The Darcys Give a Ball: A gentle joke, Jane Austen style [Paperback]

Elizabeth Newark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2008

While Jane and Lizzie plan a lavish ball at Pemberley, the Darcys' second son falls in love with the Collins' daughter, first-born Juliet Darcy is almost lured into an elopement, and Georgiana's timid daughter Lucy is the new target of Miss Caroline Bingley's meddling.

The Darcys Give a Ball is a charming and very amusing imagining of the next generation of Jane Austen's beloved characters from Pride and Prejudice and other novels, where all the young people come together for a surprising and altogether satisfying ending. Sons and daughters share the physical and personality traits of their parents, but of course have minds of their own, and as Lizzie says to Jane: "The romantic attachments of one's children are a constant distraction."

"Jane would be proud of you." -Juliet McMaster, Professor of English, University of Alberta

"A tour de force." -Marilyn Sachs, author of First Impressions

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This light and airy bow to the Darcys after their marriage offers an acceptably Austenian setting. With their children and those of their neighbors and friends coming into their own, it behooves Elizabeth and Darcy to give a ball; they're mostly offscreen while several Pride and Prejudice plot lines are resolved neatly. Mr. Collins finally receives his feverishly anticipated inheritance of Longbourn; he dreams of leaving the clergy and joining the landed gentry. (Charlotte Collins, his wife, must be ambiguous about his goals, in deference to her friendship for Elizabeth Darcy.) Miss Anne De Bourgh, daughter of the late redoubtable Lady Catherine De Bourgh, is found happily married to a husband with great musical enthusiasm, if not talent, producing one of the gentle humorous moments in the work. Charlotte Collins experiences quite a change of life as well, as much due to Mr. Collins's late-developing affection for her as from his unusual reaction to the final chapter of The Olde Curiosity Shop. Missing is any real dealing with the passing of Elizabeth's father, Mr. Bennet, or Elizabeth's reaction to it, but the addition of the Collins's daughter, Eliza, is a welcome one. This mildly charming addition keeps the Austen mill churning. (Mar.)
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About the Author

Elizabeth Newark was born in London and now lives in San Francisco. She is the author of seven children's books under the pen name Betty Dinneen, and has written poetry, essays on Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, as well as a sequel to Jane Eyre. She is a member of the Jane Austen Society.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; 1 edition (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402211317
• ISBN-13: 978-1402211317
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,246,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A very light read, March 28, 2008

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M&M (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: The Darcys Give a Ball: A gentle joke, Jane Austen style (Paperback)

I would have to agree with the other reviewers of this book that it is not one of the more satisfying P&P sequels. However, having said that, I decided to take it as it was billed -- "a gentle joke"-- and on that basis, I enjoyed it. If you're looking for more insight into the characters, this isn't it. I did like what little was revealed about Charlotte but would have enjoyed more development of her relationship with Elizabeth. I do think it is pretty well written (somewhat in the Austen style without falling all over itself to try too hard) which I can't say for some of the other sequels I've read. As an avid P&P fan, I'm glad to have it in my collection. Again, I would agree with one of the reviewers that you should order it used to avoid paying full price.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Should be titled "The Collins' Go to a Ball", March 16, 2008

By 

Christina Boyd "Great Reader & sometimes gues... (Custer, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Darcys Give a Ball: A gentle joke, Jane Austen style (Paperback)

Although the Darcy's do give a ball and that is the driving force of all the characters to convene at Pemberley, it really is about the Collins',in particular the two youngest grown children and Mrs. Charlotte Collins nee Lucas. I enjoy anything about the Darcy's, P&P, Jane Austen... and this is a harmless, light-hearted read of a short 156 pages. Contrary to the previous critique on this book, this to me was infinitely better written than the uninspiring "Darcy's Passions." Once at Pemberley, we meet more offspring of Jane Austen's original characters. Because there are sooooo many of them to keep track of, Elizabeth Newark obviously focused on the Darcy, Georgianna and Collins children... the rest are mere background... pairing anymore of them off would have been sadly contrived. I do wish that the author had moved what she wrote of Charlotte and Elizabeth Darcy's friendship to the front of the story, because when she finally explains Charlotte's motivations and the affection for her old friend, it is a bit anti-climactic from all the activity at the end of the ball. Mr. Darcy, Sr. sightings are fleeting but when he does appear, he is as he ever was. After 25 years of marriage, Elizabeth Darcy on the other hand, first appears to have become a bit of a snob and forgotten that she was at one time considered not an acceptable match for the illustrious Darcy; fortunatley she comes around. Still, I enjoyed it well enough. It's not my favorite but it's definitely not the worst I have read; more comparable to Darcy's Story. It's a good read;I'm glad to own it; but indifferent to if I will read it again any time soon. If you are an avid, or rather "rabid" P&P collector, like myself, this will make a fine addition to your library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Collins-centric, April 24, 2008

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A reader (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Darcys Give a Ball: A gentle joke, Jane Austen style (Paperback)

A previous reviewer was correct. This is a newly republished and differently titled version of Consequence: Or Whatever Became of Charlotte Lucas. There are 15 reviews there currently so some of you may find those helpful as well.

I enjoyed this sweet and gentle little book as a continuation of Pride and Prejudice. It is a quick read and there are references to the offspring of other Jane Austen characters as well.

I most enjoyed the insight into Charlotte's character, however, and how her life ended up. I think that is where the "gentle joke" of the title comes in.

This may not be the most ground-breaking or original of all the Pride and Prejudice sequels out there, but it is certainly an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who cannot get enough Austen (and that includes me!).