I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. I've never read Jane Austen. I know. I should have by now and she is on my list. I wasn't sure that I was a fan of the character Harriet from the start. She seemed like she was really caught up in wanting to be liked by the rich. But she is a cunning character and knows what she wants. This is a light read and each chapter is told from character's POV but kept in chronological order which I liked. The characters are unique and creative. I enjoyed how relateable they are and how they kept the story engaging.
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HARRIET a Jane Austen Variation by Alice McVeigh, is a retelling of Austen's classic novel Emma told from Harriet's point if view.

One would assume based on the title that the novel would be entirely from Harriet's view point, but it should have been titled Harriet & Jane. The perspective flips back & forth between the two characters, sometimes several chapters elapse before the switch and I felt that it could have been two novels entirely.

Of all of Jane's characters Emma is my least favorite, she is silly,vain, & totally oblivious. I could never understand why the admirable Mr. Knightly loved her. The Emma, author McVeigh, paints is almost spot on, but the Harriet of her world is miles apart from my perception of the original. Jane's Harriet, someone I always pitied, was a meek, simple girl easily run roughshod over by Emma who had power due to her elevated social status. McVeigh's Harriet on the other hand is an eye opener, she is smart, sly, & ambitious. She finds Emma amusing & is willing to play along with her schemes all while not taking then seriously & using them to her advantage. Definitely not a girl to be pitied.

I actually found the retelling from Jane Fairfax point of view more intriguing. Austen's Jane does not have a big part in the book, not much is known about her, save as a nemesis of sorts for Emma, her lauded example of perfect demeanor, perfect manners, & perfect music a constant thorn in flighty Emma's side. Her biggest role being the unknown love interest of Frank Churchill, who "snatches" him away from Emma. McVeigh starts her retelling of Jane's point of view far from Highbury, showing a shy, thoughtful, intelligent girl who is very aware of her precarious social status. Dependent on the goodwill of others for her living, she struggles to maintain her dignity & ideals while trying to ward off the unwanted advances of a unscrupulous man, find budding love & heartache with, the frankly unworthy, Frank Churchill, & the need, & dread of, becoming a governess as no other options seem open to her. This Jane is flawed, unsure, honest, & entirely human not just the Perfect Example to foil Emma, easily overlooked & forgettable, is now a character to wish well, hoping her perseverance will win her the day.

Overall, while the switches between perspectives could be jarring & I thought the title was misleading, Harriet was a great read. It felt very much part of Jane Austen's world, like an expansion of the picture she painted, keeping true to the original while expanding our ideas & views of the characters.

I received this book as part of the Librarything Early Reviews program for my fair & honest opinion. ( )

This is a "take" on Austen's immortal EMMA.
The story is well-developed, and events unfold in a natural progression, with enough curveballs to keep readers interested. The author’s prose and dialogue are appropriate between the characters for this period.

Our main character, Harriet, fits within the established Austen characters but gives the reader surprises. McVeigh is a gifted writer.
She has well developed characters that will manage to surprise you.

McVeigh is consistent with her writing, style, and period language throughout this book. It is a read for anyone who loved the original stories.

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers.

"Harriet" by Alice McVeigh retells Jane Austen's "Emma" from the points of view of Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax, mostly Harriet. It is very well done with the enigmatic Jane being beautifully well delineated and her actions and emotions portrayed vividly and realistically. Harriet is the revelation in this retelling, becoming much more than the airhead of the original "Emma". Some readers are going to react very negatively and viscerally to this version of Harriet (and her parentage) but that shouldn't detract from the skilful and thoughtful storytelling which captures the spirit of Jane Austen's writing much more than other "retellings" I have read. Well worth a read even for diehard Jane Austen fans. ( )

[NOTE: Received a free ebook via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.]

For fans of Jane Austen and other comedies of manners - This book is a retelling of Emma, from the point of view of two characters - the eponymous Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax. As the author mentions in the acknowledgements: "what if Harriet was just pretending?", in order to flatter her rich patron Emma?

Those inclined to compare adaptations and other derived works to the original will probably find much to like. Personally I found it well-written but more properly aimed at hard-core Austen fans who would like a re-read of the original (with a twist).

This is the second book in a "series" but in fact stand-alone: The author's first book in this series was a well-received prequel to Pride and Prejudice.

[NOTE: Received a free ebook via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.]