Review of the Melissa Nathan novel
Jasmin Field is, almost accidentally, cast as Elizabeth Bennet on stage after she uses her anger at being called the “ugly sister” to give the director (famous actor Harry Noble) a telling off (still on script) during her audition.
Harry pretty quickly admires her “dark eyes” and the soul they are a window to he finds “compelling.” Of course, their story mirrors that of their stage counterparts (he’s not originally Darcy but you know he will be). When he gives her a ride home she berates him for not speaking, just as Lizzy did at the Netherfield Ball, “Do you offer people lifts to ignore them in a confined space?”
There are some excellent character descriptions:
The woman looked as if she had suddenly woken up one day and thought, How can I make myself as unattractive and possible? and come up with a damn fine answer.”
“the only 100% straight man who minced like a true thespian.”
Bridget Jones, another book with flavours of Pride and Prejudice and a journalist main character, is mentioned. This novel feels similar; women desperate for men (even though they know they shouldn’t be), diet culture and of course it’s also set in London. There’s something about the style, which may be due to the time it was written, that feels familiar.
True Austen irony crops up when at the audition Harry states that “It would damage my reputation to be seen at the same nightclub as most of these people, let alone direct them in a play,” and the novel ends with the after party in the nightclub where Harry is present.
The cast of characters is huge; those on and off stage have stories that parallel Austen’s but all seem blissfully unaware of it. But the reader can enjoy the anticipation of each plot point.
Perspective switches between characters within paragraphs. This tends to be a no-no in writing these days but I rather enjoy seeing into others motivations.
Despite being a product of it’s time (first published in 2000) this was a delight to read.
I’ll leave you with my favourite quote (apologies for the toilet humour):
Backstage was a dark terrifying place. As were Jazz’s bowels. She wondered if she could hide a toilet under her petticoat.”