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Match for Mary Bennet

A unique and inspirational Pride and Prejudice sequel that will resonate with all readers who can relate to Mary Bennet's determination to live according to God's wishes

Written by a Franciscan nun, this is a sympathetic tale of the middle Bennet sister from Pride and Prejudice. Pious Mary Bennet tries to do her duty in the world as she thinks God envisions it.

Initially believing (mistakenly) that her sister Elizabeth married well only in order to provide for her sisters, Mary is happy to be relieved of the obligation to marry at all so that she can continue her faithful works.

But she begins to have second thoughts after further studying marriage through her sisters' experiences as well as spending time with two young men. One is a splendid young buck whose determined courtship must have ulterior motives; the other is a kindly, serious young clergyman whose friendship Mary values more and more. One day she realizes that God very much made man and woman to be together...but which is the man for her?

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Excerpt

Excerpt

Reviews

Reviews

Wendi’s Book Corner Wendi Barker
This is another fun follow-up story to Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice (one of my favorite books). One thing I particularly liked about this book, is that Eucharista Ward O.S.F. took a character that I think was really overlooked in the original Pride and Prejudice and focused on her character and development in this book.

For me, the first few chapters were a little slow, as they focused on so many little details while developing Mary’s character (yes, this IS needed, just made it a tad slow for me), but soon after, the book started to pick up. It was nice to watch Mary transform from her almost singular focus on improving her mind through the pursuit of reading and music, to a more well-rounded young woman.

Initially set on living a solitary life, she meets two very eligible young men who both show an interest in her. The first is Stephen Oliver, who has come to the local area to become the vicar of Kympton. He has a love of books and initially seems to be the perfect match for Mary, who thinks he would be perfect for Kitty. Next, we are introduced to James Stilton, who enjoys music and who seems to be just a little shady.

While being encouraged to accept an expected marriage proposal (that Mary does not desire) by her mother, and simultaneously being told to reject the proposal by her father, Mary is ultimately given her freedom in a very unexpected manner. . . with the help of Mr. Oliver and Darcy!

One thing I particularly liked was that while Mr. Collins turned the Bennett family (or at least some members) against Lydia and the poor choices she made by asking them to consider her as though she were dead, Mr. Oliver tried to open Mary’s eyes to the fact that Lydia’s life had most likely not turned out as she had expected, and that she should be embraced by the family. He also helped her to see a few other people in a different light as well, which I found to be refreshing and in turn, helped Mary to grow as an individual.

Another fun perk of reading this book - we got to catch up with Darcy and Elizabeth as they welcomed a new addition to their family, Jane and Bingley, Georgiana, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, et al. About the only thing that I will add is that in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice we came to know and love Kitty as "Kitty," not as Catherine as she is referred to in this book. I kept reading about Catherine and trying to place her among everyone. After a few chapters, it became easier to remember that Catherine is really Kitty.

The Last Word Brian Hitchcock
A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward is perhaps one of my favorite Pride and Prejudice sequels so far. I have always said that a book that leaves you wanting for more is a good book indeed, and this book is such.

I found myself running home from work everyday to read. I usually do this, as I like to read a great deal, but I found myself thinking about the Bennets and all of the wonderful characters that you find in the land of Jane Austen. From the first page I was drawn in, and I have to tell you that I was surprised.

Most authors shy away from Mary Bennet. Lets face it. Austen did not make her a very likable character. We all know that one person that thinks they are better than everyone, or that perfect person who never does anything wrong. Most think this of Mary, but no Ms. Ward. The author shows the reader why Mary is the way she is. You soon see why Mary reacts to things the way she does, and you find a woman who is very independent in a society that does not want her to be independent.

I was afraid that we would see very little of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, or that we would not get to know what was going on with the Bingley’s . If this is a fear of yours you can relax. The entire Bennet family is a part of the story and through visiting and interacting with her sisters you get to see who Mary is and what drives her. What of our other characters like Col. Fitzwilliam and Gerogianna?

We find a very surprising match for the Col, see Ms. Darcy become her own woman, and might there be love on the horizon for Ms. Bingley? Ms. Ward does bring new characters into the mix, and I have to say that I enjoyed the kleptomania of Ms. Johnstone and never failed to smile as she tried to leave Pemberly with some keep sake.

If you are looking for a book that will keep you entertained and will do justice to your favorite characters, the please do pick up A Match for Mary Bennet.

Genre Reviews Debbie White
This novel is a historical romance set in the world of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It’s a "sequel" focusing on Mary Bennet and, to a lesser extent, her sisters. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable book.

The story was written in much the same tone and style as Pride and Prejudice, and the author stays true to the characters and events of that book. The pacing was a bit slower than most modern novels, but it’s consistent with the pacing of Jane Austen novels. The world-building was excellent with many historical details woven in (especially about child-birth and herbal wound remedies). Even the Christian elements were set in their historical context—life as it was lived back then.

I liked that Mary was represented as an earnest young woman who grows through her experiences and ends up with her perfect match.

My only nit-picks are that the author occasionally had Darcy act a little more casually than I think he would. She also had the Bennet sisters occasionally act with more modern sensibilities than I think they would have (like having both Lizzy and a wet nurse nursing her baby—to which my mother commented, "I don’t think she knows much about breast-feeding a baby."). However, even in these cases, the author gave plausible, good reasons for the characters to act that way.

There was only implied sex and no cussing. Overall, it’s "good, clean fun," and I’d unhesitatingly recommend this novel to any fan of Jane Austen.

Books Like Breathing Grace L.
Mary is one of my favorite characters from Pride and Prejudice. I always felt that she got the worst deal at the end of Pride and Prejudice. What logical person would want to spend the rest of her life with her aging parents? No sane person I know, that’s for sure. I was so happy to see her get a life of her own aside from being the spinster daughter.

Ward’s take on the characters were great. Mary became so much deeper of a character than she was in Pride and Prejudice. She had a sense of humor, emotions and talents. I found it particularly interesting because Ward really had nothing from Jane Austen to work with. Mary was a one dimensional character in Pride and Prejudice and Ward really gave her some depth. Stephen Oliver was also the best match for Mary. He was sweet and bookish. He he had none of the broodiness of Darcy but I don’t think Mary could handle any broodiness. They were so cute. The marriage between Elizabeth and Darcy was so sweet and you can really feel the love between them. Even though the book was about Mary, their marriage was a huge plus in this book.

I really enjoyed A Match For Mary Bennet for the most part. There was only one aspect that truly bothered me. Ward called Kitty “Catherine” throughout most of the book. I know that may be her given name but throughout Pride and Prejudice she is not called Catherine, she is called Kitty. We know her as Kitty, so, why change it? Perhaps it is what Mary thought of Kitty as but that would make more sense if it was first person point of view from Mary’s eyes. I’m not even that much of a purist but for some reason this did irk me a bit and kind of distract me a bit from the novel.

I really did enjoy this one. If you are looking for a good sequel that is not completely Lizzy and Darcy focused, pick this one up.

Grade: B+

Love Romance Passion Isabel G.
The main character, Mary Bennet, is not the most interesting person and the story was slow to develop. With that said, I am not sure this book would have mass appeal. The author does not reveal if she chooses to marry until the last fifty pages. What kept me reading, was how well the author managed to capture that time period. A person can find themselves lost in another era while reading this book. I had a real sense of what it was like for women living in that period. The characters seemed to be very careful as to how they behaved, and what they said to one another; in order to maintain propriety.

Mary Bennet feels the pressures of society, as her mother tries to prepare her to take a husband. She’s an honest woman with good morals and a strong faith in God. She’s searching for an opportunity to live without the need of marrying. This, of course, does not sit well with her mother! As time passes, Mary begins to see the happiness her sister Elizabeth has with her husband, and it changes her negative image of marriage. Although she has no interest in the idea of getting married, she begins to feel she may have no choice. Mary is willing to sacrifice her future to help another sister named Lydia.

It was enjoyable to read how loving her family was with Mary. All, except her mother, were very supportive of her wishes. Mary is also very fortunate to make a good acquaintance who offers her a job and a place where she can live on her own. Despite her wishes not to marry, a suitor approaches her and she’s forced to make a decision; that could alter her life forever. It is also interesting to see how Mary changes throughout the story. It is through Mary’s observations of how others live their daily lives and interact with one another that she begins to grow as a person and becomes less introverted.

If you enjoy historical novels, this is the book for you.

A Curious Statistical Anomaly Gayle Surrette
With Jane, Elizabeth, and Lydia married, Mrs. Bennet has set her sights on marrying off Mary and Kitty. Since Kitty is currently away visiting her sisters, Jane and Elizabeth, Mary is taking the brunt of Mrs. Bennet’s efforts. While Mary is willing to meekly follow Mrs. Bennet’s instructions to smile and dance, she has no intention of marrying as she firmly believes that it is not a state she wishes to enter, having observed her sister’s marriages.

Ward has chosen to focus on Mary, the least understood and most overlooked of the Bennet sisters– in fact, in some movies based loosely on the original Austen story, they leave Mary out altogether. In A Match for Mary Bennet, Mary is very much as she was in Pride and Prejudice. She studies and reads but does not always get from the reading what most people would expect. She sees only the surface and assumes that what you see is all there is to a person. She doesn’t lie herself, and assumes everyone tells the truth. In a society based so much on hiding a person’s true emotions, Mary’s character leaves her ill prepared to deal with the world as it is. Luckily for Mary, she is somewhat protected by her family.

Mary also believes that people with authority are voices of reason; I believe that this is why she has been so taken with Mr. Collins. Her mother tells her Lizzie married Mr. Darcy to make up for refusing Mr. Collins and it was a huge sacrifice on Lizzie’s part. Mr. Collins tells Mary to never speak of Lydia again–to pretend she died. If authority says something, Mary doesn’t question–until she meets the new minister Mr. Darcy has chosen for Kympton, Mr. Oliver.

Without her sisters, Mary finds she’s asked to dance at the assemblies and that she also has to take part in conversations. We find that she’s not shallow. Mary has a good head on her shoulders, she just assumes that people are what they appear to be and when they ask a question — that is the question they are asking. As readers we find that Mary gives good advice. After meeting Mr. Oliver, she begins to pay more attention to the people around her and learns that she has often missed seeing the true person. Mary grows.

Her sisters’, Jane and Elizabeth, and their husbands, are aware that Mary doesn’t wish to marry and they manage to assist her in finding security in case she doesn’t change her mind.

There’s a lot going on in this book besides Mary finding herself and new inner strength to stand up for herself. Many of the original characters from Pride and Prejudice appear and continue their lives in concert with the way they were set in motion in that original book. Life goes on in the world of Pemberly and the people live their lives. Ward has fashioned an interesting story and has given us an interesting take on a Mary Bennet. It may not be to everyone’s taste as religion is a large part of Mary’s life and thus is a large part of her moving forward to become a more independent person. It’s not preachy and it’s totally in character. And as it shaped Mary in Pride and Prejudice it shapes her thoughts and actions in A Match for Mary Bennet. And as readers, we come to know her better for spending some time with her.

Bloody Bad Books Katrina Hall
Mary Bennet is the studious younger sister of the beloved Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. In this wonderful Austen sequel we learn more about Mary and how she views the world. Mary fancies herself a lady of high morals and good graces. She spend all of her time engrossed in books or shining on the pianoforte. This preoccupation of her time has lead Mary to be blind to the subtlety of humanity. She doesn’t see how in love her sister Elizabeth is and instead feels she has made a great sacrifice in marrying Darcy. Two men in this book vie for Mary’s affections and her life is lead in a direction she never thought it would lead.

This book was very well written with all the elegance and grace that would make Jane Austen proud. The minor players in Austen’s original work are elaborated upon in such a way that you fall in love with them as much as you did with Darcy and Elizabeth. Mary and Georgina both become like your own sisters, thanks to Wards skills. At the same time, she gives us a magical backstory with the Dacry’s and the Bingley’s living their lives after marriage and guiding their sisters along the right (or wrong) paths. I read this book quickly and happily thanks to the excellent work put into it. There is nothing I would change about this novel.

Who would like this book? I would say that any Austen lover or fan of a romantic story would like this book.

A Bibiliophile’s Bookshelf Bella Lee McGuire
There is a certain beauty and depth in Pride and Prejudice that makes it compelling reading. In the many sequels that follow the one thing I have found is that all these authors are able to continue on this beautiful tale, with the same feeling that you are reading something truly special. That is how A Match for Mary Bennet made me feel. It is a beautifully written tale that picks up the story of Pride and Prejudice and keeps alive the much-loved characters of the original.

Looking back to the pages of Pride and Prejudice, I’ve always admired Mary Bennet. She is a very strong character, who is never afraid to speak her mind, has a love of literature and is determined that she’s not going to marry for the sake of marriage alone. For the strong, independent woman in all of us what isn’t there to like?

Many authors, that have continued on the Pride and Prejudice saga, have given her a future, but this is the first time I’ve read a book dedicated to the wonderful Mary Bennet. It was wonderful to focus on Mary as she goes through the emotions of meeting two potential husbands, and trying to figure out if it is all part of God’s plan.

I really enjoyed this story. It was lovely to see Mary open up and find herself. By the end of A Match for Mary Bennet I definitely felt like I had taken the journey with Mary, and was better for it. Filled with emotion it is the perfect read for Jane Austen fans looking for a little bit more of the Pride and Prejudice story.

AustenBlog.com
Mary Bennet is quite satisfied. Now that Lizzy and Jane have married wealthy men, Mary can ignore her mother’s schemes to find Mary a husband. She can withdraw into her music and books. She no longer has to worry about her fate when Longbourn is invaded by the Collins’ family. She need never marry. Well, at least that is what Mary hopes…

Two very different men become part of Mary’s life.

Stephen Oliver, gentle and intuitive, glories in his vocation as a minister. He asks Mary to help him, but she is not sure that she even likes him. Kitty likes him, but would she make a proper clergyman’s wife?

Dashing and wealthy, James Stilton begs Mary to be his wife. What is his motive? Is it love or something else?

Advertised as an “inspirational Pride and Prejudice sequel,” A Match for Mary Bennet centers on the third Bennet sister. Eucharista Ward lovingly develops Mary’s character from the reflective pedant encountered in P&P to a wiser, independent woman. Lizzy, Jane and their husbands are now minor characters, but we follow their growing families and tragedies as these events touch Mary’s life. Ward introduces a neighborhood kleptomaniac and fortune hunters who add humor and tension to the plot.

A Match for Mary Bennet is written in a narrative style similar to P&P, although the author sometimes uses a stream of consciousness technique. To my delight, the author alludes to P&P incidents and dialogue at very apt times. She mentions titles of music and books popular during the Regency period. My only criticisms are that the book is a slow read at times, and Lizzy is not the same. Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, Lydia and many others, however, remain true to character and amuse and irritate us in turn. Overall, I enjoyed this novel very much.

What makes this sequel “inspirational”? Marriage and integrity are honored. Sex is alluded to as a pleasurable, even fun, benefit of marriage. Church attendance is expected. These are values consistent with Jane Austen’s novels. Perhaps, the most inspirational part is the author herself. A Sylvania Franciscan nun, Eucharista Ward retired from teaching high school English and now works as a nurse’s aide for an assisted living program. She wrote this book while working night shift, caring for other retired sisters. Now, that is truly inspiring!

Additional note: Don’t miss the mention of Uncle Phillip’s law clerk at the end of the book- not quite what James Edward Austen-Leigh’s book prophesied!

Savvy Verse & Wit Serena Agusto-Cox
Eucharista Ward O.S.F.’s A Match for Mary Bennet: Can a serious young lady ever find her way to love? is delightful and reminiscent of the regency craftswoman Jane Austen herself. The novel’s pace is dead on, unfurling Mary Bennet’s character slowly, allowing readers to sit with her, getting to know her mind, her choices and motivations, and her true heart’s desire.

"’I fell asleep in Inferno, and the candle went out. I awoke in Purgatorio. But all the light is on now. I have found Paradiso.’" (Page 323 of ARC)

With her older sisters, Jane and Elizabeth married to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, and her youngest sister, Lydia, married off to Mr. Wickham, Mary and Catherine Bennet are left at home with their meddling mother, eager to marry them off. Mary continues her ways of sitting alone with her books and her music, content to expand her mind rather than chase after men in society.

"’You sat so creep mouse in a corner with, of all things, a book! What a way to comport yourself at a dance! Why, you might as well scream to all the world that no man is good enough for you. . . .’" (Page vi of ARC)

Despite her shyness and unconscious judgment of others, Mary comes to learn there is more to life than just books and music, though they certainly enhance her journey and even direct her ultimate place in society. Readers will revisit with Mr. & Mrs. Darcy and Mr. & Mrs. Bingley following their marriages and how Mary perceives their married lives. Lydia, Mr. Wickham, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her daugher, and Kitty Bennet return as well. But there are new characters to love and dislike from the new pastor Mr. Oliver to the odd Mr. Grantley and the musical Mr. Stilton.

Ward lives in Austen’s world, manipulates language easily to emulate regency England, and expands the characterizations sketched out in Pride and Prejudice: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) without losing Austen’s vision. However, Ward’s Mary Bennet is more than the thinly sketched, judgmental, religious, bookworm on the sidelines. She is observant, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to her family and her faith. Overall, readers will find A Match for Mary Bennet fills out the other Bennet sisters deftly and makes a perfect addition to any Austen lovers’ collection.

The Literate Housewife Jennifer Conner
Elizabeth Bennet Darcy’s younger sister, Mary, is quite a serious girl. She has seen a younger sister run off with a many who is not her husband and has sworn not to even mention her name again and she has seen two sisters marry respectably, but did they really love their husbands or did they marry simply to provide for their younger sisters down the road? While all the world(read Mrs. Bennet) seems to be pushing her toward the altar, she’d like nothing better than to read, play the pianoforte, and spend time with her family. She will not lower herself to do the frivolous things that her sister Kitty does to catch a man’s attention and she is much too modest to wear the latest fashion. She is convinced that marriage – say nothing of childbirth – is not for her and she sets about making herself a welcome guest in her sisters’ homes in order to thank them for the sacrifices they made for her. Will she ever see that her black and white and sometimes wrong view of life may not be serving her well?

It has been such a long time since I’ve read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, but I know that it has quite a following. There are Darcy sequels galore and, until recently, I’ve not been very interested. When Danielle from Sourcebooks sent information about A Match for Mary Bennet, I could not pass it up. What fascinated me about it was that it was an inspirational sequel written by Eucharista Ward, O.S.F., a Roman Catholic nun. The Regency era is not a Roman Catholic one and I had to find out more. I’m glad that I took the chance. Her writing was crisp and clean and paced in such a way as to remind me of Austen’s novels. It is full of humor, too. The first lines of the prologue made me laugh and reminded me immediately of Mrs. Bennet’s character:

One might say that using the divine gift of human memory for the recitation of three-month-old annoyances represents talent misspent. Mary Bennet thought, as she sat with her hand poised over the silver tea urn, that not even all four evangelists together had documented Jesus’s public life as thoroughly as her mother insisted on recounting Mary’s social life.

As soon as I finished those lines I was pretty certain that this was going to be a novel I would enjoy.

In 2007, I reviewed a memoir called Without a Map. In it, Meredith Hall remembers her life as a pregnant teenager who ultimately places her first born son for adoption. As a mother of two daughters and an adoptive mother, reading that memoir infuriated me. The 1960s weren’t that long ago, but I could not get over how cold and cruel Hall’s parents and physicians were. A reader left a comment asking me if Without a Map changed my opinion about Pride and Prejudice and how Georgiana and Lydia were portrayed. I remembered that comment when I first picked this book up. That aspect was actually the most inspirational aspects of this novel. Upon the advice of Mr. Collins, Mary has refused to even speak her sister Lydia’s name because of the disgrace she caused herself. She believed that doing so would cause her to realize the error of her ways and repent. Not long after she meets Mr. Oliver, the new vicar at Kympton, brought up her quite obvious attitude toward Lydia. As gently as was his nature, he prompted her to think further about her stance and question its validity.

A Match for Mary Bennet explores the young adulthood of a woman who didn’t find marriage desirable in a world where marrying off one’s daughters was the highest priority. It is a charming novel that also updates the reader on the entire extended Bennet clan. There was nothing rushed about this novel, but it wasn’t drawn out either. If you’ve read Pride and Prejudice, you’ll be comfortable with the characters and it was interesting to see how forgiveness and misconceptions come into play. Eucharista Ward has written a novel that is as entertaining as it is inspirational. I wish I could have relaxed and read it at a much lazier pace. It would make a great book to read in the backyard underneath a shady tree.

Diary of an Eccentric Anna Horner
Jane Austen sequels, particularly sequels to Pride and Prejudice, have become a guilty pleasure of mine. Whether they involve vampires or zombies or bedroom scenes that may have made Austen blush, my only requirements are that they are fun, engaging, and well written. It helps if the author actually has read Austen and understands the characters and their motivation, but I might be forgiving if they tell a good story.

I didn’t have extremely high expectations for A Match for Mary Bennet, given that Mary isn’t the most exciting or engaging character in Pride and Prejudice, but I thought it would be entertaining to find out how the least marriageable Bennet sister handles the marriage-obsessed Mrs. Bennet (one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever encountered) after Jane, Elizabeth, and Lydia all are married off. But the book completely blew me away. Eucharista Ward completely "gets" Jane Austen. The language, the characters, and the mannerisms of the Regency era (as I understand them, anyway) are spot on, and A Match for Mary Bennet quickly became my favorite of the Austen sequels I’ve read thus far.

In A Match for Mary Bennet, Jane and Bingley are happy with a two-year-old daughter in Nottingham, Elizabeth and Darcy are living happily at Pemberley and expecting their first child, and Lydia is who knows where with the scoundrel Wickham. While Mrs. Bennet plans to parade her last two unmarried daughters, Mary and Kitty (known as Catherine through much of the book), to whatever ball or event might attract marriageable men, Mary would much rather be reading, playing the pianoforte, and going to church. She has no plans at all to marry, and she admires Elizabeth for "sacrificing" her happiness by marrying the arrogant Mr. Darcy so that she will never be penniless or homeless if she remains unmarried. As she travels between Longbourne, Pemberley, and Otherfield (the nickname for the new Bingley estate), Mary has time to observe her sisters’ marriages, and she discovers she may have things all wrong. And while Mary juggles the attention of three (count them — three!) men, she aims to set herself up so that marriage never has to be an option.

Ward gives Pride and Prejudice fans plenty of scenes with Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, Mr. Bennet, Georgiana Darcy, Mrs. Reynolds, and Mrs. Gardiner, and even Lady Catherine, Anne, Mr. Collins, Caroline Bingley, and of course, Mrs. Bennet appear. She introduces plenty of interesting new characters as well, namely Miss Johnstone, a kleptomaniac with a crush on Darcy; James Stilton, a fashionable man with some musical talent and a gambling problem; and Steven Oliver, the charming pastor at Kympton who gets Mary to see that maybe her opinions of Lydia have been too harsh.

I loved that A Match for Mary Bennet was so well written and authentic that I never questioned a character’s actions when comparing them to Pride and Prejudice, and I actually forgot several times that I wasn’t reading a book written by Austen herself. It was a tad predictable, but that didn’t ruin it for me at all. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’ve never thought about reading an Austen sequel.

Becky’s Book Reviews Becky Laney
How do you feel about Mary Bennet? Do you think she’s doomed to be an old maid? A stuffy old maid at that? Or do you think there’s hope for such a bookish soul?

I really enjoyed Eucharista Ward’s novel. She does a great job at fleshing out Mary’s character. Of showing that there is much more going on than we’ve been led to believe. She does a good job with all the familiar characters really. Lydia. Kitty. Elizabeth. Jane. Georgiana. Mrs. Bennet. She also introduces readers to new characters, men like Mr. Stilton, Mr. Grantley, and Mr. Oliver. Which of these men (if any) will Mary choose to settle down with? Will it be a love match?

It’s been several years since Jane won her Charles, and Elizabeth her Darcy. Is it Mary’s turn for love?

What did I enjoy about this one? Mary. Yes, books matter to her. And music. And God. She takes her faith seriously. But she is a human character. She’s not as stiff and unfeeling, as cold and closed-off as you might think. And I love seeing her side of things.

AustenProse Laurel Ann Natress
Jane Austen’s minor character Mary Bennet is not exactly heroine material. With only eight passages of dialogue in Pride and Prejudice, she has however made a lasting impression on readers over the centuries as a pious young woman who often insensitively offers advice of “threadbare morality” to her family at the most inopportune moments. Author Eucharista Ward has taken a bold step in devoting an entire novel to this pedantic and socially clueless young lady. She is not the first to tread this path. Last year Janeites were dishonored with Colleen McCullough’s irreverent treatment The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet. In both instances, Mary Bennet has been given a make-over. However, two novels could not be farther from honorable intent. While McCullough mocked the Austen sequel industry, Ward embraces it with integrity and reverence. Happily, A Match for Mary Bennet has brought Austen’s character back into the fold and rescued her from the fiery depths of sequel Hell.

Previously self published in 2007 as Illusions and Ignorance: Mary Bennet’s Story, this new edition by major Jane Austen sequel publisher Sourcebooks fortunately bring this wonderful story to a wider audience. Publisher’s description:

Written by a Franciscan nun, this is a sympathetic tale of the middle Bennet sister from Pride and Prejudice. Pious Mary Bennet tries to do her duty in the world as she thinks God envisions it. Initially believing (mistakenly) that her sister Elizabeth married well only in order to provide for her sisters, Mary is happy to be relieved of the obligation to marry at all so that she can continue her faithful works. But she begins to have second thoughts after further studying marriage through her sisters’ experiences as well as spending time with two young men. One is a splendid young buck whose determined courtship must have ulterior motives; the other is a kindly, serious young clergyman whose friendship Mary values more and more. One day she realizes that God very much made man and woman to be together…but which is the man for her?

Prim, judgmental and pedantic, Mary’s evolution throughout the course of the book is surprising as she soon discovers that there is more to life than her Godly studies, music and books. The author has an excellent understanding of Austen’s style emulating it reverently, placing the story within a historically context of the era with aplomb. Many of Austen’s characters from Pride and Prejudice reappear: her sisters Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty (Catherine) and Lydia, her parent’s the Bennet’s, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Georgiana and Lady Catherine. We also meet two new men that change Mary’s perspective on what she thinks God intends for her life: the dashing rakish James Stilton who courts Mary with determination and charm, and the stoic young clergyman Charles Oliver who wins her friendship and respect by understanding and enlightenment. If she chooses her head over her heart is never much in question. After all, a woman’s “reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful — and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex.” Even if the outcome is predictable, the ride is quite enjoyable.

Respectful, aimable and engaging, where others have failed in expanding her character, Ward has given Mary Bennet depth and interest, allowing readers to see her faults, understand their origins, and rejoice in her evolution towards enlightenment and happiness. My only quibbles are that in Ward’s new world, poor Colonel Fitzwilliam is destined for a life of misery after succumbing to Caroline Bingley’s fortune and marrying her, and that the pacing at times was slow and too introspective. The first is indicative of the era, and the second is actually who Mary Bennet was at the beginning. If the author had allowed Mary to be more succinct toward the end, it would have showed a nice character development. After all, “every impulse of feeling should be guide by reason”!

4 out of 5 Regency Stars

Book Tumbling Christine Zegelis
I have just recently re-discovered Jane Austen and have added her to my list of authors/titles that I carry with me when visiting the used bookstore. It has been many a year since I have read Pride and Prejudice but I do remember I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with the book. When I had the chance to read A Match for Mary Bennet: Can a Serious Young Lady Ever Find Her Way to Love? by Eucharista Ward, O.S.F., I was excited and intrigued.

Mary is satisfied in watching her other sisters marry while she is left to pursue her love of books and music. Reserved and judgemental, Mary deems knowledge and piety as necessities, not a man. These ideas change as Mary observes her sisters marriages and suddenly finds herself in the company of two young men. One is wealthy and insistent of his love for Mary and his desire to marry but are his motives true? The other is a dedicated, kind clergyman who may only ever be a friend. Mary realizes God may actually include the union of herself and a man in holy matrimony for her master life plan. The turmoil then arises of which man to choose?

Author Eucharista Ward, O.S.F., is a Franciscan nun who has stayed true to the style and tone of Austen. She lovingly unfolds Mary’s tale for the reader, slowly developing and expanding the character. And for those Pride and Prejudice lovers, the Darcys, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh as well as other familiar names return and provides a sense of familiarity and “hominess”. The introduction of new characters is exciting and adds flavor to the story which allows this book and author to stand on their own. Both Austen lovers and those new to Austen’s works will thoroughly enjoy!!

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Trade Paper Specfications

• Length: 7.75 in
• Width: 5.75 in
• Height: 0.00 in
• Weight: 15.00 oz
• Page Count: 368 pages