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George Knightley, Esquire #2
Lend Me Leave
A rival for the hand of Emma Woodhouse has brought about George Knightley’s realization of the true nature of his attachment to her. He is determined to win her in spite of Frank Churchill’s charming ways, and he has only to figure out how to make her realize that they were meant for each other. As he joins the ranks of the heart-sore men of Donwell, hope grows ever more faint, but good news sometimes comes at the most unexpected moments.
244 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2011
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190 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Cornthwaite
14 books177 followersBarbara Cornthwaite lives in the middle of Ireland with her husband and children. She taught college English before "retiring" to do something she loves far more; her days are now filled with homeschooling, trying to keep the house tidy (a losing battle), and trying to stay warm in the damp Irish climate (also a losing battle). She is surrounded by medieval castles, picturesque flocks of sheep, and ancient stone monuments. These things are unappreciated by her six
children, who are more impressed by traffic jams, skyscrapers, and hot weather.
children, who are more impressed by traffic jams, skyscrapers, and hot weather.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 10, 2022
1st read 7/10/2015
July 22, 2018
This review was first posted on Babblings of a Bookworm.
This is the second book in the ‘George Knightley, Esquire’ duology. Since this is Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ from Mr Knightley’s point of view, and this is the second book of the series, the following review may contain spoilers for ‘Charity Envieth Not’ as well as ‘Emma’. I would strongly recommend reading ‘Emma’ before reading this series. Now that we’ve got the warnings out of the way, let’s crack on with the review!
The first book ended with Mr Knightley realising what his feelings are toward Emma. However, he is caught very much in what we would call the ‘friend zone’. He knows that Emma holds him in high esteem as a friend, but doesn’t feel for him beyond that. He runs the risk of losing her friendship if he tries to court her and she is not interested. In such a small place as Highbury and taking into account the family connection between the Woodhouses and Knightleys things could be very awkward, but if he doesn’t try to court her at all maybe somebody else will and he would have to stand by and watch her make a marriage with somebody who doesn’t deserve her:
‘The thought of meeting her eyes with his feelings advertised on his countenance seemed too bold. If she met his gaze with alarm on her face, he would feel wretched. He would not know how to proceed. She might avoid his eyes thereafter, or speak coldly to him. He could not bear that.
He paced the full length of the lime walk and turned back again. If he did too much too quickly, he risked losing her; if he did nothing he would certainly lose her.’
While wrestling with this issue, Mr Knightley decides to just be as gentlemanly as possible, in the hope that merit will win the day. The only problem with this approach is that Mr Knightley was already a true gentleman. His character doesn’t really change during the course of ‘Emma’, she is the one who has to change and grow.
‘He had determined to show so much consideration and kindness to Emma that she would think him the best man she had ever known, but herein lay a dilemma: all the small kindnesses he could imagine doing were things that he usually did anyway, and would therefore cause no change in her ideas about him.’
What Mr Knightley doesn’t know, and what the reader will know from reading ‘Emma’, is that Emma considers him the pattern of a true gentleman, and her opinion on this never varies from the beginning to the end of the novel.
Unable to woo his lady, Mr Knightley has to withdraw somewhat from the situation. He is very lovesick, and is frustrated that he can do so little about the situation. Misery loves company, however, and Mr Knightley can commiserate by a friend, Mr Spencer, who can empathise with his situation as he is living through the same problem himself. This character is not a character in ‘Emma’ but I really enjoyed his inclusion here, because not only was he an excellent contrast to Mr Elton in being a really conscientious clergyman, but it gave Mr Knightley a safe outlet to discuss his feelings and frustration in his inability to initiate a courtship.
The secondary characters in this book, as in the first volume, were very good. It was interesting to see Mr Knighley’s impact on his neighbourhood, and some of the events that happened in the first book progressed further in the second, which gave some more depth to the portrait of Mr Knightley’s character.
Another continuation from the first book that I was pleased to see was the relationship between the Knightley brothers. They are shown to have a lovely relationship here, affectionate and full of dry humour and banter. Here, John Knightley is getting ready to leave Highbury, having brought two of his children, John and Henry, to stay with their Grandfather and Aunt Emma:
“Will you come and see me off like a good brother?”
“Of course. I will even shed tears at your departure, if you like.”
“No, no, you’ll start John howling if you do. The watchword in partings is ‘cheerfulness’.”
“Ah. Well, I can manage that. As your carriage departs I will look absolutely radiant.”
As Knightley is forced to wait and see what happens, we see some of the major scenes of the book from his perspective. He picks up on some clues that Emma misses so that some events late on in the story are not particularly surprising, whereas a first time reader of ‘Emma’ might not be expecting them. Also, the scenes at Donwell, and particularly those of Box Hill are less excruciatingly embarrassing than they are in ‘Emma’ because they are from a different perspective.
As Knightley soon after goes to visit John in London we are away from Emma during a time when she realises the extent of her mistakes, the potential implications and what she really feels about a number of things. This is one of the most important parts in the novel. For all of these reasons I would definitely recommend reading ‘Emma’ first as I think this book is intended to complement ‘Emma’ by rounding off the views. If you read this story before reading ‘Emma’ I think you’d be missing parts of the story.
The character of Emma was treated very kindly by the author, and she is quite sweet and loveable here, which might not be how some readers see her. However I think it’s important to remember that she is seen through a partial, though clear-sighted, point of view by Mr Knightley. I am quite fond of Emma as a character; I know some readers struggle with her high-handedness, snobbery and arrogance in her belief in herself to such an extent that they find it hard to see her good side, but she has some excellent characteristics that are there in ‘Emma’ and highlighted here – her kindness, her humour, intelligence, her lack of personal vanity, the way that she tries to make amends when she has been wrong and her consideration for others are all positive traits.
As the reader already knows the end of ‘Emma’, then you’ll know where this story ends. Of course, not being written by a lady writer in the early 1800s there is scope for some romantic scenes, which were lovely.
I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the first book, but it’s still an excellent read. The first book had more humour, whereas the second had some sadder issues, both within the story events from ‘Emma’ and the additional events added by the author, and of course Mr Knightley is less happy during this book, including a period of withdrawing from Highbury which made me feel really sorry for him.
I’d recommend this book to anybody who has read ‘Emma’. Most of the books I have read that are based on ‘Emma’ are modern updates, so it was a wonderful treat to read this pair of books. If, like me, you have had these books on your wish list for a long time, do yourself a favour and bump them higher up the list! I’d rate this book as a 4½ star read.
This is the second book in the ‘George Knightley, Esquire’ duology. Since this is Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ from Mr Knightley’s point of view, and this is the second book of the series, the following review may contain spoilers for ‘Charity Envieth Not’ as well as ‘Emma’. I would strongly recommend reading ‘Emma’ before reading this series. Now that we’ve got the warnings out of the way, let’s crack on with the review!
The first book ended with Mr Knightley realising what his feelings are toward Emma. However, he is caught very much in what we would call the ‘friend zone’. He knows that Emma holds him in high esteem as a friend, but doesn’t feel for him beyond that. He runs the risk of losing her friendship if he tries to court her and she is not interested. In such a small place as Highbury and taking into account the family connection between the Woodhouses and Knightleys things could be very awkward, but if he doesn’t try to court her at all maybe somebody else will and he would have to stand by and watch her make a marriage with somebody who doesn’t deserve her:
‘The thought of meeting her eyes with his feelings advertised on his countenance seemed too bold. If she met his gaze with alarm on her face, he would feel wretched. He would not know how to proceed. She might avoid his eyes thereafter, or speak coldly to him. He could not bear that.
He paced the full length of the lime walk and turned back again. If he did too much too quickly, he risked losing her; if he did nothing he would certainly lose her.’
While wrestling with this issue, Mr Knightley decides to just be as gentlemanly as possible, in the hope that merit will win the day. The only problem with this approach is that Mr Knightley was already a true gentleman. His character doesn’t really change during the course of ‘Emma’, she is the one who has to change and grow.
‘He had determined to show so much consideration and kindness to Emma that she would think him the best man she had ever known, but herein lay a dilemma: all the small kindnesses he could imagine doing were things that he usually did anyway, and would therefore cause no change in her ideas about him.’
What Mr Knightley doesn’t know, and what the reader will know from reading ‘Emma’, is that Emma considers him the pattern of a true gentleman, and her opinion on this never varies from the beginning to the end of the novel.
Unable to woo his lady, Mr Knightley has to withdraw somewhat from the situation. He is very lovesick, and is frustrated that he can do so little about the situation. Misery loves company, however, and Mr Knightley can commiserate by a friend, Mr Spencer, who can empathise with his situation as he is living through the same problem himself. This character is not a character in ‘Emma’ but I really enjoyed his inclusion here, because not only was he an excellent contrast to Mr Elton in being a really conscientious clergyman, but it gave Mr Knightley a safe outlet to discuss his feelings and frustration in his inability to initiate a courtship.
The secondary characters in this book, as in the first volume, were very good. It was interesting to see Mr Knighley’s impact on his neighbourhood, and some of the events that happened in the first book progressed further in the second, which gave some more depth to the portrait of Mr Knightley’s character.
Another continuation from the first book that I was pleased to see was the relationship between the Knightley brothers. They are shown to have a lovely relationship here, affectionate and full of dry humour and banter. Here, John Knightley is getting ready to leave Highbury, having brought two of his children, John and Henry, to stay with their Grandfather and Aunt Emma:
“Will you come and see me off like a good brother?”
“Of course. I will even shed tears at your departure, if you like.”
“No, no, you’ll start John howling if you do. The watchword in partings is ‘cheerfulness’.”
“Ah. Well, I can manage that. As your carriage departs I will look absolutely radiant.”
As Knightley is forced to wait and see what happens, we see some of the major scenes of the book from his perspective. He picks up on some clues that Emma misses so that some events late on in the story are not particularly surprising, whereas a first time reader of ‘Emma’ might not be expecting them. Also, the scenes at Donwell, and particularly those of Box Hill are less excruciatingly embarrassing than they are in ‘Emma’ because they are from a different perspective.
As Knightley soon after goes to visit John in London we are away from Emma during a time when she realises the extent of her mistakes, the potential implications and what she really feels about a number of things. This is one of the most important parts in the novel. For all of these reasons I would definitely recommend reading ‘Emma’ first as I think this book is intended to complement ‘Emma’ by rounding off the views. If you read this story before reading ‘Emma’ I think you’d be missing parts of the story.
The character of Emma was treated very kindly by the author, and she is quite sweet and loveable here, which might not be how some readers see her. However I think it’s important to remember that she is seen through a partial, though clear-sighted, point of view by Mr Knightley. I am quite fond of Emma as a character; I know some readers struggle with her high-handedness, snobbery and arrogance in her belief in herself to such an extent that they find it hard to see her good side, but she has some excellent characteristics that are there in ‘Emma’ and highlighted here – her kindness, her humour, intelligence, her lack of personal vanity, the way that she tries to make amends when she has been wrong and her consideration for others are all positive traits.
As the reader already knows the end of ‘Emma’, then you’ll know where this story ends. Of course, not being written by a lady writer in the early 1800s there is scope for some romantic scenes, which were lovely.
I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the first book, but it’s still an excellent read. The first book had more humour, whereas the second had some sadder issues, both within the story events from ‘Emma’ and the additional events added by the author, and of course Mr Knightley is less happy during this book, including a period of withdrawing from Highbury which made me feel really sorry for him.
I’d recommend this book to anybody who has read ‘Emma’. Most of the books I have read that are based on ‘Emma’ are modern updates, so it was a wonderful treat to read this pair of books. If, like me, you have had these books on your wish list for a long time, do yourself a favour and bump them higher up the list! I’d rate this book as a 4½ star read.
March 21, 2016
I read this in conjunction with the second half of Emma, switching back and forth from that to this book to read Mr. Knightley's perspective of essentially the same story.
First of all, this is a continuation of George Knightley, Esquire: Charity Envieth Not and is NOT a stand-alone novel. There are characters and storylines in the first book of this series which progress here without specifically recounting what occurred previously and are not in Emma.
This story is rich in memorable characters - some straight from Emma, and some from this author's vivid imagination. It works in perfect harmony with the source book. For example, this explains more detail about the rash of thefts leading up to the break-in at Mrs. Weston's poultry house, which is mentioned only briefly at the end of Emma. Every encounter between Emma and Mr. Knightley is recounted here with the significant pieces of conversation exactly the same, but with all of Mr. Knightley's thoughts and feelings presented rather than hers. During all the scenes in Emma in which Mr. Knightley does not appear, he is otherwise occupied, and we now learn exactly how he spends his time.
Mr. Knightley proves himself to be a very busy landowner. He confers daily with his steward, William Larkin, on any number of issues relating to his estate and tenants, and Mr. Larkin also fills him in on all the neighborhood gossip. He corresponds regularly with his brother John, who is a London lawyer, exchanging news and sometimes asking his advice, particularly regarding legal matters. He actively participates in all neighborhood events, even those he doesn't personally enjoy. He is sought out to solve problems and provide advice about everything from the mad Miss Castleman to the mysterious goings-on at the Crow's Nest (the local tavern). He provides for the poor and visits the sick and elderly. He regularly spends time with Mr. Woodhouse, the fussy and fragile gentleman who lives a short walk away.
And every night, he talks to Madam Duval, the pampered cat given to him by his young niece Bella. She hears his meditative ramblings about his despair from watching Emma Woodhouse and Frank Churchill flirt and banter whenever he sees them together, and this feline companion is the only witness when he looks out the window toward Emma's home each evening and wishes her a good night.
Both this book and its prequel, George Knightley, Esquire: Charity Envieth Not, are wonderfully matched in terms of plot, writing style and characterizations in Emma, although it is not necessary to read Jane Austen's original work to enjoy them on their own. I already appreciated Mr. Knightley, but he is vividly fleshed out as as character here, which makes me love him even more!
First of all, this is a continuation of George Knightley, Esquire: Charity Envieth Not and is NOT a stand-alone novel. There are characters and storylines in the first book of this series which progress here without specifically recounting what occurred previously and are not in Emma.
This story is rich in memorable characters - some straight from Emma, and some from this author's vivid imagination. It works in perfect harmony with the source book. For example, this explains more detail about the rash of thefts leading up to the break-in at Mrs. Weston's poultry house, which is mentioned only briefly at the end of Emma. Every encounter between Emma and Mr. Knightley is recounted here with the significant pieces of conversation exactly the same, but with all of Mr. Knightley's thoughts and feelings presented rather than hers. During all the scenes in Emma in which Mr. Knightley does not appear, he is otherwise occupied, and we now learn exactly how he spends his time.
Mr. Knightley proves himself to be a very busy landowner. He confers daily with his steward, William Larkin, on any number of issues relating to his estate and tenants, and Mr. Larkin also fills him in on all the neighborhood gossip. He corresponds regularly with his brother John, who is a London lawyer, exchanging news and sometimes asking his advice, particularly regarding legal matters. He actively participates in all neighborhood events, even those he doesn't personally enjoy. He is sought out to solve problems and provide advice about everything from the mad Miss Castleman to the mysterious goings-on at the Crow's Nest (the local tavern). He provides for the poor and visits the sick and elderly. He regularly spends time with Mr. Woodhouse, the fussy and fragile gentleman who lives a short walk away.
And every night, he talks to Madam Duval, the pampered cat given to him by his young niece Bella. She hears his meditative ramblings about his despair from watching Emma Woodhouse and Frank Churchill flirt and banter whenever he sees them together, and this feline companion is the only witness when he looks out the window toward Emma's home each evening and wishes her a good night.
Both this book and its prequel, George Knightley, Esquire: Charity Envieth Not, are wonderfully matched in terms of plot, writing style and characterizations in Emma, although it is not necessary to read Jane Austen's original work to enjoy them on their own. I already appreciated Mr. Knightley, but he is vividly fleshed out as as character here, which makes me love him even more!
October 28, 2016
[I purchased a copy of this book. Am not concerned with spoilers because I presume readers of this book will have read Emma.]
This is the second volume in a two-volume retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, told from the hero’s point of view. I gave the first volume four stars because I loved the portrayal of Mr. Knightley as deeply embedded in the business of the parish and his tenants—a true squire. The author had clearly done extensive research but rarely trotted it out for its own sake; the historical context was well embedded in the story. That element is present in the second volume as well, and I continued to enjoy it. The public face of Mr. Knightley is credible and consistent with the original novel.
What I liked less in the first volume was the romantic side of the story—Mr. Knightley’s ruminations and jealousies around his attachment to Emma, which he came to recognize pretty early on. We got a lot about what he felt but less of why. This preoccupation felt to me both anachronistic and inconsistent with the original novel. Unfortunately for me, the second volume had a lot more of the same and my interest flagged. I feel it would have been possible to make Knightley’s feelings more interesting had there been more of an arc to their development, echoing the arc of Emma’s ethics and slow-developing wisdom in the original. Instead, he simply adored her and slewed back and forth between hope and despair, mostly centered on the question of whether she was attached to Frank Churchill.
There were other anachronistic elements, such as men teasing and sympathizing with each other about their romantic lives, as well as the whole flirtation-and-sly-references-to-sex thing after the wedding, which always makes me cringe. I get that these are stock elements of modern romance, but they are not stock elements of Jane Austen’s fiction, and it jars me out of the world being evoked when they are present. (I realize I am outside the mainstream in this regard, so other readers may be more attracted to than repelled by these parts.)
At the heart of the artfulness of Emma is that it is a mystery (without the murder element). We have an unreliable narrator who believes reality is something very different from what it proves to be. Clues are scattered throughout, and the reader gradually comes to realize the flaws in our heroine’s thinking and sees past her to the truth. Rereading Emma with prior knowledge of the truth only adds to the pleasure because we are primed to see the author’s art and take delight in her cleverness. For me, that fundamental character of the original book was lost by shifting the focus to emotional feelings. I grant that it would have been a particular challenge to preserve the mystery structure when the story was being told from Knightley’s point of view, because through most of the original he holds the omniscient position usually held by the narrator (except for a few blind spots where Emma is concerned). So I sympathize with the author’s dilemma! But I wish she had found a way to keep her tale, so full of interesting detail, closer in spirit to the original novel.
This is the second volume in a two-volume retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, told from the hero’s point of view. I gave the first volume four stars because I loved the portrayal of Mr. Knightley as deeply embedded in the business of the parish and his tenants—a true squire. The author had clearly done extensive research but rarely trotted it out for its own sake; the historical context was well embedded in the story. That element is present in the second volume as well, and I continued to enjoy it. The public face of Mr. Knightley is credible and consistent with the original novel.
What I liked less in the first volume was the romantic side of the story—Mr. Knightley’s ruminations and jealousies around his attachment to Emma, which he came to recognize pretty early on. We got a lot about what he felt but less of why. This preoccupation felt to me both anachronistic and inconsistent with the original novel. Unfortunately for me, the second volume had a lot more of the same and my interest flagged. I feel it would have been possible to make Knightley’s feelings more interesting had there been more of an arc to their development, echoing the arc of Emma’s ethics and slow-developing wisdom in the original. Instead, he simply adored her and slewed back and forth between hope and despair, mostly centered on the question of whether she was attached to Frank Churchill.
There were other anachronistic elements, such as men teasing and sympathizing with each other about their romantic lives, as well as the whole flirtation-and-sly-references-to-sex thing after the wedding, which always makes me cringe. I get that these are stock elements of modern romance, but they are not stock elements of Jane Austen’s fiction, and it jars me out of the world being evoked when they are present. (I realize I am outside the mainstream in this regard, so other readers may be more attracted to than repelled by these parts.)
At the heart of the artfulness of Emma is that it is a mystery (without the murder element). We have an unreliable narrator who believes reality is something very different from what it proves to be. Clues are scattered throughout, and the reader gradually comes to realize the flaws in our heroine’s thinking and sees past her to the truth. Rereading Emma with prior knowledge of the truth only adds to the pleasure because we are primed to see the author’s art and take delight in her cleverness. For me, that fundamental character of the original book was lost by shifting the focus to emotional feelings. I grant that it would have been a particular challenge to preserve the mystery structure when the story was being told from Knightley’s point of view, because through most of the original he holds the omniscient position usually held by the narrator (except for a few blind spots where Emma is concerned). So I sympathize with the author’s dilemma! But I wish she had found a way to keep her tale, so full of interesting detail, closer in spirit to the original novel.
April 26, 2025
This Emma variation contnues as Mr Knightly slowly becomes aware of his truefeelings for Emma just as Frank Churchill pays her attention. But what of Jane Fairfax and the other inhabitants of Highbury.
An entertaining story
An entertaining story
Read
November 3, 2017Lend Me Leave is the second of two books by Barbara Cornthwaite about George Knightley, the hero of Jane Austen’s Emma. It picks up right where Charity Envieth Not left off in retelling Emma through Mr. Knightley’s eyes. Beware of possible spoilers from the first book.
Mr. Knightley is determined to win Emma Woodhouse’s heart, but he is crushed when he believes she has succumbed to Frank Churchill’s charms. He isn’t sure what those glances between Churchill and Jane Fairfax are all about, but he fears his beloved Emma is headed for heartbreak. Mr. Knightley resorts to quietly wooing Emma — so quietly that his attempts go unnoticed.
Only Mr. Spencer, the curate at Donwell, knows Knightley’s pain. He understands it, too, given his failed attempts to win over the widow Mrs. Catherwood, whose kindness stole his heart. The two men decide there is little they can do but watch their beloveds marry other men and try to move on with their lives. Although Knightley spends his evenings agonizing over Emma and pouring his heart out to his cat, Madam Duval, he spends his days trying to solve a rash of thefts in the village and figure out what to do about a mentally ill woman living with one his tenants.
If you read my review of Charity Envieth Not, you know how much I love Mr. Knightley and how I delighted in getting to see into his thoughts. I think I loved him even more in Lend Me Leave and thought his talking to the cat was both sweet and funny. Cornthwaite proves that you don’t need sex in a novel to show the passion between two characters, as evidenced in Knightley’s thoughts about the dance he shares with Emma at the ball. When I read Emma, I longed to know what was going on in Knightley’s head. He seemed so solid, so strong, so sure of himself, and Cornthwaite gives readers a chance to see how he goes from self-assured to anxious mess on the inside, which makes him even more endearing to me.
I really loved these two books and really hope Cornthwaite will revisit Knightley and Emma in the future. Her love and respect for Austen’s characters really shines through, and her original characters fit into the book so well. I can definitely see myself re-reading them down the road.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
Mr. Knightley is determined to win Emma Woodhouse’s heart, but he is crushed when he believes she has succumbed to Frank Churchill’s charms. He isn’t sure what those glances between Churchill and Jane Fairfax are all about, but he fears his beloved Emma is headed for heartbreak. Mr. Knightley resorts to quietly wooing Emma — so quietly that his attempts go unnoticed.
Only Mr. Spencer, the curate at Donwell, knows Knightley’s pain. He understands it, too, given his failed attempts to win over the widow Mrs. Catherwood, whose kindness stole his heart. The two men decide there is little they can do but watch their beloveds marry other men and try to move on with their lives. Although Knightley spends his evenings agonizing over Emma and pouring his heart out to his cat, Madam Duval, he spends his days trying to solve a rash of thefts in the village and figure out what to do about a mentally ill woman living with one his tenants.
If you read my review of Charity Envieth Not, you know how much I love Mr. Knightley and how I delighted in getting to see into his thoughts. I think I loved him even more in Lend Me Leave and thought his talking to the cat was both sweet and funny. Cornthwaite proves that you don’t need sex in a novel to show the passion between two characters, as evidenced in Knightley’s thoughts about the dance he shares with Emma at the ball. When I read Emma, I longed to know what was going on in Knightley’s head. He seemed so solid, so strong, so sure of himself, and Cornthwaite gives readers a chance to see how he goes from self-assured to anxious mess on the inside, which makes him even more endearing to me.
I really loved these two books and really hope Cornthwaite will revisit Knightley and Emma in the future. Her love and respect for Austen’s characters really shines through, and her original characters fit into the book so well. I can definitely see myself re-reading them down the road.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
July 29, 2016
And this second part of George Knightley's story was an ongoing source of delight. The author made Mr. Knightley come alive with all his sterling qualities, secret dreams and fears, and whimsy.
This second half shows George Knightley to be a man deeply in love with a lady who sees him as close family friend and possibly family, but not suitor. He has a rival and the rival seems to carry all before him. Mr. Knightley has never been in love or courted so he turns to poetry, late night conversations with his cat, Madame Duval, his canny brother, and heartfelt, honest admissions to an absent Emma. He loses hope as he sees Frank Churchill's growing influence, but his selfless love will do whatever he can to assure Emma of happiness even if it is not with him.
Meanwhile, he continues to do his duties as landowner, magistrate, and friend to all in their small community. Mr. Knightley is ever correct and courteous even to the vulgar Eltons. The letters flying back and forth with his brother John are an ever source of brotherly amusement, but loving connection, too. In the end, George Knightley gains his fondest desire, but in a way he least expects.
This retelling of Emma through Mr. George Knightley's eyes is a feast. I think I learned to appreciate the classic story more and the characters within as a result of the author's diligence to write in the spirit of Austen, pay heed to historical authenticity, and include her own warm inviting tones full of feeling. The whimsical delight in a correct gentleman who converses with his cat by the fire, engages in wry wit with a sensible brother, appreciates the quirkiness of his estate manager, and can see the absurdity in the jumped up Mrs. Elton without losing his composure. He even does jealousy with gentlemanly behavior when he sees the inferior man who is his rival toying with two ladies and generating smiles and laughter from Emma.
The duology of this book and it's predecessor are ones I highly recommend to the Austenesque lover who wants a strong and well-written Emma retelling from a different point of view. I can see this being a re-read that will continue to please me when I want to spend some time with one of the best of book heroes.
This second half shows George Knightley to be a man deeply in love with a lady who sees him as close family friend and possibly family, but not suitor. He has a rival and the rival seems to carry all before him. Mr. Knightley has never been in love or courted so he turns to poetry, late night conversations with his cat, Madame Duval, his canny brother, and heartfelt, honest admissions to an absent Emma. He loses hope as he sees Frank Churchill's growing influence, but his selfless love will do whatever he can to assure Emma of happiness even if it is not with him.
Meanwhile, he continues to do his duties as landowner, magistrate, and friend to all in their small community. Mr. Knightley is ever correct and courteous even to the vulgar Eltons. The letters flying back and forth with his brother John are an ever source of brotherly amusement, but loving connection, too. In the end, George Knightley gains his fondest desire, but in a way he least expects.
This retelling of Emma through Mr. George Knightley's eyes is a feast. I think I learned to appreciate the classic story more and the characters within as a result of the author's diligence to write in the spirit of Austen, pay heed to historical authenticity, and include her own warm inviting tones full of feeling. The whimsical delight in a correct gentleman who converses with his cat by the fire, engages in wry wit with a sensible brother, appreciates the quirkiness of his estate manager, and can see the absurdity in the jumped up Mrs. Elton without losing his composure. He even does jealousy with gentlemanly behavior when he sees the inferior man who is his rival toying with two ladies and generating smiles and laughter from Emma.
The duology of this book and it's predecessor are ones I highly recommend to the Austenesque lover who wants a strong and well-written Emma retelling from a different point of view. I can see this being a re-read that will continue to please me when I want to spend some time with one of the best of book heroes.
October 24, 2012
This review encompasses both books, because they're really just one book. Simply, it's Emma written from Mr. Knightley's POV, but really, it's much more than that.
I have been avoiding Jane Austen fan fiction for years because 1: it always seemed like fanservice wish-fulfillment ("I want to see Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy have sex!!") and 2: because I was pretty sure if I wanted to read that I could get better stories on fanfiction.net for free.
However, the first book was a Kindle Freebie and Mr. Knightley is my favorite Austen character (suck it Mr. Darcy) so I went for it.
I was really really surprised. Ms. Cornthwaite did a great job of capturing the spirit of Austen writing without trying to overly force the style, of capturing Mr. Knightley's character, and of expanding Mr. Knightley's life in Donwell beyond the story. She expanded on minor characters from the novel and created new ones of her own that seamlessly wove in. She enhanced the relationship between Mr. Knightly and his brother in a way that was both believable and very fun. And her arc of Mr. Knightley discovering his love for Emma was flawless. Ultimately I think what made this a great book is that even though you KNOW how it's going to turn out in the end, there is literally no wiggle room on the outcome, you STILL are on the edge of your seat with suspense for Mr. Knightley.
And in true Austen fashion, no, there is no sex. Sorry fanwankers!
There were a couple of flaws: I didn't like Knightley talking to the cat (it seemed contrived) and I felt that splitting it into 2 books was just a scam to get more money, since both books were about 250 pages long, and one 500 page book isn't exactly unheard of. However, since I got the first book for free, it's hardly like I can complain.
I don't know who this Barbara Cornthwaite is, but she's good and she needs to do more.
I have been avoiding Jane Austen fan fiction for years because 1: it always seemed like fanservice wish-fulfillment ("I want to see Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy have sex!!") and 2: because I was pretty sure if I wanted to read that I could get better stories on fanfiction.net for free.
However, the first book was a Kindle Freebie and Mr. Knightley is my favorite Austen character (suck it Mr. Darcy) so I went for it.
I was really really surprised. Ms. Cornthwaite did a great job of capturing the spirit of Austen writing without trying to overly force the style, of capturing Mr. Knightley's character, and of expanding Mr. Knightley's life in Donwell beyond the story. She expanded on minor characters from the novel and created new ones of her own that seamlessly wove in. She enhanced the relationship between Mr. Knightly and his brother in a way that was both believable and very fun. And her arc of Mr. Knightley discovering his love for Emma was flawless. Ultimately I think what made this a great book is that even though you KNOW how it's going to turn out in the end, there is literally no wiggle room on the outcome, you STILL are on the edge of your seat with suspense for Mr. Knightley.
And in true Austen fashion, no, there is no sex. Sorry fanwankers!
There were a couple of flaws: I didn't like Knightley talking to the cat (it seemed contrived) and I felt that splitting it into 2 books was just a scam to get more money, since both books were about 250 pages long, and one 500 page book isn't exactly unheard of. However, since I got the first book for free, it's hardly like I can complain.
I don't know who this Barbara Cornthwaite is, but she's good and she needs to do more.
December 19, 2017
I did not realize that this was the second of two in the re-telling of JA’s Emma from Mr. Knightley's POV when I saw it offered on kindle Unlimited. I have not yet read the first of the series, although, as I have read Emma many times I do know what happens so there is no suspense involved for me.
I did so enjoy reading of George Knightley's feelings towards Emma and about all the events in their lives from his viewpoint. I especially enjoyed his talking to his cat every evening (almost like entries in a journal) and then his saying a few comments to Emma while standing at his window looking towards her home. The man portrayed in this version shows a warmth and sentimentality not found in JA's Emma. His letters to his brother and his conversations with or about two other men undergoing the trials of unrequited love were also intriguing. We know of Robert Martin and his languishing pursuit of Harriet Smith from canon but this author has added a Mr. Spencer and his sad tale. Thoughts and condolences and/or advice between the males were a very interesting touch.
This was not a novel which has a lot of angst or even sexual tension. It reflects Jane Austen't style very well in my opinion. I did enjoy the different viewpoint and will definitely go back and read the first of this series.
I did so enjoy reading of George Knightley's feelings towards Emma and about all the events in their lives from his viewpoint. I especially enjoyed his talking to his cat every evening (almost like entries in a journal) and then his saying a few comments to Emma while standing at his window looking towards her home. The man portrayed in this version shows a warmth and sentimentality not found in JA's Emma. His letters to his brother and his conversations with or about two other men undergoing the trials of unrequited love were also intriguing. We know of Robert Martin and his languishing pursuit of Harriet Smith from canon but this author has added a Mr. Spencer and his sad tale. Thoughts and condolences and/or advice between the males were a very interesting touch.
This was not a novel which has a lot of angst or even sexual tension. It reflects Jane Austen't style very well in my opinion. I did enjoy the different viewpoint and will definitely go back and read the first of this series.
February 14, 2012
(Note: Potential readers should be made aware that this is the second book in the George Knightley, Esquire series, and that it is necessary to read BOOK ONE prior to reading this one.)
Lend Me Leave, book two in Barbara Cornthwaite's sensational George Knightley, Esquire series, recommences with our hero, the admirable, benevolent, and sagacious Mr. Knightley, trying to stealthily and silently woo his darling Emma. Book One, Charity Envieth Not, ends with three Donwell bachelors suffering from love-sickness: Mr. Martin, who is still nursing a broken heart after Harriet's refusal; Mr. Spencer, Donwell's new curate, who bungled his first proposal to the compassionate widow, Mrs. Catherwood; and Mr. Knightley, who fears that all his hopes and desires in regards to Emma Woodhouse will never be realized because of that blasted Frank Churchill! Although this series is centered upon Mr. Knightley, readers will be able to witness how all three of these lovelorn and worthy bachelors fare in this installment.
To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
Lend Me Leave, book two in Barbara Cornthwaite's sensational George Knightley, Esquire series, recommences with our hero, the admirable, benevolent, and sagacious Mr. Knightley, trying to stealthily and silently woo his darling Emma. Book One, Charity Envieth Not, ends with three Donwell bachelors suffering from love-sickness: Mr. Martin, who is still nursing a broken heart after Harriet's refusal; Mr. Spencer, Donwell's new curate, who bungled his first proposal to the compassionate widow, Mrs. Catherwood; and Mr. Knightley, who fears that all his hopes and desires in regards to Emma Woodhouse will never be realized because of that blasted Frank Churchill! Although this series is centered upon Mr. Knightley, readers will be able to witness how all three of these lovelorn and worthy bachelors fare in this installment.
To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
August 20, 2021
I've loved George Knightley ever since I first read Emma at thirteen years old. It was clearly a formative experience, because I adore him as much today as I did then, if not more so. He's my favourite literary hero, which I know is saying something given all the magnificent literary heroes out there, even within Austen's own novels. But he's my favourite, and maybe if I loved him less, I might be able to talk about it more articulately (see what I did there??)
He doesn't have the brooding flare of Mr Darcy, or the muslin knowledge of Henry Tilney. George Knightley is just... good. Sure, he's occasionally a petty little bitch, who gets jealous over Frank Churchill's handwriting, but he's my petty little bitch, thank you very much. He gets a bad rap because of the age thing, but actually if anything, the 2020 film adaptation came along and bitch slapped us all by casting the-exact-age-as-George-Knightley Johnny Flynn, looking youthful as hell, thank you very much. Does Knightley get on his high horse a bit? Yeah, of course he does. He's a rich white dude in Regency times. But he also has Emma Woodhouse to deal with and I think we all know that she is no shrinking violet and is hardly afraid to fight back. Give the dude a break.
There are so many Austen spin offs, knock offs, retellings and sequels out there. And if I'm honest, I've found the majority of them over the years quite disappointing. It's a magic that can't seem to be recaptured, and so one almost wishes that people didn't try. And then sometimes you get something that just hits the right spot. It isn't perfect, but it fills a void that you needed filling and this series was it for me.
Ever want to know what Mr Knightley gets up to when he isn't with Emma? Because although I'd argue that he is one of the few Austen heroes that gets quite a lot of up front time with his lady, he also doesn't spend every single waking moment at Hartfield. And so this series (as this review is really about the series as a whole rather than just this book alone), grants the reader a look into the life of a upright Regency gentleman farmer of means.
And basically it just cements what we already know. Mr Knightley is a good soul. He's kind and generous and interested in people. He's social, but has enough dry humour to recognise idiocy and try and evade it where he can. He's busy being a magistrate, a farmer, a landlord, an all round good guy who everybody loves. He puts up with Mr Woodhouse without complaint, is willing to admit he was wrong about Harriet Smith, and is totally fine with being BFF's with people who - at the time - would have been classed as below his station. Does this dude care? NO HE DOES NOT. Because he walks around seeing the good in people, which really explains why he is the one guy who is able to fall in love with Emma, without idealising her.
Was this book perfect? No, not at all. There were things that I would argue would very much not be the actions of sensible and practical Mr Knightley. He might be very much in love with Emma, but in my view, he wouldn't spend that time talking to an imaginary version of her, with all sorts of flowery poetic language. In my head, that's not his style. But barring that, the series captured his youthful and humourful spirit, and it was just what I needed.
We of course got to experience the novel's events through Mr Knightley's unique point of view, which was quite fun. He can't always detect all the events that are going on, but it's fun to watch him pick up on things without knowing why. There are some great original characters in this that felt really engaging - almost so much that you think they would fit into the original novel itself. And this series made me appreciate the acerbic comedy of John Knightley even more. The Knightley brothers are a DUO that are so rarely appreciated, and some of the best dialogue was between them, or within their hilarious letters to each other.
Either way, this was one of the better Austen-adjacent attempts I've read. All the better to scrub the disappointing Alexander McCall Smith modern retelling from my mind (it really shouldn't have been that difficult to get right, and yet...) This series was fun, soothing and enjoyable. Did it do my man the justice he deserves? Not entirely. Will I ever be satisfied that Mr Knightley is appreciated to the extent that he should be? Also no. But the series very much found an Emma-esque tone: the comings and goings of a small country village, through the eyes of one of Austen's underappreciated (but undoubtedly best) heroes.
He doesn't have the brooding flare of Mr Darcy, or the muslin knowledge of Henry Tilney. George Knightley is just... good. Sure, he's occasionally a petty little bitch, who gets jealous over Frank Churchill's handwriting, but he's my petty little bitch, thank you very much. He gets a bad rap because of the age thing, but actually if anything, the 2020 film adaptation came along and bitch slapped us all by casting the-exact-age-as-George-Knightley Johnny Flynn, looking youthful as hell, thank you very much. Does Knightley get on his high horse a bit? Yeah, of course he does. He's a rich white dude in Regency times. But he also has Emma Woodhouse to deal with and I think we all know that she is no shrinking violet and is hardly afraid to fight back. Give the dude a break.
There are so many Austen spin offs, knock offs, retellings and sequels out there. And if I'm honest, I've found the majority of them over the years quite disappointing. It's a magic that can't seem to be recaptured, and so one almost wishes that people didn't try. And then sometimes you get something that just hits the right spot. It isn't perfect, but it fills a void that you needed filling and this series was it for me.
Ever want to know what Mr Knightley gets up to when he isn't with Emma? Because although I'd argue that he is one of the few Austen heroes that gets quite a lot of up front time with his lady, he also doesn't spend every single waking moment at Hartfield. And so this series (as this review is really about the series as a whole rather than just this book alone), grants the reader a look into the life of a upright Regency gentleman farmer of means.
And basically it just cements what we already know. Mr Knightley is a good soul. He's kind and generous and interested in people. He's social, but has enough dry humour to recognise idiocy and try and evade it where he can. He's busy being a magistrate, a farmer, a landlord, an all round good guy who everybody loves. He puts up with Mr Woodhouse without complaint, is willing to admit he was wrong about Harriet Smith, and is totally fine with being BFF's with people who - at the time - would have been classed as below his station. Does this dude care? NO HE DOES NOT. Because he walks around seeing the good in people, which really explains why he is the one guy who is able to fall in love with Emma, without idealising her.
Was this book perfect? No, not at all. There were things that I would argue would very much not be the actions of sensible and practical Mr Knightley. He might be very much in love with Emma, but in my view, he wouldn't spend that time talking to an imaginary version of her, with all sorts of flowery poetic language. In my head, that's not his style. But barring that, the series captured his youthful and humourful spirit, and it was just what I needed.
We of course got to experience the novel's events through Mr Knightley's unique point of view, which was quite fun. He can't always detect all the events that are going on, but it's fun to watch him pick up on things without knowing why. There are some great original characters in this that felt really engaging - almost so much that you think they would fit into the original novel itself. And this series made me appreciate the acerbic comedy of John Knightley even more. The Knightley brothers are a DUO that are so rarely appreciated, and some of the best dialogue was between them, or within their hilarious letters to each other.
Either way, this was one of the better Austen-adjacent attempts I've read. All the better to scrub the disappointing Alexander McCall Smith modern retelling from my mind (it really shouldn't have been that difficult to get right, and yet...) This series was fun, soothing and enjoyable. Did it do my man the justice he deserves? Not entirely. Will I ever be satisfied that Mr Knightley is appreciated to the extent that he should be? Also no. But the series very much found an Emma-esque tone: the comings and goings of a small country village, through the eyes of one of Austen's underappreciated (but undoubtedly best) heroes.
September 19, 2014
A gem of a book. While I have not had much experience in Austen spin-offs, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. For anyone wanting an imaginative look inside Mr. Knightley's mind, this is worth reading.
This second book is the turning point of his coming to the realization that he loves Emma as more than a family friend, more than just his sister-in-law. It continues on with his daily tasks of overseeing his estate, the financial concerns, his relationships with the many people he comes in contact with, his job as a civil magistrate, and all this intertwining his thoughts of Emma. He is perplexed over the friendship she shares with Frank Churchill, is jealous, and extremely puzzled and agonizes over the best way to pursue her. While at some points I felt it had a flair for the dramatic and not at all what a man must think, other times it went beyond the trifles of his affections toward her.
It was fun to read, clean, and worth reading. Nothing to hold back my recommending it to anyone. It did not contain fluff, but many other interesting sub plots and showed the character of a Mr. Knightly we only got a glimpse of through Jane Austen's novel.
Only negatives would be that it is fairly weak on a Christian worldview perspective. It was "religious" in that it had no qualms with ministers and in passing mentioning praying, treating others better than yourself, etc., but Mr. Knightley has a warped view (incidentally Cornthwaite does too) of biblical justice, thinking what is "good" and "kind" is in fact a disservice to the community (not punishing evil-doers, letting them off the hook, etc.).
One gem:
"'I am almost content. I have won her heart and her hand is pledged. The chase has almost ended... the pursuit is almost done.' (Mr. Knightley)
'My dear fellow, you must not think of matrimony in that light. The real pursuit has not yet begun. The pursuit begins with marriage.'
Mr. Knightley stopped walking, 'Whatever do you mean?'
'It is only once a man is married that he has the ability-the freedom- to pursue his wife. Finding a wife is only the beginning. The pursuit of her heart, in the deepest sense, the pursuit of joy with her and in her, the pursuit of the deepest love... those things commence in earnest after the wedding. For pity's sake, do not abandon the chase just when you have license to do it freely!' (Dr. Hughes)" Pg. 208
This second book is the turning point of his coming to the realization that he loves Emma as more than a family friend, more than just his sister-in-law. It continues on with his daily tasks of overseeing his estate, the financial concerns, his relationships with the many people he comes in contact with, his job as a civil magistrate, and all this intertwining his thoughts of Emma. He is perplexed over the friendship she shares with Frank Churchill, is jealous, and extremely puzzled and agonizes over the best way to pursue her. While at some points I felt it had a flair for the dramatic and not at all what a man must think, other times it went beyond the trifles of his affections toward her.
It was fun to read, clean, and worth reading. Nothing to hold back my recommending it to anyone. It did not contain fluff, but many other interesting sub plots and showed the character of a Mr. Knightly we only got a glimpse of through Jane Austen's novel.
Only negatives would be that it is fairly weak on a Christian worldview perspective. It was "religious" in that it had no qualms with ministers and in passing mentioning praying, treating others better than yourself, etc., but Mr. Knightley has a warped view (incidentally Cornthwaite does too) of biblical justice, thinking what is "good" and "kind" is in fact a disservice to the community (not punishing evil-doers, letting them off the hook, etc.).
One gem:
"'I am almost content. I have won her heart and her hand is pledged. The chase has almost ended... the pursuit is almost done.' (Mr. Knightley)
'My dear fellow, you must not think of matrimony in that light. The real pursuit has not yet begun. The pursuit begins with marriage.'
Mr. Knightley stopped walking, 'Whatever do you mean?'
'It is only once a man is married that he has the ability-the freedom- to pursue his wife. Finding a wife is only the beginning. The pursuit of her heart, in the deepest sense, the pursuit of joy with her and in her, the pursuit of the deepest love... those things commence in earnest after the wedding. For pity's sake, do not abandon the chase just when you have license to do it freely!' (Dr. Hughes)" Pg. 208
June 7, 2013
This is an amazing book! The author's writing is excellent. I loved the pace and flow, descriptions, dialogue, letters between characters. I feel more of a kinship to Mr. Knightley than I've ever felt before and the relationships between him and his family and others were so very real. I must say I got a real feel for a day in the life of a gentleman with responsibilities. They were simple but so well spelled out and for those of us who wondered did they actually do anything worthwhile the answers are in this book.
January 17, 2013
The second book lived up to my expectations.What I loved about "Lend Me Leave" was even though I had read Emma (several times) I caught myself wondering if Knightly and Emma were going to get together! The only thing that I would have changed would have been to add a little of Knightly and Emma's life together after they were married,but that was my only problem! Read and Enjoy!
June 12, 2013
Loved it. Beautifully written.
April 23, 2025
Lend Me Leave was satisfactory, but not exemplary. Like in the first novel, I loved all the side characters and their stories. And more of Knightley and John's brotherly banter could never be a bad thing! But here were my hold-ups:
I was disappointed in not getting even more of Knightley's thoughts during the moments he and Emma confessed their feelings for each other. It felt like I was merely reading a word for word excerpt from Emma. It almost seemed disjointed from the flow of the book.
In the course of both novels, there was only one single conversation between Knightley and Churchill. One! And it was at the very end, after basically everything had wrapped up. With Knightley's constant disapproval throughout both books, I thought it was a huge missed opportunity to have at least a couple more interactions between the two of them. I think it would have added a lot.
Ultimately, I don't know that it benefited the author to divide this story into two parts. I think I would have just preferred to read all of it together in one go.
All that being said, I liked this story and still hold that it is one of the best Austen-inspired novels from the male pov!
I was disappointed in not getting even more of Knightley's thoughts during the moments he and Emma confessed their feelings for each other. It felt like I was merely reading a word for word excerpt from Emma. It almost seemed disjointed from the flow of the book.
In the course of both novels, there was only one single conversation between Knightley and Churchill. One! And it was at the very end, after basically everything had wrapped up. With Knightley's constant disapproval throughout both books, I thought it was a huge missed opportunity to have at least a couple more interactions between the two of them. I think it would have added a lot.
Ultimately, I don't know that it benefited the author to divide this story into two parts. I think I would have just preferred to read all of it together in one go.
All that being said, I liked this story and still hold that it is one of the best Austen-inspired novels from the male pov!
February 11, 2025
A highly enjoyable two part variation - 4.5*
This is the second part of a two part series exploring "Emma" through the eyes of Mr Knightley.
Like the first part this is well written, a much higher standard than many books in this genre, and is very charming. The relationship between the Knightley brothers is a particular delight. There are many delightful little "word pictures" to please the reader and to add colour to the story.
"Emma" is told exclusively from a feminine POV and I think the author has done very well to create a story from the male POV and not making Knightley give voice to anything he could not have known.
I heartily recommend this series.
4* = "really liked it" (Goodreads ratings)
5* = "it was amazing" (Goodreads ratings)
This is the second part of a two part series exploring "Emma" through the eyes of Mr Knightley.
Like the first part this is well written, a much higher standard than many books in this genre, and is very charming. The relationship between the Knightley brothers is a particular delight. There are many delightful little "word pictures" to please the reader and to add colour to the story.
"Emma" is told exclusively from a feminine POV and I think the author has done very well to create a story from the male POV and not making Knightley give voice to anything he could not have known.
I heartily recommend this series.
4* = "really liked it" (Goodreads ratings)
5* = "it was amazing" (Goodreads ratings)
October 17, 2023
Ho trovato questo secondo volume della serie George Knightley, Esquire un po' meno entusiasmante del primo, probabilmente perché Mr. Knightley non è più all'altezza di se stessse, prostrato com'è dalla gelosia per Emma, che sembra avere in rapporto di complicità con Frank Churchill, che potrebbe portargliela via.
Naturalmente, tutti hanno il loro bel lieto fine e i tre scapoli di Donwell riusciranno a conquistare le donne di cui sono innamorati, anche se due di loro erano stati rifiutati, tanto che Mr. Knightley non aveva espresso prima il suo amore per Emma per paura del detto Non c'è due senza tre...
Naturalmente, tutti hanno il loro bel lieto fine e i tre scapoli di Donwell riusciranno a conquistare le donne di cui sono innamorati, anche se due di loro erano stati rifiutati, tanto che Mr. Knightley non aveva espresso prima il suo amore per Emma per paura del detto Non c'è due senza tre...
May 3, 2024
Read the first before this one!
A satisfying conclusion to the previous book. I enjoyed the letters back and forth between the brothers Knightly. This variation is from George Knightly's point of view. Well written, it captures Jane Austen's cadence. My only objection to on page 220, Gilbert has tried and sent to prison and then shows up later in the chapter. I thought I had misread and went back to figure it out. Not sure who went to prison. This is not a major issue but did cause some confusion. May be the author will answer this conundrum.
A satisfying conclusion to the previous book. I enjoyed the letters back and forth between the brothers Knightly. This variation is from George Knightly's point of view. Well written, it captures Jane Austen's cadence. My only objection to on page 220, Gilbert has tried and sent to prison and then shows up later in the chapter. I thought I had misread and went back to figure it out. Not sure who went to prison. This is not a major issue but did cause some confusion. May be the author will answer this conundrum.
September 12, 2025
Completely delightful. So well written and so true to the original story, yet with many wonderful details about the people of Donwell and Highbury that Miss Austen didn’t include. Also, many lovely details from the time period such as books, paintings, quotations which I had to stop and google, some books still in print such as The Rare Jewel of Discontent by Jeremiah Burroughs which I was able to download for .56¢. The first time I looked they were only available as ebooks but today Amazon is showing a paperback edition. These are beautiful stories and deserve to be more widely read.
February 16, 2024
I don’t know whether this second book was more boring or I was just more tired each time I read it, but I had a harder time staying engaged with the story than I did with the first. It still felt like brain candy, and I was happy to read it. But I didn’t feel drawn to the characters much, and I felt a slight sense of relief when I finished the book.
March 14, 2019
This is a fun, clean series which gives Knightley's point of view of the story of Jane Austen's Emma. The two books need to be read together. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of his life as landlord and magistrate, as well as his developing relationship with Emma.
January 27, 2025
I adore the “Epilogue” this adds to Emma and Mr. Knightly’s story. This series adds beauty and depth to an already lovely story. Highly recommended!!!
February 7, 2025
Perfectly lovely second part of Knightley’s view of the classic story of Emma. I really loved this pair of books, wonderfully done and such a delight to read.
August 27, 2013
Un second tome qui ne dépare pas par rapport au premier. Les personnages inventés par l'auteur s’intègrent parfaitement à l'univers de Jane Austen et je me suis surprise à me demander avec angoisse si Spencer allait être malheureux jusqu'à la fin. J'aime beaucoup le fait que ce ne soit pas écrit à la première personne (j'avais oublié de le dire dans ma critique du premier tome) mais à la troisième en suivant les pas de Knightley au lieu de s'attacher à ceux d'Emma. Malgré la troisième personne, le point de vue du personnage est bien rendu et j'aime particulièrement la façon dont elle permet à son personnage d'exprimer ses pensées (en parlant avec son chat et en s'adressant à Emma depuis l'abbaye) . La façon dont il perçoit Churchill et Jane et s'aperçoit de leur connivence est aussi bien amenée, tout comme son ressenti à cet égard. Miss Bates est toujours laissée un peu de côté dans cette version et franchement ça fait du bien ( et surtout l'auteur s'est abstenue de lui inventer une romance, contrairement à A Grange). Bon certes, ses personnages inventés connaissent aussi une fin heureuse ( enfin pour Spencer), et en fait c'est bien amené, nettement mieux que dans la version A Grange ( selon moi) et du coup on est content pour eux ^^ Par ailleurs j'ai retrouvé avec plaisir l'incident des fraises : la rencontre Mrs Elton/Knightley qui était un de mes passages favoris ^^ Les échanges de correspondance entre Knightley et son frère sont toujours aussi savoureux, j'ai adoré la dernière qui termine à merveille le roman et m'a fait beaucoup rire ( en plus Mme Duval n'est pas oubliée ^^)
Les plus : l'intrigue de Jane Austen est fidèlement suivie et les ajouts de personnages de l'auteur son pertinents et intéressants. On découvre toujours un côté méconnu de Knightley et la manière dont il gère ses affaires. J'ai aimé aussi le fait qu'on ait le récit de la réconciliation Martin /Harriet
Les moins : La scène des fameuses lettres de bois, un peu trop longue.
En bref : Un second tome à la hauteur du premier, des personnages très fidèles et bien rendus
Ma note : 8/10
Les plus : l'intrigue de Jane Austen est fidèlement suivie et les ajouts de personnages de l'auteur son pertinents et intéressants. On découvre toujours un côté méconnu de Knightley et la manière dont il gère ses affaires. J'ai aimé aussi le fait qu'on ait le récit de la réconciliation Martin /Harriet
Les moins : La scène des fameuses lettres de bois, un peu trop longue.
En bref : Un second tome à la hauteur du premier, des personnages très fidèles et bien rendus
Ma note : 8/10
January 25, 2014
I absolutely loved reading Charity Envieth Not and Lend Me Leave. These two books tell the novel Emma through the perspective of George Knightley. I almost wish they were combined into one edition, however. Still, I can't begin to recommend these enough to all Austen fans!!!
I enjoyed many aspects of both books. I really, really loved George Knightley. That in and of itself is far from shocking. Dare I say he's probably the best thing about Austen's novel?! I loved seeing the characters (and/or the community) through his eyes. I loved his involvement in the community. I loved meeting various characters--rich and poor, from all classes or statuses. I especially, especially liked Spencer! I loved getting to know his brother John better. And I liked seeing him in the role of uncle! I liked how wide the perspective is--if that makes sense! Emma, to me, comes across as very self-centered, the world through her eyes seem a bit narrow.
I also appreciate how both books treat the character of Emma. I think to fully appreciate Emma, one HAS to see her AS Knightley sees her. This book accomplishes that! I don't think I've ever seen Emma in such a positive light before. And it made me think a bit, what if Emma is blinded to her strengths JUST as she's blinded to her weaknesses. OR in other words, what if the narration is a bit too close to accurately judge her strengths/weaknesses. Of course, Knightley cannot absolutely read all her motives and intentions, so maybe he's reading more compassion, more tenderness, more generosity than is really truly there. But maybe just maybe Emma's heart is bigger than I have previously thought. And maybe just maybe her mind isn't quite as empty as I thought it. I kept asking myself what does Knightley see in Emma that I don't?
I would recommend it to those who already love Emma, and even to those that don't really like her. Knightley is a great hero! And he's definitely worth reading about!
I enjoyed many aspects of both books. I really, really loved George Knightley. That in and of itself is far from shocking. Dare I say he's probably the best thing about Austen's novel?! I loved seeing the characters (and/or the community) through his eyes. I loved his involvement in the community. I loved meeting various characters--rich and poor, from all classes or statuses. I especially, especially liked Spencer! I loved getting to know his brother John better. And I liked seeing him in the role of uncle! I liked how wide the perspective is--if that makes sense! Emma, to me, comes across as very self-centered, the world through her eyes seem a bit narrow.
I also appreciate how both books treat the character of Emma. I think to fully appreciate Emma, one HAS to see her AS Knightley sees her. This book accomplishes that! I don't think I've ever seen Emma in such a positive light before. And it made me think a bit, what if Emma is blinded to her strengths JUST as she's blinded to her weaknesses. OR in other words, what if the narration is a bit too close to accurately judge her strengths/weaknesses. Of course, Knightley cannot absolutely read all her motives and intentions, so maybe he's reading more compassion, more tenderness, more generosity than is really truly there. But maybe just maybe Emma's heart is bigger than I have previously thought. And maybe just maybe her mind isn't quite as empty as I thought it. I kept asking myself what does Knightley see in Emma that I don't?
I would recommend it to those who already love Emma, and even to those that don't really like her. Knightley is a great hero! And he's definitely worth reading about!
May 5, 2012
This "book" is really the second volume of Charity Envieth Not. The story stops abruptly at the end of book 1. The story starts abruptly at the start of this book.
You really need to read them together.
The author was true to the "voice" and language of the original without copying phrasing or sections of text from the original. The events relating to the main characters from Emma (Mr. Knightley, Emma, Harriet, Martin, Elton, etc) are canonical but Mr. Knightley has many other dealings in his life (both personal and professional) that we learn about in this retelling. These new details, especially about his professional life, are the meat and the best part of the story. Of course if you are thinking of reading it, I suspect you, like me, enjoy reading about the romantic events of the original--those are the same, but told from a different point of view.
You really need to read them together.
The author was true to the "voice" and language of the original without copying phrasing or sections of text from the original. The events relating to the main characters from Emma (Mr. Knightley, Emma, Harriet, Martin, Elton, etc) are canonical but Mr. Knightley has many other dealings in his life (both personal and professional) that we learn about in this retelling. These new details, especially about his professional life, are the meat and the best part of the story. Of course if you are thinking of reading it, I suspect you, like me, enjoy reading about the romantic events of the original--those are the same, but told from a different point of view.
April 10, 2016
"Talking to one's beloved while she was not there might be just within the bounds of sane behaviour, but to philosophise aloud to a cat that was sixteen miles away was surely beyond the pale."
I think that was my favorite sentence in the whole book. As I often talk aloud to my own cat, I can sympathize with Mr. Knightley.
I like this book for much of the same reasons I liked the first. The letters/relationship between George and John Knightley were delightful, and I loved seeing the tender, and respectful side of it as well. What struck me most about this book was seeing Emma through Mr. Knightley's eyes. While I still don't particularly like Emma, I got a better look at her more endearing qualities. She has a truly caring and loyal side that I did not see before. I also realized just how young she really is, and that there is a lack of maturity.
I loved both books, and would recommend them to anyone who wants a different perspective of Jane Austen's Emma.
I think that was my favorite sentence in the whole book. As I often talk aloud to my own cat, I can sympathize with Mr. Knightley.
I like this book for much of the same reasons I liked the first. The letters/relationship between George and John Knightley were delightful, and I loved seeing the tender, and respectful side of it as well. What struck me most about this book was seeing Emma through Mr. Knightley's eyes. While I still don't particularly like Emma, I got a better look at her more endearing qualities. She has a truly caring and loyal side that I did not see before. I also realized just how young she really is, and that there is a lack of maturity.
I loved both books, and would recommend them to anyone who wants a different perspective of Jane Austen's Emma.
February 21, 2016
This is the second half of George Knightley's story as a parallel to Jane Austen's Emma. This is a good thing; allowing him to have a life of his own with the people he knows and the work that occupies his day is what sets this apart from a mere retelling of a story from another point of view. And it's so well done, I can only wish the author allowed herself to move beyond the honeymoon to tell a little more, perhaps creating a trilogy, but it is no bad thing to be left with that desire when finishing a good story.
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