Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife

April 1, 2004
Inspired by the BBC/A&E production of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Berdoll self-published this sequel as The Bar Sinister in 1999. Now her first novel has found new life with Sourcebooks. It begins the day after Darcy and Elizabeth's wedding and follows the couple through the ups and downs of married life. Other major Austen characters also appear-Elizabeth's sisters Jane and Lydia, as well as Bingley and the charmingly detestable Wickham. Berdoll has done a remarkable job of capturing the flavor of the original characters, who behave in ways that would have met Austen's approval. Unfortunately, in trying to duplicate Austen's prose style, Berdoll is at times too obtuse and flowery, making her book more difficult to follow than Jane Austen's. Still, while there have been other Pride and Prejudice sequels (e.g., Janet Aylmer's Darcy's Story; Jane Dawkins's Letters from Pemberley), this one, with its rich character development, has been the most enjoyable. Strongly recommended for popular fiction and romance collections.-Carrie A. Herrmann, Boone Cty. P.L., Union, KY

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2004
This rollicking sequel to Jane Austen's " Pride and Prejudice " was originally self-published in 1999 as " The Bar Sinister." In Berdoll's wild, bawdy, and utterly enjoyable novel, the Darcys begin their married life as one of the happiest, most in-love couples imaginable. Berdoll picks up the story after their wedding, but flashes back to the days after the courtship, when Elizabeth and Darcy's passion for each other grew stronger. After a spicy wedding night, the couple finds their compatibility extends far beyond their matched wits. As Elizabeth settles into her role as mistress of a large household, her sister Jane grapples with her own, less passionate marriage to Charles Bingley. Thrown in as well are an illegitimate young man who just might be Darcy's son, a vengeful serving man who plagues the Darcys and develops an unhealthy fixation on Elizabeth, and suspicions of infidelity. Austenites who enjoy the many continuations of her novels will find much to love about this wild ride of a sequel, especially Berdoll's depiction of the enduring, strong love between Elizabeth and Darcy. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)