In Sickness and in Health: A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Frances Reynolds. ★★★★★

Jane Bennet becomes unwell whilst visiting Netherfield Park. 

Surprisingly, Mrs Bennet is delighted! Why worry about a trifling cold? After all, more time in the house of the amiable and wealthy, Mr Bingley must lead to a proposal.

Elizabeth Bennet is worried for her sister, so she walks to Netherfield Park to check on her.

Unfortunately, the trifling cold, turns out to be smallpox. Elizabeth has been exposed, so enters quarantine with Jane. 

Smallpox spreads through the area, so many households are quarantined.

Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy have both been inoculated against smallpox, so undertake to assist the apothecary in monitoring the outbreak.

As Jane grows worse, Elizabeth feels very alone. Support comes from an unexpected person.

Elizabeth had thought Mr Darcy unpleasant and haughty, but he shows himself to be kind and the best of men.

Whilst Elizabeth struggles at Netherfield, Longbourn has five people sick. Mary, though healthy is burdened with caring for several patients, while trying to keep the house running.

When the outbreak is over, sixty eight souls have been lost.

The families gradually emerge from their isolation, to mourn, to reconnect and to slowly move on. The survivors face devastating changes.

Such exceptional times, yield profound changes in character and some unexpected romances.

The strange experience of COVID and lockdowns, makes it all too easy to imagine such a frightening situation.

Frances Reynolds has captured the fear, grief and gritty reality of smallpox, together with the green shoots of hope and burgeoning love. 

Definitely not to be missed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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