RANDOM JOTTINGS

… that all sequels, prequels, add ons and heaven knows what else regarding the novels of Jane Austen are poor stuff.    And, on the whole, they are. There are exceptions however and this last week has seen me indoors, avoiding the Arctic blasts outside, re-reading two such books.

A book of a few years ago which falls into my Approved Jane Category is Longbourn and the story is told from a servant’s point of view which makes for intriguing reading.

It is very interesting to see how the sainted Jane and Elizabeth are viewed by those below stairs

“If Elizabeth Bennett had the washing of her own petticoats, Sarah thought, she would be more careful not to tramp through muddy fields”.

We are meant to admire Lizzy in her tramping across to Netherfield to see her sister and this is an outcome we do not think of.  I am half way through a re-read of this and will be reviewing in the next week or so.

I admit here that though Elizabeth Bennett is regarded as a wonderful feisty character, witty and amusing etc etc I have had my doubts. She and Jane had such a close relationship that the other sisters must have felt excluded which might go some way to explain their various frailties. Mr Bennett cynical and uninterested in his family, save for Lizzy, their mother absurd and only interested in getting her daughters married, and the two elder sisters closeted together with very little interest in their siblings.  

The Other Bennett Sister by Janice Hadlow rather proves my point. Mary is the middle of the five Bennet girls and the plainest of them all, so what hope does she have? Prim and pious, with no redeeming features, she is unloved and seemingly unlovable. As a small child she never thought she was plain, she loved her sisters and felt secure and comfortable until it was borne on her that she was the “plain one” and that her mother thought less of her because of this and her father indifferent. 

The book blurb which sums this up beautifully.  “An introvert in a family of extroverts; a constant disappointment to her mother who values beauty above all else; fearful of her father’s sharp tongue; with little in common with her siblings – is it any wonder she turns to books for both company and guidance?”

At the start of this title Mary is the irritating sister we all know but then we begin to see that her outer shell of superiority is a shell to cover up her inadequacies when compared to her sisters. And, as mentioned, Elizabeth and Jane are shown not to be so perfect but to be thoughtless and hurtful to the younger sibling they find annoying and do not understand.

I have always thought that Mary was the most suitable bride for Mr Collins and in this  book it is made clear that she feels the same and does her best to bring this about, but is outsmarted by Charlotte Lucas as we all know.   When staying with them on a visit it is clear that the marriage is not happy and Charlotte despises her husband.   And here is where we get a new look at Mr Collins. He loves his wife but suffers knowing that she holds him in contempt.   Under the bombastic and pompous exterior is a kindly man, not the quickest wit in the world, but appreciative of his home and his family.   He and Mary spend a lot of time in the library together and slowly they form a bond.   I found this aspect of the book really most interesting and was beautifully portrayed. Charlotte begins to notice this blossoming friendship and is rather put out, but it makes her look at herself and behave more kindly to her husband and the marriage improves.

Of course, Mary finds love in the end but it is not an easy route and, like Emma, she had to look at herself and change her thinking and admit that she too has to change her attitude.

The author’s writing in this title is admirable. It uses the odd quotation that all Janeites will recognise but makes no attempt to pastiche her style, and she reflects the vocabulary and wit of Austen without going overboard. I think it is a really good book and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting it.

The main reason for taking it down off my shelf was seeing a trailer of an upcoming BBC production of this book, due sometime in the next few months. Mr Bennett is played by RIchard E Grant and from the short scene that I witnessed, he is very good indeed. I am looking forward.

And, by the way, I understand that Netflix is producing yet another Pride and Prejudice – do we really need another – and after their dire Persuasion I am not hopeful of it proving to be good. However, one thing that might make me watch is is the fact that Rufus Sewell is playing Mr Bennett…….