Death Comes to Pemberley

Episode 1 : This drama is the sequel to Pride and Prejudice, adapted from the best-selling novel by PD James, which brings Jane Austen’s world back to life in a highly original way – with a murder mystery plot at its centre. The drama picks up six years on from the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy, as the couple prepare for the lavish annual ball at their magnificent Pemberley home. However, the unannounced arrival of Elizabeth’s wayward sister Lydia brings the event to an abrupt halt when she stumbles in screaming that her husband, Wickham, has been murdered. Darcy leads a search party out to the woodlands and finds a blood-soaked corpse – but it’s not the body they were expecting to find.

Episode 2 : Wickham’s arrest leads to the cancellation of the ball, and Jane arrives to help quell Lydia and Mrs Bennet’s hysterics. Darcy gradually begins to retreat into a version of his younger self, a change which threatens his marriage, and Elizabeth grows concerned after her husband declares that his sister Georgiana must marry for duty, while there are disturbing revelations about and by Louisa Bidwell.

Episode 3 : Elizabeth remains aggrieved at Darcy’s treatment of Georgiana, but her immediate concern is for her sister Lydia, whose husband’s indiscretions and secrets look likely to come to light during his trial for the murder of Captain Denny. As the court case progresses, Darcy realises his preoccupation with Pemberley has served to distance himself from both his wife and his sister, and he reaches out to the pair of them. The trial draws to a close, and Wickham’s fate remains in the balance – until a last-minute turn of events promises to save him from the hangman’s noose.

Crime drama starring Matthew Rhys, Anna Maxwell Martin, Matthew Goode, Jenna Coleman, Eleanor Tomlinson, Tom Ward, Trevor Eve, James Norton, Penelope Keith and James Fleet.

I read PD James’ novel as soon as it was out in November 2011 and I loved it from the beginning to the last page. I knew already that she was a fan of Jane Austen and used to read her novels all the time, so I was sure she would be faithful to Austen’s characters. I loved the fantastic prologue titled ‘The Bennets of Longbourn’ that retold the storyline of Pride and Prejudice with wit and humour, I laughed out loud many times. PD James’ story was brilliant and believable and her style was excellent and faithful to Austen’s writing style. A pleasure to read if you are a Jane Austen fan. I recommend it.

Now regarding this drama , it’s rather faithful to James’ novel except in the end which is really fast and shows Lizzy as Wickham’ s saviour. I mostly loved the beautiful sets and the cloths as well. All the cast is great. Even if I didn’t like the idea of Anna Maxwell Martin as Lizzy, she’s a great actress and I liked her in this part after all. Above all I loved Jenna Coleman as Lydia, she was excellent and I’m pretty sure she had fun playing that part.

As a conclusion, I know I will read the novel again in the near future and it will be a pleasure to watch the drama again as well.

RELATED ARTICLES

– PD James: Why I wrote a murderous sequel to Pride and Prejudice (RadioTimes)

–  Death Comes to Pemberley’s Matthew Rhys: “The best thing about playing Mr Darcy is that shirt” (RadioTimes)

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (1811)

Mrs Jennings laughed again, but Elinor had no spirits to say more, and eager at all events to know what Willoughby had written, hurried away to their room, where, on opening the door, she saw Marianne stretched on the bed, almost choked by grief, one letter in her hand, and two or three others laying by her. Elinor drew near, but without saying a word; and seating herself on the bed, took her hand, kissed her affectionately several times, and then gave way to a burst of tears, which at first was scarcely less violent than Marianne’s. The latter, though unable to speak, seemed to feel all the tenderness of this behaviour, and after some time thus spent in joint affliction, she put all the letters into Elinor’s hands; and then covering her face with her handkerchief, almost screamed with agony. Volume II, Chapter VII

Persuasion by Jane Austen (1818)

When they came to the steps, leading upwards from the beach, a gentleman at the same moment preparing to come down, politely drew back, and stopped to give them way. They ascended and passed him; and as they passed, Anne’s face caught his eye, and he looked at her with a degree of earnest admiration, which she could not be insensible of. She was looking remarkably well; her very regular, very pretty features, having the bloom and freshness of youth restored by the fine wind which had been blowing on her complexion, and by the animation of eye which it had also produced. It was evident that the gentleman, (completely a gentleman in manner) admired her exceedingly. Captain Wentworth looked round at her instantly in a way which shewed his noticing of it. He gave her a momentary glance, – a glance of brightness, which seemed to say, “That man is struck by you, – and even I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again.” Volume I, Chapter XII

Mad about the boy by Helen Fielding

I’ve been waiting twelve years for the sequel of Bridget Jones’s Diary. Six months ago, when I learned that it was about to be published with a movie in development, I was really excited!

Now, with the mega spoiler alert given by the author herself, a lot of readers (including me) will just refuse to read it.

These books were a modern retelling of Lizzy, Darcy and Wickham. They were about romance and fun. I would never want to read a sequel about a widowed Lizzy looking for a new husband!!!

Related articles

• Bridget Jones’ fans horror at death (bbc.co.uk)

The Watsons by Jane Austen

The first winter assembly in the town of D. in Surrey was to be held on Tuesday October the thirteenth, and it was generally expected to be a very good one; a long list of country families was confidently run over as sure of attending, and sanguine hopes were entertained that the Osbornes themselves would be there.

The Edwards’ invitation to the Watsons followed of course. The Edwards were people of fortune who lived in the town and kept their coach; the Watsons inhabited a village about three miles distant, were poor and had no close carriage; and ever since there had been balls in the place, the former were accustomed to invite the latter to dress dine and sleep at their house, on every monthly return throughout the winter.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother; her own person and disposition, were all equally against her.” Volume 1, Chapter 1

Emma by Jane Austen

“Now Emma could, indeed, enjoy Mr Knightley’s visits; now she could talk, and she could listen with true happiness, unchecked by that sense of injustice, of guilt, of something most painful, which had haunted her when remembering how disappointed a heart was near her, how much might at that moment, and at a little distance, be enduring by the feelings she had led astray herself.” Volume III, Chapter XVI

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

“She burst into tears a she alluded to it, and for a few minutes could not speak another word. Darcy, in wretched suspence, could only say something indistinctly of his concern, and observe in compassionate silence.” Volume III, Chapter IV

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

“My Fanny indeed at this very time, I have the satisfaction of knowing, must have been happy in spite of every thing. She must have been a happy creature in spite of all that she felt or thought she felt, for the distress of those around her. She had sources of delight that must force their way.” Volume III, Chapter XVII

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

“Elinor could sit it no longer. She almost ran out of the room, and as soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first she thought would never cease.” Volume III, Chapter XII