Alternative title: Pride (of Pride and Prejudice). Cousin Harriet is essentially a spinster Mr Darcy of a large country estate and also the older loving Emma Woodhouse daughter of her doting wheelchair-bound father, with the setting true to the nature and etiquette of the Victorian era.

Events occur to challenge and broaden Harriet's lack of experience in the socially complex and licentious world beyond her naïve country lifestyle. Misunderstandings of potential love affairs arise and resolve gratifyingly, guided by the expert deus-ex hand of ex-governess/mentor Miss Miller.

Tweedsmuir had masterfully subtly peppered innocuous behaviours into scenes that upon the ending and immediate second reading become afresh with new meaning (just like P&P!) Even without the glaze of social satire of P&P, Cousin Harriet is a perfect social period novel in its own right. ( )