Love and Friendship is a sharp and witty reimagining
of Jane Austen’s novella, Lady Susan. I
love the entire title which is “Love and Friendship: In Which Jane Austen’s Lady Susan Vernon is
Entirely Vindicated. Concerning the
Beautiful Lady Susan Vernon, Her Cunning Daughter & the Strange Antagonism
of the DeCourcy Family.” The novel is “written”
by Rufus Martin-Colonna de Cesari-Rocca, nephew of Sir James Martin. He has taken offense at the “spinster
authoress” Jane Austen’s take on Lady Susan Vernon’s story and tells the tale
from his point of view to vindicate Lady Susan as well as his Uncle. What is hilarious is that even though Rufus
tries to tell the tale with vindication, the buffoonery of Sir James and
deviousness of Lady Susan cannot help but pop out.
I am happy to be a part of the Love & Friendship
– The Janeite Blog Tour. After my review
of the novel, stay tuned for more information about the novel, author, tour,
and giveaway.
Lady Susan Vernon is the widow of a ruined
gentleman. Her late husband’s family
blames her for the ruin as well as making her husband unhappy for her love of
other men before his death. It is
rumored that she has left the home of her friends the Manwarings after she succored
both the affection of the married Lord Manwaring as well as the affection of
Sir James Martin who was pursuing Miss Manwaring at the time. Lady Susan leaves their home to visit her
brother and sister in law, Catherine and Charles Vernon. Catherine has no love for Lady Susan, but is
more than dismayed when Lady Susan manages to attract the affections of her
brother Reginald DeCourcy. Lady Susan’s
daughter, Frederica arrives on the scene after getting kicked out of her school
for trying to run away. She is distressed
that her mother is arranging her marriage to Sir James Martin, who also arrives
at Churchill, the Vernon’s estate. How
will this end? Will Lady Susan find her
own true love? Will Frederica find happiness?
Will they all discover Lady Susan’s true personality or are all they
thinking the worse of a kind woman?
I loved the humor in this book which is apparent in
this quote:
“I admire those people who are willing or, even more
admirably, firmly resolved to rise above the slights and antagonisms of the
past. Catherine Vernon was not one of them.”
Poor Rufus is trying to vindicate his Uncle Sir
James Martin in the novel, but it is hard.
“…Perhaps most significant in forming one’s
principles is that of the old prophet who came down from the mount with tablets
bearing the Twelve Commandments – which our Lord has taught us to obey without
fail.”
“The Twelve Commandments?” Reginald asked.
Sir James nodded affably in the affirmative.
“Excuse me,” Charles interrupted in an apologetic
tone, “I believe there were only Ten.”
“Oh, really?” Sir James said, “Only Ten must be
obeyed? Well, then . .. Which two to
take off? Perhaps the one about the
Sabbath,” he said with a smile. “I
prefer to hunt.”
I love Lady Susan – two of my favorite quotes from
the cunning lady:
“When it comes to flattery, don’t hold bank,” Lady
Susan commented. “Men are such gluttons
for praise, it’s never enough.”
“Oh.” Lady
Susan was briefly silenced “Facts are horrid things.”
Love and Friendship contains a great character list,
Genealogical Table, and Jane Austen’s original epistolary novel is included in
an appendix with Rufus’ notes on where Jane Austen got it wrong. It was fun to read the original novel as
well.
Overall, I loved Love and Friendship. It’s a fun novel that shows the great comic
humor of Jane Austen while also adding another layer of humor by trying to
vindicate one of Austen’s best villains.
I highly recommend this novel for all lovers of Austen as well as anyone
looking for a great comic novel. I can’t
wait to watch the movie!
Book Source:
A Review copy as part of the Blog Tour.
AUTHOR BIO:
Whit Stillman
was born in Washington, D.C., and attended Harvard, where he was an editor of
the Harvard Crimson before working in book and magazine publishing. He has
written and directed five films, including the award-winning Metropolitan, Barcelona, The Last Days of
Disco, and Damsels in Distress,
as well as the TV show The Cosmopolitans.
His first novel, The Last Days of Disco,
won the 2014 Prix Fitzgerald. He has written for the Wall Street Journal, Harper's,
The Guardian, Vogue, and other publications. Visit his unofficial website
for updates on this
latest Amazon series The Cosmopolitans,
and follow him on Twitter as @WhitStillman
and on Facebook.
LOVE & FRIENDSHIP – THE JANEITE
BLOG TOUR
June 13 – 24, 2016
A
cyber-celebration in which Jane Austen fans join in their desire
to see a
much maligned Personage vindicated, a certain
Spinster
Authoress exposed and justice prevail.
Award winning
writer-director-filmmaker Whit Stillman tours the blogosphere June 13 through
June 24, 2016 to share his latest release, Love
& Friendship: In Which Jane Austen's Lady Susan Vernon Is Entirely Vindicated.
Thirteen popular book bloggers—card carrying Jane Austen fans one and
all—will feature interviews, book excerpts and reviews of this highly acclaimed
novel. A fabulous giveaway contest, including hardcopies of the book will be
open to those who join the festivities.
THE LOVE & FRIENDSHIP JANEITE BLOG
TOUR SCHEDULE:
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Grand Giveaway
Contest
In
celebration of the release of Love &
Friendship: In Which Jane Austen's Lady Susan Vernon Is Entirely Vindicated,
Mr. Stillman’s publisher, Little, Brown & Co has kindly offered a chance to
win one of three hardcover copies of the book!
