Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife

One always approaches a sequel written long after a revered author's death with a bit of trepidation, but Berdoll's follow-up to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE remains true to Jane Austen's characters. Granted, Mr. Darcy's marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bennet is far randier than anything Austen penned. While it's initially shocking, the listener ultimately must cheer the pair's devotion and passion. Rosalyn Landor's narration is equally consistent, especially in her voicings of Mrs. Bennet and Lydia Bennet Wickham as the silly butterflies they are. Landor is equally strong in characterizing the men, especially Darcy, whom she presents in a timbre reminiscent of Hugh Grant. Quite satisfying are the book's answers to loose ends in the original. J.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine