Question for Austen lovers...

[deborahjross]

I've read scathing comments about Death Comes to Pemberley, so much so that although I have enjoyed other books by P.D. James (albeit not recently), I hesitate to even give this a try. I understand from the reviewers that she gets the period, manners, culture utterly wrong. But if this were a completely alternate universe and these weren't factors, is it otherwise a terrible book?

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I didn't read far enough, but I wouldn't be surprised to discover that it's a silver fork novel. Which is perfectly fine if one makes up one's own characters, but to do that to Austen?

So few of these Austen pastiche writers seem to have read Austen well enough to discover that there are no noble and good aristocrats in her novels. Darcy is the closest she comes--and he has to be taught a sharp lesson before he's acceptable to "a gentleman's daughter."

Most Americans don't perceive the difference between gentry and aristocrats, and how Austen wasn't gentle with her own class, either, if they were hypocrites and fools . . . but James oughtn't to play the ignorance excuse.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I think it's highly likely you're right. And my suspicion is that James thinks this is in keeping.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

"the difference between gentry and aristocrats" -- that's a great point.

And one to keep in mind when writing in other worlds than Regency England. People within cultures make subtle and powerful distinctions that outsiders don't pick up on (unless, of course, they make an effort!)