The Other Bennet Sister: A Novel

Written by:
Janice Hadlow
Narrated by:
Carla Mendonça

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
19
Narrator
2
Release Date
March 2020
Duration
18 hours 12 minutes
Summary
'Jane fans rejoice! . . . Exceptional storytelling and a true delight.' —Helen Simonson, author of the New York Times bestselling novels Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Summer Before the War

Mary, the bookish ugly duckling of Pride and Prejudice’s five Bennet sisters, emerges from the shadows and transforms into a desired woman with choices of her own.

What if Mary Bennet’s life took a different path from that laid out for her in Pride and Prejudice? What if the frustrated intellectual of the Bennet family, the marginalized middle daughter, the plain girl who takes refuge in her books, eventually found the fulfillment enjoyed by her prettier, more confident sisters? This is the plot of Janice Hadlow's The Other Bennet Sister, a debut novel with exactly the affection and authority to satisfy Jane Austen fans.

Ultimately, Mary’s journey is like that taken by every Austen heroine. She learns that she can only expect joy when she has accepted who she really is. She must throw off the false expectations and wrong ideas that have combined to obscure her true nature and prevented her from what makes her happy. Only when she undergoes this evolution does she have a chance at finding fulfillment; only then does she have the clarity to recognize her partner when he presents himself—and only at that moment is she genuinely worthy of love.

Mary’s destiny diverges from that of her sisters. It does not involve broad acres or landed gentry. But it does include a man; and, as in all Austen novels, Mary must decide whether he is the truly the one for her. In The Other Bennet Sister, Mary is a fully rounded character—complex, conflicted, and often uncertain; but also vulnerable, supremely sympathetic, and ultimately the protagonist of an uncommonly satisfying debut novel.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company
Reviews
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Anonymous

Well written and the narrator is quite talented. She voices each character with a unique voice. Wonderful to listen to while walking.

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Anonymous

I had always wondered about how Mary would have fared in the world. Her character was so well developed and so earnest in all things. I cheered for her as I did for Lizzy and Jane. The story was so seamlessly written in the style of Austin, I lost myself in the story quite easily. Thank you for this beautifully written story!

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