The Ladies of Longbourn Author:Rebecca Ann Collins She claims that she is as much a captive of the Pemberley characters herself, as she is a lifelong devotee of Jane Austen. Her readers, who have taken the popular Pemberley series to their hearts, cannot get enough of them which is no surprise, since her stories combine the tradition of strong, consistent characters, interesting, credible plot ... more »lines and lively dialogue, with a vivid, narrative style. The Ladies of Longbourn is no exception. Continuing from Netherfield Park Revisited, Ms. Collins helps us explore the lives of the family of Jonathan Bingley, now the owner of Longbourn - the Bennet family estate in "Pride and Prejudice". His wife and daughter together with Charlotte Collins, widow of the infamous Mr. Collins are the Ladies of Longbourn, whose lives are intertwined against the fascinating background of social and political change in Victorian England. Jonathan Bingley's daughter, Anne-Marie, a complex and charming young woman, has been tested to the limit of her endurance by the circumstances of a passionless marriage. She must find within herself and her loving family, the strength to overcome her trauma. Still a very young and beautiful woman, she faces a difficult choice when Colin Elliott - the new MP for the area falls in love with her. Her rejection of the conventional role of women, who marry without love or passion, places her in the frontline of Austenian heroines, whose intelligence and strength set them apart in 19th century literature. The original Austen characters - Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley and Jane remain, providing the framework of solid values, that was typical of the work of Miss Austen herself. Their commentary upon the characters and unfolding events adds an extra dimension to Ms. Collins' work, as do the themes of personal and sicoal responsibility, integrity and compassion, that were so vital a part of Miss Austen's own. Above all, Ms. Collins tells a great story with wit and conviction. Her many readers will surely enjoy The Ladies of Longbourn.« less