In this episode, we are delving into The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub.

Published in 2023, this epistolary novel picks up where every scene ends in Pride and Prejudice, à la Rosencratz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Weaving together tropes galore with wit and witchcraft, this is an exciting new voice within the Jane Austen Inspired literary world!

As regular readers/listeners of Pemberley & Beyond will know, my last experience of stepping outside my comfort zone of Pride & Prejudice retellings ended in disaster. Nonetheless, I fell head over heels for the beautiful cover of Emma of 83rd Street when I saw it in my local library. I know that there’s that old chestnut about not judging books by their cover, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for a fun cover!
When I beheld it, I thought to myself… could this book break the curse of terrible non-Pride and Prejudice retellings?

Join Cat on Pemberley and Beyond for a special bite-size episode celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary through the anthology Encounters With Jane Austen: Celebrating 250 Years. This captivating collection of essays, short stories, poetry, and art showcases how Austen’s wit, wisdom, and social insight continue to inspire readers, writers, and artists around the world.

In this episode, Cat explores standout pieces from the anthology, from Tallulah Riley’s modern reimagining of Charlotte Collins in Charlotte to Jen Francis’s essay Austen’s Onscreen Evaluation, which examines the evolution of Austen’s adaptations from BBC period dramas to potential TikTok musicals.

Acknowledgement:
Thanks to the publisher for providing a free copy of Encounters With Jane Austen: Celebrating 250 Years through NetGalley.