Click here to enter my other blog: Jane Austen's World.
Showing posts with label Amanda Grange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amanda Grange. Show all posts

Monday, September 13

Jane Austen Books Galore: Sequels, Prequels, Mash Ups and More

Fall is a busy time for publishers, who are pushing their new offerings out just in time for the holiday season. In my review queue are:

Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition, by Patricia Meyer Spacks

"Drawing on extensive knowledge, wisdom, and original insights, Professor Spacks is a monumentally intelligent guide to Pride and Prejudice. Reading Austen's masterpiece with her commentaries at hand is like reading it with a better, wiser friend: someone who is able to anticipate our questions and reactions and someone who also knows Austen and her people intimately."
--Deidre Lynch, University of Toronto

Harvard University Press: Coming out soon in October

Dancing with Mr. Darcy: Stories Inspired by Jane Austen and Chawton House, by Sarah Waters

An anthology of the winning entries in the Jane Austen Short Story Award 2009, which celebrates the bicentenary of Jane Austen’s arrival in the village of Chawton, where she spent the most productive years of her literary life

A Harper Original Coming out in October





Life in the Victorian Country House by Pamela Horn

Country houses formed a distinct community and power base within the broader Victorian countryside. This book shows how landed families' day-to-day existence depended on the skills of the indoor servants who provided their meals and ministered to their general comfort, and the outdoor staff who contributed to their leisure and sporting pursuits. It considers the relationship - and the divisions - between those living 'above stairs' and and the carefully considered hierarchy of domestics who met their needs 'below stairs'.

Also considered are the wider social activities of the two groups who, while living under the same roof, experienced a very different daily round. That applied to preparations for the holding of house parties and the running of sporting events, as well as the important social influence exerted by the London 'Season'.

Random House: Coming out in late September

Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge by J. Marie Croft

Impeccable comportment is mandatory in Regency England, a society governed by strict rules of conduct. Perfectionist Fitzwilliam Darcy, heir to an august ancestral estate, is the epitome of an unimpeachable gentleman, at least until...
Our hero's immaculate image is somewhat tarnished when he and his traveling companions arrive, hot and sweaty, at Pemberley and decide to take a fateful plunge into a scummy pond.  An embarrassing encounter on the estate's lawn leaves a long-lasting impression on Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, who are new acquaintances of Georgiana and Anna Darcy.

Available in October

A Darcy Christmas: A Holiday Tribute to Jane Austen, an anthology

Share in the magic of the season in these three warm and wonderful holiday novellas from bestselling authors.

Christmas Present by Amanda Grange, A Darcy Christmas by Sharon Lathan, and Mr. Darcy's Christmas Carol by Carolyn Eberhart

Coming out from Sourcebooks in October


The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Convinced that the lovely Elizabeth Bennet is her brother’s soul mate, Georgiana Darcy enlists her clever and not at all snobbish cousin Anne de Bourgh in ensuring that pride and prejudice aren’t able to keep these two hearts apart. All is going according to plan until Lydia Bennet brings scandal on the family by eloping with George Wickham, and Darcy is called away from Elizabeth’s side before he has a chance to propose. It will take all Georgiana and Anne’s considerable matchmaking talents to ensure that Elizabeth and Darcy are reunited in time to claim their happily ever after.

Coming in January from Sourcebooks; you may pre-order the book here

Let's not forget the mash-ups!

Emma and the Vampires by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson

"Emma Woodhouse—handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition—had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress her. Until the vampire attacks began ...

An Amazon.com reviewer said: Wayne Josephson converts Emma into a vampire thriller with stakes and tea. Although everyone knows vampires exist, Emma is terrific as she goes from totally clueless to Regency Buffy like slayer. (Merry Genre Go Round Reviews 20100802)  Read the first chapter on scribd.

The book is available now. Order at this link.

Jane and the Damned: It's more than her wit that is biting, by Janet Mullany

The “stakes” are high and vampires rule when legendary author Jane Austen joins the ranks of the undead in Janet Mullany’s bloody wonderful literary mash-up, Jane and the Damned. In the bestselling tradition of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies; Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters; and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, comes a supremely smart and wickedly fun novel that renders the beloved creator of Persuasion and Emma truly immortal—as Mullany pits a transformed Jane Austen and her vampire friends against savage hordes of invading French!

A Harper Collins book, due in late September. Click on this link to order

Saturday, August 8

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre: Our Reviews

Dear readers, This weekend marks a time when both Laurel Ann and I will be reviewing Amanda Grange's new book, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. Sourcebooks was kind enough to provide us with advance review copies, for which we are grateful.

Lately much controversy has been brewing regarding the direction of these sequels. While some people are fully on board and enjoy the Jane into Monster sequels, others have deep reservations. You can count me (Vic) among the reserved. While I anticipated reading Ms. Grange's latest offering with some excitement, it took me fully one month to slog my way through her Regency vampyre world. Thankfully, Lizzy Bennet came to my rescue as I sat down to review the novel, for she has written three letters that explain the book better than I ever could. Here then are some links for your edification. As always, please don't hesitate to let us know what you think.

Reviews of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre:


Vic's and Laurel Ann's thoughts about monster sequels:


Controversy in Jane Austen land:


More links

Monday, July 27

Upcoming Books

The following descriptions are taken from the publishers' websites. All three books are in our reading queues!

Mr.Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange, August 2009

Amanda Grange's style and wit bring readers back to Jane Austen's timeless storytelling, but always from a very unique and unusual perspective, and now Grange is back with an exciting and completely new take on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts where Pride and Prejudice ends and introduces a dark family curse so perfectly that the result is a delightfully thrilling, spine-chilling, breathtaking read. A dark, poignant and visionary continuation of Austen's beloved story, this tale is full of danger, darkness and immortal love.





Murder at Longbourn, a mystery by Tracy Kiely, September 2009

Planning New Year’s resolutions to rid her life of all things unhealthy, Elizabeth Parker has dumped fatty foods, processed sugar, and her two-timing boyfriend. Indeed, the invitation to join her Aunt Winnie for a How to Host a Murder Party on New Year’s Eve at Winnie’s new Cape Cod B and B comes just in time. But when the local wealthy miser ends up the unscripted victim, Elizabeth must unearth old secrets and new motives in order to clear her beloved aunt of suspicion. By reimagining characters and themes lifted from the treasured classic Pride and Prejudice, and crafting an expert, intricate mystery, Tracy Kiely has brought to life something very special: a new cozy series that is clever, vibrant, and utterly disarming.



Willoughby's Return by Jane Odiwe, November 2009

Three years after the conclusion of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, domestic bliss is not always easy to achieve. Colonel Brandon's responsibilities for Eliza, the daughter of his first love, regularly take him away from home, and Marianne's passionate, jealous nature threatens to rock the foundations of their marriage. Now Willoughby and his wife have returned to the West Country. When Brandon is called away, Marianne meets Willoughby at a dinner and feels herself once again succumbing to his charm. The more she sees him, the more she's in danger of giving in to her passion. Willoughby has everything to gain in driving a wedge between them. Will Brandon realize in time that his passionate young wife's feelings of neglect may drive her into scandal? Can Marianne find the courage to turn her back on her first love? Or is it too late to save themselves and their marriage?

Friday, August 29

Mansfield Park Madness: Day 15 Give-away X 4

“I am worn out with civility,” said he. “I have been talking incessantly all night, and with nothing to say.” Edmund Bertram, Mansfield Park, Chapter 28

Austen-esque author Amanda Grange’s Edmund Bertram’s Diary has just been released in paperback by Berkley Trade and three copies are being offered (and three other titles as well) as the next give-away in day 15 of Mansfield Park Madness at Austenprose. This retelling of Jane Austen’s classic novel Mansfield Park is from the perspective of its male protagonist Edmund Bertram, and is her fourth book in her “Hero series”. Other Mansfield Park sequels available in the give-away are; Mansfield Park Revisited by Joan Aiken, The Matters at Mansfield: or The Crawford Affair, by Carrie Berbis and Central Park, by Debra White Smith

You have only two more days to leave comments to qualify for the all 17 great give-aways being offered during Mansfield Park Madness. Be sure to check out all the discussion on the novel, movies and book sequels during this great blog event continuing to August 31.

Upcoming posts
Only two days left to qualify for the many great give-aways
Winners announced August 31
Day 16 – Aug 30 MP: What People Are Saying
Day 17 – Aug 31 MP Madness Conclusion

posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose