I had never heard of Sybil G. Brinton and so was surprised, when I came across this book, to find that it was written in 1913 and first published in the following year

Now being re-published and sub-titled, 'An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen', it follows the lives of some of Jane Austen's characters from her six novels.

The spotlight now, however, is on the more minor characters, with the familiar heroines (and heroes) taking a back seat to some of their less well-known relatives. For example, the book follows the romantic adventures of, among others, both Georgiana Darcy, sister to the more famous Mr Darcy of Pride and Prejudice and Kitty Bennet, younger sister to Mrs Darcy, the former Elizabeth Bennet.

Austen aficionados will need no introduction to the characters or to the settings. The action moves mainly between Pemberley, the Darcys' country house in Derbyshire, Bath, a favourite yearly retreat for Austen's characters, and London, in particular, the Knightleys' residence in Portland Square, with one or two other grand country houses thrown in for good measure.

We are drawn into the lives of the characters and their preoccupations by the writer, who skilfully weaves together the lovers' stories; their meetings and misunderstandings, the parts played by go-betweens, the recriminations and reconciliations, until the final denoument where all parties are happily settled with the appropriate partners.

Arguably the most important ingredient of Jane Austen's work, namely, her wit and irony are missing and while it is perhaps presumptuous to call it a 'sequel' to the novels of Jane Austen, admirers of her writing will nonetheless be drawn to Old Friends and New Fancies.

Old Friends and New Fancies, written by Sybil G. Brinton and published by Sourcebooks, is available to buy at www.amazon.co.uk