Book Nine: The Pursuit of Mary Bennet

Poor Mary Bennet.  Overshadowed by her elder sisters, abused by her young sisters, Mary stands alone in the middle of the ladies Bennet.  In Pamela Mingle's The Pursuit of Mary Bennet, the author considers how Mary's treatment as a hands of her family affects her as an young woman.  The most studious of Bennet sisters, thought of as silly by her father and plain by her mother, Mary has an uphill battle to happiness before her.

Kudos to the author for not pandering to her audience.  Instead, she develops Mary's countenance and arrival to womanhood beautifully.  She explores the events that shaped Mary into the social awkward girl we all know and then bridges the gap in creating the woman Mary is here.  Mary is expected to play nursemaid to her younger sister Lydia's unexpected presence at the Bennet home.  When Jane steps in to invite her and Kitty to High Thor in Derbyshire, Mary is grateful until Henry Walsh shows up.  Bingley's handsome friend is always underfoot.  She is confused by his attentions to her and her sister. As Mary examines the desires of her heart, she is both surprised and concerned.

As I see it, The Pursuit of Mary Bennet is a lovely bit of fan fiction.  It is both respectful of the source material and brash in the hope for Mary.