This is my second time reading Linda Beutler‘s The Red Chrysanthemum, and my opinion remains the same: it’s a delightful addition to the Jane Austen variations genre.
The novel delves into the question – what would have happened if Lydia and Wickham‘s elopement had been delayed by two weeks? This seemingly minor change sets the stage for a unique story.
The key to understanding the blossoming romance between Darcy and Elizabeth lies in the language of flowers. Throughout the novel, they use specific blooms to subtly express their feelings. Helpfully, each chapter concludes with illustrations of these flowers alongside their meanings, making it easier for readers unfamiliar with floral symbolism.
Beutler‘s writing is a pleasure to read. Simple yet engaging, it keeps you turning the pages. The plot itself is well-constructed, holding your attention for most of the book. However, the final chapters veer a bit too heavily into marital intimacy (and vulgarity), leaving little to the imagination and preventing me from awarding a perfect score.
What truly shines in the first part of the novel is the portrayal of the characters. Beutler masterfully captures the essence of Austen‘s creations, even expanding on some.
We see a deeper connection between Darcy and his sister Georgiana (affectionately nicknamed “gosling”), and a more developed Charles Bingley. It’s particularly satisfying to witness Bingley putting his arrogant sister Caroline in her place, and the hilarious scene where his mother-in-law catches him under the table.
One curious detail is that most characters seem aware of Georgiana and Wickham‘s near-escape to Ramsgate. In the original Pride and Prejudice, wasn’t the secrecy around this event a key factor in Lydia‘s elopement? This minor inconsistency was a bit jarring.
Despite this, The Red Chrysanthemum remains a worthwhile read. You’ll find a satisfyingly punished Mr. Wickham, a more nurturing Mrs. Reynolds, and a delightful exploration of Darcy and Elizabeth‘s love story through the language of flowers.
If she will never have me, I shall never wed. I cannot imagine loving another like this.
Bonus
The 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice sparked the author’s love for incorporating flowers into storytelling.
Right from the beginning, we see Lizzy returning from a walk with a handful of blooms. This is followed by scenes of Lizzy and Jane working in the Longbourn gardens and later drying flowers in the distillery while discussing Mr. Bingley‘s return.
Inspired by this detail, the author embarked on a research project that turned out to be more of an exciting challenge than a difficulty.
Her goal was historical accuracy: identifying flowers likely to grace the gardens of an English estate during the Regency period and using the most accepted meanings associated with them at the time. Flowers, after all, evolve over time, and their Latin names are no exception. Tracking these changes proved to be the most intricate part of the process. Therefore, Beutler made a conscious decision to name the flowers as Lizzy, Darcy, Georgiana, and their contemporaries would have known them.
