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Aunt Celia
The good-hearted Mr Weston is delighted to hear that his son from faraway Yorkshire is to spend the summer nearby with his whole family. But it is Mr Weston's good-heartedness that threatens the summer's pleasure as he extends his kindness indiscriminately to some unscrupulous hangers-on.
- GenresRomance
264 pages, Hardcover
Published January 4, 1993
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 23, 2022
If one is curious about what comes after the events of Jane Austen's Emma for several of the minor characters, Aunt Celia brings their story to light in a whimsical and sweet tale of coming of age and summer romance for two young ladies.
Aunt Celia introduces Celia, the daughter of Mr. Weston and his late second wife along with her niece, Stella Churchill, who is only a few years younger. Celia lives in sweet harmony with her father at Randalls with the exception of the drab, mousy woman, Mrs. Petteril, who had lost her last position and Mr. Weston took her in to be a companion for Celia. Celia doesn't know what to make of the woman who she can't quite like, but cannot be rude to so she and her father are polite, but distant to the poor creature. Celia is happy to be the mistress of Randalls, visit area friends around Highbury, and silently grieve her loving mother while her father delights in her and keeps active with his business while silently grieving as well.
Their peaceful days are to receive something of a surprise when they receive a letter from Frank saying Encombe needs major renovation after a wall collapsed so he has hired Donwell Abbey and is moving his family there for the summer so they can all visit. Mr. Weston and Celia are eager to receive the rest of their family and barely take note when Mrs. Petteril informs them that her son has been let go from working in his uncle's French wine business and will be coming for a visit. Mrs. Petteril sees the arrival of her Henry and it gives her ideas when it comes to the generous, open Westons.
The Churchills arrive with six children, Miss Bates, and their tutor, James Aske. Stella didn't want to come, but she soon starts enjoying the renewed friendship with Celia. Stella is spoilt and impulsive and Frank hopes the steadier Celia will have an influence on her even as he looks askance at this Henry Petteril who is suddenly in their midst. Meanwhile, there is speculation about Mr. Aske who seems to have a secret motive for taking the tutor role for the summer
Stella and Celia must navigate the intricacies of the heart and learn some valuable lessons along the way. In the end, there is unexpected romance and the plottings of others are revealed.
I've enjoyed four other Austen pastiches by the author and especially because they are about minor characters from the different Austen novels. The author's writing voice takes on the Austen tone and she keeps her tales on the lighter side. Aunt Celia was enjoyable, but felt rather light and fluffy pinging around between the points of views and gliding over a looser plot. Perhaps it was because there were so many story threads and points of view, but I couldn't get settled into this story. I was distracted until the last third when it finally gelled for me. It was a shorter, fast read and, though a wee struggle to keep focused, I enjoyed it.
I am getting to the point where the remainder of the author's backlist will be much harder to obtain or even borrow so I anticipate them all the more and feel the few I did read are more precious since these are older Austenesque works. Definitely recommend for a 'classic' feel to Austen sequels.
Aunt Celia introduces Celia, the daughter of Mr. Weston and his late second wife along with her niece, Stella Churchill, who is only a few years younger. Celia lives in sweet harmony with her father at Randalls with the exception of the drab, mousy woman, Mrs. Petteril, who had lost her last position and Mr. Weston took her in to be a companion for Celia. Celia doesn't know what to make of the woman who she can't quite like, but cannot be rude to so she and her father are polite, but distant to the poor creature. Celia is happy to be the mistress of Randalls, visit area friends around Highbury, and silently grieve her loving mother while her father delights in her and keeps active with his business while silently grieving as well.
Their peaceful days are to receive something of a surprise when they receive a letter from Frank saying Encombe needs major renovation after a wall collapsed so he has hired Donwell Abbey and is moving his family there for the summer so they can all visit. Mr. Weston and Celia are eager to receive the rest of their family and barely take note when Mrs. Petteril informs them that her son has been let go from working in his uncle's French wine business and will be coming for a visit. Mrs. Petteril sees the arrival of her Henry and it gives her ideas when it comes to the generous, open Westons.
The Churchills arrive with six children, Miss Bates, and their tutor, James Aske. Stella didn't want to come, but she soon starts enjoying the renewed friendship with Celia. Stella is spoilt and impulsive and Frank hopes the steadier Celia will have an influence on her even as he looks askance at this Henry Petteril who is suddenly in their midst. Meanwhile, there is speculation about Mr. Aske who seems to have a secret motive for taking the tutor role for the summer
Stella and Celia must navigate the intricacies of the heart and learn some valuable lessons along the way. In the end, there is unexpected romance and the plottings of others are revealed.
I've enjoyed four other Austen pastiches by the author and especially because they are about minor characters from the different Austen novels. The author's writing voice takes on the Austen tone and she keeps her tales on the lighter side. Aunt Celia was enjoyable, but felt rather light and fluffy pinging around between the points of views and gliding over a looser plot. Perhaps it was because there were so many story threads and points of view, but I couldn't get settled into this story. I was distracted until the last third when it finally gelled for me. It was a shorter, fast read and, though a wee struggle to keep focused, I enjoyed it.
I am getting to the point where the remainder of the author's backlist will be much harder to obtain or even borrow so I anticipate them all the more and feel the few I did read are more precious since these are older Austenesque works. Definitely recommend for a 'classic' feel to Austen sequels.
September 27, 2017
I really liked this book. Jane Austen would approve.
November 13, 2013
Eighteen years after the conclusion of Emma finds Mr. Weston a widower once again. Mr. Weston and his only daughter Celia feel the loss of this most beloved mother and wife keenly. Feeling that Celia is in need of female companionship, Mr. Weston brings in a Mrs. Petteril to keep Celia company. Celia doesn't much like Mrs. Petteril and they do not spend much time in each other's company. Mrs. Petteril tries to be as subservient as possible to the Westons but has plans of her own. Her plans include securing the future for herself and her scheming son Henry, who is forced to retire to Surrey after some misadventures. When Frank Churchill decides to bring his family to Highbury, it's cause for much joy at Randalls. The Churchill clan includes eldest daughter Stella, 16; several younger children; Miss Bates and the boys' tutor, Mr. James Aske. Celia and Stella are delighted to see each other again and Frank hopes that Celia will exert a more sober influence over the silly, spoiled Stella. Celia spends much time at Donwell Abbey, where the Churchills are staying. Henry Petteril also spends a lot of time at Donwell and is delightful company. The young people find Mr. Aske a bit quiet and mysterious. When his secret comes out, only Celia is sympathetic. More secrets about the mysterious tutor are revealed, Stella inadvertently makes mischief and true love is revealed in this sequel to Emma.
The plot of this story is very slow moving. It didn't capture my attention at all and I had to force myself to finish it. There are some surprises and twists that I didn't expect before it settles down into predictability. The characters do not really come to life and they are not very memorable. Frank Churchill has become a severe, authoritarian father and employer which seems a bit out of character. Jane Fairfax is a smiling, loving, somewhat mysterious mother and does not play a large role in the story. Only Miss Bates remains her same garrulous self and the author does a wonderful job recreating her speech patterns and the subjects she fixates on. She is quite my favorite character in the whole novel. I didn't quite like the romantic pairings. I found Celia's romance boring and Stella's too sudden. This book isn't exactly a must read for Janeites but if you loved Emma and want to know more about the minor characters, then I would suggest reading this book. If you're looking for passion or adventure, look elsewhere.
The plot of this story is very slow moving. It didn't capture my attention at all and I had to force myself to finish it. There are some surprises and twists that I didn't expect before it settles down into predictability. The characters do not really come to life and they are not very memorable. Frank Churchill has become a severe, authoritarian father and employer which seems a bit out of character. Jane Fairfax is a smiling, loving, somewhat mysterious mother and does not play a large role in the story. Only Miss Bates remains her same garrulous self and the author does a wonderful job recreating her speech patterns and the subjects she fixates on. She is quite my favorite character in the whole novel. I didn't quite like the romantic pairings. I found Celia's romance boring and Stella's too sudden. This book isn't exactly a must read for Janeites but if you loved Emma and want to know more about the minor characters, then I would suggest reading this book. If you're looking for passion or adventure, look elsewhere.
August 30, 2009
Ever wonder what became of Mr. Weston, yes he married poor Miss Taylor. But did they have any children? Yes! and her name is Celia.
This is a sequel to Jane Austen's book "Emma," and takes place about 18 years later. This book does not mention all the characters from Emma, including Emma herself. This book is about the Westons and Churchills.
Celia is 18 and now motherless, during summer she comes across new acquaitences and is reintroduced to her half brothers family (Frank Churchill). In this books some characters are spiteful, some deceitful, and others just secretive. It was not an uneventful summer! I recommend this book for people who adored the characters from Emma and want to take a trip back into Highbury.
The only thing I found displeasing in this book is that sometimes the writing was not making sense. I feel that a better editing job was needed. But it did not take away from the pleasure of reading this book.
This is a sequel to Jane Austen's book "Emma," and takes place about 18 years later. This book does not mention all the characters from Emma, including Emma herself. This book is about the Westons and Churchills.
Celia is 18 and now motherless, during summer she comes across new acquaitences and is reintroduced to her half brothers family (Frank Churchill). In this books some characters are spiteful, some deceitful, and others just secretive. It was not an uneventful summer! I recommend this book for people who adored the characters from Emma and want to take a trip back into Highbury.
The only thing I found displeasing in this book is that sometimes the writing was not making sense. I feel that a better editing job was needed. But it did not take away from the pleasure of reading this book.
December 16, 2010
A very basic story with not many twists and turns but enough to keep you interested. It's got alot of dialogue and is very innocent. No sex. It's a nice change of pace and an easy read. A quick picker upper. Mr. Weston has a daughter. Mrs. Weston is deceased. Frank and Jane show up with a house full of kids for a visit. Needy people are sponging off the Westons with some untoward results. The tutor plays a vital role.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews