Regency romp revisited
Comedian Rachel Parris, best known for her TV appearances on The Mash Report and Late Night Mash, brings some racy romance to the Festival with a witty sequel to Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice.
Her new book Introducing Mrs Collins takes up the story of Charlotte Lucas who married pompous clergyman Mr Collins, upsetting her friendship with ‘hopeless romantic’ Elizabeth Bennet.
Elizabeth had already turned him down for being too dull, and is appalled that Charlotte would choose to marry for a comfortable home and not for love.
But Charlotte lives her quiet, dutiful life at Rosings Park until one day an unexpected visitor arrives. A spark is lit, passion stirs, and she is torn between what she must do and what she truly desires.
As a huge Jane Austen fan, and the founding member of improv comedy group Austentatious, Rachel captures both Austen’s sharp wit and the characters’ speech in this story of love, loss and second chances. But what will Charlotte do next?
Go along to the event and snap up an early copy of Introducing Mrs Collins. Its official publicationin November istimed to coincide with Jane Austen’s 250th birthday.
Rachel Parris is at the Festival on Saturday 25 October at 7.15pm.