Jane Austen Sequels- Vanity and Vexation: A Novel, by Kate Fenton
If you are a fan of stories by the noted female author Jane Austen or her major works, such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Persuasion, then you will be glad to know that there are both Regency and modern day equivalents to her conscience and people-driven plots. One such novel, which is described by many as a modern Pride and Prejudice sequel, is Vanity and Vexation by Kate Fenton.
The novel takes place in the town of Malstone in England. The basic plot is that the British Broadcasting Corporation is intending to film a new take on the story of Pride and Prejudice. Locals act the principle roles or Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, as the Mistress of Pemberley and the Master of Pemberley.
From this basic premise, the story develops to reveal the personal and interpersonal relationships and struggles of the townspeople, in a manner that accurately reflects the concerns that occupied Austen’s original novel. It is a fun romp through the British countryside, and is sure to satisfy any Jane Austen fan with its style of dialogue and clever turns of phrases. If you are looking for a modern twist on the age old story, Vanity and Vexation is sure to please.
If your tastes run more towards Regency style seques or continuations of the themes of Austen’s novels then From Lambton to Longbourne by Abigail Reynolds may be more your speed. Other good choices for Regency era JA sequels are White Lies and Other Half Truths by Barbara Tiller Cole, Fate and Consequences by Linda Wells, and Diana Birchall’s Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma.
These novels illustrate the timelessness of the themes that are deeply explored in some of Jane Austen’s greatest works of fiction. The fact that the plots can be removed from their inital location and period, and slightly altered to reflect more modern times speaks to the inner stuggles and growing pains that every individual experiences as they tumble through life. Kate Fenton has created a sassy, fun twist on the oringinal P & P for modern times, and her other novels are just as good as the modern JA sequel I have come to love.
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