Follies Past: a Prequel to Pride and Prejudice in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Feb 13, 2014 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen-related

I have been reading JAFF for more than a decade, and this is one of the better of the
Austenesque novels. The words, syntax and
general tone are right and all the characters
are consistent with Jane Austen's. The book
makes an excellent prequel to Pride and
Prejudice and I enjoyed reading it for St.
Valentine's Day. ...more

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Jun 22, 2014 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pride-and-prejudice, jane-austen

In this charming and praiseworthy debut novel, author Melanie Kerr pens a prequel to Pride and Prejudice that surprisingly is not centered on Mr. Darcy or Elizabeth Bennet! Instead she chooses to flesh-out and fill in the histories of Caroline Bingley, George Wickham, and Georgiana Darcy. (Not one Bennet will you find here!) And while we do see our reserved and illustrious Mr. Darcy on the page quite a bit, this prequel focuses on other characters, especially three women: Caroline Bingley, Georg In this charming and praiseworthy debut novel, author Melanie Kerr pens a prequel to Pride and Prejudice that surprisingly is not centered on Mr. Darcy or Elizabeth Bennet! Instead she chooses to flesh-out and fill in the histories of Caroline Bingley, George Wickham, and Georgiana Darcy. (Not one Bennet will you find here!) And while we do see our reserved and illustrious Mr. Darcy on the page quite a bit, this prequel focuses on other characters, especially three women: Caroline Bingley, Georgiana Darcy, and Clare Langford, Georgiana’s dearest friend from school.

Since I felt three distinct story-lines with three different heroines in this novel, I thought I’d break down my review in a similar fashion.

Caroline Bingley: In this prequel we witness Caroline’s first visit to Pemberley and introduction to Georgiana Darcy. As expected, Caroline’s ambitions and pursuit of Mr. Darcy are in full force. But when her heart is touched by another – a man with no title, wealth, or estate – Caroline’s interest in Mr. Darcy begins to waver. And while this unsuitable yet extremely charming man is a Class A Fortune Hunter, he finds himself quite liking the idea of marriage with Caroline… While there wasn’t anything unique about Caroline’s ambitions and interactions with Mr. Darcy, I greatly enjoyed the twist of her falling in love with an unsuitable man! I enjoyed seeing a softer portrayal of Caroline Bingley and witnessing her become “crossed in love.”

Georgiana Darcy: Here we see Georgiana become reacquainted and enamored with George Wickham. We see how the perfidious Mrs. Younge is the prime instigator and promoter of this match and how Georgiana, with her eagerness to grow up, experience love, and be Wickham’s savior, was so easily worked on. (Boy, Mrs. Younge is a nasty piece of work!) I enjoyed how Ms. Kerr portrayed Wickham, I liked that he was a reluctant participant to this scheme.

Clare Langford: By far, this is my favorite story-line in the novel!!! Clare, a daughter of an admiral with limited prospects and no property, comes to live with Georgiana in London and serve as a companion. Clare greatly enjoys her time with Georgiana and her family, but she starts to feel uneasy around Georgiana’s cousin, Lord Ashwell (Colonel Fitzwilliam’s older brother) because of all the scandalous rumors she hears about him. In addition, Clare does not approve of Georgiana’s growing friendship with George Wickham, and when she expresses caution it drives a wedge between her and Georgiana…

Clare is definitely the true heroine of this piece, she wins us over with her substance, moral center, and true friendship. She felt reminiscent of Georgette Heyer heroines to me – artless, perceptive, and not easily thwarted; and I completely admired and adored her! In addition, I loved Lord Ashwell, the black sheep in the Fitzwilliam family. I was dying to learn what he did in his past and why there were so many rumors circulating about him! And I thought it was brilliant how the author kept in suspense so long! The scenes with Lord Ashwell were splendid, what an intriguing character, I was deeply invested and moved by hime and his story-line.

I loved how well this thoughtful and illuminating prequel tied into Pride and Prejudice, the new character additions and fleshed-out histories were both creative and believable. I greatly enjoyed learning things like: why Colonel Fitzwilliam is appointed to be Georgiana’s guardian instead of his older brother and how Darcy came arrive in Ramsgate earlier than expected. The answers were equally satisfying and fitting. I also loved seeing some life put into to Anne de Bourgh and hearing about her not-so-dull existence.

I sincerely hope we will see more from Melanie Kerr soon, I absolutely loved her heartwarming tale and endearing characters! I’d definitely recommend this prequel if you are looking for a enthralling story about Pride and Prejudice’s lesser known characters!! ...more

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Mar 21, 2015 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars *spoiler alert*

This story began slowly for me, probably due to the fact that it dealt with Caroline Bingley's scheming and then musing about marrying Darcy. Then after a month at Pemberley, the party is back in London. So while waiting for his proposal Caroline meets and falls for (of all people) Wickham. The outcome of that, while interesting, was never in doubt. There were other stages begin set, with Georgiana being brought to London to gradually acquaint herself with society and he 4.5 stars *spoiler alert*

This story began slowly for me, probably due to the fact that it dealt with Caroline Bingley's scheming and then musing about marrying Darcy. Then after a month at Pemberley, the party is back in London. So while waiting for his proposal Caroline meets and falls for (of all people) Wickham. The outcome of that, while interesting, was never in doubt. There were other stages begin set, with Georgiana being brought to London to gradually acquaint herself with society and her best friend, Clare, from school accompanying her. Background is given on the friend and she is of no more consequence in society than is Elizabeth Bennet. But her parents are much more practical, even stoic, in their outlook on rearing their offspring than the Bennets. Clare is clear on proprieties and expectations, even when her future happiness is threatened. And no truer friend could Georgiana have in this tale.

So after Caroline gives Wickham a huge set down, his old friend, Mrs. Younge shows up and leads him in the plot that takes us to Ramsgate. Before that event, however, we interconnect with other characters. Darcy goes off to look at properties with Bingley, Col. Fitzwilliam is nowhere around. Lord Ashwell, a friend, Lady Sofia, Georgiana and Clare make up most of the story line here, with Mrs. Younge and Wickham showing up after the coast is clear of Darcy.

Lord Ashwell is in very poor health, basically a recluse and surrounded by rumors, which Darcy warns Georgiana to ignore without telling her why. Upon meeting Clare Ashwell feels an attraction: she knows they are of difference classes and then she is warned of the rumors by a cousin who is to inherit her family's estates. Practical Clare must treat the cousin with all courtesy as her family needs his regard in that they have nowhere else to live but in the estate he is to inherit. Clare's mother tells her to basically accept him if he proposes and it seems like that is exactly what we are to expect.

Meanwhile, Wickham is clandestinely meeting Georgiana as arranged by Mrs. Younge. When Ramsgate is planned Clare thinks that they are finally separated but learns upon trying to track Wickham down and confront him about Georiana, that he, too is in Ramsgate. A chase, with dramatic results ensues.

This tale had very little of Darcy, almost none of Bingley and less of Col. Fitzwilliam. Anne de Bourgh is a delight here but continues to have her moments of silence and mystery. I liked her in this story. This story is definitely centered on Wickham, Georgiana, Lord Ashwell and Clare with a minor role for Caroline.

I found this to be a very realistic prequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and recommend it to all JAFF readers. ...more

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Apr 21, 2017 Sheryl Gordon rated it liked it · review of another edition

Interesting Prelude

An entire story based on the summer before, in other words, Ramsgate. A little dry and, even for JA fans, a little coincidental. Mostly original characters acting almost within propriety considering the scheme they seek to enact. There's a very interesting twist, early on, between Wickham and Miss Bingley which sets another plausible reason for Wickham's resentment. My overriding reason for my rating is Darcy and Georgiana seem rather nonplussed when her rescue is accomplished ...more

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Jun 01, 2014 Carmen8094 rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romanzi-e-saggi, e-book, austen-related

Come recita il sottotitolo, Follies past è un prequel di Orgoglio e Pregiudizio, incentrato sulla vicenda di Georgiana e Wickham.
E' scritto davvero benissimo; riguardo allo stile, è stato proprio un piacere leggerlo!
I primi capitoli ci regalano una versione inedita di Caroline Bingley e George Wickham. I due, infatti, dopo essersi brevemente frequentati, si innamorano sinceramente l'uno dell'altra, e mi è piaciuta molto questa Caroline finalmente addolcita dall'amore (che, però, non tradisce se Come recita il sottotitolo, Follies past è un prequel di Orgoglio e Pregiudizio, incentrato sulla vicenda di Georgiana e Wickham.
E' scritto davvero benissimo; riguardo allo stile, è stato proprio un piacere leggerlo!
I primi capitoli ci regalano una versione inedita di Caroline Bingley e George Wickham. I due, infatti, dopo essersi brevemente frequentati, si innamorano sinceramente l'uno dell'altra, e mi è piaciuta molto questa Caroline finalmente addolcita dall'amore (che, però, non tradisce se stessa mandando tutto a monte quando scopre che l'uomo che ama non ha il becco di un quattrino, e che è quindi più conveniente riprendere la caccia a Darcy).
La storia, però, ha il suo fulcro nell'inganno che George Wickham e Mrs Younge perpetrano ai danni della piccola Georgiana, ed, indirettamente, di Darcy stesso. E' tutto molto ben costruito, ma sono contenta che Jane Austen non abbia raccontato la vicenda se non a cose fatte, perché è veramente noiosa. Ho impiegato molto a terminare il libro proprio perché, quando l'azione si focalizza sui personaggi principali, diventa un po' arduo andare avanti.
Per fortuna l'autrice inserisce nella storia anche la migliore amica di Georgiana, Claire - che per un attimo ho creduto fosse figlia di Anne Elliot e del Capitano Wentworth -, ed è carino seguire l'evolversi della sua relazione con lord Ashwell, fratello del Colonnello Fitzwilliam, anche se sappiamo tutti come andrà a finire, e se, nelle ultime pagine, il loro rapporto sembra progredire troppo velocemente.
Claire mi è sembrata un po' Lizzy, quando si presenta alla porta di Lord Ashwell scarmigliata e in disordine dopo una lunga corsa, e un po' Anne, quando dà prontamente istruzioni in relazione al malore dell'uomo.
I "vecchi" personaggi austeniani sono fedeli a se stessi, mentre i quelli nati dalla penna della Kerr sono molto ben costruiti, a partire dallo stesso, dolce Lord Ashwell, alla sognante Lady Sofia, fino al cugino - nonché pretendente - di Claire, che mi ha ricordato molto da vicino il signor Collins. ...more

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