The Forgotten Sister cover

Review: The Forgotten Sister: Mary Bennet’s Pride and Prejudice

The Forgotten Sister: Mary Bennet’s Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Paynter

The Forgotten Sister coverA nice companion to the classic “Pride and Prejudice,” this is the story of the middle Bennet sister, Mary. Her tale is not all peaches and cream. Mary is not as lovely as Jane nor as loved by their father as Elizabeth. However, her mind is sharp as a tack, and she sees the world in all its realities, some harsh and a few sweet.

Mary’s world revolves around books, and her appetite for them is unending. She loves music, of course, and finds a dear friend in Netherfield neighbor George, also a pianist. There are plenty of other characters here, too, all well described and interesting—from the poor neighbors with a nasty father to George’s rather strange family. Mary’s four sisters are described in unflattering ways sometimes; this is not the witless Mary we might assume from the original book.

Mary finds her true love, as do her sisters, although her road is not as easily traveled as theirs. The way to happiness is not always easy, but we can hope for a happy ending.

Overall, excellent writing and a fine story, including romance, are summed up in an easy- and quick-to-read historical novel. No bad language or sex, of course–this is Jane Austin territory. No editing errors, either, which is a refreshing change from recent EBooks.

Similar: Georgiana Darcy’s Diary: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice continued by Anna Elliott and Laura Masselos; Rosings (Pride and Prejudice Continues) by Karen Aminandra

Spread the love