Lydia

A Backstory to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

By: C. J. Hill

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

In her fifteen years, Lydia Bennet has certainly drawn attention to herself wherever she has gone.

As the youngest of five daughters Lydia has been indulged by her mother, and upon growing up is now beyond restraint and determined to have her way. Her romantic imaginings of seeing the world, falling violently in love, and attending balls, parties, dinners and the theatre are her only escape from the unrelenting boredom of life in a small village.

Happily for Lydia, the Militia comes to Meryton for the Winter to supply all the glamour, uniforms and charming young men she could wish for, and immediately there is one, and one only, for whom Lydia has eyes and plans. Unfortunately, her looks, youth and wit are of no consequence to him without an accompanying fortune.

Unperturbed, Lydia weaves her way towards ensnaring the man of her dreams for her own happily-ever-after.

Author’s note: As this story involves characters and some situations that occur in both Pride and Prejudice and Wickham’s Wife, some necessary scenes have been repeated from Lydia’s perspective. I hope that rather than detracting from the overall narrative, they provide a more complex understanding of Lydia’s behaviour.