The second life of Mrs Charlotte Collins

by Miranda Markwell

From the world of Pride and Prejudice comes an exhilarating story of a woman finding her own voice and happiness and pursuing love on her own terms.

When her awkward but serviceable husband dies ten years into their marriage, Charlotte Collins — née Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth Bennet’s close friend in Pride and Prejudice — is suddenly granted a level of independence and freedom that few of her peers have. She moves into Longbourn Estate with her son, Henry, and for the first time considers how she might serve her own happiness. The frank interest of Hertfordshire’s young minister stirs exciting feelings of attraction in Charlotte, but she is not eager to remarry.

Meanwhile, an Italian friend of her neighbors the Bingleys, Mr. Ossoli, tutors eight-year-old Henry in drawing and encourages Charlotte to find her own calling. Charlotte’s desire to write a book for young women about the reality of marriage scandalizes her friends but brings her closer to Mr. Ossoli. Can Charlotte find love without the associated confines of marriage? She is determined to find out.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook

89 pages, ebook

Published October 17, 2022

Reviews

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars for The Second Life of Mrs. Charlotte Collins (audiobook) by Miranda Markwell read by Anais Inara Chase.

This is a story of a young widow trying to find her place in the Pride and Prejudice world.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story was incredibly well-written and refrains from the smutty drivel that many Pride and Prejudice derivatives are burdened with. While I did not agree with the characterisation of Jane and Elizabeth — the reason I rated it 3 instead of 4 stars — I will admit that the author showed her skill explaining this sudden change in character. I enjoyed the musings of Charlotte on the problems plaguing women in society and would have liked to see more.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not like how the author portrayed Lizzie and Jane at all. One always runs the risk of putting off readers when adapting/extending a beloved work, but this was far out of character for them.

[Ag · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but it was a disappointment. The disappointment lies in the totally uncharacteristic portrayal of Elizabeth and Jane to Charlotte. These women grew up together and seemed close, even though each had differing views on marriage, they all knew they had to get married and married well to help not only themselves but their family. So for Elizabeth and Jane to completely dismiss Charlottes idea of a book for young women and marriage, is not believable for these characters at all. And then to send the pastor over to tell Charlotte to refrain from visiting them is really over the top. I think this was suppose to have a feminist twist on the story, which I really appreciate and welcome, but by pitting the Bennet sisters against Charlotte is, to me, not very feminist thinking, where is the sisterhood in that. Why could all three women agree that the book was a good idea, and write it together, giving them all a opportunity to get out of their household and motherly routine for a bit of brainstorming and writing. I like that Charlotte was growing as a character, but it does not mean you have to make the other women in the story looks bad to make her look good.

[Whitney Sivill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the idea that Charlotte had come fully into herself after the passing of Mr. Collins. I always figured she'd find more value in herself and her place in the world being a minister's wife in charge of so many things. I'm not so sure I agree with the author about the direction she took Elizabeth and Jane, especially Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy married her because she was original, spoke her mind, and didn't care what people thought of her. But here she's portrayed as almost as bad as Lady Catherine - judgmental and cold. I also can't really agree with the idea that Charlotte would write a book such as was suggested even if it was the right thing to do. She'd be 150 almost 160 years before her time and no one would read it because of the scandalizing material. Other than that, it was good and enjoyable short read.

[Hollie Smurthwaite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love pretty much all things Austen, particularly Pride and Prejudice, but this one fell a little short for me. Charlotte Lucas is a widow just coming out of mourning. I liked where the author chose to put Charlotte in terms of growth and maturity. She had a loveless marriage, but it wasn't all bad, but now she's looking for more.

My problem, I think, was that the author seemed to be saying that if you have your happy ever after, then you can no longer grow as a person, because both Jane and Elizabeth seem to backslide as people, and I think it was their portrayal that made me not like this book as much as I wanted.

Charlotte becomes a feminist character with a mind of her own, which is fun to read. So, if you're a fan of feminist retellings and not too attached to Jane and Elizabeth.

[Rosa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was super disappointed with this book!! In hindsight, I should have read the author's bio before starting the book. As I later learned, Markwell is a hard core feminist and it was very evident in her writing.

The author attempts to take Charlotte (Lucas) Collins from Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice and give her a new life after the death of her husband. She portrays Charlotte as having been tied down to her husband, their marriage, and his ministry in the community. The author even attempted to warp the beloved characters of Pride & Prejudice by implying that Jane and Elizabeth were exhausted by all their children and the control of their dim-witted husbands.

It seemed to me that the author basically stole a character from a beloved classic novel, killed off the woman's husband, and created an entirely new character off that springboard, meanwhile destroying the charming characters of the well-known classic. The book as a whole is very uncharacteristic of the time period, and in the end, Charlotte leaves the country with a man who she is not married to even though she has no current romantic feelings towards him and no intention of marrying him.

Honestly, I hated the book and would not recommend it. It was a waste of time and is still annoying me.

[Maria do Socorro Baptista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sei que é ficção, mas a ideia da protagonista, de escrever um livro para orientar jovens sobre o casamento - não sobre suas obrigações, mas sobre o que as espera na vida de casada, inclusive questões legais, financeiras, e, claro, sobre a sexualidade - é uma ideia brilhante, pois é um livro que realmente deveria ter sido publicado. Talvez até tenha sido, não posso afirmar, mas foi isso que me fez gostar dessa personagem, protagonista deste pequeno livro, uma continuação da suposta vida de Charlotte, a amiga das Bennet que teve a ousadia de aceitar se casar com Mr. Collins. Achei bastante interessante.

[Florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 I love the idea of this character coming back to lead her own storyline. I like how the author picked up and evolved her story. Noteworthy too is the wonderful reintroduction of Anne. What I didn’t like were the versions of Elizabeth and Jane the author brought forward. I feel like there should have been a way to keep their strengths and personalities intact and evolve Charlottes at the same time, but I read through and enjoyed the story despite that annoyance.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

What complete nonsense! Charlotte is now a feminist willing to have affairs but never remarry. There’s insta love on the side of the young rector who proposes marriage at the ball after two brief encounters and manages to kiss her. Charlotte then decides to run off with the Italian artist and stay with him in Italy and subject her son to the inevitable scandal. Please! Charlotte would never be able to show herself in polite society.

And the character assassination of Lizzie is appalling.

[MissyLynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something different from the usual Pride and Prejudice variations out there since Charlotte never really gets any books.

The story was just okay. Elizabeth and Jane were so out of character and portrayed as broodmares with no likeness to the original characters.

Anne de Bourgh's character was different then the way Jane Austen portrayed her, but I like the idea of this Anne and wouldn't mind a story about her by this author.

[Jill Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had so much potential… I think I would have liked this story much better if it hadn’t been connected to Pride and Prejudice… none of the characters seemed to match up with the original.
The idea of the story is original enough I think it could have stood on its own…. Or perhaps make a greater attempt to match the original characters disposition and character.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not terribly written, by filled with 21st century cliches of what 19th century women really wanted.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short story of a clergy wife and starting over.

[Sofi Aceves (The Bookish Flor on YouTube ) Aceves · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book we find Charlotte Collins 10 years after she married Mr. Collins and a few months after his passing.

Charlotte who was once worried about her future finds herself now secure in her position in society ready to leave the life she truly wants.

She also questions why women are not properly informed of what it intails in being married and has dedicated to write a book about it.

I love how we got to see this secondary character, how her life has been, the choices she has made, the friendships she has acquired and the adventures she wishes to go on.

Everything you love about Austens work, with a little extra.

[Nancy Hanson · Rating 1 out of 5]

There have been a lot of Jane Austin knock offs. This was one of the worst I've read. I gave it one star, one for the author actually putting in the time to write it and for finding someone to publish it. Give credit where credit is due.

A lot of Charlotte musing about her marriage and their sex life. When her husband was alive. The slang and phrasing of words was not of the correct century. I think that's all the time I want to spend on this review.