About this item
Highlights
- Martin Delany University has provided home, career, and stability for generations of Bennets.
- Author(s): Desiree R Kannel
- 386 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Family Life
Description
About the Book
A daughter trying to figure out her future. A family struggling with changes. And a man torn between love and loyalty.
Book Synopsis
Martin Delany University has provided home, career, and stability for generations of Bennets. It's 1999 and the latest generation of Bennets prepare for the new millennium, unaware of the changes the year 2000 will bring.
For Professor Elizabeth Bennet, that means questioning her position and dedication within the prestigious HBCU. She's also tired of defending her rap music studies, especially to stuck up outsiders like visiting economics professor Dr. William Darcy. When her sister Jane takes an interest in Darcy's best friend, Charles Bingley, she forces herself to tolerate him, at least for Jane's sake. Dr. Darcy, on sabbatical from Berkeley, looks forward to a productive year studying with one of Delany's prominent Economics Professors. He soon finds himself charmed by small town southern life and, to his surprise, Professor Elizabeth Bennet. He came to Delany to work, not fall in love. Elizabeth's Delany-Bennet pride wanes as family and work troubles take over. The constant clashes with Dr. Darcy also wear her down, but in a surprising way.
Prejudices crumble as the two academics relinquish to growing passions, but for Elizabeth, some offenses may be too big to ignore.
Review Quotes
2023 Firebird Book Award Winner - African American Fiction
"If you love Miss Austen's Pride and Prejudice, while appreciating a frank and honest window into Black culture and a presentation of rich Black families, along with Black families not so privileged, you will heartily enjoy this retelling by Desiree R. Kannel, The Delany Bennets. I did." -Reader Views
"The novel's increasingly compelling plot, engaging love stories, and its star academic whose scholarly expertise is in hip hop, combine beautifully to make The Delaney Bennets a delicious, edifying, and entertaining read." -Toni Ann Johnson, Award-winning author of Light Skin Gone to Waste
"Kannel deftly weaves a tale of wit, romance, and societal shifts, crafting a captivating narrative that pays homage to Austen's beloved characters similar to what Barbara Kingsolver did for Charles Dickens in her Pulitzer-winning novel Demon Copperhead." -Cam Torrens, author of False Summit
"From pitch-perfect riffs on class to age-old wrangling between generations and among these new Bennet sisters, author Desiree Kannel reveals a Pride and Prejudice for our time." -Lynne Shaner, Author of Journey to Everland Bay (Forthcoming, April 2024)
"A wonderfully original take on a Jane Austen classic - just perfect for a Pride and Prejudice fan like me. Likable, believable characters in high-stakes circumstances that had me cheering for the Bennet family right from the start. Kannel's writing style is sophisticated and witty, an absolute pleasure to read. Can't wait to read her next book!" -Jane Lo, author of All I Ever Wanted
"The Delany Bennets is-and the Delaney Bennets, all seven of them, are a delight. Sharply observed, with keen characterizations and a tightly ticking plot, the story sweeps you forward from page one. To top it off, there's real heft here. Kannel is that rare writer who can successfully tuck serious social commentary into a deliciously page-turning read. She pulls it all off perfectly." -Shelley Ettinger, author of Vera's Will
"Devoured this smart, funny, modern take on a classic tale of Pride and Prejudice conquered by love." -Laura Castoro, author of Love On The Line