“…do anything rather than marry without affection.”—Pride and PrejudiceDuring the upheaval of the Great Depression, Elizabeth Bennet’s life is torn asunder. Her family’s relocation from the bustle of the big city to a quiet family farm has changed her future, and now, she must build a new life in rural Meryton, Kentucky.William Darcy suffered family turmoil of his own, but he has settled into a … family turmoil of his own, but he has settled into a peaceful life at Pemberley, the largest farm in the county. Single, rich, and seemingly content, he remains aloof—immune to any woman’s charms.
Until Elizabeth Bennet moves to town.
As Darcy begins to yearn for something he knows is missing, Elizabeth’s circumstances become more dire. Can the two put aside their pride and prejudices long enough to find their way to each other?
1932, Karen M Cox’s award-winning debut novel, is a matchless variation on Jane Austen’s classic tale.
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I enjoyed this variation of Pride & Prejudice. Seeing all of the loved characters in different roles. The story was not what. I expected, but I enjoyed reading it. I always enjoy Austen inspired stories. This story has some steamy moments.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book is a modern version of the classic Pride and Prejudice set in 1930’s USA. Friendship,love and family values all make this an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book. Thank you Karen Cox for allowing me a chance to review this ARC.
Author Karen M. Cox’s debut novel, 1932, is a clever twist on Jane Austen’s masterpiece Pride & Prejudice. In this Depression-era retelling, Elizabeth Bennet is the pampered daughter of a mid-western university professor but in 1932, socio-economic changes uproots the family from the comforts of their Chicago home and life as they know it. The Bennett family must retrench–and thanks to the generosity of their Uncle Gardiner, they must start anew in the small farming town of Meryton. When Elizabeth encounters the handsome, brooding and moneyed William Darcy, she is all ready in desperate circumstances, the likes never seen in Austen’s original – and Darcy’s infamous proposal becomes more of a palatable, albeit mercenary, option in 1932.
Cox’s writing is intelligent with believable insights, endearing, clever dialogue and even a couple delicious love scenes. As her story progresses into a wholly creative retelling of this classic favorite, readers will delight in the new life breathed into Austen’s canon characters. From the beginning melodrama to the end, I was engaged, entertained and exceedingly diverted. 1932 is a triumph!
*The 2020 10th anniversary edition is outstanding. When I heard the author was to republish under her own banner after a full edit and adding chapters, I did not see how she could improve upon her original. Well, she did it! And the buff and polish and new scenes are outstanding. Fans of the book will be elated and new readers are in for a treat!
The Great Depression strikes the Bennett family and forces them to leave their life in Chicago and dreams of the future behind for a rural Kentucky farm and starting over providing the backdrop for an opposites attract romance that brings to life this modern historical retelling of Jane Austen’s classic.
The biggest and most obvious difference between classic and retelling is this is a post wedding courtship romance.
The 1932 characters were edgier and more intense. This William Darcy had a bit of Bronte’s Rochester in him and this Lizzy is both more stubborn and more sensitive. Together, they are a sultry couple both emotionally and physically. They had all the difficulties of an arranged marriage pair even though William married her for love. But, there are a few exquisite moments that foreshadow a deep love if they can just hang with it and grow past their mistakes. I still picture the dancing scene and have those romantic songs playing as I type.
For much of the book, the conflict is mostly the romance with a little of it going to the Bennet’s struggle financially. It’s only in the last third that a conflict that began before this book and thought to be in the past rears its ugly head and makes things rather exciting and culminating about the same time the romance crisis hits its peak, too. The end really came on strong and I adored that epilogue that brought a few happy tears to my eye.
I’ve always appreciated the care this author takes over her characters and their inter-personal relationships including the romance. This debut book in her career shows that this gift has always been there and I was glad to read this updated anniversary edition.
Whether one is familiar or unfamiliar with the classic upon which 1932 is based, it won’t matter. It will only matter if the reader enjoys an emotionally evocative sensual historical romance of opposites.
1932 by Karen M. Cox
This is a retelling of Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice and how it might have been if it had been set in 1932. All of the same lovable characters are there, just in a new setting and era. Cox brings the characters to life with brilliant imagery and storyline. The updated story was interesting and believable. I was cheering for Darcy and Lizzy and loved seeing how their story played out in the twentieth century.
I am so grateful that I received an Advanced Reader Ebook Copy of 1932: Pride & Prejudice Revisited by Karen M. Cox. Wow! This book was an absolutely incredible, innovative variation of the classic novel Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. The story starts in 1932 when, due to the Great Depression, the Bennett family is uprooted from their comfortable lifestyle when Dr. Bennett loses his university teaching job due to cutbacks. The family returns to his wife’s childhood farm to begin a new life. Elizabeth Bennett first meets Mr. Darcy at a train station and there is an immediate dislike on Ms. Bennett’s part finding him to be quite arrogant and rude. On the other hand, Mr. Darcy seems to have acquired an instant attraction to Ms. Bennett though he refuses to admit it to even himself. Thus begins the charming, delightful retake on my very favorite classic love story. Love was definitely in the air where Mr. Darcy’s feelings were concerned. For me personally, it was a page-turner and I could not put it down from the minute I started reading it. The author is to be commended on the brilliant way she spun this classic love story into a more modern day fairytale romance and the author did her homework in describing what life was like during the Great Depression and how people were displaced and had to struggle for survival. This is my opinion only, but it is one of my new favorite reads and I rated it a five.