When I learned that Joanne Bischof DeWitt had written a retelling of Pride And Prejudice, I was all in! There are some difference between the classic Jane Austen novel and The Heart of Bennet Hollow, but the essence of the story is there. DeWitt’s version is fresh and faith-filled, and I absolutely loved it!
New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family’s legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.
William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters.
Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth’s tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she’s barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.
A Christy and Carol Award winner, Joanne Bischof DeWitt writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. She lives in California with her new husband and their six children making her a big fan of conversations, laughter, and large dinner tables.
My Impressions:
I am a sucker for a Jane Austen knock-off or, in proper literary terms, a variation. I fell in love with Austen’s books 30ish years ago, and wanted more. So I turned to the many, many adaptations that are available. The Heart of Bennet Hollow is a new acquisition. Joanne Bischof DeWitt’s fresh take on Pride and Prejudice is a great mix of the classic story and the very American setting of Appalachia. The author matches the characters and plot of P&P with her own style of storytelling. I loved that the characters were a bit more balanced in this novel. No extreme embarrassments or interference in others’ love lives. The two main characters are instantly likable, and this reader appreciated how their relationship grew from grudging admiration to respect to love over the course of the novel. The Appalachian coal country setting of the early 1900s was very interesting. My own grandfather was a coal miner in Virginia, so the glimpse into what my family’s life may have looked like was a real treat. DeWitt includes a strong faith-thread into the narrative. The characters’ actions were informed by their faith in God — concern for the lives of others was at the forefront of their decisions. And the romance! DeWitt does justice to the love story all Austen fans love.
I highly recommend The Heart of Bennet Hollow, even if you are not an Austenphile. It’s a great historical romance that stands on its own.
Highly recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Recent Comments