Miss Bates: Emma Revisited
We still love reading Jane Austen’s novels not only for her personality-filled heroines, but also for her comedic side characters. Miss Bates, a poor spinster who talks continually of nothing very interesting, is an object of pity for the wealthier characters in Emma. Emma herself reveals the era’s prejudices when she says, “A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old maid! the proper sport of boys and girls, but a single woman, of good fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as any body else.”
But now, at last Miss Bates tells her own story. From her childhood in the vicarage through her increasingly impoverished adulthood, she learns early to wear one mask for the world, and keep hidden her true, clever, calculating self.
While Miss Bates’ story dovetails and remains true with Emma, the different point of view creates an entirely new and believable slant on all the characters’ personalities, motivations, and actions. Miss Bates has a richly textured world, which lets us see behind the curtain of the shallow, idle rich who populate Austen’s books. With humor, heart, and Miss Bates’ secrets, this brilliant book is a welcome addition to the Austen spin-offs. It is my hope this author applies her talent to more of Austen’s characters.
