Death Comes to Pemberley
[a Novel]
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Random House, Inc.
A rare meeting of literary genius: P. D. James, long among the most admired mystery writers of our time, draws the characters of Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice into a tale of murder and emotional mayhem.
It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth … More »
A rare meeting of literary genius: P. D. James, long among the most admired mystery writers of our time, draws the characters of Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice into a tale of murder and emotional mayhem.
It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth … More »
Random House, Inc.
A rare meeting of literary genius: P. D. James, long among the most admired mystery writers of our time, draws the characters of Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice into a tale of murder and emotional mayhem.
It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy’s magnificent estate. Their peaceful, orderly world seems almost unassailable. Elizabeth has found her footing as the chatelaine of the great house. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth’s sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live nearby; her father visits often; there is optimistic talk about the prospects of marriage for Darcy’s sister Georgiana. And preparations are under way for their much-anticipated annual autumn ball.
Then, on the eve of the ball, the patrician idyll is shattered. A coach careens up the drive carrying Lydia, Elizabeth’s disgraced sister, who with her husband, the very dubious Wickham, has been banned from Pemberley. She stumbles out of the carriage, hysterical, shrieking that Wickham has been murdered. With shocking suddenness, Pemberley is plunged into a frightening mystery.
Inspired by a lifelong passion for Austen, P. D. James masterfully re-creates the world of Pride and Prejudice, electrifying it with the excitement and suspense of a brilliantly crafted crime story, as only she can write it.
Baker & Taylor
Pemberley is thrown into chaos after Elizabeth Bennett's disgraced sister Lydia arrives and announces that her husband Wickham has been murdered.
« Less
A rare meeting of literary genius: P. D. James, long among the most admired mystery writers of our time, draws the characters of Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice into a tale of murder and emotional mayhem.
It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy’s magnificent estate. Their peaceful, orderly world seems almost unassailable. Elizabeth has found her footing as the chatelaine of the great house. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth’s sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live nearby; her father visits often; there is optimistic talk about the prospects of marriage for Darcy’s sister Georgiana. And preparations are under way for their much-anticipated annual autumn ball.
Then, on the eve of the ball, the patrician idyll is shattered. A coach careens up the drive carrying Lydia, Elizabeth’s disgraced sister, who with her husband, the very dubious Wickham, has been banned from Pemberley. She stumbles out of the carriage, hysterical, shrieking that Wickham has been murdered. With shocking suddenness, Pemberley is plunged into a frightening mystery.
Inspired by a lifelong passion for Austen, P. D. James masterfully re-creates the world of Pride and Prejudice, electrifying it with the excitement and suspense of a brilliantly crafted crime story, as only she can write it.
Baker & Taylor
Pemberley is thrown into chaos after Elizabeth Bennett's disgraced sister Lydia arrives and announces that her husband Wickham has been murdered.
« Less
Imprint:
New York - Alfred A Knopf
Pages:
291
Edition:
1st United States ed
ISBN:
9780307959850, 0307959856
Language:
English
Notes:
Originally published in Great Britain by Faber and Faber, Ltd., London
Statement of responsibility:
P. D. James
Characteristics:
291 p. ;,25 cm.
Author (Original Script):
James, P. D.
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Add a CommentI had such high hopes for this one and it let me down. I don't think P.D. James got the characters right and it wasn't very exciting.
I've read other sequels/homages to P&P and Austen's other works, but I felt this had Austen's literary style and sly wit. While Austen herself wouldn't write a murder mystery, and I was saddened by the choice of victim, it was a credible nod and did the job well. I really liked the references to Emma and Persuasion. Well done, Ms. James.
This book was great fun. While P. D. James is really not Jane Austen by any stretch, I found it quite enjoyable.
I was puzzled as this was just bad on so many levels. I do not understand why this was brought to print. I suspect someone wanted to make some quick money on the long suffering P D James fans. I also rushed back to Austen to recover after this colossal waste of time.
I really thought James would be able to pull off the ironic Austen tone, but aside from a few choice phrases in the opening chapter (which essentially rehashes the plot of P&P) she fails miserably. There is very little of Elizabeth here; the focus moves gradually to what's going on in Darcy's mind, and what a dreary, unhappy place that is. Nearly devoid of (intentional) humor, and a lackluster plot concluding with a ridiculous deus ex machina ending), this has little to satisfy either Austen or James fans.
After a dozen pages into this book I put it down to reread Pride & Prejudice. This made James' book more immediate and enjoyable. The ending is a bit weak, however.
What a disappointment! The first third of the book is fine. It was done in the style of Jane Austen and made me smile. But it goes downhill pretty drastically so that by the last quarter of the book I was just skimming it to see if anything important happened. It's going back to the library early. Don't waste your time.
very disappointing, not much of a mystery. Too much of the "action" happens in letters and "after the trial" information. Minimal tension. Good representation of Jane Austen's characters, but sometimes she almost seemed to make a caricature of them. Doesn't work as a mystery or a Jane Austen homage.
This book demonstrates what a great author Jane Austen was. As wonderful a mystery writer PD James is, she cannot come close. The book is a mystery involving Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy after their marriage. While supposedly a period piece, it is clear that this is not written by a 17th Century author. Very superficial. Very disappointing
This is not a Jane Austen novel, it is a P. D. James novel, and should be read (and judged) as such. It will likely be read by many who have not read Austen's masterpiece. As to be expected, James is masterful at limning the quotidien life and ethos of the period. There is an overreliance on exposition, and needless repitition, in what is less of a mystery than a crime novel. One does care what happens next, but this is not James at her best.