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"Searching for Pemberley" grabbed me from the first pag... Simonsen did an admirable job moving between the Regency, Great War, and World War II settings. -- Anna Horner "Diary of an Eccentric" (12/17/2009)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
This novel will definitely please those readers who love to read about romance, history, family and Jane Austen. The foundations of this novel lie on Jane Austen's beloved novel Pride and Prejudice, as the protagonist, Maggie Joyce, a young American girl working in London after WW2, goes in search for the real-life characters that appear in Austen's novel. The story of Pride and Prejudice, as well as its characters, are cleverly and unobtrusively included into Simonsen's novel. The author remained loyal to Austen's characters, but changed their stories in a way that will not bother a fervent Austen lover. If anything, this fresh take on the story of Pride and Prejudice will make you love them even more. Also, the idea is well presented and is actually completely plausible. Sometimes, I began to wonder how it would be like if Austen had actually based her Darcy and Lizzy on actual, real people that lived in the Regency England.
Foremost, this is a story about Maggie trying to escape her dreary hometown Minooka and trying to find true love, as well as about family (mostly the Crowells, also Maggie's family, the Joyces). The importance of family is, in my opinion, an important aspect of the novel. Family consists of people who share your blood, but you can also discover your second family that becomes your family in spirit. I got the message that a person is naked and alone without a family, an aspect that I also loved in Simonsen's second novel, The Second Date. The connection made to the real Darcys (the Laceys) is really delightful and enjoyable to read about.
I can say that the novel is a page-turner. I read it in a week, although I was sick, and there are a lot of small mysteries involved that you will just want to know about, the greatest one being how the Crowells are connected to the Laceys. I also loved the little mysteries regarding the Crowells, especially Beth Crowell's youth and brothers. If you want to know what I'm talking about, you will just have to read this novel.;)
Last, but no least: the novel is also a great tribute to post-World War II history of Europe (especially London) and partly America, and also to Regency England. There are a lot of delightful details included, and as far as details about certain battles and soldiers go, I think that even men could enjoy this novel. The story runs very, very smoothly, too.
All in all, the novel features many interesting characters, their stories, and, of course, Jane Austen. I would truly like to recommend this novel to everyone who, as I've said, enjoys romance, history, family and Jane Austen. It is a very down-to-earth book, and a pleasure to read.
My rating: 5/5
Foremost, this is a story about Maggie trying to escape her dreary hometown Minooka and trying to find true love, as well as about family (mostly the Crowells, also Maggie's family, the Joyces). The importance of family is, in my opinion, an important aspect of the novel. Family consists of people who share your blood, but you can also discover your second family that becomes your family in spirit. I got the message that a person is naked and alone without a family, an aspect that I also loved in Simonsen's second novel, The Second Date. The connection made to the real Darcys (the Laceys) is really delightful and enjoyable to read about.
I can say that the novel is a page-turner. I read it in a week, although I was sick, and there are a lot of small mysteries involved that you will just want to know about, the greatest one being how the Crowells are connected to the Laceys. I also loved the little mysteries regarding the Crowells, especially Beth Crowell's youth and brothers. If you want to know what I'm talking about, you will just have to read this novel.;)
Last, but no least: the novel is also a great tribute to post-World War II history of Europe (especially London) and partly America, and also to Regency England. There are a lot of delightful details included, and as far as details about certain battles and soldiers go, I think that even men could enjoy this novel. The story runs very, very smoothly, too.
All in all, the novel features many interesting characters, their stories, and, of course, Jane Austen. I would truly like to recommend this novel to everyone who, as I've said, enjoys romance, history, family and Jane Austen. It is a very down-to-earth book, and a pleasure to read.
My rating: 5/5
Format:Paperback
Searching for Pemberley is the story of American, Maggie Joyce, working in post-World War II London. While in the UK she embarks on an unplanned adventure where she meets Beth Crowell, a descendant of the Lacey family, who were rumoured to be the inspiration for Jane Austen's characters, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, in Pride and Prejudice. Along the way she also falls in love... but will she end up with American navigator, Rob, or RAF sergeant, Michael?
I found Searching for Pemberley to be an easy read the nearly 500 pages turned quickly, although occasionally I felt a little overwhelmed with the historical detail. It was a very clever and interesting premise of Ms. Simonsen to suggest that Jane Austen had written Pride and Prejudice after reading the letters and diaries of Elizabeth Garrison and William Lacey. I enjoyed reading the extracts from them that were included in the novel, although I felt that some were a little too close to the actual words of Jane Austen's novel, for comfort. Surely Jane was a good enough writer not to have to paraphrase others musings to fill her novels? But then I told myself that this was just a what-if story, and a very clever one at that, and I should stop being so critical!
My only other, minor quibble is that I would have liked a little more passion between Maggie and Michael. If not passion, then a little more insight into Maggie's thoughts as she fell in love.
Not the usual Jane Austen fan fiction, but if, like me, you enjoy anything related to Jane Austen, then you will find Searching for Pemberley well worth reading. Congratulations to Ms. Simonsen and I look forward to reading her next novel!
I found Searching for Pemberley to be an easy read the nearly 500 pages turned quickly, although occasionally I felt a little overwhelmed with the historical detail. It was a very clever and interesting premise of Ms. Simonsen to suggest that Jane Austen had written Pride and Prejudice after reading the letters and diaries of Elizabeth Garrison and William Lacey. I enjoyed reading the extracts from them that were included in the novel, although I felt that some were a little too close to the actual words of Jane Austen's novel, for comfort. Surely Jane was a good enough writer not to have to paraphrase others musings to fill her novels? But then I told myself that this was just a what-if story, and a very clever one at that, and I should stop being so critical!
My only other, minor quibble is that I would have liked a little more passion between Maggie and Michael. If not passion, then a little more insight into Maggie's thoughts as she fell in love.
Not the usual Jane Austen fan fiction, but if, like me, you enjoy anything related to Jane Austen, then you will find Searching for Pemberley well worth reading. Congratulations to Ms. Simonsen and I look forward to reading her next novel!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
32 reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Great twist on the P&P story
2 Dec 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book is not a direct retelling of P&P but uses the book as a back drop for the love story between Maggie, Rob and Michael. It is set post WWII and follows the "real" family history that the JA novel was based upon.
It is a compelling read and keeps you interested. The other reviews gave detailed descriptions of the plot that I will not recreate here, but they are accurate.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wished to read JA inspired romances, rated PG. I want to know what happens to the characters and am hoping for a sequel.
It is a compelling read and keeps you interested. The other reviews gave detailed descriptions of the plot that I will not recreate here, but they are accurate.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wished to read JA inspired romances, rated PG. I want to know what happens to the characters and am hoping for a sequel.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful and full of information
16 April 2010
Format:Paperback
I just finished this book and I absolutely loved it. It reads much more like a real life story and puts Elizabeth and Darcy and the relatives into better perspective. It helped put all the other sequels I have read into perspective as well. I found the book great fun and couldn't put it down.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
The History of Pemberley
22 Nov 2009
Format:Paperback
On a trip to England, after World War II, an American woman, Maggie James, sets out to investigate a rumor concerning Jane Austen's writing of literature's famous Pride and Prejudice. The history of Pemberley begins to open as she meets the residents of a beautiful stately mansion in the countryside. Was this the actual home of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy? Through reading a series of old documents, Maggie begins to unravel the history and personalities behind one of the most beloved romances in literature.
The author's writing flows with ease from page to page, making it an easy, fast read. It's a story that brings new insight, meaning, and possibilities to an old favorite that is sure to fascinate Austen fans.
The author's writing flows with ease from page to page, making it an easy, fast read. It's a story that brings new insight, meaning, and possibilities to an old favorite that is sure to fascinate Austen fans.
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