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The Other Bennet Sister

Now a Major BBC Drama starring Richard E. Grant and Ruth Jones

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The Other Bennet Sister

By: Janice Hadlow
Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
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About this listen

Now seen on BBC One, starring Richard E. Grant, Ruth Jones and Ella Bruccoleri

Read by the amazing Kristen Atherton.

One by one, the Bennet sisters have found their place. But what happens to the one left behind? The Other Bennet Sister is the brilliant, witty, and heartbreakingly relatable story of Mary Bennet.

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, we know the fates of the five Bennet girls. But while her sisters are celebrated for their beauty of their wit, Mary is the "plain" middle sister, the introvert in a family of extroverts, and a constant disappointment to her mother.

Lonely and lacking connection, Mary turns to the only place she feels safe: books. Determined to be "right" since she can never be "beautiful", she prepares for a life of solitude at Longbourn.

One by one, the other sisters move on: Jane and Lizzy for love, and Lydia for respectability. Mary is destined to remain single, at least until her father dies and the house is bequeathed to the reviled Mr Collins.

But when that fateful day finally arrives, the life Mary expected is turned upside down. In the face of uncertainty, she slowly discovers that there is hope for the "plain" sister after all . . .

Experience the witty, life-affirming tale of a young woman finally finding her place in the world.

This is Mary Bennet's story.

'Will delight Pride and Prejudice fans' — The Independent

 Coming of Age Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Regency Heartfelt Witty Feel-Good

Critic Reviews

[A] novel that will delight Pride and Prejudice fans
Janice Hadlow has dusted down Mary, the ugly Bennet sister, and fashioned her into a heroine that even Miss Austen would approve of. A treat (Daisy Goodwin, author of Victoria and The Fortune Hunter)
Immersive and engaging
It’s difficult not to race through those final pages (Jo Baker, author of LongBourn and The Body Lies)
This gorgeous book pays homage to Pride and Prejudice – and follows Mary Bennet, the overlooked middle Bennet sister. It’s a wonderfully warm, comforting read – perfect on a winter’s night
I absolutely love this novel – as will any young woman who has felt herself plain, shy, bookish and crushed (Amanda Craig, author of The Lie of the Land and The Golden Rule)
Fans will need no persuasion . . . Worthy of any Austen heroine
Jane fans rejoice! I loved this thoroughly estimable, worthy homage to Austen. Exceptional storytelling and a true delight (Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Summer Before the War)
Puts Mary front and centre stage exploring why she was so heartbreakingly sidelined by Mrs Bennet and gives humour and sensitivity to the most overlooked of the sisters
Impeccably researched, this lifts Mary from obscurity, as she breaks out of her mother's world and follows her own path
A wonderful, absorbing, accomplished book. I loved it (Stephanie Butland, author of Lost for Words and The Woman in the Photograph)
Entertaining and thoroughly engrossing
Vivid and convincing
Equal to the best Austen spin-offs, including Jo Baker’s Longbourn, this will delight Janeites as well as lovers of nuanced female coming-of-age tales (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed this audio book. It is very much in keeping with Jane Austin's style and true to the story of Pride and Prejudice. It is wonderful to have an account told from Mary's perspective and to have a sequel of sorts.
If you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. I love the language that is used and it was very well read.
I could listen to it all again.

Thoroughly enjoyable

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While staying true to the characters, Janice Hadlow developed them and the story beautifully. I couldn’t stop listening. The performance by Kristin Atherton was masterful. For lovers of Jane Austin , this book is a must read.

Insightful and satisfying

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For lovers of Pride and Prejudice. The story was very engaging and I couldn't stop listening. Highly recommended.

Very Happy!

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I absolutely loved this book. I really enjoyed the insights into Pride and Prejudice characters that the author offered. It brought an entirely new perspective to a beloved classic. I found the author's interpretations of the characters very believable and in line with the way the characters were portrayed in Pride and Prejudice. I loved seeing Mary's growth throughout the novel, and the author had me willing her onwards and wishing her happiness and joy. My only criticism is that I do think it dragged on just a little bit, but I was hanging on right till the end to find out what happened and how it was all resolved.

long, but kept me interested right until the end

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As a lover of pride and prejudice it was wonderful to have the opportunity to read an interpretation of what Mary Bennett’s life would have been like living in the shadow of her sisters. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I did find the obstacle towards the end of the book to Mary achieving happiness on her terms, a little contrived, but I was prepared to suspend any negative reaction to how the author handled this as the overall conclusion and outcome of the novel was very satisfying. The pace of the story and the performance was steady and in line with the perceived sober nature of the character. I found the novel very engaging and would recommend it to fans of pride and prejudice and the Bennett family story.

Very satisfying overall

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