Mary Balogh is one of my favorite Regency Romance authors and when I found a new book with her name in large letters across the top, I quickly dropped it in my shopping cart. A closer examination showed that the title of the book was BESPELLING JANE AUSTEN. This is even better. If you are not familiar with the background of Regency Romance novels, Jane Austen actually wrote during that period of English history and she is the author most copied by today’s followers of the genre.
It keeps getting better and better. I felt that I had found a book that would pay proper homage to the great Jane Austen by an author that I love.
BESPELLING JANE AUSTEN was not at all what I was expecting, though the other authors in the anthology should have given me a hint. Colleen Gleason, Susan Krinard, and Janet Mullany are better know in the field of paranormal fiction. Still, I felt that it would be worth the try. Mary Balogh and Jane Austen were involved.
Susan Krinard was the editor of this unique collection of short stories. She invited the others to take part and simply take a favorite Austen novel and turn it into a story that included vampires, werewolves, faeries, etc. Should be easy. Right?
Mary Balogh chose Persuasion as the base for her “Almost Persuaded”. Persuasion lends itself perfectly to a story that follows two lovers through time, but never the right time for them. Balogh admits that this is not her style of writing and this may be the weakest story in the collection. It is a sweet love story, but does not fit the requirements of the book.
Colleen Gleason’s choice of the brooding Northanger Abbey for her “Northanger Castle” gave her room to write a tongue in cheek take off of Gothic novels in general. Our heroine sees vampires everywhere, laughs at silly girls in stories who enter dark rooms in the middle of the night... alone, and is easily taken in by a handsome face and smooth manners. And, of course, it includes the dark, mysterious man who remains a mystery until the very end.
By far my favorite was “Blood and Prejudice” by Susan Krinard. This story had me from its opening line, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that ever decent straight guy who isn’t dead broke, is in want of a good woman”. (A line that sounded almost familiar). Set in present day Connecticut, “Blood and Prejudice” does an admirable job in following the original story. It seemed natural for the Bennet sisters to have modern careers and it really made sense, at least to me, for Mr Darcy to be a vampire.
It also made sense that Emma, who tried so hard to play matchmaker for her friends, should be moved to Washington,D.C. and be helping with a dating service that specializes in finding mates for the lonely, vampire, werewolf, or elfin. “ Little to Hex Her”, Janet Mullany’s contribution, sticks to the original, Emma, closely... with some weird twists.
Most modern authors have to give credit to Jane Austen for their plot lines. She has stayed a classic all these years for good reasons. These short stories are excellent rip offs. They are fun, but I would guess that some of the more tongue in cheek humor will be missed if the reader is not familiar with the originals.
It always amazes me the books that just seem to jump into my shopping cart! Some good, some bad, but almost all turn out to be interesting.
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