Take Charge Series Series by Shana Granderson A Lady

None of the books in this series are purely about the title character, but how their taking charge affects those around them.Fanny Bennet dies of an apoplexy two years prior to the start of this story.As in canon, the Bingleys, Hursts, and Darcy arrive in the area residing in the leased Netherfield Park. Up until the Reverend William Collins arrival, things are not far from canon. Collins is the sycophant we all love to hate and sets his sights on Jane... moreNone of the books in this series are purely about the title character, but how their taking charge affects those around them.Fanny Bennet dies of an apoplexy two years prior to the start of this story.As in canon, the Bingleys, Hursts, and Darcy arrive in the area residing in the leased Netherfield Park. Up until the Reverend William Collins arrival, things are not far from canon. Collins is the sycophant we all love to hate and sets his sights on Jane. Bennet tells him in no uncertain terms he will not consent to such a man marrying ANY of his daughters.Charlotte Lucas overhears Collins ranting to himself about how he will evict the Bennets from Longbourn the day Bennet passes. He then tried to woo Charlotte soon after and she too rejects him. He is derisive when she rejects him out of hand, he tells her that no man would ever offer for one on the shelf, without fortune, and as homely as her.Collins then proposes to Matilda Dudley, Lizzy’s friend and Longbourn’s widowered parson’s daughter. Matilda accepts him much to Elizabeth and Charlotte’s surprise.Collins’s words to her spur Charlotte to take charge, the story tells the tale of what she does and how it affects the lives of not a few people. The book examines how Charlotte actions change the trajectories of some of our favourite (to love and hate) characters. less

The great lady is very much like she is in canon until there is a horrific accident in 1804 where both her husband Lewis and her daughter Anne die. For a lady who believed she could control all by force of will and desire, the deaths of her family rock her world down to the foundations. She revaluates all of her priorities, changes direction, and becomes a surrogate mother to both surviving Darcys... moreThe great lady is very much like she is in canon until there is a horrific accident in 1804 where both her husband Lewis and her daughter Anne die. For a lady who believed she could control all by force of will and desire, the deaths of her family rock her world down to the foundations. She revaluates all of her priorities, changes direction, and becomes a surrogate mother to both surviving Darcys.In his will Sir Lewis leaves his estate and all of his holdings to Richard Fitzwilliam as he is the only one of his three nephews to have to shift for himself. Sir Lewis and Anne were the last alive in the de Bourgh line.Jane Bennet, after losing more than one suitor to her mother’s vulgar and inappropriate behaviour has had the blinders removed. Elizabeth is no longer in awe of her father as she has had her eyes opened to his indolence and abrogation of his parental responsibility. Rather than laugh with him at his treatment of his wife and younger daughters, she understands the inappropriateness of how her father behaves.The story is close to canon with regards to the interactions between the Netherfield and Longbourn residents with the dastardly George Wickham pouring poison on our Lizzy’s ear up to a point. We see a lot of that interaction through the eyes of William Collins who is very different from his portrayal in canon. Wickham is exposed, but not by Darcy.Bingley is his spineless self and allows his sister Caroline to rule his life and manipulate him while at the same time he looks to Darcy to make decisions for him. The Netherfield Party escapes to Town and Bingley deserts Jane without a word except for Miss Bingley’s fiction she sends in her note and single reply to a Jane's three letters.Up to a point, Lady Catherine has taken a back seat. Unlike the lady we are used to, she does not want to insert herself into her relative’s lives unless absolutely needed. When she sees too much happening which needs correcting, she decides to take charge. She leads her family in berating Darcy for his behaviour in Hertfordshire, his hauteur, and in not taking care of the scourge that is George Wickham.This story looks at how this iteration of Lady Catherine changes the trajectory of a number of character we all love, and some we dislike intensely. less

In the 5th book in this series, it is Anne de Bourgh’s (who more often than not is a footnote in most books based on Pride & Prejudice) turn to take charge.Similar to canon, Anne is sickly and had a bad bout of scarlet fever when she is around 10 years. Unlike canon, she is not a wallflower sitting and sniffing while her companion piles shawls on her.In her own words from the story, just because she is weak of body does not mean she is weak of mind... moreIn the 5th book in this series, it is Anne de Bourgh’s (who more often than not is a footnote in most books based on Pride & Prejudice) turn to take charge.Similar to canon, Anne is sickly and had a bad bout of scarlet fever when she is around 10 years. Unlike canon, she is not a wallflower sitting and sniffing while her companion piles shawls on her.In her own words from the story, just because she is weak of body does not mean she is weak of mind. We see the affect she has on the lives of those around her.As in canon, Lizzy comes to Hunsford to visit Charlotte Collins. That is where we separate from canon. Lady Catherine attemptsto be the woman we all love to hate, but how will her story play out when factoring in a strong and resolute Anne?Before Darcy and his cousin come to Kent, Lizzy and Anne form a friendship and then we see how Anne influences the courses that out favourite (and some hated) characters travel.Join me as we explore an Anne de Bourgh who is very different from the one we are used to reading about. less