It’s going to take me a little time to get over the disappointment that was Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James. Pemberley will be a familiar word to all Austen fans since it’s the family estate that belongs to Darcy family. Yep. Of Pride and Prejudice fame.
This novel was marketed as James’ fun invention of life at Pemberley after Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy tie the knot. For all of us who loved that couple and also love P.D. James, this should have been an easy win. Instead, James who is usually an astute developer of character, seems to go terribly wrong in her interpretation of Austen’s cast. I tried to hang in there until James has Elizabeth musing about Mr. Wickham. MR. WICKHAM!!
Gazing down on him, Elizabeth was visited by a tumble of eomtions. Her mind unwillingly jerked back to memories so painful that she could recall them only with self-disgust. She had been so close to falling in love with him. Would she have married him if he had been rich instead of penniless?
This is so far afield of the Elizabeth Bennett created by Austen that a fan feels boggled. I can’t imagine Elizabeth Bennett ever questioning the circumstances that could have brought her closer to the ridiculous Wickham.
Not to mention this book is clunky in plot.
Total Fail.
