Surrey, England and London, Early Nineteenth-century

A retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, MR. KNIGHTLEY'S DIARY is told from Mr. George Knightley's point of view, as one might guess from the title. Both shorter and easier to read than the original, this version includes pivotal scenes and actual dialogue from Miss Austen's version while expanding on Mr. Knightley's day-to-day life within his family and neighborhood and his dawning realization of his feelings for Emma Woodhouse. Ms. Grange's additions, while light and fresh, stay within the spirit of the times and Miss Austen's story. I particularly liked the charming family Christmas at Hartfield, home of the Woodhouses.

With happy thoughts of the pending marriage of two neighbors, as well as his brother's blissful family life as an example, Mr. George Knightly considers taking a wife for himself. He's in no hurry but plans to keep his eye out for a likely candidate. Meanwhile, he runs his considerable estate, minds the county as magistrate and visits with his many friends. One of his pleasures is walking to Hartfield to spend time with Mr. Woodhouse and Emma, whom he's known all her life. Emma is a sprightly, attractive young lady, but terribly spoiled, in Mr. Knightley's opinion, by the flattery of too many people. He feels it his duty to occasionally keep her feet to the ground by pointing out her faults. Emma is very conscious of being the premier lady of the neighborhood and is a managing sort inclined to meddle in others' lives. At the moment, she has taken an interest in a pretty young miss of unknown family and turned her away from an advantageous marriage to a worthy farmer, a tenant of Mr. Knightley's. Instead, Emma is conniving to bring her together with the local vicar. Mr. Knightley believes her efforts will come to naught, and hopes Emma learns a lesson from her failure.

The rest of the characters also remain as Jane Austen created them. Mr. Woodhouse constantly frets about his and everyone else's health and the dangers that lie in wait for anyone foolish enough to go outside one's own door. Sweet Miss Bates still talks endlessly and is so grateful for the good friends who often remember her and her mother with extra firings and lovely bits of pork. Miss Taylor, the former Woodhouse governess, marries widower Mr. Weston, and his grown son finally arrives and creates havoc in the countryside. Emma seems taken with him, but Mr. Knightley cannot like the bounder. Mr. Knightley may be prejudiced against him for reasons he's loath to admit to himself. Mr. Knightley is a good man and a likable gentleman, and his and Emma's repartee is often amusing.

Readers familiar with EMMA should enjoy revisiting the county and its people and welcome the expansion of Mr. Knightley's role. Others will find an entertaining introduction to a classic. Ms. Granger, an English author, has an extensive backlist that includes two other Austen works told from the heroes' viewpoints, MR. DARCY'S DIARY (Pride and Prejudice) and CAPTAIN WENTWORTH'S DIARY (Persuasion). I haven't read either of these, but I have read other authors' Austen take-offs, and MR. KNIGHTLEY'S DIARY compares very favorably with them. In fact, it has changed my mind about the worth of the whole idea; I now believe that, done well, a retelling of a classic from another point of view can be both interesting and entertaining.

Jane Bowers