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Expectations
This book is for those readers of Pride and Prejudice who might want to know what happened after the weddings of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. In it they will again encounter Mr. Bennet and his heir, Mr. Collins, the formidable Lady Catherine de Burgh, and Mr. Collins' wife, Charlotte. There will be glimpses of Lizzie and Jane, and their husbands as well as of Mary, Kitty and Lydia and the Gardiners. However the story must needs have a new heroine and concerns itself more with Phoebe, the daughter of Lady Catherine's estranged niece and a naval officer. The author hopes that she has not taken too many liberties with Miss Austen's characters and that the readers of this pastiche will enjoy it as much as she has enjoyed writing it
- GenresFiction
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Frances Murray
32 books5 followersRosemary Frances Sutherland was born on 10 February 1928 in Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK, the daughter of Frances (Wotherspoon), an artist, and Donald Sutherland, a journalist and playwright. She studied at the University of Glasgow (1945–1947), later she decided took a year out and worked for and toured with the Unity Theatre of Glasgow (1948–1949). On August 28, 1950 she married Robert Edward Booth, a manager, and they had three daughters: Lesley, Judith, and Frances.
In 1965, she gained an MA at the University of St Andrews, followed by a Diploma in Education in 1966. She taught History at Perth Academy, Scotland (1966-1972) and was Head of History Department at Linlathan School, Dundee (1972-1976). She was principal teacher of History at the Ladies' College, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Isles (1976-1993). In 1993, she retired from teaching. Throughout her professional teaching career and her retirement, she has always written. She was published from 1966 to 1986. Since 2011, she auto-published e-books in amazon.
After her retiring, Rosemary and her husband then moved to Spain to live, then to France where she now lives in the Tarn River area, where she has her second residence during years.
In 1965, she gained an MA at the University of St Andrews, followed by a Diploma in Education in 1966. She taught History at Perth Academy, Scotland (1966-1972) and was Head of History Department at Linlathan School, Dundee (1972-1976). She was principal teacher of History at the Ladies' College, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Isles (1976-1993). In 1993, she retired from teaching. Throughout her professional teaching career and her retirement, she has always written. She was published from 1966 to 1986. Since 2011, she auto-published e-books in amazon.
After her retiring, Rosemary and her husband then moved to Spain to live, then to France where she now lives in the Tarn River area, where she has her second residence during years.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 10, 2018
Interesting and nicely done. Thanks for the recommendation, Caro!
March 29, 2015
Fabulous Read
This P&P variation is one of the most entertaining well written novels I've had the pleasure to read in some 200 plus variations that I have read. The story is engaging with many witty parts. Frances Murray writes in the style of Trollope or Gaskell with a terrifically well written story. The characters are interesting and genuine as well as the tale relating to Lady Catherine De Burgh is so engrossing. Murray has really studied Lady Catherine's character and uses this knowledge with a fantastic ability in engaging us by the brilliantly written dialogue. She has Lady Catherine's mannerisms down to a tee, as well her ability make the reader howl at some of Lady Catherine's remarks. The story begins with a young woman Miss Phoebe Parker, who under circumstances to which she feels very obliged, takes the position of Lady Catherine De Burgh's companion. Miss Parker's character is witty, intelligent and the story enfolding between Lady Catherine and her is fascinating. this book is lively and so very fun to read! Is there anyone that can put Lady Catherine in her place? It's doubtful,but it seems that one can persuade her if you are very clever at it! Read this novel... You will not be disappointed!
This P&P variation is one of the most entertaining well written novels I've had the pleasure to read in some 200 plus variations that I have read. The story is engaging with many witty parts. Frances Murray writes in the style of Trollope or Gaskell with a terrifically well written story. The characters are interesting and genuine as well as the tale relating to Lady Catherine De Burgh is so engrossing. Murray has really studied Lady Catherine's character and uses this knowledge with a fantastic ability in engaging us by the brilliantly written dialogue. She has Lady Catherine's mannerisms down to a tee, as well her ability make the reader howl at some of Lady Catherine's remarks. The story begins with a young woman Miss Phoebe Parker, who under circumstances to which she feels very obliged, takes the position of Lady Catherine De Burgh's companion. Miss Parker's character is witty, intelligent and the story enfolding between Lady Catherine and her is fascinating. this book is lively and so very fun to read! Is there anyone that can put Lady Catherine in her place? It's doubtful,but it seems that one can persuade her if you are very clever at it! Read this novel... You will not be disappointed!
September 8, 2017
Regency style
Loved this story. It had all our favorite characters but the story is Mr Bennet's, what happens after his two favorite daughters are married. And I have to say I did like Lady Cat's overbearing and involved character! She was real and perfect!
Loved this story. It had all our favorite characters but the story is Mr Bennet's, what happens after his two favorite daughters are married. And I have to say I did like Lady Cat's overbearing and involved character! She was real and perfect!
October 13, 2014
Frances Murray has been one of my go-back-to authors for years: The Heroine's Sister, The Burning Lamp, The Belchamber Scandal, The Dear Colleague etc etc. There are lines I relish - in The Burning Lamp, for instance, Florence Nightingale interviews the young heroine:
"You look extremely young," said Miss Nightingale....
"Age isn't really a matter of years, I find," returned Phemie. "I know people twice my age who will never be as old as I am now."
So you can see there's an instinctive affinity between the two authors. And, to be strictly honest, "Expectations" (a sequel to Pride and Prejudice) is at least as much pure Murray as it is Austen. But when both are so adept at creating intelligent heroines who are, nevertheless, bound by the mores of their time, how can anyone object? "Expectations" is a leisurely read, with breathing space given to Lady Catherine (who becomes slightly more complex than her original), Mr & Mrs Collins, and, most notably, Mr Bennet. The plot is slight, but well-rooted in the historically plausible; the character development slow and convincing. It's gently witty, always entertaining, and emotionally satisfying.
There will be other P&P sequels, but this stands out for its humanity and craft. Read this - and then track down the rest of Murray's books!
"You look extremely young," said Miss Nightingale....
"Age isn't really a matter of years, I find," returned Phemie. "I know people twice my age who will never be as old as I am now."
So you can see there's an instinctive affinity between the two authors. And, to be strictly honest, "Expectations" (a sequel to Pride and Prejudice) is at least as much pure Murray as it is Austen. But when both are so adept at creating intelligent heroines who are, nevertheless, bound by the mores of their time, how can anyone object? "Expectations" is a leisurely read, with breathing space given to Lady Catherine (who becomes slightly more complex than her original), Mr & Mrs Collins, and, most notably, Mr Bennet. The plot is slight, but well-rooted in the historically plausible; the character development slow and convincing. It's gently witty, always entertaining, and emotionally satisfying.
There will be other P&P sequels, but this stands out for its humanity and craft. Read this - and then track down the rest of Murray's books!
September 4, 2021
A strange little book, which picks up a couple of years after Pride and Prejudice finished, and ties up all the loose ends with elaborately double-tied bows. It’s beautifully written, badly punctuated and varies in tone from sublime to merely dull, but it has two incomparable assets: the humour is glorious and it makes a hero of Mr Bennet. These may not be unconnnected.
Here’s the premise: Phoebe Parker is the spinster eldest daughter of a niece of Lady Catherine de Burgh, who married a naval officer against the wishes of her family and was subsequently cut off. When her husband dies, she struggles to manage, but eventually, her other two daughters are safely married, and a neighbour and friend has found positions in the navy for the twin boys. But the outfitting of two young men at once is beyond Mrs Parker’s means, so as a last resort, she writes to Lady Catherine for help. Lady C comes up trumps, and provides all their clothing and equipment, plus a small allowance, but she wants something in return: she asks for Phoebe to become her companion for a year, since her daughter, the sickly Anne, has died. Phoebe, a practical and intelligent soul, is happy to oblige because she feels she will derive endless amusement from the forthright Lady C. But of course, Mrs Jenkinson, the former governess and companion to Anne de Burgh, is not at all pleased by this usurpation of her role.
The Rosings parts of the book are not terribly exciting, with some rather dull business about setting up a school. However, there are fun interactions amongst the characters. Phoebe makes a friend of Charlotte Lucas, Mrs Jenkinson plots, Colonel Fitzwilliam falls in love and Mr Collins is a buffoon, as always. Lady Catherine is very much herself, but it’s a more nuanced and interesting Lady Catherine than the caricature in the book.
But then things take a more serious turn. There’s an outbreak of scarlet fever around Rosings, which carries off poor Charlotte Collins, whose epitaph must surely read: ‘she had a miserable life, and then she died’. It seems unfair, when authors have absolute power of life and death over their characters, to kill off one who deserved better and leave the idiotic Mr Collins alive and well (there were plot reasons for it, but not very plausible ones, even though it led to one of his silliest ever conversations).
The other significant death is that of Mrs Bennet, one whom I’ll not mourn quite so deeply. Or at all, in fact, much like Mr Bennet himself, who sees himself released from the cage of matrimony and swears he’ll never marry again. Well, we know how that’s going to end, don’t we? He sets off to visit Pemberley and various old friends, which he’s never felt able to do before, not wanting to inflict his silly wife on too many people. And along the way, he meets up with Phoebe, who shares his sense of humour.
I haven’t read too many P&P variations, but from reading a lot of blurbs, it seems to me that a great many of them start with the death of Mr Bennet, Mr Collins inheriting Longbourn and the Bennet ladies out on their ear. I must say, I totally enjoyed the idea of Mr Bennet the happy widower, pottering about the country from daughter to friend to other daughter, and generally living the life of Riley. His freedom dissipated much of his bitterness and just made him very funny. Every scene he was in simply fizzed with energy and his sardonic wit, and several times he got the better of Lady C simply by being way, way cleverer than she is. He was utterly awesome, and I’d have married him in two seconds flat. Lovely man, and it was wonderful to see him as a hero.
Phoebe… well, she came across as something of a shadow of Mr Bennet. She was clever, too, and witty and sensible, and she deserved her hero, but she was just a shade colourless by comparison. For those who want to see old favourites, there’s a fair bit of Darcy and Elizabeth, a little of Jane, Bingley, Kitty and Mary, although I have to confess I totally enjoyed Mary’s development (she decided what she wanted and took charge of making it happen with admirable determination), and the delightful Mr Lacey. By the end of the book, almost everyone is married (even Mr Collins finds a second wife) and producing babies left, right and centre (I liked the word-play in the title, encompassing both Mr Collins’ expectations, and the baby-producing sort).
I have a few minor quibbles. The Bingleys have apparently settled in Derbyshire, but surely the book places them in the next county to the Darcys? And there’s something funky with the ages. Phoebe’s twin brothers Peter and Horatio are to become midshipmen at 19, when 12ish is usual, Mary is seemingly still only 17, and Mr Collins is only 24! A clergyman couldn’t be ordained before the age of 24, and this book is set several years after his ordination. It was also odd that he made so much of Phoebe being older than him, when Charlotte had been even older.
But none of this interfered with the sheer joy of seeing Mr Bennet let loose to scatter his wit in all directions, so despite the dull patches and the commas scattered as randomly as salt from a shaker, I loved this enough to give it five stars.
Here’s the premise: Phoebe Parker is the spinster eldest daughter of a niece of Lady Catherine de Burgh, who married a naval officer against the wishes of her family and was subsequently cut off. When her husband dies, she struggles to manage, but eventually, her other two daughters are safely married, and a neighbour and friend has found positions in the navy for the twin boys. But the outfitting of two young men at once is beyond Mrs Parker’s means, so as a last resort, she writes to Lady Catherine for help. Lady C comes up trumps, and provides all their clothing and equipment, plus a small allowance, but she wants something in return: she asks for Phoebe to become her companion for a year, since her daughter, the sickly Anne, has died. Phoebe, a practical and intelligent soul, is happy to oblige because she feels she will derive endless amusement from the forthright Lady C. But of course, Mrs Jenkinson, the former governess and companion to Anne de Burgh, is not at all pleased by this usurpation of her role.
The Rosings parts of the book are not terribly exciting, with some rather dull business about setting up a school. However, there are fun interactions amongst the characters. Phoebe makes a friend of Charlotte Lucas, Mrs Jenkinson plots, Colonel Fitzwilliam falls in love and Mr Collins is a buffoon, as always. Lady Catherine is very much herself, but it’s a more nuanced and interesting Lady Catherine than the caricature in the book.
But then things take a more serious turn. There’s an outbreak of scarlet fever around Rosings, which carries off poor Charlotte Collins, whose epitaph must surely read: ‘she had a miserable life, and then she died’. It seems unfair, when authors have absolute power of life and death over their characters, to kill off one who deserved better and leave the idiotic Mr Collins alive and well (there were plot reasons for it, but not very plausible ones, even though it led to one of his silliest ever conversations).
The other significant death is that of Mrs Bennet, one whom I’ll not mourn quite so deeply. Or at all, in fact, much like Mr Bennet himself, who sees himself released from the cage of matrimony and swears he’ll never marry again. Well, we know how that’s going to end, don’t we? He sets off to visit Pemberley and various old friends, which he’s never felt able to do before, not wanting to inflict his silly wife on too many people. And along the way, he meets up with Phoebe, who shares his sense of humour.
I haven’t read too many P&P variations, but from reading a lot of blurbs, it seems to me that a great many of them start with the death of Mr Bennet, Mr Collins inheriting Longbourn and the Bennet ladies out on their ear. I must say, I totally enjoyed the idea of Mr Bennet the happy widower, pottering about the country from daughter to friend to other daughter, and generally living the life of Riley. His freedom dissipated much of his bitterness and just made him very funny. Every scene he was in simply fizzed with energy and his sardonic wit, and several times he got the better of Lady C simply by being way, way cleverer than she is. He was utterly awesome, and I’d have married him in two seconds flat. Lovely man, and it was wonderful to see him as a hero.
Phoebe… well, she came across as something of a shadow of Mr Bennet. She was clever, too, and witty and sensible, and she deserved her hero, but she was just a shade colourless by comparison. For those who want to see old favourites, there’s a fair bit of Darcy and Elizabeth, a little of Jane, Bingley, Kitty and Mary, although I have to confess I totally enjoyed Mary’s development (she decided what she wanted and took charge of making it happen with admirable determination), and the delightful Mr Lacey. By the end of the book, almost everyone is married (even Mr Collins finds a second wife) and producing babies left, right and centre (I liked the word-play in the title, encompassing both Mr Collins’ expectations, and the baby-producing sort).
I have a few minor quibbles. The Bingleys have apparently settled in Derbyshire, but surely the book places them in the next county to the Darcys? And there’s something funky with the ages. Phoebe’s twin brothers Peter and Horatio are to become midshipmen at 19, when 12ish is usual, Mary is seemingly still only 17, and Mr Collins is only 24! A clergyman couldn’t be ordained before the age of 24, and this book is set several years after his ordination. It was also odd that he made so much of Phoebe being older than him, when Charlotte had been even older.
But none of this interfered with the sheer joy of seeing Mr Bennet let loose to scatter his wit in all directions, so despite the dull patches and the commas scattered as randomly as salt from a shaker, I loved this enough to give it five stars.
January 30, 2025
Best Austen sequel ever! Totally faithful to Jane Austen’s creation both in the character Austen created and in the new ones she added. I totally agree with some of the reviews, notably Ruth’s. A very satisfying read!
August 31, 2021
This is probably the most charming Austen-inspired book I have read. The author does an excellent job of creating a mood reminiscent of Austen, and the characters seemed generally true to the original. I particularly liked some of the scenes involving Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine. There isn't a huge amount of Lizzie and Darcy in the book, and Jane and Bingley barely appear at all, but the rest of the Bennett family appears, with happy endings for most of them. The ending particularly made me smile. There are a lot of classical references that I was not familiar with, but there are usually contextual clues to help the reader figure out what we need to know from the reference. People looking for love scenes will be disappointed (I'm not sure there is even a kiss anywhere in the text), but if you want a sweet, funny, and era-appropriate homage to Austen this is a good choice. I read this for free with Kindle Unlimited, but I will probably buy a copy (it is not expensive), and I look forward to reading other books by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2017
This is set in the world of Pride and Prejudice, a few years after that book. I think that Frances Murray does an excellent job of homage to Jane Austen's style, period and plot. The story is entirely credible as a "what happens next", the characters are believable and the period feel is right.
A lot of Jane Austen's titles are plays on words and "Expectations" is the same. It plays on it both in terms of "expectations" in terms of what someone could expect to inherit (which seems a major obsession of the period) and in the more general sense of what you could expect from your life plus how people expect to be treated or responded to. (As in Lady Catherine de Burgh expects to be deferred to - immediately.)
I will definitely re-read this one day.
A lot of Jane Austen's titles are plays on words and "Expectations" is the same. It plays on it both in terms of "expectations" in terms of what someone could expect to inherit (which seems a major obsession of the period) and in the more general sense of what you could expect from your life plus how people expect to be treated or responded to. (As in Lady Catherine de Burgh expects to be deferred to - immediately.)
I will definitely re-read this one day.
April 3, 2018
In this Pride and Prejudice sequel we are concerned with the story of the great-niece by marriage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Miss Phoebe Parker in exchange for help for Phoebe's brothers from Lady Catherine sells herself as a companion to Lady Catherine and the environs of Rosings.
I enjoyed this story as it does also cover the Bennets and their connections by marriage. Probably a 3.5 star rating.
I enjoyed this story as it does also cover the Bennets and their connections by marriage. Probably a 3.5 star rating.
March 27, 2014
This was a good addition to the Pride and Prejudice variations. Characters were true to the original and I liked the new people and stories presented by Ms. Murray. For lovers of Jane Austen's books, you'll be happy to read this one!
June 29, 2021
Frances Murray has managed to match Jane Austen's wonderful style in this regency romance that solves nearly everyone's problems still faced at the end of Pride and Prejudice. Since listing all the solutions would involve spoilers I can only say that I enjoyed meeting most of the characters of the original book once again. Darcy sounds like Darcy, Lady Catherine De Burgh like herself, Colonel Fitzwilliam just as he should; even Mr Collins is silly as he ever was and Mr Bennet is my hero. I liked this novel a lot.
January 30, 2023
A delightful sequel to "Pride and Prejudice," Expectations finds a future for all the major characters in the book. I read it in two days, and it was a joy to reenter JA's world. Many of the characters acquire more depth, as others face the consequences of their actions. Highly recommended for Austen fans everywhere and one of the best spin-offs I've come across
October 10, 2021
Have you ever wondered what happened to...
Really enjoyed this exploration of the characters from Pride and Prejudice. Good plot and writing. Out of the common way. Good things happen all around.
Really enjoyed this exploration of the characters from Pride and Prejudice. Good plot and writing. Out of the common way. Good things happen all around.
September 22, 2019
2.5* rounded up. I really shouldn't read these Austen sequels. This was probably the best one I have read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews