About the book:
Before there was a single man in possession
of a good fortune at Netherfield, there was a single man in want of a wife in
London. His name was Wickham and he was bent on marrying himself into as much
wealth as he might contrive, preferably to the detriment of the man who had
destroyed all his prospects in life – the man known as Darcy of Pemberley.
In Pride and Prejudice, everything
hinges on a letter which Mr. Darcy gives Elizabeth - a letter setting forth all
his dealings with Mr. Wickham. These facts, supplied by Austen herself, are at
the heart of Follies Past. The novel begins at Pemberley, at Christmas,
almost a year before the opening of Pride and Prejudice. It follows
young Georgiana Darcy to London, to Ramsgate and to the brink of a perilous
elopement.
Upon opening the pages of Follies Past,
readers will begin to feel as though it was penned by the masterful hand of
Jane Austen herself. Crafted with all the skill of a trained linguist,
this jaunty excursion into a flawless Regency England gives readers all the
joys, the wit, and the drama of their beloved Pride and Prejudice. Existing
characters are just as Austen wrote them, and the story, the manners, even the
syntax, all conform to her standards and idioms.
As well as some exciting new characters and
a sweet and touching new love story, readers will discover delightful surprises
from more minor characters such as Anne de Bourgh and Mrs. Younge. The prefect
prequel to England’s favourite book, this is a novel for true Austen fans.
Amazon link: http://amazon.com/dp/B00GD76KJY
Createspace link: https://www.createspace.com/4524790
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18993650-follies-past
Website: http://www.folliespast.com
Review:
If your a fan for Pride and Prejudice or just a Jane Austen fan in general, you've stumbled upon a new treat! Follies Past is an excellent prequel to the story of Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. No, they aren't the the focus of the story, but the rest of the characters from the old classic get to have their adventures. Take a trip back to Regency England and find out more about Mr. Wickham and his bid to marry well. Fair warning. There are no white-hat heroes in this one!
I found the customs and language to be similar to the original work. The phrasings have a modern edge to them but certainly invoke the classic. There very light moments that made me laugh and quite a few that left me gasping with a, "He/she did not just do that!" We know for the original what a nasty piece of work Wickham was, but we get a good look at the social climbing Caroline Bingley. I can't help but say Melanie Kerr did an awesome job with this story, and she did invoke a strong response from her reader, I hated Caroline Bingley from the beginning.
If your looking for the happy/sappy ending, this one isn't for you. It just can't work that way. How else would Pride and Prejudice work out if everyone got their happily-ever-after in Follies Past? I'm recommending Follies Past as a supplement to the true Austen fan who wants more detail about what Darcy didn't tell Miss Elizabeth is his letter. Follies Past gets 4 stars!
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