Both of your surmises are true. The trilogy was always meant to be more than merely a converse look at Pride and Prejudice. Its beginning was the intriguing question: how did Fitzwilliam Darcy change so dramatically between the opening pages of the book and his reacquaintance with Elizabeth at Pemberley, a change not only in his inner man, but one that carries him to great personal acts of charity involving a man he has every reason to hate? To discover this, there had to be a significant “filling in” because it was an entire blank! That is why Elizabeth is not in every scene, why the events of Duty and Desire, why the new characters and scenes. How else can we get to know Darcy and see him change than by observing him in his world and plunging him into challenging situations? Then, also, the story quite often took on a life of its own. There were times I felt more like a secretary taking down dictation from all my characters than their creator!
This gives a “behind-the-scenes” look at some of the most exciting plot points in the conclusive chapters of Pride and Prejudice. How did you choose which events to highlight?
I chose the ones that seemed to me to be the most difficult for Darcy to deal with: challenging his long-held assumptions, demanding he make a choice, or sorely testing his new growth, understanding, and character. Some of them were great fun to write, almost writing themselves, and others were very difficult. And, frankly, some just offered delicious moments of high drama!
Will you explain the significance of the title, These Three Remain ?
These Three Remain is a portion of the New International Version’s translation of I Corinthians 13, the famous chapter on love written by the apostle Paul that is often heard at weddings. There he lists admirable character qualities and actions, but states that without these things arising from love, they mean nothing and will not, in the end, last beyond the grave. But (in verse 13) “These three remain: faith, hope, and love (charity, in the King James Version), and the greatest of these is love.” Throughout the trilogy, these three concepts — along with the related one of mercy — have challenged duty and desire as the keys to character and living a worthy life.
The primary male characters in this novel — Richard, Darcy, Brougham, and Bingley — are all more sentimental and romantic than readers may be used to when it comes to reading about men and love. How would you compare them to the heroes of today’s romance novels?
That is a question I’d like to hear answered by my readers! I don’t read much Romance nor do I write by formula. So, please, let me know!
There are new Jane Austen spin-off novels and movies being made every year. Do you have any favorites you’d like to share with your readers?
I don’t read other Austen spin-offs that have to do with Pride and Prejudice because I don’t want to be influenced by them. A friend of mine is publishing her take on Persuasion: Fredrick Wentworth, Captain in late 2006 that is great fun to read. My favorite movies besides the 1995 Pride and Prejudice are the version of Emma with Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong and Persuasion with Amanda Root and Ciarin Hinds, as well as the wonderful rendition of Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson, etc.
Is it safe to assume Mr. Darcy is your favorite Austen character? Do you have other favorite romantic literary heroes?
Yes, you are perfectly safe in that assumption! Sir Percy Blakney, the Scarlet Pimpernel, mentioned previously would be another.
Now that the trilogy is complete, what’s next?
I want to write a follow-up book on the Darcys and tie up some deliberately left loose ends. Principally, I want to write Dy Brougham’s story and intersect it with Darcy and Elizabeth and their young family and an “of age” Georgiana Darcy during the years shortly after the war with Napoleon ends.
eBook Info
Title:
These Three Remain
Creator:
Date:
2005
Type:
novel
Format:
text/html
Identifier:
ISBN 1-4165-3984-0
Source:
PDF
Language:
en
Relation:
None
Coverage:
None
Copyright © 2005 by Wytherngate Press
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Her Infinite Variety
Chapter 2
Too Dear for My Possessing
Chapter 3
As a Dream Doth Flatter
Chapter 4
A Hell of Time
Chapter 5
Though Thou Art Forsworn
Chapter 6
Under Transgression Bowed
Chapter 7
An Unperfect Actor
What Silent Love Hath Writ
Chapter 9
The Marriage of True Minds
Chapter 10
Full Circle
Chapter 11
The Course of True Love
Chapter 12
Love’s Fine Wit
Acknowledgments
Touchstone Reading Group Guide