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Books about secondary characters…

30 replies

SundayNightBluesAreHere · 21/07/2025 23:47

I’ve recently really enjoyed reading a couple of books that tell the stories of secondary characters from well known stories…

The Five - telling the stories of the victims of Jack the Ripper

The Butchers Daughter - the story of Mrs Lovett, of Sweeney Todd fame

Does anyone know of any other books like this, I’d love to find some more!

TIA if anyone can help!

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pantheistsboots · 31/07/2025 09:01

Four of Barbara Trapido's seven novels have characters that are carried from one book to the next, in some cases going from being extremely minor. They are Brother of the More Famous Jack, Temples of Delight, Juggling and the Travelling Hornplayer. They're all brilliant.

MotherOfCatBoy · 31/07/2025 08:30

I know there’s a a book about Magwitch from Great Expectations, by Australian writer Peter Carey I think - but does any one know if there’s a « sequel » to GE?

MotherOfCatBoy · 31/07/2025 08:26

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 22/07/2025 02:39

Longbourn tells the story of P&P from the servants’ POV.

Not quite the same thing but the novel The Marriage Portrait tells the story of the last duchess in the poem of that name by Robert Browning.

Have read both of these and agree they’re v good, particularly Longbourn.

PurpleChrayn · 31/07/2025 08:18

The Other Boleyn Girl.

Sskka · 31/07/2025 08:15

Nick by Michael Farris Smith, which is supposed to be a prequel for the narrator in The Great Gatsby. Good book—it’s a slightly brutal account of his time in WWI and wandering in the aftermath—but entirely uncompelling as a Gatsby prequel I thought.

I hadn’t realised there were so many examples. I don’t know when the ones in this thread date from (Nick is from about five years ago) but now you mention them I’ve seen more than one Lady Macbeth spinoffs in Waterstones recently.

Not sure how I feel about the trend? On one hand retelling the old stories is an important part of a culture – but on the other it does seem a bit like how franchises now dominate at the box office.

EmpressaurusKitty · 31/07/2025 08:00

Howyoualldoworkme · 22/07/2025 01:02

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons
About the girl Romeo was infatuated with before Juliet with a very interesting take on Romeo!

Thanks for recommending this, I picked it up last week & I’m about 3/4 through. The play’s going to feel very different next time I watch it!

Steelworks · 31/07/2025 07:51

stayathomer · 22/07/2025 10:51

Hazel gaynor (historical fiction writer) has a book about Aunty Em from the wizard of oz. Possibly not what you’re looking for but I’d say it’ll be a stunner

Or the film ‘ Wicked’ ?

DisplayPurposesOnly · 31/07/2025 07:48

Pemberley by Emma Tennant
Death Comes To Pemberley by P D James

Both sequels to Pride and Prejudice

DisplayPurposesOnly · 31/07/2025 07:46

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

King Lear from the perspective of one of the older sisters, set in modern Midwest America

RhaenysRocks · 31/07/2025 07:43

If you've read the Discovery of Witches trilogy by Deborah Harness, she wrote a spin off about Marcus before then continuing on with the main story in Blackbird Oracle. I think it was called Times Convert.

VikingLady · 25/07/2025 21:53

HappilyUrbanTrimmer · 21/07/2025 23:58

Charlotte by Helen Moffat is very good - telling more of the life of Charlotte Lucas after she married Mr Collins in P&P

Thank you for recommending this - I had no idea it existed! I got it out of the library yesterday and read it in one day. Brilliant.

HappilyUrbanTrimmer · 22/07/2025 13:57

Rictasmorticia · 22/07/2025 10:15

Also The Other Bennett Sister about Mary Bennett

Show quote history

I do think Mary Bennett would have been a lot happier as Mrs Collins than Charlotte was, but wasn't she only 15ish when Mrs Collins came bride-shopping?

stayathomer · 22/07/2025 10:51

Hazel gaynor (historical fiction writer) has a book about Aunty Em from the wizard of oz. Possibly not what you’re looking for but I’d say it’ll be a stunner

Debrathom · 22/07/2025 10:51

Sorry, I meant John Boyne (was mixing him up with William Boyd there for a minute.) 🙄

Debrathom · 22/07/2025 10:49

Sarah Miller wrote a book called Marmee about the mother in Little Women. She also wrote one called Caroline about Ma in the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
All the Broken Places by John Boyd tells the story of the sister from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

ConstantlyCooking · 22/07/2025 10:33

March by Geraldine Brookes tells the story of the father and has a different perspective on the character of marmee.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 22/07/2025 10:20

sarsaparillatree · 21/07/2025 23:58

If you have read the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon (or seen the TV show), she has also written stand alone books about one of the secondary characters, Lord John Grey.

They are well worth a read!

Rictasmorticia · 22/07/2025 10:15

HappilyUrbanTrimmer · 21/07/2025 23:58

Charlotte by Helen Moffat is very good - telling more of the life of Charlotte Lucas after she married Mr Collins in P&P

Also The Other Bennett Sister about Mary Bennett

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 22/07/2025 10:01

The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale is about the murders of 10 Rillington Place, the killer, the victims but also involved side characters like the journalist

FizzingAda · 22/07/2025 09:47

I’ve just finished Lancelot by Giles Kristian. Focussing on his childhood and youth, and his then his part in the downfall. Currently reading the second book in the trilogy, Camelot, ablout Galahad, his son.
Very beautiful writing too.

NazeLife · 22/07/2025 06:24

NazeLife · 22/07/2025 00:57

March - story of the dad from Little Women
Julia - story of Julia from 1984
The other Bennett sister - Mary Bennet, P&P
Rhett Butlers People - GWYW from Rhetts POV

I would really like someone to write the story of Michael and Rachel from The Chrysalids, and their hopefully successful journey to New Zealand.

GWTW not GWYW! Shouldn’t post while sleep deprived…

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 22/07/2025 02:39

Longbourn tells the story of P&P from the servants’ POV.

Not quite the same thing but the novel The Marriage Portrait tells the story of the last duchess in the poem of that name by Robert Browning.

Howyoualldoworkme · 22/07/2025 01:02

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons
About the girl Romeo was infatuated with before Juliet with a very interesting take on Romeo!

NazeLife · 22/07/2025 00:57

March - story of the dad from Little Women
Julia - story of Julia from 1984
The other Bennett sister - Mary Bennet, P&P
Rhett Butlers People - GWYW from Rhetts POV

I would really like someone to write the story of Michael and Rachel from The Chrysalids, and their hopefully successful journey to New Zealand.

VikingLady · 22/07/2025 00:23

HappilyUrbanTrimmer · 21/07/2025 23:58

Charlotte by Helen Moffat is very good - telling more of the life of Charlotte Lucas after she married Mr Collins in P&P

Thank you - I’ve just reserved that. I’d no idea it had been written!