Austenmania!

It is thoroughly stunning that a Jane Austen cottage industry flourishes 200 years after her death. Modern authors have thrust her characters into the 21^st century, thrown people from the present into her novels, added supernatural elements to her oeuvre and written continuations of and prequels to her works. Following are a few titles that Jane Austen fans might want to check out.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Riguad

Fitzwilliam Darcy is the founder and lead guitarist of the rock band Slurry. His bandmates think that Long Bourne Suffering, a trio made up of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet and Charlotte Lucas, would be the perfect opening act for their upcoming tour. Darcy, on the other hand, worries that touring with desirable women will create unwanted problems.

Also for your consideration:

Vanity and Vexation: a novel of Pride and Prejudice by Kate Fenton

The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine

The Dashwood Sisters Tell All: a Modern-Day Novel of Jane Austen by Beth Patillo

TIME TRAVEL

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

L.A. denizen Courtney Stone finds herself in Jane Austen’s England, living the life of a 19^th century gentlewoman named Jane. In the sequel, Jane finds herself hurled into Courtney’s body in the 21^st century.

Also for your consideration:

Prada and Prejudice by Amanda Hubbard

ALTERNATE POINTS OF VIEW

The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Mary Street

Fans of Pride and Prejudice will enjoy this retelling from Fitzwilliam Darcy’s point of view. As Austen did not reveal much of Darcy’s thoughts in the original, P&P enthusiasts will delight in the new insights into his character.

Also for your consideration:

Captain Wentworth’s Diary (Persuasion) and

Colonel Brandon’s Diary (Sense and Sensibility) and

Mr. Knightley’s Diary (Emma) by Amanda Grange

Dearest Cousin Jane: a Jane Austen novel by Jill Pitkeathley

Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd

An Assembly Such as this: a novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman by Pamela Aidan

MYSTERIES

Murder on the Bride’s Side and

Murder at Longbourn by Tracy Kiely

Drawing from the classic Sense and Sensibility, Tracy Kiely recounts the adventures of Elizabeth Parker, the likable Austen-quoting sleuth, in this witty and charming series.

Also for your consideration:

Jane and the Canterbury Tale and many others by Stephanie Barron

The Intrigue at Highbury: or, Emma’s Match and many others by Carrie Bebris

PARANORMAL

Jane Bites Back and

Jane Vows Vengeance by Michael Thomas Ford

Elizabeth Jane Fairfax (aka Jane Austen) owns a bookstore. Oh, she’s also a vampire. Tired of best-selling Pride and Prejudice knockoffs, as well as the 116 rejections of her last manuscript, Jane attempts to find an in-road into the modern publishing world.

Also for your consideration:

Jane and the Damned by Janet Mullany

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance – Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem! by Seth Grahame-Smith

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls: A Prequel by Steve Hockensmith

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange

CONTINUATIONS

These stories pick up where Austen left off, adding more details to the lives of her beloved characters.

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues and

Darcy and Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberley: Pride and Prejudice continues by Linda Berdoll

Mr. Darcy’s Daughters and many others by Elizabeth Aston

Jane Austen might be dead, but if she were a vampire and owned copyright to her works and characters, she would be rolling in royalty checks.