REVIEW: Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma by Diana Birchall
Review by MJRyan
“It seemed a harmless invitation, after all…”
So begins the description of Diana Birchall’s sequel to Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma. When you read on and realize that the invitation was extended to two of Lydia and George Wickham’s daughters you realize that trouble will ensue. Once the two girls arrive on the page you realize what kind of trouble, who will instigate it and how and what the outcome will be. However, I’ve found that predictable plots are much more palatable when they’re executed well, and Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma is well executed and, more importantly, enjoyable.
The story begins twenty five years after Pride and Prejudice and while there is plenty of attention paid to Mr and Mrs Darcy, it is the second generation of the Darcys, Wickhams and Bingleys that drive the action of the book. It should be no surprise that the couple with the least amount of sense and money have the most children. Lydia, ever the beggar, writes to Elizabeth and begs her to allow her two oldest daughters to visit, hoping with very little attempt at subterfuge to throw them in the way of young, rich men. Honestly, it is a bit astounding that Elizabeth and Darcy would agree to the visit at all. Birchall, being an adept storyteller, had little trouble convincing me.
Despite the title’s implication, Elizabeth is not the main character nor is the story entirely from her point of view. The action moves along at a brisk clip, switching between points of view, with possibly a bit too much page time dedicated to the more irritating characters from Pride and Prejudice in the middle of the book. Even when my teeth were set on edge by Lydia’s sense of entitlement, Mr. Collins’ speeches and Lady Catherine’s arrogance and pride, I admired Birchall’s ability to faithfully capture Austen’s characters.
Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma, while not focusing entirely on the characters from Pride and Prejudice, is true to the source material in tone, language and characterizations and would be a satisfying read for fans of Austen paraliterature.
April 1st, 2008 at 8:01 am
I liked this sequel. Diana made it fun to revisit some of my favorite characters, and her plot was plausible. I wish it had been longer, though, and that we’d had more glimpses of Darcy and Elizabeth alone.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:15 pm
After reading this glowing review of a sequel that I would grant the title “worst sequel ever written” if I hadn’t read “Trust and Triumph,” I think it’s unprofessional of Austenblog to not point out that Diana Birchall is a contributor and reviewer at Austenblog.
The only part of the review I agree with is the summation of the plot, though it leaves out the depressing third segment where characters learn their lessons through physical, unrelated ailments or don’t learn them at all.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Oh please!
I don’t think that anyone who reads this blog or posts here is unaware of Diana’s involvment. And as far as “unprofessional” … it’s a BLOG, not a professional communications or promotional vehicle.
Actually, I’d be very happy to have more detail from you, Yoni, about what you found lacking in the work, rather than just your criticism of the previous review.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Actually it serves (unintentionally) as a promotional vehicle; more people are likely to know about the book and buy it if Austenblog gives it a glowing review. Being American, I didn’t even know about Maya Slater’s book until it was mentioned here, when they reviewed a review and not the book itself. I promptly went and bought it, and enjoyed it.
I was shying away from descriptions to not spoil the plot. I would be happy to post a longer review when I have the book in front of me again in a few days, as it’s currently lent out.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hi Yoni,
Maya Slater’s book was not reviewed because I wasn’t offered a review copy and no one who read it sent in a review. I don’t get review copies of every JA-related book that comes out, but if one is sent or offered, I try to find a reviewer for it. I don’t think I’ve ever asked for a book unsolicited–I have trouble enough sometimes placing all the books we do get, as our reviewers are volunteers and free to refuse an assignment. I’m happy to publish reader reviews, so if you would like to write one for the Slater book, send it along to austenblog AT gmail DOT com.
I didn’t think to publish a disclaimer about Diana because she’s really not an AustenBlog staff member. She sends stuff in as a reader, which anyone is free to do. (Click on the “Reader Reviews” category and you’ll see a pretty good cross-section of submissions from various readers.) I did ask her to review one book, but I had a particular reason for doing so (that being I thought she might be more likely to be friendly to a self-published book that was, shall we say, lacking in quality; a bit of humanity that, as many such things do, came back to bite me in the butt, though it provided some lulz for the regulars). I’m fairly certain that all of her submissions are clearly labeled as reader reviews. I’m pretty sure she and MJ are not acquainted, even in an online sense, and I’m also pretty sure that if MJ didn’t like the book, she would not be shy about saying so.
I’m sorry that you disagreed with the reviewer, and thanks for sharing your opinion. Balance is a good thing.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Yoni, I do hope you post a longer review, I would like to read what you have to say. It’s clear you have a strong opinion, and I think it would be great to include here!
And Ruth … well, maybe it’s just me who can’t be expected to give a glowing review to someone I work with, just because I work with them. You can ask ‘em … er, well, maybe you better not …
April 1st, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Wow. I think I should be offended. However, it’s difficult to get too upset about a completely baseless accusation. I will state, for the record, that other than the information provided on the book I have no idea who Diana Birchall is (in fact, I probably just misspelled her name) and if she’s a regular contributor to Austen Blog it completely passed my notice. I can assure you that my review is unbiased.
While my review is positive, I’d hardly call it glowing. I shy away from proclaiming that books are the best I’ve ever read or ‘worst sequel ever written.’ That’s not my job as a reviewer. My job is to be as objective and fair as possible while still giving a legitimate opinion on the book I’m reviewing. There are criticisms in this review and the others that I’ve done for Austen Blog. I’m just not blatant and rude about it.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 am
I think I should amend my last statement to say, “I try to be as constructive in my criticism as possible.” I’m afraid that Mags has a review of mine on her computer, ready to post, that might make that last sentence seem like a big, fat fib.
April 7th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Okay, sorry to be a bit late to the discussion, but I really feel a need to make a comment or two about Mrs Darcy’s Dilemma. I have to disagree completely with the review written here, this book is hardly palatable, let alone enjoyable. The dialogue is forced, the details are sloppy—Jane was always meticulous in her details and this book is like a wild meandering in comparison to any of Austen’s novels. Actually, I think the best way I can describe this book is to say it is more nearly like a parody—it has the flavor of the overly sappy gothic novel that JA was laughing at in Northanger Abbey. I thought it was disappointingly flat.