The Bad Miss Bennet

A Novel

By: Jean Burnett

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Lydia was never the most upstanding of the Bennet sisters, but who ever said that moral rectitude was fun? At least she bested her elder sisters and was the first to get married. She never could understand what all the fuss was about after she left Brighton with her gallant. It is a shame, though, that Mr. Wickham turned out to be a disappointing husband in so many aspects, the most notable being his early demise on the battlefields of Waterloo. And so Lydia, still not yet 20 and full of enterprising spirit, is in urgent need of a wealthy replacement.

A lesser woman, without Lydia’s natural ability to flirt uproariously on the dance floor and cheat seamlessly at the card table, would swoon in the wake of a dashing highwayman, a corrupt banker, and even an amorous Prince Regent. But on the hunt for a marriage that will make her rich, there’s nothing that Lydia won’t turn her hand to. In the meantime, she has no qualms about imposing on her sister Elizabeth’s hospitality at Pemberley. After all, what is the point of having all that fine fortune if not to aid a poor, newly widowed younger sister?

While Lydia rattles around the continent from Paris to Venice and to the home of the disgraced Princess of Wales in Italy and back again to Darbyshire, you, dear listener, will be greatly diverted by the new adventures of Jane Austen’s consummate and incorrigible anti-heroine, who never ceases to delight.

©2012 Jean Burnett. All rights reserved. (P)2012 AudioGO

What an adventure.

A lovely diary and journey of a young widow trying to navigate her way in life. It was a fun audiobook.

Great fun

Jane Austin is responsible for a lot of popular literature. I've read several versions of "what happened" after the wedding bells ring in Pride and Prejudice. And, I've read at least three takes on the fate of Lydia. This is, in my humble opinion, the best.

It is a joy watching Lydia maneuvering through country life, London life, and life abroad to her advantage. She brushes through adventures with history, repeats her mistakes with aplomb, finds love (or, at least, lust) with the typical wrong man. Her enthusiasm for life remains undiminished and her friends agree.

At least I got through it.

So much potential but it went off the rails with the insane kidnapper brainwashing and using children then murdering them at puberty.

Enjoyed Lydia's Misadventures

I really loved the idea of this book. I still really love the idea of this book. Lydia is such a fun character to explore. Jean Burnett did a really lovely job here. My biggest gripe is that I failed to care about most of the characters in the book. The book covers a wide timespan, which in hindsight I think would make for a great series. I wish I could give it a higher rating but I just didn't get into it as much as I was hoping.

Davina Porter was brilliant as always.

Loved this book.

Loved the this side of Lydia. So funny. Wish there were more adventures of Widow Lydia Wickham.