Today's author is Laura Simons, who I discovered on Archive of Our Own a few years back when she began posting in the little updated Northanger Abbey section. Not only did she write a 25 chapter retelling of the novel from the hero's perspective (something which has been done countless times for Darcy, many for Wentworth, but never before that I know of for Tilney), she spruced it up afterward to release in eBook form for anyone to download and enjoy. Here's what the author herself says about the work:
"Henry Tilney is my favourite Austen hero and I spent a tremendous amount of time staying as close to Austen’s style as possible to tell his side of this story. My sister provided all her historical knowledge and I took every opportunity to dwell extra long on the happy moments shared between Catherine, Eleanor and Henry that Austen chooses to paraphrase."
It's always a great accomplishment to write a book, but I'm especially impressed how well a Dutch native wrote in the style of Jane Austen. She was quick to answer my request for an interview, happy "to give Northanger Abbey some love." Her answers are below, with appropriate links added.
My mother introduced me and my sister to Jane Austen's novels and the Pride & Prejudice 1995 miniseries, but my sister was the one that properly drew me in. She studied a lot of the historical aspects and that made me understand the books better.
Once I got used to the Regency setting Austen's characters were so relatable and compelling that it was easy for me to fall in love with them. I really admire how Austen describes human behaviour and character. It shows how constant human nature is over time. And she tells stories about finding happiness, I will always appreciate that. Northanger Abbey and Pride & Prejudice were always my favourites and later I grew to really love Persuasion too.
My sister and I spent a lot of time making riddles about he characters or imagining how their stories would continue, but I didn't encounter the online Austen fandom until a couple of years ago. Until then it hadn't really occured to me to write fanfiction for these kinds of books. But I absolutely fell in love with AMarguerite's Ever Fixed Mark series, a retelling of Pride & Prejudice. And since I always adored Henry Tilney, I soon began writing about him, to show him off to more advantage. Especially since the fandom at large tends to focus more on Austen's later novels.
I decided to write a retelling of Northanger Abbey from the perspective of Henry Tilney because I didn't want to change Austen's story or even continue it, but add some extra insight and extra happiness where she decides to skip or paraphrase. So those were the parts I enjoyed most about writing Fullerton Parsonage. Like actually describing the "charming game of play with a litter of puppies" instead of leaving it at that sentence, and actually introducing Eleanor's suitor to prove that he was indeed "the most charming young man in the world". It was also fun to try and stay as close to Austen's narratives voice as I possibly could. Which is a little easier for Northanger Abbey because it's very tongue-in-cheek and not as serious as some of her later works.
I have teamed up with my sister to write an original Regency romance. Very much à la Austen and as historically accurate as we can get it, but with a more diverse cast of characters. Because sometimes you want some queerness and some colour with your turns about the room and country dances. I hope we'll get to publish it some day!
Thank you for appearing on the blog Laura. Her website has links to her various social media profiles, including a Spotify channel for her podcast, "Patchwork Fairy Tales." She's also on Goodreads for her own books and reviews of others.
Come back tomorrow for the cover reveal of my Northanger Abbey sequel Gentlemen of Gloucestershire, which begins posting this Saturday.
