I have just had the most delighful of priveleges to have listened to a truly superb audio rendition of a novel bearing the title, "The Heirloom Edition: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Now With Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!" Written by such an esteemed and, dare I say, legendary novelist Jane Austen and comparative newcomer, though no less talented, Seth Grahame-Smith, and read by Katherine Kellgren with such edifying elegance that all compliments such directed unfailingly pale to the experience of listening for oneself.
Where does one begin reviewing such a singularly pleasing and compelling novel? The asinine answer to such a query would undoubtably be, "at the beginning," but a novel of this character needs a more dutiful and thoughtful examination. A point should be made early on, in such a discourse, to direct the mind to a feature of such great import that it very well serves as the crux of the writing, and I shall endeavor to illuminate it thusly: a contemporary author (the above mentioned Mr. Grahame-Smith) has taken a beloved novel written by Ms. Austen, who has predeceased him by some 200 years, and so seamlessly added the presense of brain-devouring undead to the narrative. Careful attention must be paid to the fact that Mr. Grahame-Smith accomplishes this unorthodox feat with such deftness that one can scarce detect the intrusion and despite the unholy nature of the abominable beasts found throughout there is not even a hint of desecration to soul of the classic work. All due acclaim and adoration must be given the American gentleman for his execution of this task, where even the slightest misstep could rendered the entire prospect utterly baseless and bereft of merit. But succeed he did, much to the delight of literary minded people the world over. And lo, has even gone so far as to so thoroughly encompass my thoughts and musing that mine own written word has taken on the hue of their speech. I do find it most agreeable to put words to paper - such as it is - in this manner.
Now, one must speak to nature of the piece and my disposition toward it. On the whole, I can heartily recommend to any and all who wish to have their thoughts engaged simulateously with beautiful prose and brutish battles. The casualness and common tenor with which the author injects the manky dreadfuls does great justice to the whole of the work, allowing for the original's unfailing pretension to carry on and is perhaps thus enhanced. At no point does one feel the need to question the authenticity of the mysterious plague, for not one of the characters therein find cause to wonder, it simply is as the country is. One does allow that reflection upon the story afterwards can stir ponderings on the origins of such all-encompassing devastion to the isle of Britain, or how the population of London and her surrounds can continue to spew forth the sorrowful beasts even whilst our protagonists behead them by the score, but in the actual course of reading all such valid concerns are lost to the conscious mind.
Appreciaive though I am of the prowess of Ms. Austen and her skill with quill and parchment to create fulfilling characters, I must confess that for mine own tastes I would have found the tale wanting without the unrivaled bladework of Ms. Bennett and her sisters or the harsh and soulless moans filling the countryside with promises of unquiet death. Too much aristocracy, forced civility, and properness otherwise fill the plot to a level of which mine own sensibilities could not reasonably comprehend and maintain high interest. Having never had the priveledge of taking in any unmodified versions of Ms. Austen's works through my schooling this rendition has been the sole source to which I've been exposed, and, though it might be considered ill of me to say so, am honestly gratified for such a distinction.
Also, I cannot dare to speak of enjoyment garnered from this novel in its written form, for these eyes have not perused the pages themselves, but there are no recommendations high enough to be made of the audio version I have so very much enjoyed, and for that much credit must be, and shall with no hint of prejudice, given to the grace and cadence of Ms. Kellgren.
In summation, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," is a greatly enjoyable work and do suggest the prompt and dutiful reading of it at your earliest convenience. Four stars of the night sky shall shine brightly and full of pride over this novel and the fifth is visable, though not entirely on the scale of its brothers.
Sincerely,
Your Ever Faithful Servant
Gabe
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