Charlotte

For lovers of Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton, an intoxicating novel thattells the story of Charlotte Lucas, who marries the unfortunate Mr Collinsafter Lizzy Bennet spurns him.

Everybody believes that Charlotte Lucas has no prospects. She is unmarried, plain, poor and reaching a dangerous age. When she stuns the neighbourhood by accepting the proposal of buffoonish clergyman Mr Collins, her best friend Lizzy Bennet is appalled by her decision. Yet this is the only way Charlotte knows how to provide for her future. Her married life will propel her into a new world: not only of duty and longed-for children, but secrets, grief, unexpected love and friendship, and a kind of freedom.

Jane Austen cared deeply about the constraints on women in Regency England. This powerful reimagining takes up where Austen left off in Pride and Prejudice, showing us a woman determined to carve a place for herself in the world. Charlotte offers a fresh, feminist addition to the post-Austen canon, beautifully imagined, and brimming with passion and intelligence.

Helen Moffett is a South African writer, freelance editor, activist and award-winningpoet. She has a PhD on PreRaphaelite poetry and has authored or co-authoreduniversity textbooks, short story anthologies, non-fiction books on the environment,two poetry collections and various academic projects. Charlotte is her first novel.She blogs at helenmoffett.com and can be found on Twitter @heckitty.