Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen

In the last dozen years or so, a trend that I've noticed is the amazing revival of Jane Austen's novels into the mainstream of modern culture. Long considered the best of England's early novelists, Jane Austen had a short life (she died at the age of thirty-seven) but her six novels, detailing the courtship rituals of the gentry in the countryside and London, have been read and sighed over for nearly two centuries now. But along with the revival, there have been some strange detours along the way. One trend that fills me with dismay are the never-ending stream of so-called 'sequels' to the original six that are usually nothing more limp shadows, trying to tell the stories of minor characters, children of the courting couples, and so forth. Other novels are a bit better, usually those with modern heroines who suddenly find themselves living a life very close to an Austen novels. But nearly all of them left me with some dissatisfaction as many of them just could not catch the language and poetry of Miss Austen's original works. Until now. Written in 1913, and published the year after that, Sybil G's Brinton's Old Friends and New Fancies was the only novel that she published. And not only does she take on just one of the novels, but all six. As the story opens, Mr. Darcy and his Elizabeth has started a family in his grand home of Pemberley. His younger sister Georgiana has a tentative engagement to their cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, but it seems that neither of them are very happy about their forthcoming union. It is agreed that a forthcoming holiday to the popular resort of Bath would help to resolve the situation, and both parties will be able to part as friends. Which is exactly what happens. Colonel Fitzwilliam finds himself drawn to the enchanting Mary Crawford, and Georgiana is watching the Steele sisters working their wiles on her aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. In the meantime, the reader discovers that the Ferrars have moved nearer to the two married Bennet sisters, and that another Bennet sister, Kitty, is looking to enter society, and already has a pair of men interested in her -- a naval officer by the name of Mr. Price, and a young clergyman, Mr. Morland. And just when it seems that Colonel Fitzwilliam is about to ask Mary Crawford to be his wife, it seems that she is already engaged to someone else -- to none other than the shallow Sir Walter Elliot. Georgiana Darcy is more of an observer of these events, but it seems that young men everywhere are falling for her and over time, she is being crushed by the burdens of the men falling for her instead of her friends. She is witty, and innately kind, and it hurts her to watch her friends be disappointed in their own affairs. And when she does find someone that she can respect and love, that very same kindness will prove to be her undoing... Yes, there are quite a few romantic entanglements going on. At times it was getting tricky to keep everyone straight, but the author has tho

This is a great book at a great price! I first read this book several years ago, but had to get it from the library because it was out of print. I'm so glad to see a new edition in paperback. The writing style is more similar to Jane Austen than any other sequel or fan fiction I've read. Anyone who enjoys reading stories on the Derbyshire Writers Guild, will enjoy this book!

I recently read Old Friends and New Fancies and was delighted with it. The author, Brinton, cleverly used characters from Jane Austen's six finished novels in her story, easily creating acquaintances, friendships, and even romances. Most of our old favorites are included and a good number of characters who remained unattached at the end of their novels play large roles. Brinton focused mainly on Colonel Fitzwilliam, Kitty Bennet, and Georgiana Darcy from Pride and Prejudice; Tom Bertram, Mary Crawford, and William Price from Mansfield Park; and James Morland from Northanger Abbey. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, Mr. and Mrs. Bingley, Captain and Mrs. Wentworth, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ferrars, Mr. and Mrs. Knightley, and numerous other characters make large and small appearances. The setting is mainly Bath, Pemberley, and the Bingleys' estate. Who wouldn't want to go back to Pemberley? I quite enjoyed reading Old Friends and New Fancies, not least because I was able to meet some of my favorite characters again and visit beloved places such as the Darcys' estate. In the past, I have been wary of reading Jane Austen sequels for fear that the author has taken liberties with the characters and made them behave as they would not. Rest assured, Brinton did no such thing. Her writing style is rather similar to Jane's and I was always delighted to read lines that sounded so like the great Jane's own. For instance, this exchange between Mr. and Mrs. Darcy seems right in line with what Jane might have written: Mr. Darcy: ". . . we have got into shocking ways since my wife married into the family." Mrs. Darcy: "On the contrary, I think I have educated you all admirably." Or this exchange between the irasible Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Elizabeth Darcy: Elizabeth: "We have all been enjoying your piece so much. It must be delightful to be able to play like that. My aunt is such a lover of music that she cannot hide her enthusiasm." "And why should I hide it, may I ask?" demanded Lady Catherine. "My judgment has often been of great service to young amateurs, among whom you might include yourself, Elizabeth." "Yes, I know," replied Elizabeth, good-humouredly . . ." That is just how I imagine Elizabeth would get along with Lady Catherine, once Elizabeth had established herself as Mr. Darcy's wife and mistress of Pemberley, and made it clear to Lady Catherine that she would not be trifled with. Old Friends and New Fancies is full of delightful little moments that remind the reader of Jane's beloved novels. It is amusing to try to figure out who will end up with whom! I am glad to have read Old Friends and New Fancies and would recommend it to any Jane Austen fan.

I loved the interplay between my favorite characters from Austen's six books. I have read many sequels and always found the supposition that Georgiana and Col. Fitzwilliam would end up together rather tedious. Much better that they both find their separate loves in this wonderful sequel. As usual, Darcy and Elizabeth, though figuring much less prominently, are delightful to visit once again.

The book was wonderful. The story continued with the romances among the younger characters from P & P. The author has a real knack for story-telling and the book was impossible to put down once I got into the story.