Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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!).

I believe this is the same book published in Britain at "Consequence or, Whatever became of Charlette Lucas" On the original cover it reads: "A gentle Jane Austen-style joke." Keeping that is mind, it is wistful read and fune for an Austen enthusiast. Worth the lite read, but not worth the money...order it used and add it to your collection.

There are a number of good Pride and Prejudice books out there, this was not one of them. I didn't see the "gentle joke." Ms. Newark pulled charaters from all of Austen's other books and made young people up from those characters - Knightly's, Ferris' Brandon's etc. for the Ball, but never really developed any charaters. In this book, Elizabeth seemed pretentious or snobbish which is hard to imagine. If you want great PP books try Darcy's Passion or the Pamela Aiden's series. If you want to read this, save your money and get it from the library.

This is a real light read. I as those before wished for more character development. I enjoyed seeing Charlote and Elizabeth together though rare. The Chapters just seemed to give you a hint or taste for something more. It flew by and was over. I enjoyed seeing all the children of our favorite characters introduced. Some becoming smitted with each other while others you wanted to just have move away. I am glad I purchased and read this. I will keep it for my collection but most likely will not read it again.

This slight book, just one hundred and twenty-some pages without the elaborate chapter markers, is touted as "A gentle joke, Jane Austen style" on the book cover. After reading The Darcys Give a Ball, I'm not sure what exactly the joke was supposed to be. It might have been the use of all Jane Austen's characters' children, as imagined by the author, Elizabeth Newark. There were many recognizable names, Wentworth, Elliot, Knightly, Collins, Ferrars, Brandon, and Bingley, to name a few. There was little character development involved with these characters; among the best drawn were Juliet Darcy, Eliza Collins, and Jonathan Collins, but the author didn't give more than a cursory description of these. Charlotte Collins, nee Lucas, seemed true to form, and the renewed friendship between Charlotte and Elizabeth was a good touch at the end. Or maybe the joke was the way engagement announced toward the end of the book, with an improbable pairing of the children of two of Jane Austen's original Pride and Prejudice characters.

This book reads quickly and is very mildly entertaining.

Although many people seem to think this wasn't very good, I beg to disagree. Of the several post-Austens I have read, this one captures Austen's deceptively mild prose that sneaks up behind you with a sharp observation or characterization better than any. At least it's not thinly disguised soft porn, like the last one I read. The pacing and cadences of speech all ring true. It's short and has well-drawn characters; I find I read more for characters than anything else. Granted, it's a light read, but it left me wanting more. And given that the original title focused on Charlotte Lucas, it's no surprise that the story is Collins heavy. Charlotte was quite a minor player in the original, and it's nice to see her fleshed out, as well as Mr. Collins. He's obnoxious, but by the end of this book, there's more sympathy for both of them. Maybe not great literature, but an entertaining evening with the families we know so well.

Including the supposed children of many different Jane Austen characters from all of her books made this fun reading. Also, the portrayal of Darcy & Elizabeth's children was very human, they were not perfect. I also enjoyed the Collins' children and their various personalities. Worth the read.

One by one, young and old, all fawn over the ultra-posh Pemberley as they arrive for a delightful country weekend that is to be capped by a much anticipated ball. All of our favorite heroes and heroines are present, almost too many from every novel except the juvenilia. (Oh how much wicked fun it would be if Lady Susan pitched up unexpectedly! Sadly she does not.) Now Austen's much beloved famous couples are middle-aged and have fledglings of their own, offspring who carry the same wayward romantic impulses as consumed their elders so many years ago.

"Pride and Prejudice" being the most widely read and admired of the romances, the children of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy are central to the novel, as are the issue of the unfathomable but surprisingly workable marriage of Charlotte and William Collins.

Over the years so many readers have been moved by Charlotte Lucas and her marriage of necessity to the odious Mr. Collins. It is understandable that a reader would desire to put words into her mouth and use her story as central to a plot as Newark has done. Here Charlotte's strengths of kindness, practicality and astuteness have only grown into mature compassionate wisdom.

Charlotte's story follows alongside youthful romance and many pairings are encouraged, thwarted, and hinted upon. Two of the young protagonists have a fascination with insects which I found a bit hard to swallow, but it does make for an amusing denouement.

The cover illustration shows dancers in fashions of the Regency period, not the early Victorian era in which the novel is set. The Victorian allusions came across a little clunky, but I imagine it is quite difficult for a post-modern author to create a Victorian world that appears undeliberate. Thankfully Newark does not do anything hateful to the characters, unless that character was a villain in the original. The novel has an Austenian feel in that like her predecessor Newark writes into existence a world of certainty where everyone who hasn't fallen short of common decency marries their perfect match and enjoys a largely untroubled happily-ever-after. That fairy tale quality is one of the primary attractions of great romances and Newark's novel dances enjoyably along until its ever so slightly tongue-in-cheek conclusion. A sunny addition to the Austen sequel mania.