Stunning “Pride and Prejudice” Spin-Off by Debut South African Novelist

In a debut novel that has been called “stunning,” “sparkling,” “compelling” and “engrossing” by reviewers in England, South African Helen Moffett has taken a minor character from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and breathed life into her, creating “an enjoyable, even racy
addition to the drawing-room industry of novels riffing off Austen.”

The novel is a tale of marriage and friendship that picks up Charlotte Lucas’s story where Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” ends. Nobody believes that Charlotte has any prospects. She is unmarried, plain, poor and reaching a dangerous age. But when she stuns the neighbourhood by accepting the proposal of buffoonish clergyman Mr Collins, her fortunes change. Her best friend Lizzy Bennet is appalled by her choice, yet Charlotte knows this is the only way to provide for her future. What she doesn’t know is that married life will propel her into a new world: not only of duty and longed-for children, but secrets, grief, unexpected love and friendship, and a kind of freedom.

Red magazine’s literary editor Sarra Manning in England called “Charlotte” a “stunning debut” and has put it at the top of its 10 must-read list in the bumper book-publishing month of September. The Evening Standard (UK) also put it in its list of 20 new books to watch out for.

Moffett is well known as a poet, editor and (when Day Zero approached Cape Town in 2017) a water expert – using tips she learned from her childhood in the Little Karoo – and appeared on radio shows and finally wrote “101 Water Wise Ways.” She also has a huge following on Facebook for her regular, beautifully written ruminations on life, cats and the world.

Asked by The Guardian why she chose to write about Charlotte, Moffett said she had wanted to answer these questions: “What sort of a life did she have after making a hasty and expedient marriage? What about happiness? Was that a luxury? And was love even more of a fantasy? I wanted to make clear that an ordinary life, an everyday life, even in a society that restricts women’s autonomy is worth scrutinising, recording, exploring. I wanted to look at how a woman with apparently little or no power could be an active agent in the lives of others. I think this is hugely important: the power of the apparently powerless.”

In her review of “Charlotte,” historical novelist Rebecca Mascull said: “Fans of Pride and Prejudice will find this a worthy and engrossing companion, beautifully written. Feminist in nature, without ever lecturing the reader, it is an intimate and honest account of a woman’s struggles and strengths, painting a vivid picture of female life in the nineteenth century. I always felt Charlotte Lucas and Miss de Bourgh had hidden depths that Austen’s story did not have time to explore, so this is a satisfying and compelling addition to the Austen world.”

Louisa Treger, author of The Dragon Lady, said: “A sparkling read, full of passion and flair. Will delight Jane Austen fans and lovers of good fiction.”

Novelist Rosie Fiore said: “The voice of the book was so measured, precise and gentle, it meshed perfectly with the original. I found it deliciously satisfying. I was fascinated by the way it dealt with the very real issues of inheritance and the financial support of women.”

“Charlotte” will have its South African launch via Zoom at 6pm, Thursday 10
September, courtesy of Exclusive Books and Jonathan Ball: the author will be in
conversation with Elinor Sisulu, award-winning author and long-standing fan of all things Austen. Click on this link to register.

To buy: Amazon has the Kindle version for 99p all through September!

• South Africa: Jonathan Ball.
• Waterstones in the UK.
• The Book Lounge in Cape Town.