Mary Bennet finally gets her own story and happiness in The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow (Henry Holt, 2020). Mary the easily ignored middle daughter of the family at the center of Pride and Prejudice, and I’m sure many readers of the classic novel skim over her role. She’s annoying and reflects badly on all the other Bennets. But now we know better. In The Other Bennet Sister, we all see the verbal abuse Mary has suffered from her mother, and we ultimately rejoice as she overcomes that, becoming a confident woman that believe herself worthy of the happiness she finds.
The book is separated into three parts. The first section tells the story of Pride and Prejudice from Mary’s perspective. In this iteration of the story, Mary is wise, but quiet. She quickly sees that she would be the best match for Mr. Collins, but her mother refuses to listen to Mary until it is too late. Mary doesn’t have experience in seeking for attention and getting positive encouragement because of her mother has always dismissed her. Mrs. Bennet cannot accept Mary because she is not nearly as beautiful as her sisters.
The section deals with Mary’s time immediately after her father’s death, just a few years after the classic novel ended. Here, we see her discouragement as she finds she does not have a place in her sibling’s houses. Despite the kindness from Jane and Elizabeth, for example, Mary clearly feels outside of the happy family units. In addition to this, Caroline Bingley bullies Mary incessantly when she is at Jane’s house. Mary finally starts to find some comfort and friendliness when she visits Charlotte Collins, now established at Longbourn.
Although Mary has begun to see her own individual worth in the middle section, it is in the last section that we can finally see Mary beginning to heal from the trauma of her mother’s verbal abuse. I loved the characterization of those she met, I loved her gradual self-realization of what she wants for herself, and I loved Aunt Gardiner’s nourishing love. Mary’s final realization of happiness in a healthy relationship is wholly and completely satisfying.
This was the second time I’ve read The Other Bennet Sister. I feel like I should not read the original without giving Mary her voice by revisiting this one again in the future. I highly recommend it.
