Tirzah Price

This episode of Writers at Work features Tirzah Price, author of the Jane Austen murder mystery series. Her latest novel, IN WANT OF A SUSPECT, a spin off from that series, is subtitled A Lizzie and Darcy Mystery and is available now.

 

Tirzah set out to be an author of books for young adults. She's in possession of an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She also knows well the publishing industry, having worked as a bookseller and librarian. Her debut novel, PRIDE AND PREMEDITATION, is a retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE in which 17-year-old Lizzie Bennett sets out to solve a murder. In SENSE AND SECOND-DEGREE MURDER, it's 18-year-old Eleanor Dashwood who's out to solve crimes. And in MANSLAUGHTER PARK, Fanny Price believes the killer of her uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram, is right there on the estate.

 

Of course, this is a delightful way to introduce Jane Austen's setting characters and their social milieu to readers aged 14 to 17. But there's also a danger in tears reimagining of tales that are among the most beloved in the literary canon. Jim discusses this and more with the author.