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Lizzy Bennet's Diary: Inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Lizzy Bennet's Diary 1811-1812 Inspired by jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
6 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Williams
74 books48 followersMarcia Williams began to develop her distinctive comic-book style at an early age: "When I was about ten and wrote home to my family from boarding school," she says, "I never wrote normal letters. I tried to tell my family about what I was doing in a way that was more fun. Also, my parents didn't let me read comic books, so I decided to create my own."
This former nursery school teacher blends her storytelling skills and humorous illustrations with well-known figures and stories from literature. Her unique style has produced such vivid works and action-packed books as GOD AND HIS CREATIONS: TALES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. "Working on the Old Testament was a joy," Marcia Williams says. "The tales are so rich, it is always possible to find something new within them. Yet, at the same time, they have all the comfort of the familiar." The artist also found pleasure in creating CHARLES DICKENS AND FRIENDS, which presents five retellings of classic Dickens tales. Of her inspiration for this book, she tells of a teacher she once had "who was extremely fierce and angry . . . except when she read the stories of Charles Dickens aloud. Through her, all his characters lived, and I was transported to their Victorian world. I hope that readers will also enter the wonderful world of Charles Dickens through this book."
With BRAVO, MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE! and TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE Marcia Williams introduces young readers to the world of William Shakespeare's plays. Another classic she has made much more accessible to children--and more appreciated by them--is THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY. "My mother read me classics, but until I got older I never found them interesting," she says. "If I could make these stories more accessible, I realized, kids wouldn't have to wait until they were grown-up to appreciate them."
Marcia Williams traveled extensively as a child and was educated in Sussex, England, and Switzerland. During her varied career she has worked as an interior designer and has assisted cartoon artist and designer Gerald Scarfe in making papier-mâché and cloth sculptures.
This former nursery school teacher blends her storytelling skills and humorous illustrations with well-known figures and stories from literature. Her unique style has produced such vivid works and action-packed books as GOD AND HIS CREATIONS: TALES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. "Working on the Old Testament was a joy," Marcia Williams says. "The tales are so rich, it is always possible to find something new within them. Yet, at the same time, they have all the comfort of the familiar." The artist also found pleasure in creating CHARLES DICKENS AND FRIENDS, which presents five retellings of classic Dickens tales. Of her inspiration for this book, she tells of a teacher she once had "who was extremely fierce and angry . . . except when she read the stories of Charles Dickens aloud. Through her, all his characters lived, and I was transported to their Victorian world. I hope that readers will also enter the wonderful world of Charles Dickens through this book."
With BRAVO, MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE! and TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE Marcia Williams introduces young readers to the world of William Shakespeare's plays. Another classic she has made much more accessible to children--and more appreciated by them--is THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY. "My mother read me classics, but until I got older I never found them interesting," she says. "If I could make these stories more accessible, I realized, kids wouldn't have to wait until they were grown-up to appreciate them."
Marcia Williams traveled extensively as a child and was educated in Sussex, England, and Switzerland. During her varied career she has worked as an interior designer and has assisted cartoon artist and designer Gerald Scarfe in making papier-mâché and cloth sculptures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
July 17, 2014
The book design on this is great, with lots of illustrations and unfolding letters throughout. It was a really beautiful book, and those touches made it fun to read.
However, overall I just wasn't enthralled with this book. Part of this is my own feelings about versions of Jane Austen that aren't actually written by Jane Austen: they always make me just wish I'd re-read the original instead. This was no different. My other issue was that I'm just not sure I could see a kid picking up this book and getting into it. They might enjoy browsing the pictures and letters, and like the design, but the language is still pretty Austen-esque, and I feel like it might be pretty hard for the majority of kids to get into.
Also, and again this goes back to the fact that I should have just re-read Pride and Prejudice, I wasn't a fan of how Lizzy was portrayed. I'd imagined her inner life to be much richer, but this didn't make her seem any deeper than Kitty or Lydia, really. She spent the whole time either complaining about how trying everyone was or thinking about Wickham or Darcy. It's just not exactly how I picture Elizabeth Bennett.
However, overall I just wasn't enthralled with this book. Part of this is my own feelings about versions of Jane Austen that aren't actually written by Jane Austen: they always make me just wish I'd re-read the original instead. This was no different. My other issue was that I'm just not sure I could see a kid picking up this book and getting into it. They might enjoy browsing the pictures and letters, and like the design, but the language is still pretty Austen-esque, and I feel like it might be pretty hard for the majority of kids to get into.
Also, and again this goes back to the fact that I should have just re-read Pride and Prejudice, I wasn't a fan of how Lizzy was portrayed. I'd imagined her inner life to be much richer, but this didn't make her seem any deeper than Kitty or Lydia, really. She spent the whole time either complaining about how trying everyone was or thinking about Wickham or Darcy. It's just not exactly how I picture Elizabeth Bennett.
September 2, 2016
I picked this up when I was looking for another children's series I was trying to finish reading and this was displayed up front at my local library. So since I love Pride and Prejudice I thought this was such a cute idea to get younger children to read classic literature. I love how this was very interactive with flaps they can look at. Like most of the letters have their own flap they can read. The illustrations were very nicely done as well. I am glad that I picked this one up.
November 11, 2019
This illustrated book for young readers relates the story of Pride and Prejudice for a tween/young teen crowd or those who have only seen and enjoyed the 2005 movie. The endpapers show maps of Longbourn and Pemberley. The author/illustrator seems to have drawn on the inaccurate 2005 film for Longbourn. The Bennets don't keep pigs in their yard and they can't even see the farm and livestock from the house. Mr. Bennet isn't a farmer. That's just my first complaint.
The illustrations are cartoony. Everyone has exaggerated features. I'm hoping the illustrator modeled them after Cassandra's illustrations in The History of England. I really don't like how unattractively even Jane and Lizzy are depicted. I do like how Lizzy has pasted in feathers and ribbons and other objects into her diary and I also like seeing the embroidery pattern she has designed for Papa's new waistcoat.
I did not enjoy this adaptation of the classic novel. While it's funny, it's not satirical. The whole story has a rather flippant, silly tone. This Lizzy comes across nearly as silly as her younger sisters. Lizzy is too seriously enamored with Wickham, Charlotte suggests Lizzy marry Col. Fitzwilliam if she doesn't marry Darcy (this is not possible and he even tells her so in the original novel). Lizzy thinks a lot about clothes, hair, dancing, men and how awful her family is. Jane is more wise than in the original but still quick to forgive. Much of the story and the nuances get lost in the adaptation for young readers. I would just as soon as not give this to my nieces and wait until they're old enough to understand and read the real thing. The language even in this version is too difficult and the context of the story too watered down to explain to a tween. This version is more for adults who may be reading to babies who won't understand it anyway.
The illustrations are cartoony. Everyone has exaggerated features. I'm hoping the illustrator modeled them after Cassandra's illustrations in The History of England. I really don't like how unattractively even Jane and Lizzy are depicted. I do like how Lizzy has pasted in feathers and ribbons and other objects into her diary and I also like seeing the embroidery pattern she has designed for Papa's new waistcoat.
I did not enjoy this adaptation of the classic novel. While it's funny, it's not satirical. The whole story has a rather flippant, silly tone. This Lizzy comes across nearly as silly as her younger sisters. Lizzy is too seriously enamored with Wickham, Charlotte suggests Lizzy marry Col. Fitzwilliam if she doesn't marry Darcy (this is not possible and he even tells her so in the original novel). Lizzy thinks a lot about clothes, hair, dancing, men and how awful her family is. Jane is more wise than in the original but still quick to forgive. Much of the story and the nuances get lost in the adaptation for young readers. I would just as soon as not give this to my nieces and wait until they're old enough to understand and read the real thing. The language even in this version is too difficult and the context of the story too watered down to explain to a tween. This version is more for adults who may be reading to babies who won't understand it anyway.
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November 3, 2017Quick summary: Lizzy Bennet’s Diary is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice for younger readers through the diary of Elizabeth Bennet. Lizzy’s diary follows the original novel, albeit in simplified form — complete with illustrations, letters glued onto the pages that readers can open up and enjoy, and various mementos she collects along the way.
Why I wanted to read it: I loved Marcia Williams’ war-related, scrapbook-like diaries, Archie’s War: My Scrapbook of the First World War 1914-1918 and My Secret Diary, by Flossie Albright: My History of the Second World War 1939-1945, so when I saw that she had transformed Pride and Prejudice into a diary, I couldn’t resist.
What I liked: I loved the adorable drawings, and I loved opening up the letters. Although other authors have retold Pride and Prejudice in diary form, Lizzy Bennet’s Diary actually looks and feels like a real diary. I am always delighted by Williams’ creativity and how she makes me want to drop everything and start scavenging for little tokens to glue into a scrapbook or journal.
What I disliked: Lizzy seems almost childlike in these diary entries, going on about clothes, etc. I missed the intelligent, witty, and stubborn woman portrayed by Austen. There were times I wondered if this actually was Lydia Bennet’s diary.
Final thoughts: Although I felt that the portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet was a bit off, I appreciate that Williams retold Austen’s novel in a creative way without changing the plot. Lizzy Bennet’s Diary is a cute way to introduce young readers to the world of Jane Austen, with illustrations that are eye-catching and adorable.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
Why I wanted to read it: I loved Marcia Williams’ war-related, scrapbook-like diaries, Archie’s War: My Scrapbook of the First World War 1914-1918 and My Secret Diary, by Flossie Albright: My History of the Second World War 1939-1945, so when I saw that she had transformed Pride and Prejudice into a diary, I couldn’t resist.
What I liked: I loved the adorable drawings, and I loved opening up the letters. Although other authors have retold Pride and Prejudice in diary form, Lizzy Bennet’s Diary actually looks and feels like a real diary. I am always delighted by Williams’ creativity and how she makes me want to drop everything and start scavenging for little tokens to glue into a scrapbook or journal.
What I disliked: Lizzy seems almost childlike in these diary entries, going on about clothes, etc. I missed the intelligent, witty, and stubborn woman portrayed by Austen. There were times I wondered if this actually was Lydia Bennet’s diary.
Final thoughts: Although I felt that the portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet was a bit off, I appreciate that Williams retold Austen’s novel in a creative way without changing the plot. Lizzy Bennet’s Diary is a cute way to introduce young readers to the world of Jane Austen, with illustrations that are eye-catching and adorable.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
February 3, 2023
Such a delightful book (or a diary! ). Beautiful illustrations!
January 26, 2016
A very cute concept, but it does not do justice to Austen. This is a children's book and is adorably laid out with drawings, flower pressings, and letters that the reader can open. The issue is that the way the diary is told is too shallow. Certainly Lizzy goes into her feelings and opinions about different characters and events, but it often makes her sound rude, overbearing, or conceited.
I understand this is meant for kids, so you cannot go into the intricacies of the actual text, but I wondered while I was reading this, what child would pick it up. The language is still like Austen's, so it may be hard for the average young reader to get into.
Overall, I am too defensive of "Pride and Prejudice" and thus have a hard time ceding control of the story to other writers. For a beginners text it is fine. I would certainly give this to a child who is a little more advanced and into diaries or historical fiction.
I understand this is meant for kids, so you cannot go into the intricacies of the actual text, but I wondered while I was reading this, what child would pick it up. The language is still like Austen's, so it may be hard for the average young reader to get into.
Overall, I am too defensive of "Pride and Prejudice" and thus have a hard time ceding control of the story to other writers. For a beginners text it is fine. I would certainly give this to a child who is a little more advanced and into diaries or historical fiction.
December 1, 2015
Pride and Prejudice told diary-style with pictures, little fold-out letters, invitations, etc. This was shelved in the children's section. It didn't keep my interest very well because I kept wishing I was reading the real thing. But it would be a fun way to introduce the book to children or young teens, and I would have liked it when I was younger. Very cute.
December 27, 2015
En sød og smuk lille billedbog, med mange søde illustrationer, indsatte breve og visitkort. Bogen er rettet mod et yngre engelsketalende publikum og ser man bort fra de meget kreative specialeffekts så kunne jeg som voksen lige så godt have læst den originale roman. Men det er nu en fin udgave!
November 4, 2015
Fantastic! My 9 year old daughter devoured this from the moment we left the library. Clever format.
January 2, 2016
This is a charming introduction to Pride and Prejudice for the juvenile set. I loved the illustrations and the letters tucked inside.
February 14, 2022
I'm prepared to give most versions of a Pride & Prejudice retellings a fair chance and this prettily illustrated version of Lizzie Bennet's Diary didn't disappoint! Written primarily for a children/young adult audience, it tells the beloved tale of the Bennets, the Bingleys and Darcys in an extremely abridged version that nevertheless includes all the crucial events and in doing so retains to a large extent, the original flavour of Austen's masterpiece :) The characters stay true to their Austenesque interpretations and storyline, but Williams adds her own little creative flourishes through her illustrations and through Lizzie's way of expressing herself, which feels very contemporary.
At 112 pages, this is a super fast read. I enjoyed Williams' delightful illustrations and the little extras she added that made the diary her own - the waistcoat that Lizzie makes her father throughout the diary, the little domestic events that occur in daily life at Longbourn and the little notes and letters she includes - the menu at the Netherfield Ball, a receipt for shoe roses, embroidery designs and the like, all make for an extremely enjoyable reading experience :)
This is a great way to introduce children to this beloved book. It has humour, drama and misfortunes, all told in a cosy, easily accessible way. Recommended.
At 112 pages, this is a super fast read. I enjoyed Williams' delightful illustrations and the little extras she added that made the diary her own - the waistcoat that Lizzie makes her father throughout the diary, the little domestic events that occur in daily life at Longbourn and the little notes and letters she includes - the menu at the Netherfield Ball, a receipt for shoe roses, embroidery designs and the like, all make for an extremely enjoyable reading experience :)
This is a great way to introduce children to this beloved book. It has humour, drama and misfortunes, all told in a cosy, easily accessible way. Recommended.
September 18, 2019
I have never read Pride and Prejudice but I love the story. Who doesn't. I loved this children's book of her diary. I loved the little flaps to open to reveal letters and notes sent. It is a fun rendering of the beloved book. Someday I may just have to read the original.
July 18, 2023
Carinissimo!
December 27, 2014
Una delizia per bambine cresciute
L'emozione nel ricevere questo libro, ordinato su Amazon è stata grandissima: si tratta infatti di un diario scrapbook, con disegni, bigliettini reali e lettere incollate all'interno – come potrebbe essere il diario di un'adolescente – e leggere la storia di Orgoglio e pregiudizio attraverso questa raffinata edizione cartonata, con disegnini simili a piccole caricature, che esprimono tutta l'ironia di Lizzy, mi sembrava davvero un divertimento imperdibile.
Nell'arco della lettura, però, mi sono resa conto di alcune piccole pecche della riduzione della Williams.
Innanzi tutto, per riassumere la storia di Orgoglio e pregiudizio in 112 pagine piene di disegnini, l'autrice ha dovuto fare qualche taglio di troppo, con alcune piccole imprecisioni. Ovviamente la lettera di Darcy è incollata all'interno del Diario, ma essa è un riassunto dell'originale, con delle semplificazioni che la rendono fruibile ai bambini dai 6 ai 10 anni, a cui il libro è rivolto, ma che lasciano deluse le lettrici più "cresciute".
Poi, cosa fondamentale, questo diario sarebbe perfetto se Lizzy fosse una quindicenne, e non la ventenne sagace, la fine conoscitrice di caratteri, che conosciamo e amiamo. L'impressione che si ha della ragazza che scrive il diario, invece, è che somigli più a Lydia che non a Lizzy, una quindicenne, appunto. Sì, magari non oca come Lydia, ma pur sempre superficiale come una quindicenne. I disegni sono, paradossalmente, più consoni alla ragazza conosciuta in Orgoglio e pregiudizio, che pure rivela a Lady Catherine de Bourgh di non saper disegnare.
In effetti i disegni sono piuttosto infantili, quasi caricaturali, probabilmente non del genere di cui una signorina della buona società dell'epoca potesse vantarsi.
Nel corso della lettura, inoltre, al lettore sorge il dubbio che questo libro potrebbe non suscitare affatto l'interesse di una bambina per il romanzo originale, Orgoglio e pregiudizio, e che dunque, lungi dall'essere una lettura ideale per le bambine dai 6 ai 10 anni, questa sia una lettura per Janeites cresciute, che si vogliono deliziare con una sorta di graphic novel alternativa del romanzo.
Un piccolo richiamo va fatto alla traduttrice, che si è ostinata ripetutamente a far chiamare da Elizabeth i figli dei Gardiner "le cuginette". In effetti i Gardiner avevano quattro figli, due femmine di sei e otto anni e due maschi più piccoli, come specificato nel capitolo 42 di Orgoglio e pregiudizio, e la Williams li ha disegnati di conseguenza – due bambine più grandicelle e due maschietti piccolini.
Come mai allora questa svista? Ha forse creduto che Lizzy preferisse la compagnia delle due cuginette più grandi? A giudicare dai disegni, non è così, visto che, più avanti, Lizzy si disegna proprio per mano ai due cuginetti maschi!
Insomma, una lettura abbastanza gradevole per me che sono una bambina cresciuta. Dubito, però, che le bambine della fascia d'età a cui è riservato il libro possano apprezzarlo come merita. La lettura del classico di Jane Austen, infatti, non può non essere propedeutica al Diario della Williams. E per leggere Orgoglio e pregiudizio sarebbe ancora troppo presto.
Potete leggere la recensione completa di immagini QUI:
http://ildiariodellelizzies.blogspot....
L'emozione nel ricevere questo libro, ordinato su Amazon è stata grandissima: si tratta infatti di un diario scrapbook, con disegni, bigliettini reali e lettere incollate all'interno – come potrebbe essere il diario di un'adolescente – e leggere la storia di Orgoglio e pregiudizio attraverso questa raffinata edizione cartonata, con disegnini simili a piccole caricature, che esprimono tutta l'ironia di Lizzy, mi sembrava davvero un divertimento imperdibile.
Nell'arco della lettura, però, mi sono resa conto di alcune piccole pecche della riduzione della Williams.
Innanzi tutto, per riassumere la storia di Orgoglio e pregiudizio in 112 pagine piene di disegnini, l'autrice ha dovuto fare qualche taglio di troppo, con alcune piccole imprecisioni. Ovviamente la lettera di Darcy è incollata all'interno del Diario, ma essa è un riassunto dell'originale, con delle semplificazioni che la rendono fruibile ai bambini dai 6 ai 10 anni, a cui il libro è rivolto, ma che lasciano deluse le lettrici più "cresciute".
Poi, cosa fondamentale, questo diario sarebbe perfetto se Lizzy fosse una quindicenne, e non la ventenne sagace, la fine conoscitrice di caratteri, che conosciamo e amiamo. L'impressione che si ha della ragazza che scrive il diario, invece, è che somigli più a Lydia che non a Lizzy, una quindicenne, appunto. Sì, magari non oca come Lydia, ma pur sempre superficiale come una quindicenne. I disegni sono, paradossalmente, più consoni alla ragazza conosciuta in Orgoglio e pregiudizio, che pure rivela a Lady Catherine de Bourgh di non saper disegnare.
In effetti i disegni sono piuttosto infantili, quasi caricaturali, probabilmente non del genere di cui una signorina della buona società dell'epoca potesse vantarsi.
Nel corso della lettura, inoltre, al lettore sorge il dubbio che questo libro potrebbe non suscitare affatto l'interesse di una bambina per il romanzo originale, Orgoglio e pregiudizio, e che dunque, lungi dall'essere una lettura ideale per le bambine dai 6 ai 10 anni, questa sia una lettura per Janeites cresciute, che si vogliono deliziare con una sorta di graphic novel alternativa del romanzo.
Un piccolo richiamo va fatto alla traduttrice, che si è ostinata ripetutamente a far chiamare da Elizabeth i figli dei Gardiner "le cuginette". In effetti i Gardiner avevano quattro figli, due femmine di sei e otto anni e due maschi più piccoli, come specificato nel capitolo 42 di Orgoglio e pregiudizio, e la Williams li ha disegnati di conseguenza – due bambine più grandicelle e due maschietti piccolini.
Come mai allora questa svista? Ha forse creduto che Lizzy preferisse la compagnia delle due cuginette più grandi? A giudicare dai disegni, non è così, visto che, più avanti, Lizzy si disegna proprio per mano ai due cuginetti maschi!
Insomma, una lettura abbastanza gradevole per me che sono una bambina cresciuta. Dubito, però, che le bambine della fascia d'età a cui è riservato il libro possano apprezzarlo come merita. La lettura del classico di Jane Austen, infatti, non può non essere propedeutica al Diario della Williams. E per leggere Orgoglio e pregiudizio sarebbe ancora troppo presto.
Potete leggere la recensione completa di immagini QUI:
http://ildiariodellelizzies.blogspot....
June 30, 2014
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has long been a favorite of mine, and even though a scrapbook cannot possibly do justice to the book, this diary, ostensibly kept by Lizzy Bennet captures the flavor of the times and Lizzy herself pretty well. Lizzy begins recording her thoughts with a concern that nothing much worth recording is happening. But that quickly proves not to be the case with the arrival of the handsome and well-to-do Mr. Bingley. Suddenly, all the marriageable females in the area, including the five Bennet sisters, are in a dither about the man. When Jane, Lizzie's oldest sister, seems to have captured his affections, complications ensue. It's hard to resist a case of "I hate him, I love him, I hate him, I love him" as described here. If nothing else, the book proves that first impressions can be deceiving. I enjoyed the letters--they actually fold up on the book's pages--the notes, the menus, and the waistcoat buttons and designs that are included as well as sketches of birds, flowers, even shoe roses. The author/illustrator has gone to great lengths to take her readers back in time through her tiny watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations filled with exquisite detail. This might serve as a lure to entice readers to Austen's book or as enhancement after they complete it and before they begin reading it again. While I agree with one reviewer who worried about how the author simplifies the book in the diary, I also think she enhances the story in other ways. This one was a treat from start to finish, and if some of the characters, such as Mrs. Bennet suffer in the telling, readers may learn more about her and judge for themselves from the original book.
May 24, 2018
I applaud the imagination of author Marcia Williams for re-imagining Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" as a diary written by Lizzy Bennet. However, the book itself was not all I hoped it would be.
Written from children between the ages of 8 and 12, as the book cover indicates, I feel it fails to reach its target audience. The book has many doodles that Lizzy is to have done. They are not well done, intentionally I think, but they detract from the book. The pages are busy and have pop-ups, fold-outs and random thoughts everywhere in addition to the doodles. The pages are very cluttered.
The book may be too much for those on the younger side, while I believe some 12-year-olds will be too mature for this book. At 12, I was reading the adult versions of books. Additionally, I believe the author fails to mimic the language of the Regency period and misses the mark with Lizzy's words and personality. Her diary entries are mean and vapid, at times, making them appear to have been written by Lydia instead of Lizzy. Also, she has Lizzy take on Lydia's favorite utterance, "La!" The writing of Lizzy also seems immature for a woman of 20 and does not capture her wit or charm. At times, the entries are quite harsh and direct mean feelings at her family.
All in all, if Goodreads allowed it, I would have given this book 2 1/2 stars.
Written from children between the ages of 8 and 12, as the book cover indicates, I feel it fails to reach its target audience. The book has many doodles that Lizzy is to have done. They are not well done, intentionally I think, but they detract from the book. The pages are busy and have pop-ups, fold-outs and random thoughts everywhere in addition to the doodles. The pages are very cluttered.
The book may be too much for those on the younger side, while I believe some 12-year-olds will be too mature for this book. At 12, I was reading the adult versions of books. Additionally, I believe the author fails to mimic the language of the Regency period and misses the mark with Lizzy's words and personality. Her diary entries are mean and vapid, at times, making them appear to have been written by Lydia instead of Lizzy. Also, she has Lizzy take on Lydia's favorite utterance, "La!" The writing of Lizzy also seems immature for a woman of 20 and does not capture her wit or charm. At times, the entries are quite harsh and direct mean feelings at her family.
All in all, if Goodreads allowed it, I would have given this book 2 1/2 stars.
August 13, 2014
Inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel, “Pride and Prejudice”, we can easily believe that Elizabeth Bennet just might have written this diary. It is a fun re-imagining of Lizzy Bennet’s world through her eyes with realistic journal entries and cute drawings and captions filling each page. But it’s the realistic invitations, notes, and letters glued to the pages in scrapbook style that thrilled me the most. As a person who is very familiar with Austen’s novel, “Pride and Prejudice, and the many screenplays based on the novel, I am not sure how a young child unfamiliar with these might respond to this “diary”, but I hope that it would lead them to the original work. For those of us who can never get enough of Longbourn, Mr. Darcy, and the irrepressible Bennets, this is a wonderful treat that is true to the original classic.
Sharyn H. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
April 13, 2014
I was excited to read Lizzy Bennet's Diary by Marcia Williams. This diary or scrapbook is inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The diary opens in September 1811 and closes in December 1812. In addition to diary entries, the story is told through letters, invitations, and illustrations. In these entries, Lizzy reveals her 'true' feelings about her sisters, her parents, Mr. Darcy, George Wickham, Mr. Collins, etc.
Lizzy Bennet's Diary does a good job--mainly--in capturing the heart of the classic novel by Jane Austen. The novel itself will always be "better" than any adaptation. But it does work as an adaptation of the classic for younger middle grade readers and young teens. Looking closely at the illustrations proves amusing, for example. It looks like Marcia Williams had a LOT of fun drawing these beloved characters! I liked her drawing Lady Catherine de Bourgh!
Overall, I thought it was a quick and enjoyable read.
Lizzy Bennet's Diary does a good job--mainly--in capturing the heart of the classic novel by Jane Austen. The novel itself will always be "better" than any adaptation. But it does work as an adaptation of the classic for younger middle grade readers and young teens. Looking closely at the illustrations proves amusing, for example. It looks like Marcia Williams had a LOT of fun drawing these beloved characters! I liked her drawing Lady Catherine de Bourgh!
Overall, I thought it was a quick and enjoyable read.
June 2, 2014
This diary is inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite novels. Needless to say, I was very excited to read this book. Filled with illustrations and mementos from events Lizzy attended, this scrapbook is filled with Lizzy's thoughts about her family, her surroundings and events in her life from 1811-1812. Author and illustrator Marcia Williams does a marvelous job incorporating "doodles" into the text so that it has the look of a real diary. I love the flowers that look pressed into the book and her take on Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Hilarious!
I'm not usually a fan of spin-offs on classic novels, but this really works. For one thing, it stays true to the tone and plot of the original novel, while presenting it in a format that makes the novel accessible to middle grade and teen readers. It's great fun!
I'm not usually a fan of spin-offs on classic novels, but this really works. For one thing, it stays true to the tone and plot of the original novel, while presenting it in a format that makes the novel accessible to middle grade and teen readers. It's great fun!
September 18, 2016
I love Jane Austen and have read a lot of Pride and Prejudice fanfic, and this is one of the finest. I enjoyed revisiting the world of Lizzy and Mr Darcy and delighting as their romance grows. Williams captures Lizzy's voice wonderfully. This book would be a great companion to P&P for students who find the novel challenging. Students who grew up on illustrated epistolary novels like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries will be comfortable with the format. The illustrations depict details about life in Georgian England that readers may not be familiar with and help the audience visualize Austen's novel. Adult fans of Lizzie & Darcy will enjoy this book equally.
January 17, 2016
I took this outside with me to enjoy on this beautiful sunny day. It's delightful! I do very much recommend it to my friends who love Jane Austen. It's just so sweet. I felt like the way she was able to condense the story and still stay true to it, as well as adding fun little diary-like illustrations and quotes was just right! It has cute little foldout correspondences and menus and things. The ending was so perfectly done. I love it!
This fulfilled the graphic novel requirement for the 2015 Ultimate Reading Challenge by popsugar.
This fulfilled the graphic novel requirement for the 2015 Ultimate Reading Challenge by popsugar.
September 13, 2016
Written and illustrated as if this were Lizzy Bennet's diary, it tells the story of "Pride and Prejudice" from Lizzy's point of view. The story is faithful to the original and a good intro for younger readers. The illustrations of people and events in the story are delightful, as are the inclusions such as foldout letters and programs as well as "pressed" flowers. I especially enjoyed the drawings depicting the embroidery Lizzy was stitching on a vest for her father. Charming.
July 7, 2014
Overall, a cute concept. What if Pride & Prejudice was turned into a diary/keepsake book written by Elizabeth? Little illustrated "doodles" are scattered throughout the diary, along with all the letters and notes, so the reader can physically open and read the correspondence.
If this book was meant to bring younger readers into the world of Jane Austen, they will probably enjoy the artwork, but the language might be a little bothersome.
If this book was meant to bring younger readers into the world of Jane Austen, they will probably enjoy the artwork, but the language might be a little bothersome.
July 23, 2015
This would be a very cute way to introduce younger girls to P&P (get 'em hooked on Mr. Darcy while their young!) but I did think that the concept and the content didn't quite mesh. Reading the diary Lizzy seems like a very young girl so it was weird that the diary went right up to her getting married. And I kept thinking--when were crayons/colored pencils invented? Lizzy's diary wouldn't be so dang colorful--would it?
February 5, 2016
This adorable gem is more than what it seems. I smiled and laughed all the way through and hope to get my own copy of it soon! It's the perfect little re-telling of Pride and Prejudice with Lizzy's true voice written in diary form. With the added bonus of notes, letters, doodles, and snippets decorated throughout her diary. This is not just for children alone, but for all Pride and Prejudice fans of all ages out there! This is now one of my favorite P&P books I've ever read!
April 18, 2021
Oh la! Seven stars! I read the entire diary with a smile on my lips, thoroughly enjoying the charming sketches, the inserted letters and notes, and the diary entries themselves. Who knew it was possible to love Pride and Prejudice even more?
Update, April 2021: Still as charming as the first time I read it.
Update, April 2021: Still as charming as the first time I read it.
August 11, 2014
This is a sweet little book inspired by Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". It is written from the viewpoint of Lizzie Bennet, and is part diary, part scrapbook. There are little drawings throughout the book as well as foldouts of notes and letters which Lizzie receives.
This would make a great gift for a tween who loves all things English lit.
This would make a great gift for a tween who loves all things English lit.
May 12, 2015
This was totally adorable. I'm not really sure what its purpose is - I can't picture middle school kids, or people who are unfamiliar with the book, enjoying this - but I loved reading it. This is definitely the first Jane Austen fanfiction-y thing I've enjoyed (probably because it doesn't actually add new things, just sort of re-frames things that I already liked).
April 18, 2016
Charming in every way. Adorably illustrated with flowers and doodles and nature motifs. Written in the first person by "Elizabeth Bennet", the story of Pride and Prejuduce is retold in diary form with all of Lizzie's wit and spunk. The back cover says it's for ages 8-12, but I think Jane Austen fans of all ages would enjoy this little gem.
September 19, 2014
This is one of the loveliest books I own! It is a lovely addition to my bookshelf and I love flicking through it when I don't feel like the original pride and prejudice. I also think it would be a great introduction to Austen for a child. love this!
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