Later Days at Highbury

This book is a follow up to "Later Days at Highbury," which is the story of Jane Austen's "Emma" told through the eyes of Mrs Goddard. She tells the story in a very interesting way: through letters. Mrs. Goddard is a very minor character in Jane Austen's novel "Emma," but she is aware of everything that goes on in Highbury. She tells all the news and gossip to her sister. The book is made up entirely of their correspondence and a few letters from other characters. Warning: this book does not focus on Emma or Mr. Knightly or other major characters from Emma! Mrs. Goddard's life at the school and her students the main story here. One sub-plot is about Mrs. Pinkney (Mrs. Goddard's sister and her marriage to her husband) They live in London and run into the John Knightly's and the Eltons! Her husband has a niece who causes some trouble, as well as a scandal. What could the scandal be? Another subplot is about Miss Bates, who left town quite mysteriously and lives with the Churchill's. Is she happy there? You will have to read to find out. Since Mr. Elton has left town, there is a new vicar. He is young and eligable! He brings a friend from school. So new romances are included in the book. There are plenty of unwed females for them to choose from. Whom will be engaged by the end of this book? This book is such a delight. It is an easy read and you will enjoy the story through a lovely correspondence. It will make you want to practice the are of letter writing more often!

Most excellent. Correspondence flies between schoolmistress Goddard of Highbury and her married sister in London; between the insufferable Mrs. Elton and her sister of the renowned Maple Grove residence, between Captain Gordon and his married daughter. Familiar characters as well as new acquaintances mingle in this sequel to Jane Austen's Emma.A depth of knowledge relating to daily existence during the Regency period provides a solid background to this light fiction which also acts as a sequel to Austen-Leigh's previous novel, A Visit to Highbury (now out of print).Dialogue is exactly what one might expect of an Austen descendent. For example, Mrs. Goddard at a ball observes "...alas, there are always too many pretty girls and not enough men at a ball. I do not know why that should be. But it is quite an immutable law."Do not hesitate to give this to a young reader just discovering Jane Austen. Neither plot nor vocabulary should be cause for concern.