So apparently one of the most popular types of posts on this blog are my top ten lists!! That’s awesome! I will keep ’em coming and try to post them more regularly!
Today’s Top Ten list includes my ten favorite Austenesque novels where we see the original story told from a different character’s point-of-view. So far, I’ve read 23 Austenesque novels the would be considered alternate POV stories, most of them from the hero’s point0-of-view.
This is my sixth Austenesque Top Ten list. You can find my other Top Ten lists HERE.
* These lists are based only on the novels I have read and reviewed on this blog and are my top ten favorites.
**These lists are subject to change.
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(in alphabetical order)
A Visit to Highbury
Author: Joan Austen-Leigh
Type of Novel: Alternate POV, Minor Character, Epistolary Novel
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion
Author: Regina Jeffers
Type of Novel: Alternate POV, Sequel
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
George Knightley, Esquire Book One: Charity Envieth Not
Author: Barbara Cornthwaite
Type of Novel: Alternate POV
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Colonel Brandon’s Diary
Author: Amanda Grange
Type of Novel: Alternate POV
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Darcy’s Tale: Deluxe Edition*
Author: Stanley Hurd
Type of Novel: Alternate POV
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
*yes…I’m sneaking in 3 for 1!
For You Alone (Frederick Wentworth, Captain; Book 2)
Author: Susan Kaye
Type of Novel: Alternate POV
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Henry Tilney’s Diary
Author: Amanda Grange
Type of Novel: Alternate POV
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
George Knightley, Esquire Book Two: Lend Me Leave
Author: Barbara Cornthwaite
Type of Novel: Alternate POV
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Lydia Bennet’s Story
Author: Jane Odiwe
Type of Novel: Alternate POV, Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
None But You (Frederick Wentworth, Captain; Book 1)
Author: Susan Kaye
Type of Novel: Alternate POV
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
**These titles might possibly belong on this list but were read pre-blog and therefore without proper AR reviews to reference. I’m due to reread them and when I do, I will definitely write reviews for sure!
- Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman Trilogy by Pamela Aidan
- Captain Wentworth’s Diary by Amanda Grange
- Edmund Bertram’s Diary by Amanda Grange
- Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange
- Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange
- The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Mary Street
- Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken
Hi Meredith, I have read some of the books on your top ten list i.e. Jane Odiwe and Amanda Grange and really enjoyed them. I have just re-read Persuasion so I might try the books which you mention on your list about the gorgeous Captain Wentworth! Keep those lists coming!
Thank you, Michelle! I definitely will, they are fun to make! 🙂 I definitely cannot recommend the Persuasion books enough! I think you will love them!
Hi, I’ve read most of Amanda Grange’s books and loved them. Reading through your list I would like to read Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion. As you’ve probably guessed Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel and I just love Captain Fredrick Wentworth!!!
Great choice of favorites, Teresa! There are some wonderful Austenesque stories written about these characters – I love spending time with the Elliots, Crofts, Musgroves, and Captain Wentworth!
only read so far Darcy’s Tale which I really enjoyed – thanks for these lists
Glad you enjoyed the list! I hope you find others that you love just as much!
I have every single one of these (2 of which are still waiting to be read)!!! Love your choices. Amanda Grange’s Diaries are among my favorites.
That’s awesome that you own them all! I love reading stories from the hero’s perspective, would definitely love to see more!
From your Top Ten, I’ve read Darcy’s Tale and Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion. You may remember that Darcy’s Tale made it into my Desert Island Five. I was sneaky, too, getting in three for the price of one! Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion is a kind of combination of an alternative POV and sequel isn’t it?
Of the other six, I’ve listened to Pamela Aiden’s trilogy (my first JAFF experience) and Mr. Darcy’s Diary and read Captain Wentworth’s Diary (bought at the gift shop at Chawton). Mr Knightley’s Diary (also bought at Chawton) is on my TBR shelf.
All of the others will simply have to go on my Wish List!
LOL! You are sneaky…but then again I did the same here! 😉 Yep, I haven’t read it in awhile, but if I remember correctly the last couple of chapters of Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion takes us a couple of months after the close of Persuasion, which is nice!
Great choices, Anji! Thank you for sharing! How lovely you remember buying a book at Chawton!
Thank you, Meredith for including None But You and For You Alone in your list. I am still the most hardcore Frederick FanGrrl bumping around the Austenverse. And still working on the sequel to these alternative point-of-view novels.
Thanks again. You have made my Friday a pleasure.
It was a no-brainer, Susan! Your books are stellar and I love that you are hardcore about our dear Captain! 🙂 Would love to read more!
Stanley Hurd’s Trilogy has to be at the top of my alternate POV books. I have only read a couple of the other books listed…a Knightley one and a Wentworth one. But I do tend to stick to P&P Variations so that is no surprise.
While I do love me some Darcy, Jane Austen created some intriguing and fascinating heroes, Mr. Knightley and Captain Wentworth are definitely wonderful to spend time with!
I loved Joan Aiken’s Jane Fairfax(Lol at myself….I had a Jane Fairfax day at AiB Tuesday…not exactly well liked). Not sure it qualifies for the list. On your list, I loved loved loved Barbara Cornthwaite’s two George Knightley volumes. I liked Amanda Grange’s Mr K’s Diary but read it right after ” ” “. Although good, it kinda paled in comparison. I want to give Col Brandon’s Diary a go soon. I also enjoyed Joan Austen-Leigh’s Highbury books.
Ack! *head desk* I forgot that one! Jane Fairfax does qualify for this list, although I read it pre-blog so I’d want to reread it again before listing it as a Top Ten. Great choices, Kirk! It seems like we both have a strong affinity for Emma-related stories! 🙂 I agree with you about Mr. Knightley’s Diary, I read it before the George Knightley, Esquire series and remember feeling it was a little on the mellow side. Colonel Brandon’s was wonderful – I especially enjoyed how we had a bit of a prequel with it and saw Colonel Brandon’s relationship with Eliza!
I liked very much Pamela Aidan trilogy. From your list I would want to read George Knightley esquire and Stan Hurd’s Darcy books. The cover of Henry Tilney ‘ s diary is charming 🙂
Great choices! I think you will love all of them! 😉 Aren’t the covers captivating in that series? I adore them!
That is definitely a fun list. Haven’t given much thought to it. I’ve read most of those and loved them and out of the ones I haven’t, they are on the wish list or TBR Pile.
Let’s see for my top 10:
Pamela Aiden’s Mr. Darcy, Gentleman trio
Susan Kaye’s Frederick Wentworth, Captain duo
Amanda Grange’s Colonel Brandon and Henry Tilney (I liked her other diaries, too, but these were my favs)
Regina Jeffers’ Captain Wentworth
Joan Aiken’s Jane Fairfax
Nancy Kelley’s His Good Opinion (I think this was an alt POV, can’t remember for sure)
P.O. Dixon’s Almost Persuaded
Lynne Scott’s Mr. Hurst’s Ambition
Sherwood Smith’s The Dancing Monkeys (this is pushing it b/c it took place during the last events of MP, but it works)
Maria Grace’s Sweet Ginger (again, I pushed it b/c it actually wraps around the Emma story, but still…)
I still need to read Kara Louise’s Master Under Good Regulation b/c having a dog narrator is the ultimate in alternate POV. Haha!
Oooh! Thanks for sharing, Sophia! Great choices! You have many I haven’t read! His Good Opinion is alt POV, I enjoyed that one too! I still need to read Kara Louise’s Master Under Good Regulation too! 🙂 LOL!
Dear Meredith,
I am so very pleased to be on your list – indeed, I have been surprised and delighted by the general acceptance of Darcy’s Tale. Always love your blog, so keep up the great work.
Best,
Stan
Thank you so much, Stan! Darcy’s Tale is the ultimate alternate POV! I’m so glad it has been such a success! Can’t wait to see you take on another alternate POV! 😉
Thanks for including my books among your favorites! 🙂
Absolutely! I looooooove them!
Went through my shelves today after reading the wonderful lists above. Found one some people might like. Old Friends and New Fancies is a sequel to all the Jane Austen novels in one book. The characters from all six novels meet each other and interact and there are some new characters as well. It was written in 1913 and is said to be the first ever sequel to Austen’s books. Sybil G. Brinton is the author. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am wondering if anyone else has read it? If so I’d like to know what you thought of it.
That is a fun sequel, Teresa. 🙂 I’ve read it but it was pre-blog so I don’t have a review, but I know I enjoyed it.
Goodness! I haven’t read any of those books in your list! :O But I’m very curious to read Susan Kaye’s novels. My favourite alternate point of view so far is Captain Wentworth’s Diary by Amanda Grange. I loved it!
You should read the Susan Kaye novels, Maria! You’d love them! It’s great to get in Captain Wentworth’s head!
I have so many of these books on my wish list! Of your list I think I’ve only read Henry Tilney’s Diary by Amanda Grange, which I loved. I read two of her other diaries as well, they were actually the ones that introduced me to JAFF, Captain Wentworth’s Diary, and Mr Darcy’s Diary. This was before I was writing reviews so I don’t remember them that well.
The Amanda Grange series is wonderful, isn’t it? 😉 I really like how she gives us some backstory (making it a little bit like a prequel + an alternate pov). I need to reread them so I can write some reviews!