Series: Standalone
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Source:
Purchased
Published: Omnibus (2014)
Paperback - 704 pgs
Rating:
4/5
Let yourself be drawn into the world of Fitzwilliam
Darcy, landed gentleman, scholar, and very eligible bachelor, whose engaging
and enthusiastic friend, Mr. Bingley, has acquired a new manor. Darcy
accompanies his friend into the wilds of Hertfordshire, where he meets the
enchanting Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Darcy was a wealthy, well-intentioned,
intelligent, and educated man; how on Earth did he become so thoroughly tangled
by his acquaintance with the daughter of a country gentleman? Follow the story
that will take Darcy from the heights of wealth and status, to the depths of
pain and self-condemnation, and, ultimately, to the safe haven of the love and
respect of his heart's mistress. This lovingly crafted companion to Jane
Austen's Pride and Prejudice will give her fans a feeling of home-coming, and a
chance to see this beloved story from a new perspective, all the while immersed
in the endearing world of Regency England Austen so masterfully created.
Adaptations of Austen’s novels are written almost exclusively by women. It is rare indeed that a man takes up the task of rewriting the story of Darcy and Miss. Bennet. After reading this series though, I wish more would try.
While many others have tried to
capture Darcy’s perspective of Pride and
Prejudice, this version captures his spirit and personality in a way
Austen, I think, would approve. Here we receive a before, during and after view
of Darcy's character and we witness the transformation Elizabeth sparks in him from his own
eyes. Darcy’s public vs. private face is made clear using letters between he
and his sister, who is has a much larger role in this story than the original, which
I enjoyed immensely.
I will admit there were times when
the sheer amount of philosophy Darcy used to analyze his life made me skim some
of the pages. However, I did enjoy the analytical side of Darcy overall compared
to the sickly sweet version some adaptations put forward. This version of Darcy
is much closer to the one I envision when I read Pride and Prejudice. Hurd captured all the characters’ essence and
I enjoyed the extra characters he created just as much.
Overall, the story was fantastic, but I hope you can find a way to avoid the missing letters if you read this story! This is a great read for any Austen adaptation fan and a unique way to read Darcy's story. I really enjoyed the different perspective of Darcy's life.
Happy Reading!