Mr. Darcy’s Obsession by Abigail Reynolds
Abigail Reynolds is a go-to author of Jane Austen variations. Mr. Darcy's Obsession tells the story after Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy meet at Rosings, but Mr. Darcy never has a chance to propose because Lizzy must return home when her father falls gravely ill. The death of her father, unfortunately, sends the Bennet family further down the social ladder when Mr. Collins becomes the new owner of Longbourn, forcing the family to rely upon the Gardiners and other family members' kindness.
"She needed to acknowledge that Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn was no more, and in her place was an impoverished young lady with a patchwork education and no prospects." (page 103 of ARC)
Reynolds clearly knows Pride & Prejudice very well, and while she does create alternative story lines for these characters, she never loses sight of their essence. Darcy fights his desire to be with Lizzy, but finds himself drawn to her against his "better judgment," and Lizzy falls for Darcy in spite of her misconceptions about him and their misunderstandings. Meanwhile, new characters -- like Lady Seaton -- come on the scene to spice up the narrative and make it fresh.
Mr. Darcy's Obsession by Abigail Reynolds is a novel for Austen enthusiasts, and there are fewer stolen moments -- those ones that defy common behaviors of the Regency period -- between the lead characters than in previous variations. Readers should be warned that not all is pleasant with the Bennets, particularly where Jane and Bingley are concerned and of course, there is the ever-impetuous Lydia. Overall, another well written, cast, and lively variation from Reynolds.
***Thanks to Sourcebooks and Abigail Reynolds for sending me a copy of this book for review.***
This is my 8th book for the Jane Austen Challenge 2010.
This is my 4th book for the Everything Austen II Challenge.