Sun, May 18, 2008
These Three Remain, by Pamela Aidan
Pride and Prejudice has already played a great role in Rosie’s life. I bought a new Everyman’s Library edition particularly to pack in my hospital bag. We’ve already compared Rosie to Lady Catherine de Bourgh and just lately, even to the besotted crank Mr. Hurst! We (or at least our doula, Dora) watched all six hours of the 1995 BBC mini-series while labor was ramping up. And the first book I read while nursing Rosie at the hospital was this novel: These Three Remain, a version of Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy’s perspective.
There is a whole subculture of Jane Austen-ites who read and write books centered around her characters and stories. “What happens after Pride and Prejudice ends?” is the usual question, and the answers vary widely in quality. The first foray I took into this post-Austen genre was an entertaining series by Carrie Bebris that imagines Mr. and Mrs. Darcy’s life after the wedding day, and, oddly, casts them into the roles of amateur detectives. Other series take on a rather less wholesome perspective, and end up more like trashy romance novels than works of great literature.
Pamela Aidan’s trilogy, however, is a quite fascinating look at our favorite love story from a different point of view. Aidan takes three books to follow Pride and Prejudice through from Darcy’s world. Since Darcy is not featured in many sections of Austen’s novel, this requires some creativity from Aidan, who develops a few new plotlines to fill in the gaps. While some of the extra-Austenian material is unusual (and maybe a bit far-fetched), the author does a great job describing the process of personal transformation Mr. Darcy goes through within this story. Pride and Prejudice is so perfect in itself that it is hard to imagine another book uncovering new depth in this story, but Pamela Aidan takes a stab at it with a good measure of success.
These Three Remain is the third book in the trilogy, the first being An Assembly Such As This. I definitely recommend this series for all of you Austen freaks out there — you know who you are!
Considered in this review: These Three Remain, by Pamela Aidan.
This post was last modified May 18, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Jon said,
May 18, 2008, at 4:57 pm
The title seems to be an allusion to 1 Corinthians 13:13 (“now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love”). Can you shed light for us on what role, if any, this verse plays in the book? Or am I asking you to reveal “spoilers”? :)
Tysa said,
May 18, 2008, at 5:54 pm
From the one that never made it through Pride & Prejudice… I’m so lost! I did try, and I’ve really enjoyed Austen’s books when they were made into mini-series and shown on PBS.
Guess it’s a good thing I’ve laundry to do. My mind tends to the more simple tasks these days, like hanging laundry. Someday I will read P&P, especially now that I somewhat know which character should be speaking each line.
Nicole Wetzel said,
May 18, 2008, at 6:51 pm
I read P& P when I was in 8th grade…my friends and I all loved it. After seeing several of the Austin novels on PBS…Alex wants to read her books. He will make such a good husband.
Ann said,
May 18, 2008, at 8:36 pm
The 1 Corinthians 13 reference mainly has to do with Darcy’s personal transformation… I’ll leave it at that.
Tysa, I got bogged down in P&P when I first attempted it, too, several years ago. I totally got into it once I listened to an audio recording of the book.
Lindsay Tako said,
May 18, 2008, at 11:46 pm
Talk about trashy romance novel…you must be referring to Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife! That one was full of SMUT! : ) It was too bad because the actual story was very enjoyable but Jane would never have written such insufferable sex tales!
I have enjoyed several others though….anything, even if poorly written, will be enjoyed if it can make the world of Eliza Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy go on just a little longer….
By the way, did you see Becoming Jane?
Ann said,
May 20, 2008, at 1:56 pm
I haven’t seen Becoming Jane yet — is it any good?
kriss said,
May 20, 2008, at 2:07 pm
Oh, I started that Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife Book and wanted to burn it! Yuck! Couldn’t make it through the first few chapters of hot and heavy panting. I’m glad to know there are a few good continuations out there, though I’d be terrified to take that on as a writer.
Go Jane!
Lindsay Tako said,
May 21, 2008, at 1:12 am
I did enjoy Becoming Jane. I think it is supposed to be part truth and part historical fiction. Either way, I thought it was well done and enjoyed a glimpse into her life. Did you watch the PBS Celebrating Jane Austen programs in Jan, Feb, and March? There are some new adaptations of her movies out that were well done, particularly Sense and Sensibility.
Ann said,
May 21, 2008, at 7:39 am
I missed those PBS programs, too! I saw an ad for them in a Martha Stewart magazine but then missed them anyway. Hopefully they’ll come out on DVD sometime — I’d love to see them.
Kelli said,
May 21, 2008, at 3:13 pm
I’ve got “Assembly Such as This” requested from the Library right now! :) Thanks for sharing about this! I love P&P and am so glad that there is a Mr. Darcy perspective. I love the new P&P movie & soundtrack (and need to re-watch the first 5 hr. movie) and I’m beginning to think that Mr. Darcy is my favorite character. Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen help out with that little infatuation! ;)
Lindsay Tako said,
May 21, 2008, at 11:42 pm
I believe they are already out on DVD! Find them at a library near you….or on Amazon! : )