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Cousin Prudence
When Emma Knightley discovers that her father’s sister made a misalliance with a weaver, and that this Mr Blenkinsop is asking his late wife’s family to bring his daughter Prudence into society, it is something of a shock.
Prudence is a surprise when she arrives, after having made an encounter on her journey with the irritated Lord Alverston and his wayward nephew; and appears from her propensity for scrapes to have been badly named!
However, Prudence is a merry girl with a lot of common sense and both Mr Knightley and Lord Alverston are impressed by her concerns for the poor in the ‘year without a summer’ and her sensible suggestions to help preserve some crops. And meanwhile, Prudence finds love.
Prudence is a surprise when she arrives, after having made an encounter on her journey with the irritated Lord Alverston and his wayward nephew; and appears from her propensity for scrapes to have been badly named!
However, Prudence is a merry girl with a lot of common sense and both Mr Knightley and Lord Alverston are impressed by her concerns for the poor in the ‘year without a summer’ and her sensible suggestions to help preserve some crops. And meanwhile, Prudence finds love.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2013
15 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Sarah J. Waldock
121 books37 followersI was born in the usual manner and grew up, but only to 5'4". I planned to be a civil engineer or a sports coach or a forensic scientist until I got married, but I got married first and caught a chronic illness shortly thereafter, so I started painting and writing to stop myself going stir crazy. I write what I like reading. Life's too short to take it too seriously, and I'm here to have fun with my writing as with everything else.
I do like writing series because I gain a fondness for my characters and want to pursue their adventures further. I always wanted to do this with books that I read, which is why perhaps my first serious forays into writing were through fanfiction, even though it wasn't called that back before the Internet when I started writing it!.
I do like writing series because I gain a fondness for my characters and want to pursue their adventures further. I always wanted to do this with books that I read, which is why perhaps my first serious forays into writing were through fanfiction, even though it wasn't called that back before the Internet when I started writing it!.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 23, 2018
The author is so intent on showing her knowledge of the period, she forgets to entertain us in this sequel to Jane Austen's EMMA. If I wanted boring details about fashion, food, architecture, history, transportation and transport, sheep farming, medicine and treatment of illnesses, crop failures, corn laws, treatment of tenants, drainage systems, manufacture and mills, etc. I would look all that up. When I read a historical romance, I'm looking first and foremost for entertainment and, of course, romance.
This started out well enough. I was enjoying the author's take on Emma's life after marriage to Knightley. She adds to the mix an 18-year-old cousin Prudence, daughter of Mr. Woodhouse's late sister and his mill owner brother-in-law. Prudence's father asks Emma's and Mr. Woodhouse's help in Prudence's comeout in London.
On the way to the Woodhouse-Knightley residence, Prudence's carriage is forced off the road by a careless, speeding driver. Indignant, she stops the next speeding carriage which is following the first and so meets the Marquess of Alverton. In spite of Prudence not being a member of the upper ten thousand, Alverton finds himself attracted to her because she is not cowed by his position in society and gives as good as she gets.
They meet again in London and the very slow, low-key romance begins. There's a huge cast of secondary characters to muddy up the waters. Some of the secondaries are friends and relatives of Alverton, some are from Emma and Knightley's bailiwick. For example, remember the horrible Eltons from Austen's novel? They're here and just as horrible as ever. Mrs. and Miss Bates are as gossiping and garrulous and boring as ever, and forever with the "dearest Jane" comments in their conversation.
But the story goes off track, wandering off onto various tangents, none of which seemed necessary or related to the main plot. The author totally forgot to keep us feeling the romance between Alverton and Prudence. Most of their discussions involved privileged people's treatment of the lower classes, typhus, sheep farming, corn laws and crop failures. How romantic! I was, frankly, bored to tears by the end of this. (I exaggerate. Not a tear was shed, but you get the idea.) This needed a good editor to keep things on track. I would have also appreciated better punctuation and formatting, as long as we're talking about how to improve this story.
This started out well enough. I was enjoying the author's take on Emma's life after marriage to Knightley. She adds to the mix an 18-year-old cousin Prudence, daughter of Mr. Woodhouse's late sister and his mill owner brother-in-law. Prudence's father asks Emma's and Mr. Woodhouse's help in Prudence's comeout in London.
On the way to the Woodhouse-Knightley residence, Prudence's carriage is forced off the road by a careless, speeding driver. Indignant, she stops the next speeding carriage which is following the first and so meets the Marquess of Alverton. In spite of Prudence not being a member of the upper ten thousand, Alverton finds himself attracted to her because she is not cowed by his position in society and gives as good as she gets.
They meet again in London and the very slow, low-key romance begins. There's a huge cast of secondary characters to muddy up the waters. Some of the secondaries are friends and relatives of Alverton, some are from Emma and Knightley's bailiwick. For example, remember the horrible Eltons from Austen's novel? They're here and just as horrible as ever. Mrs. and Miss Bates are as gossiping and garrulous and boring as ever, and forever with the "dearest Jane" comments in their conversation.
But the story goes off track, wandering off onto various tangents, none of which seemed necessary or related to the main plot. The author totally forgot to keep us feeling the romance between Alverton and Prudence. Most of their discussions involved privileged people's treatment of the lower classes, typhus, sheep farming, corn laws and crop failures. How romantic! I was, frankly, bored to tears by the end of this. (I exaggerate. Not a tear was shed, but you get the idea.) This needed a good editor to keep things on track. I would have also appreciated better punctuation and formatting, as long as we're talking about how to improve this story.
May 11, 2020
Sequel to Jane Austen's Emma.
A sweet and funny read where Emma has a new project in the form of her "little" cousin Prudence. The daughter of Mr Woodhouse's sister, who was cast off when she married beneath her, has come to enjoy the London season under the watchful eye of her cousin Emma.
This was first and foremost Prudence's story, there are little snippets of swoon-worthy moments between Emma and Mr Knightly but they are few and far between.
In addition, there were many new characters from London's society of whom I liked aunt Mouser the most...
A little too circumvent to be really engaging. With so many new characters that not always added to the story itself, I found my mind wandering off the pages.
Worthwhile
Rated: Chaste
A sweet and funny read where Emma has a new project in the form of her "little" cousin Prudence. The daughter of Mr Woodhouse's sister, who was cast off when she married beneath her, has come to enjoy the London season under the watchful eye of her cousin Emma.
This was first and foremost Prudence's story, there are little snippets of swoon-worthy moments between Emma and Mr Knightly but they are few and far between.
In addition, there were many new characters from London's society of whom I liked aunt Mouser the most...
A little too circumvent to be really engaging. With so many new characters that not always added to the story itself, I found my mind wandering off the pages.
Worthwhile
Rated: Chaste
December 3, 2016
Delightful!!
A good read. Likeable characters and storyline. Plus, it's a clean story that makes Ms Waldock an exceptional writer for my love of Regency historical novels.
A good read. Likeable characters and storyline. Plus, it's a clean story that makes Ms Waldock an exceptional writer for my love of Regency historical novels.
January 23, 2023
Wonderfully enjoyable!
I have read and re-read Georgette Heyer and Jane Austin for over 50 years. So many reviews swear the book being reviewed is as good as one written by Ms Heyer or Ms Austin. Don't you believe it! While I have many favorite authors, NO ONE has come even close except Sarah Waldock in Cousin Prudence. I have read probably 80 or 90% of Ms Waldock's books ( she is very prolific) and have thoroughly enjoyed them, although she is rather more "earthy" than the aforementioned authors. This one was delightful!!
I have read and re-read Georgette Heyer and Jane Austin for over 50 years. So many reviews swear the book being reviewed is as good as one written by Ms Heyer or Ms Austin. Don't you believe it! While I have many favorite authors, NO ONE has come even close except Sarah Waldock in Cousin Prudence. I have read probably 80 or 90% of Ms Waldock's books ( she is very prolific) and have thoroughly enjoyed them, although she is rather more "earthy" than the aforementioned authors. This one was delightful!!
October 1, 2018
Pretty good
I really had a difficult time warming up to the H & h. Don't recall Austen's heroes using cant. This pair sounded like a couple of teenagers trying to impress the cool kids at lunchtime. Both of them left me cold.
I really had a difficult time warming up to the H & h. Don't recall Austen's heroes using cant. This pair sounded like a couple of teenagers trying to impress the cool kids at lunchtime. Both of them left me cold.
June 24, 2020
Reunion
I enjoyed this book as it brought back characters which I first met in Emma. Also Cousin Prudence is a great female lead, a very strong woman who gives as well as takes. I would recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a great mix of old and new friends.
I enjoyed this book as it brought back characters which I first met in Emma. Also Cousin Prudence is a great female lead, a very strong woman who gives as well as takes. I would recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a great mix of old and new friends.
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September 24, 2022Fun.
February 14, 2020
Some few months after her marriage to George Knightley, Emma discovers that she has a cousin. Her father once had a sister who married beneath her and now the husband, Mr Blenkinsop wishes for her family to introduce his daughter Prudence to society.
A delightful story, with likeable characters who are mostly new to the original. An enjoyable re-read.
A delightful story, with likeable characters who are mostly new to the original. An enjoyable re-read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews