to have it.

never actually read the 'real' version, but this certainly appeals to me!

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

I think I would like it as an audiobook, read by Juliet Stevenson or someone elegant like her.

[goldenpeach]

Try this
www.amazon.co.uk/True-Darcy-Spirit-Elizabeth-Aston/dp/0007241496?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

It's more about descendants of Elizabeth/relations....

She wrote quite others too. I read this one and liked it.

[boogiewoogie]

Hello,

Thanks for all the responses,
I must confess that I've just borrowed "Mr Darcy's diary" by Maya Slater from the library and finished it today. I have to say that I'm quite disappointed how the characters have been changed.

Based on this experience, I'm not so sure whether I'd want to read another "Chick litised" version as Janeite has already mentioned. I shall follow the advice of reading the other Austen novels first.

[MachuPicchu]

this is the lost sex scenes one Janeite was referring to - absolutely hilarious. (My mum bought it for herself and was very !)