I read the first book in Dawkins series of sequels, Letters From Pemberley, over a year ago. In that review, I wished the book would have “allowed me to be privy to Jane Bingley’s, nee Bennet, letters to Elizabeth rather than just Elizabeth to Jane. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth responses to her sister’s letters but often times, I had wished that I could see exactly what Elizabeth was responding to.”
My feelings and wishes have not changed.
Part of the problem with More Letters From Pemberley, and the whole series of sequels for that matter, is that they really don’t give the reader the whole picture of what’s going on; you’re only privy to what Elizabeth decides to share with you, and she honestly isn’t the greatest of a letter writer. There isn’t much detail, and with this book spanning five years from 1814 to 1819, there are a tremendous amount of gaps and holes in the story line.
The characters are also much more concerned with having babies; although I do realize this was a widespread fear amongst women back then, that’s what the entirety of More Letters From Pemberley is focused upon. The story just lacks excitement and the death of a child and loss of consciousness are just tired, old recycled plot lines.
Book Mentioned:
- Dawkins, Jane. More Letters From Pemberley. New York: Sourcebooks, 2007. Print. 242 pgs. ISBN: 9780641999703. Source: PaperBackSwap.
Ardent Reader 
Yikes! While this doesn’t sound like the worst Jane Austen sequel written, it sure doesn’t sound very good at all. I’ve tried a few of the sequels here and there and ultimately I find them pretty unsatisfying – generally they lack the charm and wit of the originals – and sometimes downright alarming! As much as I wish Austen had written more books, I’m happy to just re-read the originals over and over (and over…) again rather than turning to the sequels.
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