I'm so pleased to be a part of the Blog Tour today for this wonderful book
Description
If you loved Pride and Prejudice, you will love What Kitty Did Next
England, 1813 Nineteen-year-old Catherine Bennet lives in the shadow of her two eldest sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, who have both made excellent marriages. No one expects Kitty to amount to anything. Left at home in rural Hertfordshire with her neurotic and nagging mother, and a father who derides her as silly and ignorant, Kitty is lonely, diffident and at a loss as to how to improve her situation. When her world unexpectedly expands to London and the Darcys' magnificent country estate in Derbyshire, she is overjoyed. Keen to impress this new society, and to change her family's prejudice, Kitty does everything she can to improve her mind and manners and for the first time feels liked and respected. However, one fateful night at Pemberley, a series of events and misunderstandings conspire to ruin Kitty's reputation. But Kitty has learnt from her new experiences and what she does next does next will not only surprise herself, but everyone else too.
Based on Jane Austen's much-loved characters, this is the story of one young woman's struggle to overcome the obstacles of her time and place and truly find herself.
England, 1813 Nineteen-year-old Catherine Bennet lives in the shadow of her two eldest sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, who have both made excellent marriages. No one expects Kitty to amount to anything. Left at home in rural Hertfordshire with her neurotic and nagging mother, and a father who derides her as silly and ignorant, Kitty is lonely, diffident and at a loss as to how to improve her situation. When her world unexpectedly expands to London and the Darcys' magnificent country estate in Derbyshire, she is overjoyed. Keen to impress this new society, and to change her family's prejudice, Kitty does everything she can to improve her mind and manners and for the first time feels liked and respected. However, one fateful night at Pemberley, a series of events and misunderstandings conspire to ruin Kitty's reputation. But Kitty has learnt from her new experiences and what she does next does next will not only surprise herself, but everyone else too.
Based on Jane Austen's much-loved characters, this is the story of one young woman's struggle to overcome the obstacles of her time and place and truly find herself.
Review
I began to read this book with a little trepidation - would it live up to Jane Austen? I have read other books which are a follow on to great works and been disappointed - but not this time - I LOVED it.
I cannot imagine how you go about writing a novel where the speech and nuances of the characters have to transport you to 19th Centrury England, but this book did just that. So faithfully did it recreate the characters of Pride and Prejudice that I began to forget it wasn't written by Austen herself.
I loved catching up with Lizzie and Jane to see what happened to them after their respective marriages and of course the dashing Darcy. Never once did I think "that would never have happened" but rather I had a train of thought of "so, that's what happened next" lol!
We catch up too with Georgiana, Darcy's sister. When Georgiana takes Kitty into her confidence and reveals what went on between Lydia and Wickham and her brother's part in it, I was at first confused. Because I forgot of course, that I as the reader knew what had happened, but not everyone in the book did! When Kitty gets invited to Pemberley a terrible misunderstanding occurs. So true to Austen was this tale, that I felt the author really must have found an unpublished manuscript by Austen.
The social history aspect of the book was wonderful. So many well written details that brought the book to life. I loved the character of Felicia and her announcement to Kitty that one day she will dare not to ride side saddle!!!
As I neared the end of the book I was delighted in the outcome for Kitty - I had a little tear in my eye. The very ending made me smile so very much. I don't do spoilers so you will need to read it for yourself - really! if you have been wondering what happened when Pride and Prejudice ended this is the book for you.
I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars - Carrie Kablean is a very worthy successor to Jane Austen.
My thanks to Love Books Group for an advance copy of the book for review.
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I am loving this too - very nearly finished. Like you, I thought she captured the style of Jane Austen's writing perfectly
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