Jane Austen Sequels- The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy, by Elizabeth Aston
Many lovers of English literature rank Jane Austen’s novels of the early 19th century among their all-time favorites, and they are also popular among less sophisticated readers who love romantic plots that unfold in Regency settings. For these readers, things like the social rituals, the extravagent balls, the elaborate gowns are among the main attractions, along with suspenseful romantic twists and turns. And it for readers like this that a new genre has sprung up, consisting of novels that take off from the Austen novels in various ways. Many are retellings form the point of view of different characters, and others are sequels. The most popular book for sequels is Pride and Prejudice, and this novel by Elizabeth Aston is one of these.
In this book, the two protagonists of the original story have been married many years. They are Mr. and Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire, and have a brood of grown sons and daughters. The youngest of the Darcy family, daughter Alethea, has too quickly married a man who turns out to be abusive, and she and her maid flee to Europe, dressed as men, to find her understanding sister Camilla. Of course a young man emerges who will end up falling in love with Alethea, but not before many adventures and complications ensue.
For the audience this book is aimed at, it fits the bill quite well. Alethea is a strong character very similar to that of her mother at her age. There is plenty of Regency atmosphere, and the plot moves along quickly, albeit with a few loose ends. A very pleasant read, just as Eliabeth Aston’s other novels in the Darcy Family series.
Unlike some of the more traditional Darcy and Elizabeth P & P sequels, this one stands out as truly unique. Aston’s focus on the free spirited Alethea gives us a rare glimpse into the more mature Darcy’s as parents through the eyes of their grown children.
Elizabeth Aston is the author of The Darcy Novels which include: The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy, Mr. Darcy’s Daughters, The Darcy Connection, Mr. Darcy’s Dream, and The True Darcy Spirit. Another of her novels, The Way of the World, features the Darcy family, but is not part of the Darcy Novels series. Her latest book is a modern Jane Austen based story, Writing Jane Austen, which is about a modern writer who takes an assignment to complete an unfinished classic novel. All are excessively diverting!
Incoming search terms:
- alethea darcy
- jane austen alethea
