Lady Catherine's Necklace [Hardcover]

Joan Aiken (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2000

Joan Aiken, one of Jane Austen's most sparkling successors, takes up Austen's pen yet again, this time continuing where Pride and Prejudice left off.

In Austen's classic novel, the arrogant Lady Catherine de Bourgh tried vehemently to prevent the betrothal of her nephew Mr. Darcy, whom she had intended for her daughter Anne, to the less socially connected Elizabeth Bennet. Defeated, she retreats to her grand estate-- Rosings Park. This enchanting sequel tells the story of what happens one balmy April day when a sudden blizzard disrupts the weather, causes a carriage accident, and affects the lives of all those involved in a most amazing way.

From out of the blizzard emerge the Delaval siblings. Miss Delaval, having twisted her ankle in the carriage accident, accepts Lady Catherine's gracious hospitality while she recovers. But the Delavals' presence proves disturbing to the entire household-- first causing the removal of two artists from their cottage home on the de Bourgh property, then meddling in Miss Anne's marriage plans. Suddenly, Lady Catherine is kidnapped, revealing some members of the household to be not at all what they seemed.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Aiken's latest sequel to Jane Austen's work centers on Pride and Prejudice's Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the inhabitants of Rosings Park. During an unusual April snowstorm, Ralph Delaval and his sister Priscilla have a carriage accident and arrive at Rosings seeking aid. Elegant and polite, they are allowed to stay, but most of the household is suspicious of their motives. Lady Catherine's daughter Anne does not trust Mr. Delaval, and when he suggests the demolition of a cottage that is inhabited by friends of Anne's late father, she becomes distraught because the two painters and a young gardener are her only friends. Lady Catherine then embarks on a journey; a diamond necklace of hers is declared fake, and a letter arrives informing the family that Lady Catherine has been kidnapped. Everyone is thrown into an uproar, except Anne, who relishes her unexpected freedom. Aiken has fashioned a charming variation on Austen's work that will give Austen fans a chance to revisit some old friends. Patty Engelmann

Review

"Joan Aiken writes with the genius of a born storyteller, with mother wit expanded and embellished by civilized learning, and with the brilliance of an avenging angel."--The New Yorker

"Others may try, but nobody comes close to Aiken in writing sequels to Jane Austen."--Publishers Weekly

"Aiken captures the language, customs, and style of an era when young women's lives were at the mercy of their parents, older siblings, and highly connected relatives."--Publishers Weekly on The Youngest Miss Ward

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (April 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312244061
• ISBN-13: 978-0312244064
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,014,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joan Aiken (1924-2004) was the daughter of Pulitzer prize winning poet Conrad Aiken and started writing herself from the age of five. During her lifetime she published over one hundred books for children and adults, including the acclaimed Wolves of Willoughby Chase series. In the UK she received an MBE from the Queen for her services to Children's Literature.

This year sees the publication of a brand NEW story collection - The Monkey's Wedding - with previously unpublished material that shows Aiken on top form. This collection of funny, spooky, unexpected but classic Aiken stories has received wonderful reviews and will delight her readers. See below for details.

Her work continues to be adapted for film and television; she is established as a consummate storyteller,and recognized as one of the best loved authors of the twentieth century.

"The Wonderful World of Joan Aiken" is at www.joanaiken.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ludricrous and unsatisfactory, January 10, 2001

By 

Marilyn Kelly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady Catherine's Necklace (Hardcover)

This novel was a big disappointment to me. It began with great promise but then fell apart at its midpoint. I can only conclude that Ms. Aikens was writing under a deadline because the resolution of the various plot lines in the novel's concluding scene is ludicrous and unsatisfactory. So save your money for another book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, January 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady Catherine's Necklace (Hardcover)

I had rather high hopes for this books but it turned out to be a huge disappointment. It had a lot of promise-- starting with a love affair between Maria Lucas and Colonel Fitzwilliam and the secret past of Lady Catherine's late husband, Sir Lewis. These plots just fizzled and turned out to be annoying. I also thought that since Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins were in the book it would have been entertaining, but I was wrong. Aiken didn't know how to play characters like that. Mr. Collins had a brief cameo and Lady Catherine wasn't nearly wonderfully awful as Austen would her out to be. I don't suggest this book. Not at all. If you have a compulsion to read it,get it from the library and save your money.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I love Jane Austen!, June 29, 2000

By 

Sally Lehman (Gresham, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lady Catherine's Necklace (Hardcover)

Joan Aiken is NO Jane Austen! The title is unconsequential to the plot, there are aspects of life (i.e. homosexuality) which Miss Austen would never have included in a novel, and the ending feels as though she had met her maximum page numbers and was simply trying to quickly close things out. I've read "Jane Fairfax" and thought this would be as well done; more's the pity for me to have wasted my time here.