Comments on: Austen Homages

By: Lynn Shepherd

Lynn Shepherd — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:21:58 +0000

That’s a very good point! As you’ve already mentioned, in my book Fanny and Edmund are designed by the families to marry, right from the start, and that being the case I didn’t feel happy having them brought up together in the same house as quasi brother and sister, even though I would have preferred not to have made such a big change from the original. It does raise an interesting question, too, about MP, and I know I’m not the only modern reader to find the switch from Fanny-as-cousin (indeed, Fanny as ‘my only sister’) to Fanny-as-wife a little queasy and rather forced.

Please don’t worry at all about anything you said – I’m always interested in hearing readers’ views, and especially from people (like you) who have a real knowledge of her works. And I was delighted with your compliment about how well I’ve captured her style!

By: thejaneaustenproject

thejaneaustenproject — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:54:08 +0000

Ms. Shepherd, I am touched that your read my blog entry and troubled to reply! I hope that I have not hurt your feelings with my remarks. As I said, I want to like it. I think I may have been going too fast. I am starting again and enjoying my more stately progress more this time; now on page 28. I’ll return to this subject again.
I am curious about some of the choices you made — why make Edmund the stepson of Mrs. Norris (not son, as I incorrectly stated in my post)? But maybe it will all become clear in time.

By: Lynn Shepherd

Lynn Shepherd — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 06:05:16 +0000

I’m impressed at how many of the references you’ve picked up, which were designed to be an extra layer of pleasure for the true Austen aficionado. MaMP is a sincere homage but it’s also designed to be fun,so that spotting the references and the twists of character and episode are part of a playful game between me and my readers. It’s also a good old-fashioned country house murder,so I hope you can enjoy it that way too!