Yes, Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella

This was an enjoyable Pride and Prejudice Variation and I enjoyed reading about Darcy and Elizabeth. I also found Lydia to be a bit more amusing and less annoying since she wasn\’t in too many scenes and the ones she was in while she still didn\’t behave properly and was embarrassing to Elizabeth she had potential to improve with a bit more discipline and structure in her life. The epilogue and post script at the end were both really cute. Unfortunately I didn\’t like Mr. Bennet in this book but if he was likeable the story never would have happened.

I adored this novella by J Dawn King, she writes so marvelously and thoroughly that you believe you are right there in the book!! She just keeps getting better and better and has me hooked, line and sinker!!! This story begins with Elizabeth walking through Lambton while her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner visit her old friends as Aunt Gardiner grew up there. This little trip with her relatives it to be her last bit of freedom as her parents have informed that a Mr. Collins, the heir to Longbourn under the entailment has decided to visit and choose a wife. Elizabeth\’s sorrow comes from the fact the her parents have decided that Elizabeth is to be the sacrificial lamb and informs her of it via letter requesting her to come home immediately.. So when Elizabeth comes upon a weeping young girl at the cemetery on her walk, she goes into the cemetery and gently offers consolation. The young lady identifies her sorrow as that for her deceased nurse and governess, a Mrs. Northam, Norty, and proceeds to describe the wonderful relationship she and her older brother have had with this woman. One thing leads to another and the girl spills all her worries and sorrow to Elizabeth, and her concern for her brother\’s reaction. Unbeknownst to them, the brother came upon them and heard part of the conversation before he intruded to give his sister his reassurance of his love. Elizabeth carefully and quietly excused herself, though she left a huge impact on the brother and sister. Fitzwilliam Darcy has overheard the caring and tender and gentle guidance offered to his sister and feels greatly indebted as he immediately sees the results of the grave side conversation. He then looks for this person in Lambton, in the surrounding areas and then even in London as he returns to the social scene there. Georgiana has taken the words of advice to heart and has continued to improve but Darcy wants to bring this wonder-worker into their circle of acquaintances, even to make her a close friend. Not finding her in London he accepts an invitation to travel with his friend, Bingley, to his newly leased estate and help guide him in learning how to manage it. So off to Meryton, where low and behold he runs into the very lady he\’s scoured Lambton and London for!!! At the Meryton Assembley, when Darcy spies Elizabeth, all he could do was to engage her as soon as possible. This is much better Assembly versus the one in canon, \’The Insult\’ does not happen, in fact events are a complete 180 degrees from canon. Read as Darcy now has a chance to return the favor, the great service, Elizabeth preformed for Georgiana and thus for him. He takes a much stronger approach to make amends and to set straight the Bennet debacle. I love how Darcy manipulates the events to his liking. There is no angst between Elizabeth and Darcy in this tale, only sweet words and a \”love at first sight\” type of romance – at least from one side. And just wait until you read the results of the chess match! Brilliant. The epilogue is a choice but how can one not want to read on. Especially when one reads the result of Mr. Bennet\’s deal with Mr. Collins….justice served! I have to say that this was just what I needed at the time, a low angst novella, that has not strife between ODC!!!! I would highly recommend this novella to all JAFFers, and say to keep it close at hand for a second, third, etc, perusal. I look forward to more masterpieces by Ms King!!!!

Purists take a break and just read a cute story that shows an entirely different side to ODC. Wow, how to describe this? Ive read it twice. It is a quick read and delightful. I was surprised by the emotional ride that this author invoked within my sphere of feelings. I ached, cringed, groaned, was moved to tears [but didnt cry], touched beyond what I expected, gloried at the victory, grieved at the loss, laughed at the absurdity, and giggled at the revenge. Yes, J. Dawn King knows how to wring out every emotion you have so be prepared to experience it all. This Elizabeth seemed younger, more nave and innocent than canon. Even though she was different, that also allowed her a better understanding, more acceptance and a willingness to hear truth, believe it and then to act on it when needed. Darcy also seemed younger and yet, was bolder, more decisive and demonstrated a willingness to go for what he wanted against all odds. I loved this guy. He was so cute and creative when in negotiations for what he wanted and surprise of surprises, it happened over a chess game. The face time with ODC was adorable, sweet, touching and I was moved by the creativity of the scenes. Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Darcy meet at the beginning of our story. They all liked each other and then Darcy spent the next few months trying to find her. He and Georgiana both wanted her in their lives even before they knew who she was. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are extreme in this version. I did not like them, and yet they added the needed tension, comic relief and that push our dear couple needed to encourage their affections for each other. Mr. Bennet was a disappointment and watching him fall in the eyes of his daughter was hard to endure. Even in canon, Elizabeth had a good understanding of her father and his actions [or lack thereof] in his marriage and with his protection of his daughters. Whatever relationship they had in this version fell with a loud crash as Mr. B. sacrificed his daughters happiness for his own comfort as easily as he would sacrifice his queen to an opponent. Since Mr. B. was a champion chess player from his university days, there were many chess related references. Even his plans were chess maneuvers. Those plans were quite simple, Lizzy would marry Collins, theyd live at Longbourn [thus he wouldnt lose her], when he died shed become Mistress of Longbourn, taking on the responsibility of the estate, his widow and her younger sisters. What could be simplerand at very little expense to himself. He could then spend all his time in his book room and let Lizzy handle things. Mr. Darcy did not respect the Bennet parents. He understood their dilemma; however, he did not appreciate Mr. Bennets lackadaisical conduct, not his abdicating his responsibility for the care of his family. I loved Darcy comments regarding Mrs. Bennets disdain and ill treatment of his Elizabeth. Her future house would be small enough to match her thinking towards her second daughter Ive never seen that response before. This Mr. Darcy was really straight forward in his thinking. He truly was a chess player and a good one at that. His strategies regarding Elizabeths family was awesome. Darcy did not appreciate nor tolerate Mr. Collins attentions toward Elizabeth. What a toad of a man. He was awful. I cannot find words sufficient enough to describe his attitude and actions; clueless does not even come close. Lady Catherine was livid regarding Darcys connection and relationship with such a family. Her revenge on Collins was swift and final. Her set-down of Caroline was fast and effective; I wanted to cheer. Bingley and Jane found their HEA. There was a most excellent Epilogue and a Post Script that was a delight. I LOVED them both, such surprises and a most excellent reveal. I cannot discuss anything in either as that would be a terrible spoiler. So you HAVE to read it. Problems: Editing: I dont know if this was an ebook problem but sentences were broken as though enter had been hit instead of allowing for text to wrap appropriately. That left the rest of a sentence dangling on the next line. That happened several times.

I have read this story repeatedly since buying it recently and will no doubt reed it again very soon. I am an avid P&P variant fan and, in my view, this is one of the best after \”Death comes—\”. The novella format requires that the plot races along, but the style remains reasonably close to the original Austen and the characters are similarly drawn. I can thoroughly recommend this book especially the cover which provides a breath-taking vision of Lizzie. Move over Miss Ehle!

Very readable, but a bit short! Perhaps I should have realized that a \”Novella\” would be short but hey ho!

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