THE HEIRESS The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh

Austen fans will appreciate Molly Greeley's clever rendering of a little-known character from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Ell Potter's narration as Anne de Bourgh starts soft and dreamlike. Anne, a fussy baby, was prescribed laudanum to quiet her. The opium derivative keeps young Anne docile, compliant, and out of the way of her domineering mother, Lady Catherine, who arranges Anne's marriage to Fitzwilliam Darcy when they are children. As she grows into young womanhood, addicted to her "medicine," Darcy marries Elizabeth Bennet, and Anne finds the courage to rebel. Potter's appropriately low-key Anne is slowly replaced by a stronger, definite Anne as she develops into her own person, experiencing erotic love with Eliza Amherst and defying her mother. Listeners will be completely absorbed by Potter's winning performance. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2021]