Mr. Darcy's Little Sister
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is dominated by the charismatic Elizabeth Bennet and her family. Pierson’s novel shines the spotlight on Georgiana Darcy, the shy younger sister of Mr. Darcy. Readers met Georgiana briefly in Austen’s original, where she shyly introduces herself to Elizabeth and gets her heart broken by the dastardly Wickham. Pierson’s novel fleshes her out beyond her initial background role. Still shy and nervous, Georgiana is in a panic about the changes in her life, from the arrival of Elizabeth at Pemberley to her upcoming presentation at court. With the guidance and encouragement of her stern older brother and her loving new sister, Georgiana comes into her own as a character and a woman, no longer consigned to playing a bit part. Pierson’s novel is a loving homage to Austen and a smart story about what it’s like to grow up in the shadow of someone larger than life. --Hilary Hatton