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The Other Bennet Sister

Now a Major BBC Drama starring Richard E. Grant and Ruth Jones

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The Other Bennet Sister

By: Janice Hadlow
Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
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The Other Bennet Sister presents Mary Bennet in a whole new light as she becomes Austen's newest leading lady.

Now a major BBC One TV series, starring Richard E. Grant, Ruth Jones and Ella Bruccoleri.

Read by the amazing Kristen Atherton.

One by one, the Bennet sisters have found their place. But what happens to the one left behind? This is the brilliant, witty, and heartbreakingly relatable story of Mary Bennet.

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, we know the fates of the five Bennet girls. But while her sisters are celebrated for their beauty of their wit, Mary is the "plain" middle sister, the introvert in a family of extroverts, and a constant disappointment to her mother.

Lonely and lacking connection, Mary turns to the only place she feels safe: books. Determined to be "right" since she can never be "beautiful", she prepares for a life of solitude at Longbourn.

One by one, the other sisters move on: Jane and Lizzy for love, and Lydia for respectability. Mary is destined to remain single, at least until her father dies and the house is bequeathed to the reviled Mr Collins.

But when that fateful day finally arrives, the life Mary expected is turned upside down. In the face of uncertainty, she slowly discovers that there is hope for the "plain" sister after all . . .

Experience the witty, life-affirming tale of a young woman finally finding her place in the world.

This is Mary Bennet's story.

'Will delight Pride and Prejudice fans' — The Independent

 Coming of Age Destiny Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Regency Regency Romance Romance Feel-Good Heartfelt Witty
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Critic reviews

[A] novel that will delight Pride and Prejudice fans
Janice Hadlow has dusted down Mary, the ugly Bennet sister, and fashioned her into a heroine that even Miss Austen would approve of. A treat (Daisy Goodwin, author of Victoria and The Fortune Hunter)
Immersive and engaging
It’s difficult not to race through those final pages (Jo Baker, author of LongBourn and The Body Lies)
This gorgeous book pays homage to Pride and Prejudice – and follows Mary Bennet, the overlooked middle Bennet sister. It’s a wonderfully warm, comforting read – perfect on a winter’s night
I absolutely love this novel – as will any young woman who has felt herself plain, shy, bookish and crushed (Amanda Craig, author of The Lie of the Land and The Golden Rule)
Fans will need no persuasion . . . Worthy of any Austen heroine
Jane fans rejoice! I loved this thoroughly estimable, worthy homage to Austen. Exceptional storytelling and a true delight (Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Summer Before the War)
Puts Mary front and centre stage exploring why she was so heartbreakingly sidelined by Mrs Bennet and gives humour and sensitivity to the most overlooked of the sisters
Impeccably researched, this lifts Mary from obscurity, as she breaks out of her mother's world and follows her own path
A wonderful, absorbing, accomplished book. I loved it (Stephanie Butland, author of Lost for Words and The Woman in the Photograph)
Entertaining and thoroughly engrossing
Vivid and convincing
Equal to the best Austen spin-offs, including Jo Baker’s Longbourn, this will delight Janeites as well as lovers of nuanced female coming-of-age tales (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
All stars
Most relevant
If you’re a Jane Austin fan you’ll probably identify with the slight feeling of trepidation I have whenever I approach sequels, adaptations or works in the style of... like Mary against her dazzling sisters, they always risk looking poor in comparison.

But fear not! Janice Hadlow’s novel does not disappoint. From the carefully crafted dips into the original story, to the glimpses of how life begins to unfold for Austin’s much loved characters, to - best of all - the original story of Mary’s own life as she emerges from out of the shadows - it’s a thoroughly enjoyable and pleasing read!

Anyone who loves Jane Austin will not be disappointed

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I didn't know what to expect in truth when I bought this audible book, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is written in the same vein of the original book and really does do justice to Mary Bennet. To hear everything from Mary's perspective was sad and satisfying as the same time. For me it completed the Bennet story.
Some reviewers said they thought the book was overlong -maybe if you are reading it - but I didn't think so as an audible book.
The narration is excellent and wholly engaging. I really liked it.

A Good Book

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This story fit so perfectly into the world of Pride and Prejudice that it’s hard to imagine that it isn’t a work by Jane Austen herself. The first part takes place alongside the aforementioned novel and it’s very warming to hear the story again from a new perspective. The care and attention to detail with which Hadlow weaves Mary’s story into and around the world of Pride and Prejudice and then carries it beyond into new territory is magic. The narration was also perfect, each character distinguishable and those we have read/seen portrayed before read in a very recognisable way. I will be thinking about Mary for a while after listening to this, and thinking a little harder about the characters so often left behind.

Wonderful

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I got completely bogged down in the middle of this book and only managed to continue after a number of months. It may well have been my impatience at fault but I do think that the book is overly long and laboured and could have benefited from more ruthless editing.

I’m glad I carried on though. I felt great sympathy for Mary so I wanted to finish the story and felt the ending was satisfying.

There are also interesting references in the book to phrases and ideas in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and other literature too (eg Virginia Woolf ‘A room of one’s own’) which I thought were clever and I really appreciated.

I would recommend this - but with reservations.

Mixed feelings

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I really enjoyed this fictional account of Mary Bennett’s life and found myself completely absorbed in the narrative for 3 days straight until I had finished. Well worth a listen for any Austin lover .

Pure escapism

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