Vanity and Vexation: A Novel of Pride and Prejudice

Sometimes updated adaptations work wonderfully: Think of the film Clueless, a delightful update of Jane Austen’s Emma, or Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones's Diary, a modern-day retelling of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. But most of the time, the result is god-awful: Just consider the Ethan Hawke version of Hamlet or Baz Luhrman’s over-the-top gangster take on Romeo and Juliet. Yikes!

Kate Fenton, fortunately, falls in the former camp, not the latter. Like Fielding, Fenton retells the tale of proud Fitzwilliam Darcy and prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet, only this time the genders are reversed and the setting, shifted to modern-day Wales. And, despite the odds, the transformation works pretty well. While not as spot-on as Fielding’s show more novel, Fenton’s Vanity and Vexation, despite its twee title change (the UK edition is called by the much less obvious Lions And Liquorice), the star-crossed relationship between movie director Mary Dance and journalist-turned-novelist Nick Bevan proves both funny and touching.

I read this years and years ago, and I have remembered it fondly ever since. I have been wanting to re-read it for the last couple of years, but I could never remember the title. Luckily, I stumbled upon it today, so I’ll soon be enjoying this witty and fun novel all over again. show less

Pride and Prejudice in modern times with the genders switched. Could have been good; instead, it just sort of meandered.

Different twist on Pride and Prejudice. Writers and actors interrupted. Funny and entertaining summer read.

Excellent read , amusing and acproper happy ending.