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The overlooked middle sister in Pride and Prejudice casts off her prim exterior and takes center stage in this fresh retelling of the classic novel.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY REAL SIMPLE
What is to be done with Mary Bennet? She possesses neither the beauty of her eldest sister, Jane, nor the high-spirited wit of second-born Lizzy. Even compared to her frivolous younger siblings, Kitty and Lydia, Mary knows she is lacking in the ways that matter for single, not-so-well-to-do women in nineteenth-century England who must secure their futures through the finding of a husband. As her sisters wed, one by one, Mary pictures herself growing old, a spinster with no estate to run or children to mind, dependent on the charity of others. At least she has the silent rebellion and secret pleasures of reading and writing to keep her company.
But even her fictional creations are no match for the scandal, tragedy, and romance that eventually visit Mary’s own life. In Mary B, readers are transported beyond the center of the ballroom to discover that wallflowers are sometimes the most intriguing guests at the party. Beneath Mary’s plain appearance and bookish demeanor simmers an inner life brimming with passion, humor, and imagination—and a voice that demands to be heard.
Set before, during, and after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Katherine J. Chen’s vividly original debut novel pays homage to a beloved classic while envisioning a life that is difficult to achieve in any era: that of a truly independent woman.
Praise for Mary B
“Charming and smart . . . a heedless downhill pleasure—plush, ironic and illuminating.”—Newsday
“Watching [Mary] come into her own is a delight.”—People
“A new, wholly original perspective on the classic . . . This is the ultimate Austen adaptation for our time.”—Real Simple
“The best part about Mary’s star turn is that it bears little relation to the fates of her sisters. She’s a simmering, churning, smart woman determined to concoct an independent life.”—The Washington Post
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
July 24, 2018 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780399592232
- File size: 1547 KB
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780399592232
- File size: 3516 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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February 1, 2018
Though Mary Bennet lays claim to only a few lines of dialog in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, she's the character with whom recent Princeton graduate Chen identifies. In a debut that encompasses events before, during, and after Austen's novel, introverted Mary bears witness to a scandal that brings out the best in her.
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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March 15, 2018
This retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of middle sister Mary Bennet promises a witty tale of romantic adventure. In the original, Mary is portrayed as prim, plain, and moreover, tone-deaf socially and musically. But first novelist Chen invites us to reconsider the inner life of the often overlooked Bennet sibling. After a witty prolog about the family, that wry and elegant tone unfortunately deteriorates into sappiness as Mary recounts the three loves of her life. A bit of satire and parody in the Austen tradition could have leavened Chen's interpretation. Reimagining Elizabeth Bennet as manipulative and gentle Charlotte Lucas as proud misses the point of Austen's timeless and beloved characters, and the author's many fans expect the protagonists in any retelling to be consistent with the originals. VERDICT For fans of retellings of classic literature looking for a continuing story of their favorite characters. Austen devotees should consider instead P.D. James's Death Comes to Pemberley or Jo Baker's Longbourn. The more adventurous might try John Kessel's Pride and Prometheus, in which Mary Bennet falls for Victor Frankenstein. [See Prepub Alert, 1/8/18.]--Cheryl Bryan, Orleans, MA
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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