MAGIC, MR DARCY AND SECOND CHANCES: A CONVERSATION WITH AMY GEORGE

 

"There is no enjoyment like reading!"
— Northanger Abbey

One of the greatest joys of Jane Austen's enduring legacy is seeing how each generation of writers finds fresh and imaginative ways to revisit her beloved stories. Some remain close to the original, while others dare to ask, What if...?

Today, I am delighted to welcome historical novelist Amy George—to My Jane Austen Book Club.

Her latest novel, His Dark Heart, takes readers into a world where Pride and Prejudice meets fantasy. In this magical reimagining, Lord Darcy is a prince who uses another’s powers  to manipulate fate itself—but, as every lover of fantasy knows, magic always comes at a price.

I invited Amy to tell us more about the inspiration behind this unusual Austenesque variation, her love of Jane Austen, and the challenges and delights of blending romance with fantasy.

Please join me in giving Amy a warm My Jane Austen Book Club welcome!

Maria Grazia 💕

DUTY vs. DELUSION: COMPARING EDWARD FERRARS AND EDMUND BERTRAM

The curates' corner: Edward Ferrars vs. Edmund Bertram

When we think of Jane Austen heroes, our minds instantly fly to the brooding wealth of Mr. Darcy or the dashing chivalry of Captain Wentworth. But today, we are turning our attention to the quiet churchmen of the Austen universe: Edward Ferrars (Sense and Sensibility) and Edmund Bertram (Mansfield Park). 

As the daughter, sister, and cousin of clergymen, Jane Austen understood the realities of the Church of England better than almost anyone. While Edward and Edmund might not be the most universally beloved romantic leads, they are deeply complex, highly realistic men navigating the rigid system of Regency church patronage.

Let’s look at how these two future clergymen compare.

THE DASHWOOD SISTERS RETURN: OUR FIRST LOOK AT SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (2026)

More than three decades after Ang Lee's acclaimed adaptation introduced a generation of audiences to Emma Thompson's Elinor and Kate Winslet's Marianne, Sense and Sensibility is returning to the big screen. 

Focus Features has released the first trailer for its highly anticipated new adaptation of Jane Austen's first published novel, directed by Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean) and written by bestselling novelist *Diana Reid. Judging from these first images, this isn't an attempt to recreate the beloved 1995 film. Instead, it appears to offer a fresh interpretation—one that feels quieter, earthier, and perhaps even closer to the realities Austen herself described.

Let's take a closer look at what we've learned so far.

KINDLE THE LIGHT OF LIBERTY: A CONVERSATION WITH MIRTA INES TRUPP

 

"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil..."

— Pride and Prejudice

One of the reasons Jane Austen's novels continue to resonate with readers around the world is that they remind us how often first impressions can be misleading. We think we understand a person, only to discover there is far more beneath the surface than we first imagined.

Today, I am delighted to welcome author Mirta Ines Trupp to My Jane Austen Book Club to discuss Kindle the Light of Liberty, a fascinating historical novel set in Revolutionary Philadelphia. While not a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the novel draws inspiration from Austen's timeless themes of misunderstanding, growth, family, and the challenge of judging character accurately.

At the heart of the story are Rose Wachsman and Nathan Hirsch, members of Philadelphia's Jewish community during the American Revolution. Through their journey, Mirta explores questions of identity, belonging, loyalty and love against the backdrop of a nation struggling to define itself.

In our conversation below, she shares how Jane Austen influenced her writing, why she chose this little-known corner of American history, and what readers might discover when they look beyond first impressions—both in fiction and in history.

Please join me in giving Mirta a warm My Jane Austen Book Club welcome!

Maria Grazia 💕

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: SUSAN MOORE ON THE DARCY LIST, MR DARCY AND THE PROBLEM WITH PERFECT MEN

 

"It is a truth universally acknowledged..." Or is it?

For generations, readers have fallen in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy and measured real-life suitors against Jane Austen's most famous hero. But what happens when the ideal we have cherished since our teenage years begins to collide with reality?

Today, I am delighted to welcome Susan Moore to My Jane Austen Book Club to discuss her new novel, The Darcy List, a witty and thought-provoking contemporary story inspired by a question many Janeites have secretly asked themselves: Did Jane Austen set the bar impossibly high?

At the centre of the novel is Florence Elliot, who at sixteen creates a list of everything the perfect man should be—a "Darcy List" inspired by her favourite literary hero. Years later, life, love, heartbreak, and unexpected opportunities force her to reconsider not only the list itself, but what she truly wants from a partner.

In the interview below, Susan reflects on the enduring appeal of Mr Darcy, the influence Jane Austen continues to have on modern readers, and the difference between loving the idea of someone and learning to embrace someone real.

Please join me in giving Susan a warm My Jane Austen Book Club welcome. 

Maria Grazia 💕

GUEST POST & EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT - FASCINATION & FALSEHOODS: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING DARCY

 

Today we are delighted to welcome author Jayne Bamber to My Jane Austen Book Club as she celebrates the release of her newest Austen variation, Fascination & Falsehoods: The Importance of Being Darcy.

For readers who enjoy imaginative reimaginings of Pride and Prejudice, this novel offers a fascinating premise. In this story, Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are orphaned at a young age and raised by none other than Lady Catherine de Bourgh, while Fitzwilliam Darcy grows up under circumstances far removed from those we know in Austen's original novel. The result is a fresh take on beloved characters, family relationships, and the paths that ultimately lead to love.

What makes this variation especially intriguing is its homage not only to Jane Austen but also to Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. With witty dialogue, unexpected twists and familiar characters placed in entirely new circumstances, the story promises to delight readers who appreciate both Austen's timeless romance and Wilde's sparkling humour.

Today, the author is sharing an exclusive excerpt that introduces us to a young Elizabeth Bennet preparing for her first London season—and reveals the beginnings of her rather charming fascination with the name "Darcy."

We hope you enjoy this sneak peek into Fascination & Falsehoods: The Importance of Being Darcy. Be sure to let us know in the comments what you think of this inventive new twist on a beloved classic!

Maria Grazia 💕

AN UNCANNY ALIGNMENT OF HEARTS: A Q&A WITH NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR JUNE HUR

 

Dear Janeites and book lovers,

sometimes, the universe has a beautiful way of bringing things full circle. If you have followed my online writing journey, you might know that alongside My Jane Austen Book Club (which I have been writing since 2010), I also ran a parallel blog called FLY HIGH! (started in 2009). Way back in March 2010, I featured a young, aspiring writer in a "Blogger Buddies" segment on FLY HIGH!. She used to email me about her passionate dream of one day becoming a published author. That writer was June Hur.

Sixteen years later, June is a New York Times bestselling author, and while I now focus most of my energy right here on My Jane Austen Book Club and our wonderful Facebook community, I still occasionally pop over to FLY HIGH! to share my latest obsessions. If you've read those rare, recent posts, you know that since the pandemic, I have fallen completely in love with Korean literature, K-dramas, and all things Hallyu (the Korean Wave). You can imagine my absolute thrill when the social media algorithms brought June and me back together, revealing that her newest novel, Behind Five Willows, is a romantic homage to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, set right in the heart of the Joseon Dynasty!

Set in 1792 during a strict, real-life historical government book ban, Behind Five Willows follows Shin Haewon (our fierce, Elizabeth Bennet-inspired heroine), a poor second daughter moonlighting as an illegal book transcriber under the pen name "Magpie." Enter Yu Seojun (our brilliant, uptight Mr. Darcy), a wealthy nobleman who secretly rebels against his status by writing forbidden fiction under the name "Black Lotus." Forced together as chaperones for their friends, they clash spectacularly in person, entirely unaware that they are already deeply connected through anonymous, secret letters.

Today, June joins us at My Jane Austen Book Club to chat about yearning, censorship, historical parallels, and what it’s like to bring Darcy and Elizabeth to 18th-century Korea.  

Maria Grazia 💕

THE CHERRY TREES OF ROSINGS, A NEW PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION. INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MORGAN BLAKE.

Hello Maria Grazia and readers of My Jane Austen Book Club! I am happy to be here with you all today to share a little more about my latest Pride and Prejudice variation novel—The Cherry Trees of Rosings.

As you must have seen from the blurb, this book is a mashup of supernatural elements and comedy (with generous heartstring pulls along the way) to give you a Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth love story that is both sweet and compelling. I hope the interview below will give you a deeper look at some of the inner workingsof the story (without any spoilers, of course). Please enjoy the read! 

Morgan Blake 

AN EVER- FIXED MARK BY ANGELA DENISE, A FRESH TAKE ON LOVE AND DESTINY

 

There is something endlessly fascinating about returning to the world of Pride and Prejudice through new and imaginative variations, and An Ever-Fixèd Mark by Angela Denise offers readers a particularly engaging journey.

AUTHOR GUEST POST: JAYNE BAMBER, THE GUARDIAN GAMBIT

 

Hello, Readers! I am delighted to share my new release, The Guardian Gambit, a mash-up of Pride & Prejudice + Emma that is inspired by The Parent Trap – it’s a wild ride!

The story begins with Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Fairfax discovering they are identical twins when they meet for the first time just before their 21^st birthday. With the encouragement of their intrigue-loving aunt – Mr. Gardiner’s widow, now known as Lady Gresham – the twins exchange places and scheme to reunite their parents, Elizabeth’s “guardian” Mr. Bennet and Jane’s “aunt” Miss Bates.

NEW RELEASE! THE SISTERS HOLIDAY BY JAYNE BAMBER

 

Hello, readers! It’s such a treat to be back at My Jane Austen Book Club  to share my upcoming release, The Sisters’ Holiday, which is coming to Kindle next month!

 

Inspired by the film “The Holiday” this Jane Austen retelling sees the two eldest Bennet Sisters switch places with their cousins, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood after Christmas together at Longbourn.