In which PhysicsGirl's mind is agreeably engaged: P&P #11

Vanity and Vexation: A Novel of Pride and Prejudice by Kate Fenton (published in Britain as Lions and Liquorice, which title has been on my reading list, making it a tad challenging to find, and which I think I like better - trust me, it makes sense when you read the book).

I really liked this book, which is a modern, gender-swapped version of Pride and Prejudice. The correspondences are initially quite subtle, mostly because the "Bennet" characters are not related, and all of them are in drag, so to speak, so they were a fun surprise when I recognized them.

So, Llew Bevan is an impecunious thriller novelist living in a small Yorkshire village where not-the-BBC are filming a televised serial of Pride and Prejudice. His neighbour John falls into an affair with the lead actress, while he finds himself drawn to the stern director, Mary Dance. The familiar shenanigans unfold in not-so-familiar ways. First published in 1995, I wonder if it was inspired by the BBC/A&E series. Also, the lack of cell phone and internet use is slightly jarring at first. I mean, they use public phone booths! With coins! And send faxes!

I'm still reading that second sequel, by the way, but I had put this on hold at the library and it came in. I just meant to glance into it, honest.

Sigh.

Image source: janeaustenreviews.com

I finished it in one night. I may not have gotten enough sleep, but it was worth it. It's very funny and cleverly done. Also: suspension of belief not required; the book is quite self-aware. I become a bit wary as I got to the Mr. Collins portion in chapter 13 because it felt like it was going to be shoe-horned in, but I shouldn't have worried. The book doesn't bash you over the head with "this is a P&P analog. Behold! Do you see what I did there?" The events feel fresh and natural. Quite clever. And also rather meta.

For instance, the Bingley character is played here by the actress who is playing Elizabeth in the adaptation. Caroline Bingley? Is the actor playing Darcy. Part of the Darcy-Elizabeth-Caroline Bingley banter and sniping comes in the form of a radio round-table about, of all things, the themes in Pride and Prejudice.

Roderick was already leaning forward, mouth open, when devilry - or sympathy for the poor bloody presenter - inspired Llew to open his. 'Tosh,' he said. And there was a stunned silence. 'Well, honestly,' he continued. 'What is this, Jane Austen or an airport bonkbuster? Sex, power, money... Call me a fuddy-duddy old romantic,' he said, beaming seraphically at Mary Dance - if a man's going to burn his boats he may as well fire a few salvoes on the way down - 'but I've always read Pride and Prejudice as a comedy.'

Bang on target. 'I'm allergic to the word comedy,' Mary snorted. 'Play this story just for the glittering surface laughs and you risk obscuring the important themes of a great classic of English literature.'

'Surely there's not a theme in the universe,' countered Llew grandly, 'which isn't illuminated by a little wit?'

'Or trivialized?'

'Even Shakespeare had his fools and comedians.'

She stuck out her jaw. 'We're not all Shakespeare, buddy.'

And then the 'accomplishment' discussion takes place under the guise of talking about Mr. Darcy and what the modern woman wants in a man.

My one complaint is that Mary comes across a bit shrewish. At the end, she snaps, snarls, and yells. And also, she's described as a llama at the beginning, which doesn't strike me as terribly attractive, but Llew seems to like her, so whatever. But it's a small complaint, because most of the banter more than makes up for it.

Now I promise to not pick up another book until I've finished this second sequel already.