Death Comes to Pemberley (2011) (edit title/settings)

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• Elizabeth Bennet: Now Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, has grown into a deeply responsible woman who has taken on the running of Pemberley with all seriousness and care. Now the mother of two young sons, and with a deep, rich relationship with her husband, she has matured into her new role in society and assumed it with grace and dignity.
• Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Taciturn, intelligent and unwaveringly honest, Mr. Darcy, master of Pemberley and husband of Elizabeth Darcy, nee Bennet, feels the weight of his responsibility to his home and his dependents, not least his sister, his wife and her family, and his servants. Also a Magistrate for his district.
• Georgiana Darcy: Darcy's little sister, whom Darcy prevented in P&P from a disastrous elopement with the gold-digging Wickham. Here she's grown to maturity, but plays a very minor role.
• Lydia Bennet Wickham: Elizabeth's spoiled, utterly selfish, and clueless little sister who is prone to gossip, whining, and drama. Lydia eloped with Wickham in P&P although she doesn't realize it, he only married her because of a combination of threats and financial inducements from Darcy. In this book Lydia is neither wiser, nor less demanding, with a full-blown sense of entitlement and all the attention-seeking, unpleasant behavior that goes with that.
• Lady Catherine De Bourgh: Darcy's aunt, Lady Catherine is a self-righteous, elitist busy-body whose sense of entitlement and class consciousness far outweigh her compassion. Her sickly daughter Anne is deceased.
• Mr. George Wickham: Son of the late steward of the Darcy family who was raised with Mr. Darcy. George has always felt cheated of what should rightfully be his, the life of a man of wealth and property. Handsome and able to charm the ladies, his moral character and sense of propriety are sadly lacking.
• Jane Bennet: Now Mrs. Charles Bingley. Elizabeth's solid, level headed, always loving, honest and sincere sister who is married and lives near enough to Pemberley to be a regular visitor. Married to Darcy's good friend Charles Bingley.
• Mr. Bennet: Elizabeth's father who brings a sense of calm with him where ever he goes.
• Colonel Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hartlep: Darcy's cousin, childhood friend and co-guardian of Georgiana. Born a second son, he is now his father's heir, and a future Earl. Served in putting down the Irish Rebellion with George Wickham.
• George Pratt: Coachman from the Green Man, the Pemberley village local inn.
• Louisa Bidwell: Former maid. Now at home caring for her very ill brother. Lives in the Woodland Cottage in the Pemberley woods.
• Joseph Billings: Louisa Bidwell's fiance, due to become butler for the Bingleys upon the retirement of their aging butler.
• Mr Henry Alveston: Gifted attorney at the Inner Temple in London, and heir to a Baronetcy and estate. Admires Georgiana and enjoys music with her.
• Selwyn Hardcastle: A magistrate in Derbyshire, who shares duties, if not friendship, with Darcy.
• Mrs. Reynolds: Housekeeper at Pemberley
• Mr. Charles Bingley: Darcy's best friend married to Elizabeth's older sister Jane. They live near to Pemberley at Highmarten House. He has twin daughters, Elizabeth and Maria. Also a young son Charles Edward.
• Eleanor Younge: Once a companion of Georgiana Darcy; played a role in P&P in which she sells information as to the whereabouts of Wickham and Lydia to Darcy.
• Anne Darcy: Darcy's revered and deceased mother. The annual ball at Pemberley is named for her.
• Dr. Andrew McFee: Pemberley village physician and also to residents of Pemberley.
• Mr. Bennet: Father of the five Bennet sisters. Resides at Longbourn.
• Headborough Thomas Brownrigg: Constable in Derbyshire. Prefers to distinguish his greater experience with the title "Headborough."
• Mrs. Gardiner: Wife of Mrs. Bennet's brother, beloved aunt of Jane and Elizabeth. Lives in Gracechurch Street with her husband and their family.
• George Darcy: Great-great-grandfather of the Darcys. Resided by himself at Woodland Cottage which is now the home of the Bidwells.
• Charlotte Lucas: The former Charlotte Lucas. Married William Collins, the cousin of the Bennets.
• Mr. Stoughton: Pemberley's butler
• Martha Piggott: Wife of the Green Man inn keeper in Lambton.
• Dr. Jonah Makepeace: lawyer and Coroner at Lambdon
• William John Bidwell: Deathly ill son of Darcy's former head coachman
• Sir William Lucas: Father to Charlotte Lucas Collins and Maria Lucas.
• Catherine 'Kitty' Bennet: Sister to Jane and Elizabeth. Unmarried, lives at home with her mother and father
• Mrs. Philips: Sister to Mrs. Bennet.
• Thomas Bidwell: Former head coachman to Mr. Darcy. Has retired from the stables due to health issues. Helps at Pemberly when he can. Lives in the woods at the Woodland Cottage with his wife, dying son Will and daughter, Louisa.
• Wright: Cook at Pemberly.
• Mrs. Hurst: Mr. Bingley's sister. Lives in some opulence in London.
• Mrs. Metcalf: Nurse caring for Bingley children.
• Mary Hopkins: 3rd of the Bennet sisters. Married Theodore Hopkins.
• Mrs. Donovan: Nurse to the Darcy children.
• Belton: Elizabeth Darcy's maid
• Wilkinson: Darcy's coachman
• Buckle: Elderly butler at Hardcastle
• Dr. Obadiah Belcher: Doctor who serves medical adviser to the magistrates.
• Dr. Josiah Clitheroe: A Magistrate in the local district along with Sir Selwyn Hardcastle and Darcy. Afflicted with gout.
• Rev. Percival Oliphant: Rector at St. Marys in Pemberley Village
• Sir Miles Culpepper: High Constable for district
• John Simpson: Undertaker. Member of the Inquest jury
• Thomas Simpkins: Innkeeper at the Kings Arms. Wife is Mary Simpkins.
• Joseph Joseph: Constable at Lambton
• Jeremiah Mickeldore: Defense Counsel, practicing in London
• Rev. Samuel Cornbinder: Chaplain at Coldbath Prison in London
• Judge Moberley: Trial judge in London
• Captain Martin Denny: Captain in the militia. Wickham's friend
• Mrs. Knightley: Character from Emma. Mentioned by Mrs. Reynolds.
• Sarah Simpkins: Daughter of the Bidwells who lives in Birmingham.
• Mr. Gardiner: Elizabeth's uncle. The brother of Mrs. Bennet.
• Caroline Bingley: Sister of Charles. Jane's sister-in-law.
• Simon Cartwright: Prosecuting counsel.
• Betsy Collard: maid at Pemberley
• Frank Stirling: Owner of general store in Lambton. Member of the inquest jury
• William Collins: The Bennets' cousin. Heir to Longbourn. Rector near Lady Catherine's home. Married to Charlotte Lucas.
• Mrs. Martin: Character from Emma. Adopts Georgie.
• Jean Humbert: French army officer who encouraged Irish rebellion.
• Petty Constable Mason: constable.
• Joan Miller: Maid at Pemberley
• Michael Simpkins: Son of Lambton's innkeeper.
• Charles Edward Bingley: the Bingleys' son.
• Nathaniel Piggott: Innkeeper of the Green Man
• Mr Jeremiah Cornbinder: Owner of horse farm in Virginia.
• Maria Lucas: Charlotte's sister. Neighbour of the Bennets
• Mrs. Bidwell: Wife of Pemberley's former head coachman.
• Georgie: Infant son of Wickham and Louisa Bidwell.
• George Wainwright: Apothecary. Member of inquest jury
• Bill Mullins: Blacksmith. Member of inquest jury
• Frederick Delancey: Name used by Wickham
• Master Fitzwilliam: The Darcys' 5-year-old son
• Charles: The Darcys' 2-year-old son
• Mrs. Bennet: Mother of the five Bennet sisters. Has constant attacks on her nerves.
• Mr. Gardiner: Mrs. Bennet's brother. A businessman who lives on Gracechurch street in London.
• Theodore Hopkins: Husband of Mary Bennet. Rector of parish near the Bingley's home.
• John Wooller: Darcy's steward.
• Mr Henry Alveston: Attorney.
• Mr Peck: Add a description of this character.
• Mr Bingley
• Jeremiah Mickledore
• Mrs Reilly
• Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy
• Mrs Simpkins
• Mrs Piggott

Quotes edit see section history

• “If this were fiction, could even the most brilliant novelist contrive to make credible so short a period in which pride had been subdued and prejudice overcome?”

• “Miss Bingley was particularly anxious at this time not to leave the capital. Her pursuit of a widowed peer of great wealth was entering a most hopeful phase. Admittedly, without his peerage and his money he would have been regarded as the most boring man in London, but one cannot expect to be called 'your grace' without some inconvenience.”

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• If this were fiction, could even the most brilliant novelist contrive to make credible so short a period in which pride had been subdued and prejudice overcome?

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• There are few activities so agreeable as spending a friend’s money to your own satisfaction and his benefit,

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• She consistently congratulated him on qualities he did not possess in the hope that, flattered by her praise and approval, he would acquire them.

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• He began by stating that he could find no words to express his shock and abhorrence, and then proceeded to find a great number, few of them appropriate and none of them helpful.

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• Gossip about the feelings of others when we cannot fully understand them, and they may not understand them themselves, can be a cause of distress.

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• It is never so difficult to congratulate a friend on her good fortune than when that fortune appears undeserved.

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• I have never approved of protracted dying. It is an affectation in the aristocracy; in the lower classes it is merely an excuse for avoiding work. The blacksmith’s second son has been reputedly dying for the last four years, yet when I drive past I see him assisting his father with every appearance of being in robust health. The de Bourghs have never gone in for prolonged dying. People should make up their minds whether to live or to die and do one or the other with the least inconvenience to others.”

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• We have entered the nineteenth century; we do not need to be a disciple of Mrs. Wollstonecraft to feel that women should not be denied a voice in matters that concern them. It is some centuries since we accepted that a woman has a soul. Is it not time that we accepted that she also has a mind?”

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• An assembly ball was a penance to be endured only because it offered an opportunity for her to take centre stage at the pianoforte and, by the judicious use of the sustaining pedal, to stun the audience into submission.

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• Since guilt is more commonly felt by the innocent than by the culpable,

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Pemberley: Mr. Darcy's estate.
• London: City in which the trial takes place.
• Lambton
• Highmarten
• Longbourn
• Gracechurch Street: In London
• Meryton

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. P. D. James (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: 2011941315
• Dewey: 823

Notes for Parents edit see section history

While this book is not meant for children, it is a murder mystery and includes instances of extra-marital relationships, there is nothing in the book that a teenager couldn't handle.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Mystery
• Books › Literature & Fiction
• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Authors, A-Z › ( J ) › James, P.D.

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