Mr. Darcy's Secret is a Jane Austen sequel that carries on the Pride and Prejudice tale with a continuing look at the lives of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Amazingly enough, Jane Odiwe, author of Mr. Darcy's Secret, has managed to pay homage to the wonder that is Jane Austen, while endearing fans to her literary artistry. Many authors aspire to carry on Austen's great works and it is a shock to say, that Jane Odiwe actually pulls it off.
Jane Odiwe and Jane Austen in Mr. Darcy's Secret
One of the most important aspects of a Jane Austen sequel, is how the newcomer carries on the voice set forth in the original. Any new author can name a character Mr. Darcy and make him a proud and often disagreeable man, but how they carry on the story, implementing the character's virtues as did the original author, makes a vast difference to whether the book can be called a sequel or not. There is one very important thing to consider when reading a story that continues Jane Austen's work.
- No one is Jane Austen but Jane Austen.
This being said, it is very important to realize that no one can perfectly carry on Jane Austen's voice. No matter what the new author does, there will be a part of them in it, a part that is not Jane Austen at all. There are however, certain things that can be Austen-esque, so to speak. Certain attributes of a novel that can make it so close to Jane Austen's work that the novel can be called a sequel.
- Characters – This is incredibly important. Does the new book feature the same characters and personalities as the previous classic? Do they act and react in a way that could have been done in the previous book? Do they hold the same vibrancy that Jane Austen created?
- Dialogue – This is very essential because this is the literal voice of the book. When a reader follows along in a conversation, they want to believe that it is actually being said, believe that the conversation really is taking place. Whether or not the characters really speak with the same mannerisms and colloquialisms is very important when carrying on another author's work.
- Imagery – Detailing is the heart of a novel. How an author weaves together the images that show readers what happen, rather than simply telling them what's happening can make or break a novel. Detailed imagery creates a world that is not make believe anymore, but an actual memory in the reader's mind, a place they have been to in their mind's eye and can go to again.
- Flow – When carrying on a previous author's work, the books must flow perfectly one to the other. They must seem like two integral pieces of a whole and make one another better instead of detracting from each other.
The reason for noting these points is to reveal how pleasantly surprising it was to read how effortlessly Jane Odiwe undertook each one. Mr. Darcy's Secret carries on Jane Austen's work in Pride and Prejudice in such a way that I oftentimes felt like I was reading Jane Austen's writing. While still having her own voice in the novel, Jane Odiwe has meshed the two stories together so that it pays a tribute to Jane Austen's work.
The writing style, flow, and imagery are perfect in Mr. Darcy's Secret. The characters are another thing entirely. Somehow, the author managed to resurrect Jane Austen's characters and bring them to life in a way that was beautifully done. These characters do not just hold the name of their original counterparts in Pride and Prejudice, they are the original characters, both in body and soul.
Mr. Darcy's Secret, a Regency Romance by Jane Odiwe
While staying true to Jane Austen, Jane Odiwe wove a tale full of life and love in this Regency romance fiction novel. With new characters, and a very surprising plot line, Jane Odiwe has created a literary work of art worthy of every Jane Austen fan's book shelf. Taking place where Pride and Prejudice took off, this novel begins with the marriage of Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet. Throughout the book, Jane Odiwe makes the characters real to the readers and provides a backdrop that reveals their normalcy, making the characters easy to relate to, especially for newlyweds.
A beautiful part of this book is the spotlight given to Mr. Darcy's sister; Georgiana. How she handles a new lady of the home, and how she carries on with her life are integral parts of this novel. Many of the original characters make their appearances but new characters are created and often steal the show. Lizzy is now living at Pemberley, and as such, makes a great many new acquaintances. The ties that are formed, and of course, the secrets that are revealed, make this novel hard to put down.
About Romance Fiction Author Jane Odiwe
Being very passionate about all things Austen, Jane Odiwe has written three books that carry on the classic author's work. Besides Mr. Darcy's Secret, Jane Odiwe has written Willoughby's Return and Lydia Bennet's Story, all Regency romances put out by Sourcebooks Inc. Publishing House. Jane Odiwe has also written and illustrated a true work of art through Paintbox Publishing entitled Effusions of Fancy: Consisting of Annotated Sketches from the Life of Jane Austen in a Style Entirely New. Living in North London and Bath, England, I would think Jane Austen would consider Jane Odiwe a suitably accomplished lady.
Publication Details
Author: Jane Odiwe
Title: Mr. Darcy's Secret
Publication Date: February 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4527-5
Jessica Hastings - Jessica Hastings is a published author/poet, professional reviewer, and avid reader. Schooled in journalism and creative writing, she ...
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