Oh Mary. How often have we ignored you for Elizabeth, cringed at your dresses, or even laughed? Lets face it though, the creators of the 1995 film adaptation did their best to make you look terrible and I do believe you wore the same green and yellow dress at least 4 times in the last hour of the film 🙂
*Soapmaker digression* One year ago, I was over the moon because I’d decided to start making Jane Austen soap (and create Northanger Soapworks!) and I’d finally figured out how to make soap lace. I felt like it was the most beautiful thing I could ever make, and I knew early on it would be for Mary. I wanted it for her because she deserved something beautiful. Years and years of loving Pride and Prejudice made me think of Mary in a new light and rather than laughing, it became wishing and hoping.â €
Early in label design before opening shop, I considered what I would include with each soap. One idea I had was to have a little story go with each one that would be included in the packaging somehow. It could be just a secret between the receiver and me, or possibly the 1st half of the story would be on the online product listing, and the conclusion included with the product. I do enjoy writing so this idea sounded delightful. So I immediately sat down to write one for Mary Bennet. Well…I soon realized it wasn’t practical for me to do a story because it took up too much space on my packaging. But I condensed what I had written for Mary and included it anyway, folded up inside.
When I saw Mary BÂ by Katherine J Chen on instagram, I was SO excited that someone had written a story for her! Once I got my hands on it I sped through it. It was also time to restock Mary Bennet’s soap in my shop, so I had a very *Mary* week! I laughed so much reading this book and enjoyed it immensely*. My Sherlockian husband read it too and loved it. 4 stars from us both.
Pin this book to your to-read board!
Want Mary Bennet soap? It comes with a little happy ending I wrote for her tucked inside. Add it to your cart.
*Caveat: there is a lot of hate out there regarding this book. I stayed up late thinking about it after completing it, sorting through my feelings. However, I like books that make me feel and think, and it doesn’t lessen the delightful fun I had reading. I’ll tell you straight up, if it upsets you to see some of your beloved characters altered, you should skip this one. It is also very modern, so old fashioned gals should definitely read with an open mind.
I know you’ve probably long sold out of the Mary Bennet soap, but I’m curious what scent was it? I’ve tried looking on your site and I haven’t found any other trace of it.
Mary, by the way, is my favorite Bennet sister and I loved this book so much. I read every book about Mary that piques my interest and this one is the BEST (a close second is “Pride and Prometheus”) It was the only book I’ve read where [SPOILERS for those reading the comments] Mary ends up with Darcy, sort of, although he is still married to Liz
Hey Brandy! Thanks for the recommendation of Pride and Prometheus, I’ll have to look for that one! As for the soap, it sold out a week ago and so isn’t visible now except via direct link. I plan to make another batch later this year though! It was orange scented. Here’s the link: https://northangersoapworks.com/product/mary-bennet/