What Would Mr Darcy Do?: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

I have so many warm, fuzzy feelings deep in my loins whenever I read about P&P retellings that tell the story with Elizabeth less of a dunce and more red-blooded young woman. The reluctance to acknowledge her attraction to Mr. Darcy, the awkward silences, the sidelong glances. Oh, my heart! This book takes the scene from Lambton one step further with a major twist ~ Darcy isn\’t repelled by the latest younger Bennett shenanigan and sticks to tearful Lizzie by choice. His soothing voice and presence, his tall aloofness, I just wonder how Elizabeth really felt, torn between deep shame about her family and the growing attraction to this quiet man. I wish I was a fly in the wall and saw her confusion. Can you imagine how much testosterone Mr. Darcy exuded and how helpless Lizzie was to his advances in her vulnerable (yet willing) state?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Valentine\’s week should be spent in the company of Elizabeth and Darcy. This book is neither the best nor the worst P&P \”variation\” I have read. My favorites remain the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy by Pamela Aidan, and Mr. Darcy\’s Diary by Amanda Grange. From Lambton to Longbuorn (more recently published with the title \”What Would Mr. Darcy Do?\”) is a cross between Austen and a Harlequin Romance. The story picks up in Lambton where Elizabeth has just learned of Lydia\’s disgrace. Instead of Darcy running off, leaving Lizzy to wonder whether she will ever see him again, they share a passionate moment and actually communicate their feelings to each other! There are really no twists to the plot, but we do get to know Georgiana Darcy a bit better, and she enjoys some \”girl time\” during a visit with the Bennet sisters. The overwhelming theme to this P&P variation is that of Elizabeth and Darcy finding stolem moments for passionate embraces. Certainly out of character for the times in which they lived.

This Pride and Prejudice adaptation was actually previously published under the title From Lambton to Longborne. Reynolds takes the classic P&P characters and presents a twist… what if Darcy didn\’t leave Elizabeth after receiving her news about Lydia from home? What if he stayed and comforted her through her tears? What if he made advances on her? This short novel was accomplished in a couple of hours and a great afternoon read for any Austin adaptation fan. Reynolds does a great job of creating an alternate story line while keeping the lovable characters and the emotional response which they create in tact. Other Reynolds adaptations have been a bit more graphic and sexy, and while waiting for the romance to progress is as anticipated as the anxious and impatient characters feelings, the author leaves you hanging and has their first married night implied rather than described. Reynolds also resolves conflict between the characters too quickly; it almost seems awkward. Sexy scenes create an emotional response for the reader, but so to does a quarrel. Darcy and Elizabeth exchange strong words at a social gathering leaving Elizabeth distraught and questioning her growing love of him. If the scene had been extended the reunion would have been all the more dramatic; however, the author resolves the conflict within a page of the quarrel. My emotions barely had time to form before everything was put right again. Any P&P enthusiast who can\’t read enough variations and adaptations will surely enjoy this one as well. Purists however will probably find fault in most it. If you want more, try Impulse and Initiative by Reynolds which I thought was fantastic.

Starting at the inn at Lambton where Lizzy receives the horrible news that Lydia has run off with George Wickham, this book re-imagines a Lizzy-Darcy love story which has him proclaiming his continuing affections immediately upon the receipt of this news, and proceeding to a much more hands-on, passionate courtship period between Darcy and Lizzy. The characters of Lizzy\’s Aunt and Uncle Gardiner play bigger roles in this scenerio, as does Darcy\’s sister, Georgiana. The novel assumes that the reader is well aware of all that has come before, including Lizzy\’s family history, the backgrounds and personalities of the main characters, Lizzy\’s previous curt refusal of Darcy\’s marriage proposal, and the ongoing love story between Jane and Bingley. While I have to admit that I thrilled to the first few descriptions of Darcy kissing Lizzy, since the actual novel denies the reader that pleasure, I soon became tired of Lizzy and Darcy sneaking into the bushes to engage in ever-more vigorous face-sucking. Frankly, it seemed out of character for Darcy, and I just did not want him to turn into a more ordinary modern romantic hero. The weddings of Jane and Lizzy are well-told, and I think that the author was very true to the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. But, in the end, it\’s just kind of wishful thinking, really. It\’s not the original, and I just could not suspend my disbelief enough to really get into it. I do recommend it for fans who read tribute literature because I think this one is particularly well-done. However, I think that there will always be Jane Austen fans (and I guess I am one of them) for whom the original books will just have to be enough.

If you want a rip-roaring tale of angst, this is not the book for you. If you want a delightful tale of two people finding each other and taking the time to truly learn about one another (and to see Darcy just utterly enamoured), this is a winner. Very well written, nicely paced and the characterisation of everyone was perfection. Some main stays were missing but frankly I quite liked the lack of meddling. This is a happy book if you need cheering and will leave you with a smile.

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