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Deborah
Taking the character of the rejected Miss de Bourgh from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", this novel describes the adventures that befall her when, in a panic flight from her mother, she is compelled to seek a life, character and relationships of her own.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 7, 2017
Anne de Bourgh Moves On
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Source: Purchased
Jane Gillespie may be a brand new Austenesque author to some of you, but she isn’t brand new. Her sequels (which according to Amazon and Goodreads, I believe number at 9) were published between 1984 and 1999 and all seemed to focus on very minor and obscure characters – like Lucy Steele’s older sister Nancy, Mrs. Weston’s daughter all grown up, or Maria Rushworth and Mrs. Norris! So unique, right? Maybe you can see why I wanted to hunt for copies of Ms. Gillespie’s works and read them for myself (I say hunt, because none of them are in ebook format and all are only available through third-party sellers since they are out of print.)
Even though this is the third book I’ve read by Jane Gillespie, this is the first time I am reviewing one of her works on my blog (the other books were read pre-blog and I haven’t reread them yet!) I noticed that there isn’t a full book blurb on either the Amazon or Goodreads pages for this book, so I thought it might be helpful if I copied it here in my review:
In the happy ending of Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy marries the lady of his choice although his mother and aunt had intended him to marry his cousin Miss de Bourgh. We are not told whether his cousin knew of this intention, nor whether she was disappointed, nor indeed whether this delicate, cosseted young lady had any feelings apart from those ascribed to her by her autocratic mother. This story describes the surprising and sometimes alarming adventures that befall her when, in panic flight from that mother, she is compelled to seek a life, character, and relationships of her own – with some success; perhaps she is not Lady Catherine’s daughter for nothing.
This sequel takes place around three years after the close of Pride and Prejudice – Lady Catherine has finally decided to reconcile herself with her disappointing nephew and his unfortunate marriage. Anne, who we quickly find out harbored very private feelings of affection and admiration for her cousin all these years, decides that Pemberley is the last place she would ever want to set foot and is prepared to do something drastic. Anne’s flight leads her and her companion to an unfamiliar village where they encounter a tyrannical patriarch, a resourceful governess, and a sweet young couple with a problematic elopement scheme. Will she ever return to Rosings and face her mother? Or will she denounce her name and assume the role of a governess named Deborah Smith?
What I enjoyed about this sequel – aside from the novelty of a story focusing solely on Anne – was how Ms. Gillespie respectfully fleshed out Anne’s character. In the beginning of the story she has some haughtiness and crossness, but that quickly melts away as she becomes more embroiled in the affairs of others. I enjoyed witnessing Anne’s compassion and concern for others and her gradually developing fortitude as she learns to stand up to domineering personalities and overcome her broken heart. In addition, I also enjoyed the author’s respectful rendering of Lady Catherine and how she reacted to the alterations in her life. But aside from the pleasing progress in Anne’s character and development of Lady C, this sequel didn’t have much else that held my interest. Anne, while improving in my esteem, still felt a little detached and inaccessible as a heroine. And to my chagrin there was a decided lack of romance in this tale. What little there was escalated abruptly and unbelievably.
Overall, I must say this journey to Kent was a pleasant and worthwhile trip. I loved seeing the happier outcomes for Anne, Mrs. Jenkinson, and Lady Catherine after Pride and Prejudice! I would recommend this book for readers who have a strong affinity for Anne de Bourgh and/or hard-to-find Austenesque novels, but this isn’t one I’d recommend going through too much trouble and expense to obtain.
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Source: Purchased
Jane Gillespie may be a brand new Austenesque author to some of you, but she isn’t brand new. Her sequels (which according to Amazon and Goodreads, I believe number at 9) were published between 1984 and 1999 and all seemed to focus on very minor and obscure characters – like Lucy Steele’s older sister Nancy, Mrs. Weston’s daughter all grown up, or Maria Rushworth and Mrs. Norris! So unique, right? Maybe you can see why I wanted to hunt for copies of Ms. Gillespie’s works and read them for myself (I say hunt, because none of them are in ebook format and all are only available through third-party sellers since they are out of print.)
Even though this is the third book I’ve read by Jane Gillespie, this is the first time I am reviewing one of her works on my blog (the other books were read pre-blog and I haven’t reread them yet!) I noticed that there isn’t a full book blurb on either the Amazon or Goodreads pages for this book, so I thought it might be helpful if I copied it here in my review:
In the happy ending of Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy marries the lady of his choice although his mother and aunt had intended him to marry his cousin Miss de Bourgh. We are not told whether his cousin knew of this intention, nor whether she was disappointed, nor indeed whether this delicate, cosseted young lady had any feelings apart from those ascribed to her by her autocratic mother. This story describes the surprising and sometimes alarming adventures that befall her when, in panic flight from that mother, she is compelled to seek a life, character, and relationships of her own – with some success; perhaps she is not Lady Catherine’s daughter for nothing.
This sequel takes place around three years after the close of Pride and Prejudice – Lady Catherine has finally decided to reconcile herself with her disappointing nephew and his unfortunate marriage. Anne, who we quickly find out harbored very private feelings of affection and admiration for her cousin all these years, decides that Pemberley is the last place she would ever want to set foot and is prepared to do something drastic. Anne’s flight leads her and her companion to an unfamiliar village where they encounter a tyrannical patriarch, a resourceful governess, and a sweet young couple with a problematic elopement scheme. Will she ever return to Rosings and face her mother? Or will she denounce her name and assume the role of a governess named Deborah Smith?
What I enjoyed about this sequel – aside from the novelty of a story focusing solely on Anne – was how Ms. Gillespie respectfully fleshed out Anne’s character. In the beginning of the story she has some haughtiness and crossness, but that quickly melts away as she becomes more embroiled in the affairs of others. I enjoyed witnessing Anne’s compassion and concern for others and her gradually developing fortitude as she learns to stand up to domineering personalities and overcome her broken heart. In addition, I also enjoyed the author’s respectful rendering of Lady Catherine and how she reacted to the alterations in her life. But aside from the pleasing progress in Anne’s character and development of Lady C, this sequel didn’t have much else that held my interest. Anne, while improving in my esteem, still felt a little detached and inaccessible as a heroine. And to my chagrin there was a decided lack of romance in this tale. What little there was escalated abruptly and unbelievably.
Overall, I must say this journey to Kent was a pleasant and worthwhile trip. I loved seeing the happier outcomes for Anne, Mrs. Jenkinson, and Lady Catherine after Pride and Prejudice! I would recommend this book for readers who have a strong affinity for Anne de Bourgh and/or hard-to-find Austenesque novels, but this isn’t one I’d recommend going through too much trouble and expense to obtain.
Austenesque Reviews
April 16, 2026
What was Anne de Bourgh's reaction to Darcy marrying Elizabeth? What if she ran away from her stifling, overly-protected life for an adventure of her own? Jane Gillespie continues with another standalone sequel to the Jane Austen novels and this time she chooses placing the spotlight on Anne de Bourgh from Pride & Prejudice.
Anne saw marriage to her cousin Darcy as a dream of rescue from her suffocating existence with her autocratic mother. When he turned elsewhere, she despaired so much of never escaping. Lady Catherine was at odds with her nephew over his choice, but eventually sought to make amends and journeys to Pemberley to show Darcy and Mrs. Darcy that she is prepared to respect his choice- and she sticks around to order and organize the Darcys whether they want it or not.
With her mother gone, Anne claims an illness- she is often truly ill- and runs from the house in a rainstorm prepared to fling herself into the river and end all the nothingness and misery. Fortunately, her paid companion, Mrs. Jennings follows and is there to prevent a tragedy. Unfortunately, Anne got some distance from Rosings and Mrs. Jennings was chilled and ill by the time they were found by a boy working at a small village inn. Mrs. Jennings has the presence of mind to avert the scandal of the daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh running off by giving false names for the pair of them before she succumbed into unconsciousness from her illness.
"Deborah Smith" is bewildered in this new world of the lower classes, but also strangely content to accept no one knowing who she is and then being drawn into a young couple's intrigue along with the girl's governess to thwart her ornery father who allowed the engagement then withdrew. From a conspiracy to help with an elopement, Deborah is on the personal adventure of her life and life has become colorful, lively and vastly interesting as she learns to be strong of mind and body when no one is there to treat her like an invalid.
Deborah is written in an older, classical style that I enjoyed. I liked seeing Anne de Bourgh find her way from despondency to what would make her happy. While this is Anne's story, Jane Gillespie's own original characters got secondary stories that wove in with Austen's other minor characters, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Jennings, Lady Catherine, and to a lesser extent, the Darcys.
There is a romance, but its not Deborah/Anne's. She does have a happy ending beyond the happy ending of finding herself and gaining acceptance for the new Deborah from others, but her romantic ending was sadly only hinted at in a few last sentences of the last chapter.
And, so, this was a quick read, but delightful for someone wanting more from the Jane Austen stories after the originals and following a side character's story path.
Anne saw marriage to her cousin Darcy as a dream of rescue from her suffocating existence with her autocratic mother. When he turned elsewhere, she despaired so much of never escaping. Lady Catherine was at odds with her nephew over his choice, but eventually sought to make amends and journeys to Pemberley to show Darcy and Mrs. Darcy that she is prepared to respect his choice- and she sticks around to order and organize the Darcys whether they want it or not.
With her mother gone, Anne claims an illness- she is often truly ill- and runs from the house in a rainstorm prepared to fling herself into the river and end all the nothingness and misery. Fortunately, her paid companion, Mrs. Jennings follows and is there to prevent a tragedy. Unfortunately, Anne got some distance from Rosings and Mrs. Jennings was chilled and ill by the time they were found by a boy working at a small village inn. Mrs. Jennings has the presence of mind to avert the scandal of the daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh running off by giving false names for the pair of them before she succumbed into unconsciousness from her illness.
"Deborah Smith" is bewildered in this new world of the lower classes, but also strangely content to accept no one knowing who she is and then being drawn into a young couple's intrigue along with the girl's governess to thwart her ornery father who allowed the engagement then withdrew. From a conspiracy to help with an elopement, Deborah is on the personal adventure of her life and life has become colorful, lively and vastly interesting as she learns to be strong of mind and body when no one is there to treat her like an invalid.
Deborah is written in an older, classical style that I enjoyed. I liked seeing Anne de Bourgh find her way from despondency to what would make her happy. While this is Anne's story, Jane Gillespie's own original characters got secondary stories that wove in with Austen's other minor characters, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Jennings, Lady Catherine, and to a lesser extent, the Darcys.
There is a romance, but its not Deborah/Anne's. She does have a happy ending beyond the happy ending of finding herself and gaining acceptance for the new Deborah from others, but her romantic ending was sadly only hinted at in a few last sentences of the last chapter.
And, so, this was a quick read, but delightful for someone wanting more from the Jane Austen stories after the originals and following a side character's story path.
December 29, 2024
Deborah is a lovely coming of age novel set in Regency England, and is a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The novel takes place three years after Pride and Prejudice, and focuses on Anne de Bourgh, who is best known to readers as Lady Catherine de Bourgh's sickly daughter.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel, but I was pleasantly surprised with the story. In a state of desperation, Anne runs away from her home and is followed by her elderly companion, Mrs. Jenkinson. They end up in a village where nobody knows their true identities, and Anne takes on the name "Deborah Smith" to stay in hiding. Soon adventure finds her, and Anne becomes part of an elopement plot and the governess to children with a cruel and violent father. As time goes on, she finds her own voice and develops meaningful friendships like she's never had before.
This is not a romance, and those who go into it expecting a romantic love story will be somewhat disappointed. Instead, readers should expect a story about personal growth and friendship. I enjoyed watching Anne grow into her own, and was satisfied with how the story ended.
I would recommend reading Pride and Prejudice before reading Deborah because the book has so many references to the original source material. In addition to Anne de Bourgh, the book also includes cameos from Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy, and Georgiana Darcy.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel, but I was pleasantly surprised with the story. In a state of desperation, Anne runs away from her home and is followed by her elderly companion, Mrs. Jenkinson. They end up in a village where nobody knows their true identities, and Anne takes on the name "Deborah Smith" to stay in hiding. Soon adventure finds her, and Anne becomes part of an elopement plot and the governess to children with a cruel and violent father. As time goes on, she finds her own voice and develops meaningful friendships like she's never had before.
This is not a romance, and those who go into it expecting a romantic love story will be somewhat disappointed. Instead, readers should expect a story about personal growth and friendship. I enjoyed watching Anne grow into her own, and was satisfied with how the story ended.
I would recommend reading Pride and Prejudice before reading Deborah because the book has so many references to the original source material. In addition to Anne de Bourgh, the book also includes cameos from Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy, and Georgiana Darcy.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews