Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813, and 200 years later, it remains one of the most beloved and widely read of all the classics. Since its original release, and its obvious popularity, many writers and producers have retold the tale of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy–some staying within the framework of the original, while others developing their own spin on the story (think zombies).
No doubt, the film rekindled hearts to go back and reread the original, or even interested young movie goers to read the original for the first time. However, many authors have taken Pride and Prejudice and used the book as a springboard, often spinning their own tale regarding a main character, or even developing a certain character that received little attention in the story.
Sometimes this approach works and sometimes it does not.
If you are a die-hard Jane Austen fan, you may have a hard time reading a tale written 200 years after the original. But if you approach the story with an open mind, you may find the sequels true to the time period. Those which are not are the modern JA sequels and are often good reads on their own.
But where do you begin? With all the sequels available today, which one should you try? There are literally hundreds of sequels available on the market today, with almost a dozen set for release in the near future. Note these sequels are not limited to Pride and Prejudice but apply to all Jane Austen six classic novels. With the release of the screen version several years ago, Pride and Prejudice happens to be the most popular.
So, which one would you choose? Depending on your favorite Pride and Prejudice character or scene, you may want to conduct a brief search and read the blurbs that catch your attention and develop the story the way that you would find most interesting. Regency Pride and Prejudice sequels are the most popular, but there are also quite a few engaging modern Jane Austen sequels as well.
Whatever book you ultimately choose to read, do so with an open mind. It may not strike you as relating to any of Jane Austen’s books, but may just be a good read. Either way, you win!