An Unequal Marriage, Or, Pride and Prejudice Twenty Years Later [Hardcover]

Emma Tennant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1995

In the author's second sequel, successor to the well-received Pemberley, young Master Edward Darcy makes trouble for the Darcy fortune and marriage by his determination to fight for Napoleon and his huge gambling debts.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her second engaging sequel to Pride and Prejudice, Tennant (Pemberley) enmeshes beautiful Elizabeth Bennet Darcy in a nicely snarled web of predicaments. Elizabeth and Darcy, still blissful after 19 wedded years, have a winsome daughter, Miranda, and an unruly son, Edward, rumored to be wenching in London and dicing away his estates. Elizabeth's guilt as a failed mother is compounded when, during a woodland ramble, she lets an admirerer embrace her and upbraids herself as an "unfaithful wife." Elsewhere, her mother, the giddy Mrs. Bennet, causes alarm by traipsing about London with the shady Lady Harcourt. Domestic drama simmers, but even so Elizabeth must hostess a nuptial party for her ex-beau, Col. Fitzwilliam, and the strident young Sophia Farquar, who chatters chiefly of lambing and livestock. When Darcy tries to control the family mess with his usual cold censorious pride, Elizabeth senses her marriage crumbling. No longer able to tolerate so lordly a spouse, she flees her mansion like Jane Eyre running from ruthless Mr. Rochester. (The novel also borrows a note from Middlemarch with its talk of "Reform" and its heroine's concern for the cottagers.) Austen's cast of minor familiars-spiteful friends and kin-gets a delicious comic workout, and Tennant does a creditable imitation of period diction, though her tone is more sly and playful than that of her model, while her descriptions surpass Austen's in visual effects of art, decor and gardens. Austenites-and Tennantites-should love the whole package, including the wrap-up, which leaves enough loose ends to promise further sequels.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

At the end of Pemberley (LJ 11/1/93), Tennant's sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813), Elizabeth and Darcy are expecting their first child. In this sequel-to-the-sequel, they experience the mixed blessings children can bring. At 17, Miranda is lovely, competent, and her father's pride and joy, but heir-apparent Edward, a student at Eton, has long been a problem. As guests gather for the wedding of close friend Colonel Fitzwilliam, reports come that Edward has fallen under bad influences in London and gambled away part of the family estate. Cold disciplinarian Darcy acts, while compassionate chatelaine Elizabeth is distraught and susceptible to the admiring glances of handsome Mr. Gresham. As in Pemberley, Tennant ties ends together quickly, dangling possibilities for another sequel. A pale version of Austen perhaps, but essential for Pemberley fans and readers of historical romance.
--Michele Leber, Fairfax Cty. P.L., Va.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786204184
• ISBN-13: 978-0786204182
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,074,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Miss Bingley must have written this book!, July 6, 2004

By 

Elizabeth (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unequal Marriage: Or Pride and Prejudice Twenty Years Later (Hardcover)

What a Horrible, HORRIBLE book! The sitcom-esq ending where everything is wrapped up in the last 3 pages as all a big misunderstanding do nothing to save this book.

After 19 years of marriage Elizabeth and Darcy are "sooo" much in love, that is until they receive some bad news, and Darcy concludes that he made a mistake in perusing Elizabeth after he learned of her family's insanity all those years ago. AND TELLS HER SO! Elizabeth, in turn, realizes that Darcy is a "monster," and wishes for equality of the sexes so that she may get a divorce. Her realization of her superior character is what inspires the title of "an unequal marriage." This also leads her to become bitter about Jane's happiness.

Of the 180 so pages of this book over 170 are dedicated to the hatred and resentment of the Darcys. This book is written from bitterness and contempt of love. It has nothing to do with the original sentiments of Austin, and is uninteresting and depressing in its own right. The shortness of the book make it undeveloped and do nothing to justify the stream ill events and bad feelings.

The book only serves as a laundry list of bad happenings and despair only to have the curtain whipped aside at the very end to say "silly Elizabeth, none of that's true - now lets go to Italy and be Rich!" All of the fair-weather love and weak loyalties are supposed to be forgotten in the end pronouncement of an undying and strong love. This sentiment is our reward for wading through the dreadfulness of the book.

Silly reader! Don't waste your time, money or good feelings on this wretched excuse for a story of love.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars ...wipe off the bad taste..., March 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: An Unequal Marriage: Or Pride and Prejudice Twenty Years Later (Hardcover)

I love P&P and while I am realistic enough to know that no one can write like Jane Austen. However, in the spirit of Austen and having read that Elizabeth was a favorite of hers I would think that better things were in store for the Darcys.

This book was so repulsive and disgusting I couldn't even look at it! I could barely finish it. I had to read the original a few times to get myself back on track.

Think of it this way, The Bar Sinister and Presumption were better and that's saying a good bit. I am following my conscience and the opinions of other readers---I am staying away from Emma Tennant!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars better than Pemberly, but still lacking, July 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: An Unequal Marriage: Or Pride and Prejudice Twenty Years Later (Hardcover)

_Pemberley_, this author's first pseudo-sequal to _Pride and Prejudice_, was a shamefully bad book, and a horrid disappointment to Jane Austen fans.

This author's second try is a bit better, and the Austen fan will probably be able to go five chapters or so before putting the book down in distaste.

While it's slightly more polished, it's still an abominable mishandling of the characters found in the original _Pride and Prejudice_.

I recommend passing on this book. Austen was an artist. This author is not.