Bibliographic Information:
Title: Pride and Premeditation
Author: Tirzah Price
ISBN: 9780062889812
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright Date: 2021
Genre: Anachronistic/ Ahistorical fiction, mystery
Format: Print book
Reading Level/Interest Level: 12+
Plot Summary: 16-year-old Lizzie Bennet butts heads with young Fitzwilliam Darcy as she tries to prove a case of wrongful imprisonment after a shocking murder. The young lawyer is a snob, making Lizzie even more determined to prove herself. But will Lizzie’s slowly emerging feelings for Mr. Darcy throw her off the scent? And will she find out who really did it before they come after her? This anachronistic re-visioning of the original Pride and Prejudice characters updates them but remains true to the original spirit.
Author Background: Tirzah Price has been a librarian, a bookseller, and has never lost her love of YA literature. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She currently lives in Iowa and is a senior contributing writer to Book Riot and loves to cook and knit “enough socks to last through winter” (Price, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation for Books and Non-Print Items: I confess I initially struggled with the anachronistic aspect of this work of historical fiction. I know way too much about Regency England, so the liberties taken were quite glaring at first. However, once I got into the swing of things, I enjoyed this delightful mystery. While it plays a bit fast and loose with historical accuracy, fans of the original will recognize a wicked appropriateness to everyone’s fates, and it’s a breath of fresh air to imagine Jane’s characters, constricted by Regency England’s mores, given a 21st century lens.
Creative Use for a Library Program: Which classic would you re-write? Have teens “update” their favorite classic book with a short book trailer.
Speed-Round Book Talk: You’ve never seen Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy like this before! Snugly in the middle of the Venn Diagram for murder mystery and Jane Austen, this delicious book will delight fans of both.
Reason for Inclusion: This feels like a gateway drug for Jane Austen. If readers enjoy this, they might try the original! And if they’re already fans, this is pure candy.
Want More? Follow Tirzah Price on Twitter!
References
Newquist, M. (2021). Pride and Premeditation [review]. School Library Journal (67, 1), pp. 77+.
Patterson. (2021). Pride and Premeditation [review]. Booklist, 117(13), 52–52. American Library Association.
Price, T. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from https://tirzahprice.com/about/
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