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Expectations: The Transformation of Miss Anne de Bourgh
Pride and Prejudice and Pirates….
It is a truth universally understood—but never acknowledged—that an heiress with no husband and no prospects is an object of derision and pity.
And an heiress who had a prospect—for decades—but her intended was stolen away by a rival with no family, no money, and no connections, is so profoundly to be pitied that she mustn’t even be talked about behind her back.
Except, of course, if she is not in town.
And most definitely if she is the daughter of that imperious old harridan, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Three years after her cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy broke their engagement to marry Elizabeth Bennet, Anne de Bourgh’s life is sputtering to a halt. With failing health and a cloudy future, in desperation Anne ignores the objections of her mother and takes advantage of a peace treaty between England and France to spend a warm winter in Naples. But when war erupts, Anne and her party must scramble to find safe passage back to England.
Accompanied by a mysterious gentleman from Naples and a doting young doctor with secrets of his own, Anne de Bourgh commences a voyage that will change forever the life of one of literature’s most famous third wheels. Pulled from the shadowy recesses of Pride and Prejudice and thrust into the spotlight of her own story, a woman with no wit, no vivacity, no charm—and the mother of all mothers—will seek her only, slim chance at happiness.
It is a truth universally understood—but never acknowledged—that an heiress with no husband and no prospects is an object of derision and pity.
And an heiress who had a prospect—for decades—but her intended was stolen away by a rival with no family, no money, and no connections, is so profoundly to be pitied that she mustn’t even be talked about behind her back.
Except, of course, if she is not in town.
And most definitely if she is the daughter of that imperious old harridan, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Three years after her cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy broke their engagement to marry Elizabeth Bennet, Anne de Bourgh’s life is sputtering to a halt. With failing health and a cloudy future, in desperation Anne ignores the objections of her mother and takes advantage of a peace treaty between England and France to spend a warm winter in Naples. But when war erupts, Anne and her party must scramble to find safe passage back to England.
Accompanied by a mysterious gentleman from Naples and a doting young doctor with secrets of his own, Anne de Bourgh commences a voyage that will change forever the life of one of literature’s most famous third wheels. Pulled from the shadowy recesses of Pride and Prejudice and thrust into the spotlight of her own story, a woman with no wit, no vivacity, no charm—and the mother of all mothers—will seek her only, slim chance at happiness.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 4, 2017
It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in. ~ Earl of Chesterfield
I just checked my Kindle records and I’m ashamed to say I bought this (yes, actually paid for it, not KU) in January 2017 and now it’s November and I have finally finished. I started a couple chapters; got distracted by newer and shinier and about D/E instead of Anne; quit this book; came back months later; read a couple more chapters; got distracted, etc.
The good news in this? At each re-start, I remembered the story to that point and didn’t have to re-read! Why is this important? The story is unique enough that it stuck in my mind – the same mind where many other stories get jumbled and forgotten.
Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. ~ William James, letter to Carl Stumpf, 1886 January 1st
I finally … finally … reached the half-way point and kept going to the end. The book is much better than my pathetic reading would indicate.
Lady Catherine discovers a new London doctor and entices him to Rosings. Dr. Minton encourages Anne toward fresh air and gentle exercise and Anne makes improvements. Dr. Minton even pushes Lady Catherine to allow Anne a winter holiday in Italy hoping the warmer climate will prove strengthening. Thus begins the adventure of Anne’s life.
Anne, Mrs. Jenkinson, the good doctor and Harriet, a young lady related to some Rosings neighbors but relatively unknown to Anne and Lady Catherine, travel to Naples.
The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing." ~ Daniel J. Boorstin
The party from Rosings settles into their villa. Harriet is off daily seeking adventures and meeting people. Anne becomes acquainted in their small community of English people on holiday and improves her Italian. Dr. Minton spends as much time with Anne as possible, eventually seeming to supplant Mrs. Jenkinson as Anne’s companion.
But … is the doctor interested only in Anne’s health?
Who is the mysterious caped stranger at the masquerade ball?
If peace with the French is broken, will the English community be able to leave Italy?
Anne de Bough – the Rodney Dangerfield of JAFF. This story about Anne is well-written and proof-read. It deserves much more respect than I gave it.
Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. ~ Mason Cooley
I just checked my Kindle records and I’m ashamed to say I bought this (yes, actually paid for it, not KU) in January 2017 and now it’s November and I have finally finished. I started a couple chapters; got distracted by newer and shinier and about D/E instead of Anne; quit this book; came back months later; read a couple more chapters; got distracted, etc.
The good news in this? At each re-start, I remembered the story to that point and didn’t have to re-read! Why is this important? The story is unique enough that it stuck in my mind – the same mind where many other stories get jumbled and forgotten.
Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. ~ William James, letter to Carl Stumpf, 1886 January 1st
I finally … finally … reached the half-way point and kept going to the end. The book is much better than my pathetic reading would indicate.
Lady Catherine discovers a new London doctor and entices him to Rosings. Dr. Minton encourages Anne toward fresh air and gentle exercise and Anne makes improvements. Dr. Minton even pushes Lady Catherine to allow Anne a winter holiday in Italy hoping the warmer climate will prove strengthening. Thus begins the adventure of Anne’s life.
Anne, Mrs. Jenkinson, the good doctor and Harriet, a young lady related to some Rosings neighbors but relatively unknown to Anne and Lady Catherine, travel to Naples.
The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing." ~ Daniel J. Boorstin
The party from Rosings settles into their villa. Harriet is off daily seeking adventures and meeting people. Anne becomes acquainted in their small community of English people on holiday and improves her Italian. Dr. Minton spends as much time with Anne as possible, eventually seeming to supplant Mrs. Jenkinson as Anne’s companion.
But … is the doctor interested only in Anne’s health?
Who is the mysterious caped stranger at the masquerade ball?
If peace with the French is broken, will the English community be able to leave Italy?
Anne de Bough – the Rodney Dangerfield of JAFF. This story about Anne is well-written and proof-read. It deserves much more respect than I gave it.
Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. ~ Mason Cooley
May 20, 2019
I borrowed this book when I discovered that the other version of this story in three volumes had the last two volumes NO longer available on Amazon after I had read Volume 1 and tried to secure volumes 2 & 3.
The story picks up where I left off at about a third of the way through...as it should. Anne de Bourgh is abroad a ship headed home after the peace treaty between the French and the English has failed and British citizens in various parts of Europe are now subject to arrest and imprisonment. Anne's changes in her behavior continue and she has two men attentive to her on board: Dr. Minton and "Mr. Frances". The latter has presented himself as a friend to the Major Allenden who has missed the ship as it sailed from Naples.
Her sea voyage finds her contemplating the meaning of both men's behavior and then we read as Anne takes steps of courage to change the outcome of fate assigned to one as pirates capture their ship. When back in London Anne learns that her impressions about one man were mistaken but still she wavers in what that means for her.
Much of this story has to do with Anne's relationship with her mother and her finally making her own way even when she is not even sure of a place to stay. Anne then has to learn to take charge and also seek advice from friends and even an attorney. This Anne has had "duty" drummed into her all her life and now she is torn as she seeks independence and friendships not approved by her mother. If she does her duty she will find herself buckling under her mother's thumb...again.
I liked this Anne who has courage and seeks to give meaning to her life all with the help and encouragement of her new friends.
When much is finally made of her acts while on a captive of the pirates she finds she must discern who is a true friends and who only seeks her out when they learn she might have connections.
I enjoyed this story. I don't read many tales which are not about Darcy and Elizabeth but found that this one kept my attention and had me cheering on the tentative steps Anne took towards finding her own happiness.
The story picks up where I left off at about a third of the way through...as it should. Anne de Bourgh is abroad a ship headed home after the peace treaty between the French and the English has failed and British citizens in various parts of Europe are now subject to arrest and imprisonment. Anne's changes in her behavior continue and she has two men attentive to her on board: Dr. Minton and "Mr. Frances". The latter has presented himself as a friend to the Major Allenden who has missed the ship as it sailed from Naples.
Her sea voyage finds her contemplating the meaning of both men's behavior and then we read as Anne takes steps of courage to change the outcome of fate assigned to one as pirates capture their ship. When back in London Anne learns that her impressions about one man were mistaken but still she wavers in what that means for her.
Much of this story has to do with Anne's relationship with her mother and her finally making her own way even when she is not even sure of a place to stay. Anne then has to learn to take charge and also seek advice from friends and even an attorney. This Anne has had "duty" drummed into her all her life and now she is torn as she seeks independence and friendships not approved by her mother. If she does her duty she will find herself buckling under her mother's thumb...again.
I liked this Anne who has courage and seeks to give meaning to her life all with the help and encouragement of her new friends.
When much is finally made of her acts while on a captive of the pirates she finds she must discern who is a true friends and who only seeks her out when they learn she might have connections.
I enjoyed this story. I don't read many tales which are not about Darcy and Elizabeth but found that this one kept my attention and had me cheering on the tentative steps Anne took towards finding her own happiness.
April 19, 2019
I've often felt a bit sorry for Anne de Bourgh, sickly daughter of the tyrannical Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and scorned by Mr Darcy. This author has done a great job of imagining what happened in the years that followed. I became quite engrossed in Anne's journey out from under her mother's iron control, and was cheering for her as she gradually built a life for herself, and then dared to believe she could deserve love and also make a contribution to the world. This is a well-written homage to Jane Austen, and follows the structure very well, even to the final chapter's satisfying wrap-up of what became of all the major players. The tone is quite authentic - only an occasional very minor glitch (eg US use of "holidays" - which may have been deliberate for the sake of US readers??) - but never enough to disrupt the enjoyment. I hope this author writes more Austen sequels! Highly recommended.
November 15, 2017
This was an interesting read from the perspective of Anne de Bourgh, probably the most frail creature from Jane Austen's famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. At first I was quite sceptical and expected the novel to be no more than a feel-good romance. However, further on, the plot twists started to appear. Also, this story mainly takes place abroad, which makes it very interesting. A good read!
April 28, 2020
A thoughtful imagining of Anne deBourgh's inner life and psychological change as she begins to heal herself by slowly becoming her own person.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews