INTRODUCING MRS. COLLINS

In her debut, Parris imagines what Pride and Prejudice character Charlotte Lucas’ life might have been like after her marriage to Mr. Collins.

Charlotte is known to readers as Elizabeth Bennet’s best friend from Pride and Prejudice. Unlike Elizabeth, who marries for love, Charlotte is not quite so lucky. She marries Mr. Collins, the stable but slightly awkward clergyman she describes as “tall, dark, and…pious.” Charlotte knows her prospects are slim, and she’s determined to marry well to provide a future for herself, even if that future doesn’t involve passion. With Mr. Collins as her husband, Charlotte lives a life that is safe and calm—but unexciting. While Mr. Collins treats her well, their relationship never feels particularly romantic. And then Charlotte meets Col. Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy’s cousin. Sparks fly instantly, and soon Charlotte finds herself sneaking around to spend more time with Fitzwilliam. Their attraction shouldn’t grow into a full-blown love story for many reasons, chief among them Charlotte’s marriage. That doesn’t stop them from developing feelings that may very well lead to heartbreak. A happily-ever-after seems nearly impossible, and to be sure, not every character here will end up happy, which may be a point of contention among some Pride and Prejudice fans. Staunch Austenites might blanch at this depiction of the characters they’ve come to love, although the book will be welcome to others who longed to see Charlotte take center stage and find her own happiness. It’s also satisfying to read the inner thoughts of Mr. Collins and come to view him a less mockable character. Parris gives Charlotte’s quest for happiness a more modern romance-novel feel than the original text—for example, Charlotte defends her feelings for Fitzwilliam by saying, “If God made me capable of love, then it must be his will that I find it.” While some of the characters’ actions may seem surprising, there have been enough Pride and Prejudice retellings that there’s plenty of room for one where Charlotte follows her bliss.

An interesting and surprising look at a classic story and an often-forgotten character.