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Loading... Secret Schemes and Daring Dreams (Jane Austen in 21st Century)by Rosie Rushton
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What would happen if Jane Austen's EMMA was set in the twenty first century? Emma Woodhouse is a caring, considerate sort of girl who is well aware of her own good fortune and talent for getting the best out of other people. Which is why, when she meets someone with untapped potential, she puts all interests to one side and sets out to change their lives for them - whether they like it or not. When Emma's childhood friend, George Knightley, needs help at his family's country house hotel over the summer, she sees the perfect opportunity to improve the lot of her new friend, the shy and unfortunate Harriet Smith. But as one after another of Emma's secret schemes go horribly wrong, she finds that nothing (and no one) is ever as simple as it seems. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.914Literature English English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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'Emma Woodhouse had, for seventeen years and ten months, had pretty much everything in life her own way, and saw no reason at all why the situation should ever change'. Rushton's YA update remains creatively faithful to Emma, barring a rather more forceful and obnoxious heroine. Emma's father is an ageing rock star turned eco-warrior, concerned about the environment instead of his own health ('When he held dinner parties at Hartfield, he served only locally grown organic food, and English wine that was made from grapes that had been consulted as to their feelings during planting'), Harriet is a shy school friend with family troubles, the garrulous Miss Bates is now Lily Bates, another classmate of Emma's who looks after her disabled mother, and Lily's cousin Jake Fairfax is the mysterious local celebrity who shares a secret with wealthy playboy Freddie Churchill. All the old names and relationships are instantly recognisable, if occasionally revamped, including 'dear, darling, wonderful, gorgeous' George Knightley, Emma's next door neighbour and lifelong friend. I thought the various tweaks and twists necessary to bring the story into the twenty-first century were all very fitting, especially 'Freddie' Churchill's secret relationship, and enjoyed the new seaside setting of Brighton, too. The writing is sharp and funny, the characters are likeable, and Emma is suitably bitchy and domineering (I love that she's thinking of studying psychology and human behavioural sciences at university!) The ending felt a little rushed, but then the final chapters in Austen's Emma do, too.
Great fun, and definitely recommended! I might try some of Rosie Rushton's other Austen novels next. ( )