What is the book about?
Louisa Bingley had never defied her mother in her life, until she found something she wished to fight for. In love with a man with close ties to trade, Louisa refuses to give him up when her mother demands it.
But Mrs. Bingley is not to be reckoned with and through despicable means manages to force her daughter into a much more appropriate marriage to a gentleman named Mr. Hurst.
Married to a man she does not love and finding herself in increasingly desperate circumstances, the newly wed Louisa Hurst must learn to navigate her husband's expectations and demands while still trying to hold on to the threads of herself. Through all of this she must also survive the malice of her younger sister Caroline when the responsibility for her sister is thrust most unwillingly upon her.
Convinced contentment in life is all that she can expect, Louisa finds herself quite unexpectedly released from her unwanted marriage and free to pursue her own happiness. But does she dare take the chance at allowing herself to feel again?
Along with Jane and Lizzy and all our favorites, Louisa Hurst gets her own happy ending in this Pride and Prejudice Vagary
TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH AUTHOR M.J. STRATTON
Hello M.J. and welcome to My Jane Austen Book Club! Here’s my first question for you, “When was your first encounter with Jane Austen”?
I was about 16 and staying with my grandparents while my parents were out of town. My aunt had the miniseries on VHS. One watch and I was hooked. I’m pretty sure I watched those tapes multiple times over the course of my stay. Funny enough, this book is dedicated to that aunt.
Congratulations on the release of your Pride and Prejudice Vagary, A Far Better Prospect . How did you come to turn Louise Bingley, Mrs Hurst, one of the minor characters in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice into your heroine?
Well, this story wasn’t supposed to be about Louisa. The initial idea came from my book From Another Perspective. I had a reader tell me they wished that Jane had ended up with Mr. Tillman in that book, so I set out to write such a story. But after the first three chapters of A Far Better Prospect just poured out, it became clear that Louisa had a story to tell and the she deserved her happy ending.
Regency dress
How different is Louise from her not-so-lovable sister, Caroline Bingley?
VERY different. Caroline is self-absorbed, snooty, selfish, jealous, and all the adjectives we usually ascribe to that character. In this story, she’s a full blown narcissist, and is truly despicable. Louisa is quiet and complying, though she does have a spark of independence in her that is just waiting to be ignited.
Is there any particular reason why you chose to focus on Jane Austen’s work for your writing?
I love Jane’s work! I love that the characters are realistic and that the stories are still relevant today. I guess you could say that I didn’t choose the Austen life. The Austen life chose me.
Jane Austen started showing her writing talent very soon in her life. Were you also a young girl who loved writing ?
I was! I still have a portfolio of all my writing from when I was a child. I have very clear memories from as early as second grade of writing for my own pleasure. I initially wrote poetry, sharing it with a beloved teacher as a young teen. That teacher’s encouragement helped feed my confidence (and still does).
Was there a scene you particularly liked writing in A Far Better Prospect?
Oh, all the heart wrenching ones, for sure. But one of my favorites is Mr. Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth. He isn’t a jerk, and it’s just such a great scene.
I also really enjoyed scenes where Mr. Bingley stood up to Caroline. He’s quite the character.
Regency fashion
Do you have a best favorite Austen novel? And who are your favourite heroine and hero?
Oh, that’s a toughie. I love Pride and Prejudice, but Sense and Sensibility is a close second.
I would have to say that Elinor and Colonel Brandon are two favorites in the hero and heroine category, probably because they have such similar personalities to me.
If you could travel back to the Regency Era, what would you miss the most and what would you like to see/do?
I would definitely miss basically any modern amenity. Having music with me everywhere would be a huge loss. And AC. I’d hate to be without that.
I think I would love to visit Bond Street and Gunter’s. Oh, and Hatchard’s. I need my books.
What was your research process for A Far Better Prospect? Did you have to research on anything in particular?
I usually research as I write. If I am writing a scene and have a question, I pull up my search, or my saved resources, and see if I can find the answer. With this book, I looked into the Language of the Flowers and Mourning customs of the time. Also tried to find travel times for places like Liverpool and Bath.
Unknown painter 17th century still life
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Thank you for taking the time to not only follow the blog tour but to read my books. Your support is paramount!
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, M.J.!ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MJ Stratton is a long-time lover of Jane Austen and her works, having been introduced to Pride and Prejudice by a much beloved aunt at the age of 16. The subsequent discovery of Austenesque fiction sealed her fate. After beta reading and editing for others for nearly a decade, MJ started publishing her own work in 2022. MJ balances being a wife and mother with writing, gardening, sewing, and many other favorite pastimes. She lives with her husband and four children in the small, rural town where she grew up. You can follow MJ at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMJStrattonFollow her on Amazon or Goodreads. Reach out wherever you like, or feel free to contact MJ at
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