Today marks the book birthday for Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy — a book that began its journey into existence through an idea left in the comments on a Music Monday post. Let me tell you a little about the book and then leave you with two links — one where you can read a preview and one to all the stores on which this novella is available for purchase.
~*~*~
This book is about Henry Crawford, the would-be prince charming to Fanny Price’s Cinderella. Had he had a better upbringing, had he had the fortitude within himself to resist his own vanity, had he been faithful to do what he told Fanny he would, his fate would have been different. There were so many things that he should have but did not do, and in so not doing, he worked out his own ruin and unhappiness.
In the final chapter of Mansfield Park, Jane Austen has a fairly lengthy passage about how Mr. Crawford came upon his ruin, and that is where she leaves him — in misery. The reader does not know what will become of him beyond him feeling the consequences of his poor choices most greatly.
This is where I have picked up the story. Right there, where Henry is feeling his failure, where he his heartbroken and wretched. But I have no intention of leaving him in such a state, for you see, in my story, the agony of loss had done its work and begun a transformation, leaving Henry Crawford with a desire to regain something of what he lost in Fanny Price and on a path to achieving his own happily ever after.
However, change is never easy.
~*~*~
A preview of this book is available HERE.
You may purchase this book at your favourite retailer HERE.
He’s failed before, but with her help, this time, he might just succeed.
I’m glad you have offered Henry a path to redemption. (Would I be banned from everything Austen related if I confess I liked him better than Edmund?) I hope your book meets with great success!
No, not banned, but you might have to sit at the table with Lydia and the other girls that like scoundrels. 😀 LOL We’re all allowed our preferences. I must say I like my new version of him, but not as he is in Jane’s book.