Mrs Darcy's Dilemma: A sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

by Diana Birchall

Beginning twenty-five years after Darcy and Elizabeth's wedding, their life together has been wonderful and their marriage is still thriving. Their grown children bring them great delight, along with some trepidation, Mrs. Darcy's nieces come for a visit, and a theatrical scandal threatens to embroil them all. The Victorian age is dawning, and Pemberley's new generation is coming into their own.

"The very title makes you want to read it right away! Fascinating, ans such wonderful use of language." --Joan Austen-Leigh

"Birchall's witty, elegant visit to the middle-aged Darcys is a delight." --Professor Janet Todd, University of Glasgow

""A refreshing and entertaining look at the Darcys some years after Pride and Prejudice from a most accomplished author. --Jenny Scott, author of After Jane

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Regency, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance

234 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike the plethora of “Pride and Prejudice” sequels that begin immediately or soon after Darcy and Elizabeth's wedding, “Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma” by Diana Birchall uniquely opens twenty-five blissful and flourishing years into the Darcy's marriage. Throughout the past quarter of a century Darcy and Elizabeth have had little to disturb their happy marriage and are now the proud parents of three grown children. Fitzwilliam, the older son and heir to Pemberley, perhaps inspires more anxiety than pride since he doesn't show as much aptitude for managing an estate as he does horses and racing. Henry, the younger son who is intending to be ordained soon, takes after his mother with his intelligence, compassion, and quick wit. Jane, the youngest in the family, has just turned seventeen and is preparing for her coming out into society.

The Wickham's, unfortunately, have not experienced a joyful and successful life these past twenty-five years. George Wickham now spends his days and his money imbibing alcohol, leaving Lydia to manage and care for eight children. Lydia, despondent and wretched over the fate of her two eldest daughters, petitions the Darcy's for assistance, resulting in an invitation for Bettina, 20, and Chloe, 17, to stay at Pemberley. Knowing that their own children could use a little more society and fresh conversation, the Darcy's happily anticipate the arrival of the two eldest Misses Wickhams. Their only fear is that their sons may become romantically attached to these fair young cousins, but that occurrence is highly improbable...or is it?

One of things I enjoyed most about this charming sequel was the focus on the Darcy and Wickham children. These new characters, crafted by Diana Birchall, were interesting, diverse, and a fitting addition to the “Pride and Prejudice” populace. I especially liked Henry, he reminded me a lot of Henry Tilney with his kindness and teasing. I'm afraid I wasn't too fond of Fitzwilliam though; you would think that since he respected and regarded his father so highly he would try to emulate him more. Instead he avoids his responsibilities and behaves quite vulgar and unabashed; I would like to think Mr. Darcy would raise his son to be better.

Another aspect I greatly enjoyed was the author's tone throughout the narration of this novel. Especially the long passages of narration at the beginning of the novel that fondly and personally reintroduced us to the characters of “Pride and Prejudice.” While not exactly writing with Jane Austen's biting social commentary, I do compliment Ms. Birchall for capturing Jane Austen's honest and elegant narrative style.
My one small complaint for this novel is with some characters having mistresses and/or scandalous professions. I know these things did occur in Jane Austen's time, even in some of Jane Austen's novels, yet in this instance I felt these occurrences malapropros and more appropriate for a Georgette Heyer novel rather than a Jane Austen sequel.

If you feel an inclination to visit Pemberley twenty-five years after “Pride and Prejudice,” then “Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma” is the book I recommend for you! I was delighted by this tale of the Darcy and Wickham offspring and I greatly enjoyed being with the characters of “Pride and Prejudice” once again. I eagerly look forward to reading more works by Diana Birchall especially her short story collection about Mrs. Elton titled, “Mrs. Elton in America: The Compleat Mrs. Elton Trilogy.”

Austenesque Reviews

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

This story is set 25 years into the Darcy marriage with them having 3 children. The oldest son, Fitzwilliam, is a disappointment in that his only interests seem to be horses and racing. The second son, Henry, soon is ordained and placed in a parish, Manygrove, near to Pemberley. Daughter Jane is to soon make her entrance into society. The Bingley's oldest son plays a part, also.

The title is somewhat misleading as Darcy and Elizabeth share opinions and do their part in counseling their children and/or their two nieces. Yes, Lydia (mother of 8) has been invited to visit at Pemberley. Her daughters, Bettina and Cloe (spelling of the second is usually Chloe), play large parts in this story. Darcy and Elizabeth have made know to their sons that they are not to form attachments to their cousins.

So, of course, one premise is a disobedient son/sons in that respect, though not as you might surmise. Much of the story is told from Cloe's POV as she knows her place but also seeks to become independent from her family, including her aunt and uncle. Ironically, she finds a place as a governess with the Collins family.

Lady Catherine plays her part in this story, although Wickham does not. Several characters indulge in sexual relationships which were common in that era and Fitzwilliam (the son) has a very unfortunate fate...one which eliminates his taking over any management of or even siring an heir for Pemberley.

SPOILER: Relationships, even marriages, with cousins were not looked down on in that period. However, I prefer stories in which that does not happen. END of SPOILER

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story. I think it's one of the best sequels I've read in ages. It takes place on the eve of Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne, and mostly focus on how Elizabeth and Darcy deal with their ridiculous family and their children, some of whom give them cause to worry.

Birchall has done an amazing job keeping the characters we know, love and love to hate in character. I wanted to scream at Lydia, Mr Collins and Lady Catherine. If I feel that I know we were treated to great characterization.

I was very impressed, and lament the fact that I took me so long to get around to this gem!

[Natalie Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have learned to avoid reading Jane Austen sequels. I most especially avoid books that transform Austen characters into werewolves, vampires, mermaids, psychopomps, etc. Diana Birchall's writing, however, is a cautionary tale: don't make broad edicts about everything. Birchall has a lively sensibility and a delicious ear for Austen's prose and characterization.

Her book is a continuation of Pride and Prejudice written with wit, sensibility, sensitivity, and authority. She projects the Bennet family into the 1830's with plausible delight. Each character retains the integrity of Austen's vision and the added characters---the new generation---are perfect for their time period.

If you love Austen as an ironic observer of the social panoply and a genius at characterization, then you must read Birchall whose polished prose is an eminently worthy successor to Austen. Indeed, I suspect that Birchall writes precisely the kind of book Austen would have written had she lived two or three decades longer.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a good Austen adaptation and had high hopes for this one which came highly recommended from fellow Austenites. But I found the story bland and the character development lacking. And there was definite lack of witty dialogue.

[Kathleen Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a witty and delightfully well-written novel, continuing the story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy -- happily married in midlife, now parents to three young adults who are embarked on their own romantic adventures as the Victorian age dawns. I enjoyed how it echoed Austen, reprising characters, situations and even words in a way that felt like homage, not imitation

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve had this book, purchased at a Jane Austen talk in L.A. directly from the author herself, in my personal library, unread, for a good three or four years. Shame on me. This is what happens when you have a healthy library and a lot of things going on.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma is one of the founding fathers, if you will, of the Jane Austen Fan Fiction and the Pride and Prejudice variations, having been written back in the 90s and published in 2008. For that reason alone, it’s worth picking up.

So let’s get into it!

If you are well versed in the JAFF community, you know many of the variations and/or sequels take place immediately following the events in Pride and Prejudice; i.e., the momentous weddings of Jane Bennet to Charles Bingley and Elizabeth Bennet to Fitzwilliam Darcy. Not so with Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma. Instead, Diana Birchall cleverly picks up the story twenty-five years after the conclusion of P&P. This allows the reader to be introduced to a new generation of Darcys, Bingleys, Collinses and Wickhams and puts them smack into the start of Queen Victoria’s reign.

I’ll admit that I love picking up the P&P story immediately following the weddings, as Jane Austen herself never wrote a sequel and gave us any further glimpses into the lives of the Bingleys, Darcys and Bennets. That said, and despite my initial hesitation over the timeframe put to use here, I thoroughly enjoyed being taken to the 1830s. It was gratifying to see Elizabeth and Darcy’s children and, most especially, their continuing love for one another on relatively smooth roads. At least until our book! Lizzy, of course, has proven to be a most-effective and well-suited mistress of Pemberley; graceful, caring, and giving Mr. Darcy two sons (the heir and the spare) and a lovely daughter — most likely to the frustration of Lady Catherine de Bourgh!

While it’s a wonderful and unique glance at the Darcys’ lives to focus mostly on the Darcy children, it does mean that Lizzy and Mr. Darcy are not the primary characters. For some, that may prove to be a hurdle . . . and I’ll admit that I did miss the two being the romantic center of the story.
Lydia Bennet Wickham’s daughters, too, are major players in this tale. As you can imagine, one daughter very much takes after her mother! Like the two Darcy sons, I found one Wickham daughter quite agreeable while the other distasteful. You might expect that with George and Lydia Wickham as parents but Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy?

Readers will also get to revisit with Georgiana Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Caroline Bingley who, I’m gratified to report, has not altered much these twenty-five years.

I was slightly disappointed that Jane and Charles Bingley did not get more time, in the same way that Kitty Bennet, in twenty-five years’ time, became more bitter and solitary than one would expect after Lydia’s departure in P&P.

That said, Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma was a delightful read. I zipped through it, hating to put the book down so anxious was I to find out what would befall my favorite characters. Ms. Birchall’s writing was engaging and highly reminiscent of Queen Jane herself. I’d recommend picking it up and reading it yourself if you’d like to revisit the Darcys!

[QNPoohBear · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have been happily married five and twenty years. They have three children: a daughter Jane, whom they done on excessively; younger son Henry, a fine young man who is about to be ordained; and Fiztwilliam, the horse-mad heir who wants nothing to do with learning how to run Pemberley as it should. Mrs. Clarke, formerly Kitty Bennet, whose husband is the parish rector, spends a lot of time at Pemberley too. When Elizabeth receives a letter from her sister Mrs. Wickham, inviting her two oldest unmarried daughters to visit Pemberley, Elizabeth is shocked and outraged. What if their moral character is so low as to corrupt the Darcy children? Reasoning that their morals certainly can't be worse than their parents and that Elizabeth could be a good influence on them, Miss Elizabeth (Bettina) and Miss Chloe are sent for. The two girls cause chaos at Pemberley and force the Darcys into the modern Victorian age.

I only read Jane Austen sequels when I run out of things to read. I only read e-books when I'm traveling light. Over the holiday weekend I was in both situations and I'm sorry I downloaded this book. It was incredibly poorly written and the Kindle edition had so many typos and errors that it was difficult to read.

The writing is simplistic but at times tries to mimic the style of Jane Austen by repeating or rewriting some of her phrases and dialogue. The story reads like a short story instead of a novel. The action is a bit surprising and far-fetched. The good parts of the story are glossed over too quickly. I rated this OK because there were some plot elements I liked and wanted more of and something shocking happens to a character and I had to keep reading to find out what happened.

I didn't like the characterization of the characters I know and love. I don't see Mr. Darcy turning into Mr. Bennet whenever guests are around. I also don't see him as that accepting. Kitty turns into a copy of Mary just because she's unhappy. The kids are stereotypical and two-dimensional. The nad characters are really bad and the good characters are too good. Maybe this is supposed to mimic 18th century novels? The characters I did like are Elizabeth, who is charming but a bit meddlesome and hypocritical, and Mary, who remains the same. I felt bad for Mary actually.

Content advisory:
Lydia's daughter does some very shocking adult things. Technically it's not more than Georgette Heyer wrote about but in Heyer's case, it was usually in passing reference.

[Maria Elmvang · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" we are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Darcy 25 years later. They now have three children of their own: the youngest, Jane, takes after her namesake and aunt, Henry is the image of his father, but unfortunately Fitzwilliam, the elder son and Darcy's heir, is a bit too much like his aunt Lydia for his parents' liking. This becomes all too apparent when Mrs. Darcy invites Lydia's daughters to come for a visit, and Fitzwilliam looses his heart to the elder, thus embarking on a scandal that will upset the entire family.

While amusing, the plot unfortunately offers little new to the reader, who'll be able to guess the ending at a very early stage. Instead the strength of the novel lies in Diana Birchall's writing style. She has studied Jane Austen's writing closely, and her fidelity to this style - in both words and plot - enables her to cross the line between "fanfiction", and a novel worthy of being a sequel to one of the great classics. The characters are exactly as I remember them - which is almost a shame in the case of Lydia, as she is precisely as intolerable as always, making me occasionally want to put away the book in disgust over her behaviour. Elizabeth is as kind as ever, and while ardent admirers of Mr. Darcy will regret that he makes such a small appearance, when he does show up on the pages, he is exactly the loving husband loyal readers expect him to be.

I seldom read sequels written by a different author, as I fear nobody will be able to do the original author justice. This is especially the case with my favourite authors, and I was therefore somewhat reluctant to start this book, but had not turned many pages before I saw that Diana Birchall had managed to do what I deem most important in any sequel - she had managed to capture the spirit of Jane Austen. For that alone I could easily forgive her the predictability of the novel, and enjoy it for what it was - a loving homage to one of England's greatest writers.

[etherealfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library kindle e-book

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing book as it looks at Darcy and Elizabeth 25 years into the future. They are the parents of three children, but Fitzwilliam, the eldest, is not like either his father nor his mother. He's a bit of a dolt with a passion for one thing: horseflesh. He races. He bets on races. He is idle and rather dissipated. Their next eldest, Henry, is much like Elizabeth. As the second son, his heart and mind are set on the church. Their youngest, whose come-out is looming, is Jane who seems to combine the best of both parents.

The "dilemma" refers to whether Darcy and Elizabeth should invite two of the Wickhams' eight children for an extended visit. The elder of the two daughters is Lydia all over again, but with Wickhams' scheming ways. The younger is a sweet girl, preparing to enter service as a governess to help her financially-challenged family. But will these two girls, who are ready for their come-outs, become hindrances to their sons? There lies the dilemma.

We also get to see the Bingleys (and their only child, a son who has reached his majority and is more like his cousin Fitzwilliam than like either of his parents, except perhaps with Bingley's impetuous, somewhat thoughtless, manner) and Lydia...and far too much of Kitty who is married to the local rector.

I found this book difficult to put down; I spent far too much time reading this book in the tub until pruney. It's a compelling read--to see our beloved characters this far into the future and measure how much--and how little--each has changed over the years.

If I could give a book a 4 1/2, I would do so here. I try to save "5" for classics and such, so a 4 1/2 would be fairer than a plain old 4. :)

[Lit Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is such a strange read. The style is ok, characters are well formed and act as presented, only the basic principles and values of P&P are twisted into something that is awkward and bizarre.
So, it starts out with a long married Mr. & Mrs. Darcy; their firstborn is a bore (the parents are underwhelmed), a second son who is a delight to them (a clergyman) and a younger daughter who is nice (only maybe there's not much to her).
The Darcys receive two young ladies on the Christmas holiday, the Misses Wickham -- many strange and shocking things come to pass, one daughter is wicked, the other is not, one son goes astray, they are all very civilized and relaxed about it. Then tragedy strikes (only no one behaves as if there's anything sad about it -- wtf?), some things are set "to right", and the end...

Let me please ponder how come this is supoosed to be a "happily ever after" and have a sense of closure, with the Darcy heir and firstborn terribly incapacitated, the future presumptive mistress is a daughter of Wickham, and the theoretical heirs of Pemberley are Wickham's grandsons...????
It just makes no sense to have written this (in my personal opinion!!).

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avid Reader

This book has been in my Kindle for some time, and I finally got a chance to read it. Elizabeth invites Lydia and Wickham 's two oldest daughters to Pemberly, and trouble begins. The oldest is exactly like Like Lydia who sets her cap for the Pemberly heir who is nothing like Darcy or Elizabeth. The second daughter is good and intrigues the second son who takes orders and falls in love with the second daughter. No one likes the oldest daughter. Darcy talks to the oldest son about the oldest daughter. Then Lydia shows up followed by Lady Catherine and the Collins family. The Collins family is still waiting for Mr. Bennet to die. Mary is a widow with no children, and Catherine and her husband have no children. The Bingleys have one son Jeremy who also gets involved with the eldest Wickham daughter. There is a happy ending.

[Michelle Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delicious sequel to Pride and Prejudice with the Darcy’s in their older years. They navigating the trials and tribulations of finding matches for their adult children and plan the future of Pemberly. I truly appreciated that this one did not focus to much on the physical relationship of Mr. And Mrs Darcy as I have found other sequels to be obsessed with nor did it spend a great portion of the book preaching about forming a relationship with god. I found without either one of this extremes, this sequel was enjoyable to read.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there were some annoying formatting problems with the Kindle format I purchased, this book was nowhere nearly as bad as some other reviewers had me concerned about. It got me out of a reading rut, and I appreciated the way the story ended, as well as how the author maintained some of the feel of Jane Austen’s writing. I have read many much worse “sequels.”

[loriinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started at a leisurely pace, but then took off!

It took me a bit to warm up to this story, due to the formality of the language and the slower pace at the beginning of the story, but once it got going... Wow! I really liked this mix (powder keg?) of the Darcy and Wickham sons and daughters.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though not a literary classic this book is an enjoyable read for an Austen fan.

[Ellyn Erickson]

neat story, and details of that t ype of society.

[Peggy Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a snooze, nothing offensive as in some P&P knockoffs.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite Austen continuation. It was a bit slow for me and stuffy.

[Louise Mifsud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fanfictions are always very subjective. It is not just a matter of liking the story, but accepting the character development through someone else rather than your own.

I devoured the book, read it in two days in fact. It is truly a page turner. But it doesn't mean I didn't scream internally at points.

The story happens 25 years later, Victorian age drawing near, with the Bennet sisters no longer answering to that name. All married, most with children, who are at the heart of the story, the new generation. We see them navigate coming of age, love and mirrored errors of the past. The children are the product of their parents and their behaviour and the effects that would entail. We see a beautiful contrast between Wickham sisters, Darcys and Bingley - which I loved as indirectly, the original text was full of them.

This is where fanfictions become subjective. I feel at the beginning, the story was unkind to Lizzie. She would speak her mind, especially with her husband, but she won't be unkind as she was. I admit, I didn't only scream internally at that point. Whiney is not an adjective I would use to describe Lizzie, but that is how she came across (at least to me).

I feel it was also unkind towards the Bingleys. I would not have imagined such a development for them. As good natured as they were, Jane's upbringing would be a constant reminder not spoil her son the way he was. I would have thought that Jane especially, would have been more involved in Pemberley than she showed to be at the point of the story.

Mr. Collins was as ridiculous as ever. Age did not humble him at all. Neither Lady Catherine De Bourgh (LCDB). It was a welcomed familiarity. I doubt that they would ever change. Kitty, Mary, Caroline Bingley (now married) haven't changed too. To an extent, in trying to sound wise, at times Mary sounded ridiculous.

The narrative style, while different, is very much inspired by Jane Austen. It does not waste time on explanations normally attributed when writing a story set in past. It assumes we know the socio-economic and political context. I loved that.

As much as I enjoyed the story, I feel that it missed a great opportunity with Cloe Wickham. She is perhaps one of my favourite introductory characters. I would have loved to learn more about her: her days as a governess with the Collinses; her struggle to be a better person than her parents and her sister; her struggles with being a Wickham and what it meant, or thought it meant for the Darcys especially Henry.
Drawing a parallel PoV between her and what was happening at Pemberley would have added more to what already is a great character. I hope there are more stories about her.

Finally, you know how sometimes you read a book and some characters just start having a voice of their own in your head and you read the rest of their conversation in that voice?
Yeah, for me it was the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice which did the trick. I couldn't stop reading the characters of Lizzie, Mary, Lydia (especially), Jane, Mr. Collins, and LCBD in those voices. Maybe it was the way the characters are presented or the way the dialogue is written. Something within the story triggered those voices, which considering that the 1995 is perhaps the best series adaptation of P&P, it is a compliment.

I hope to see more of the new generation. I did genuinely enjoy this read. Albeit the difference in thought of how characters from P&P would have progressed, it is a good story, whether to read it at the beach, or cozied in a blanket with a hot beverage and soft music in the background, you are in for a nice journey, beautifully written and eloquently delivered.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally, I quite liked this novel. Unlike many other Pride & Prejudice sequels, the story does not begin right after Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s wedding, but 25 years into their marriage, which I think is quite unique. It tells the story of Mrs. Darcy in her 40s and the trouble she has keeping her children, as well as her sister Lydia Wickham’s children in check. Elizabeth Darcy’s own children are Fitzwilliam, her eldest child, whose character description in the beginning of the book is more or less limited to his liking of horse racing and drinking, Henry, the second son, who is the more sensible of the two and is planning to become a clergyman, and Jane, her only daughter and youngest child. Mr. and Mrs. Bingley have one son, who is extremely spoilt and whose behavior has much to ask for. Kitty married a clergyman, Mr. Clarke, but spends most of her time at the Darcy’s household. She has grown quite bitter. Mrs. Wickham has eight children, of which she has sent two to stay at the Darcy’s for a while: Bettina and Chloe. Bettina is the elder one of the two, and is basically a Lydia v2.0: arrogant, conceited, and incredibly rude, while Chloe is a modest, shy, but pleasant young woman who is immediately liked by the Darcy family. As you will probably expect, Bettina’s presence at Pemberley leads to a lot of trouble!

Again, like I remarked in my previous review (here), there is much about this plot that is incredibly predictable: Lydia’s daughter turns out to be very similar to her and gets into the same kind of trouble. However, the other new characters are not cliché per se. I read an interesting review on http://www.pemberley.com, where Linda Waldemar argued that many of the characters show similarities to characters from other novels by Jane Austen than Pride & Prejudice. I think she makes a good point, which makes this novel particularly interesting for Austen addicts.

The way in which this novel was written, is very reminiscent of Austen’s writing style, while it still reads like a contemporary novel. Because of this, it is an easy read for a Sunday afternoon, similar to Presumption by Julia Barrett. What is unlike Austen’s writing style, however, is that Birchall does include references to historical events, such as the fact that Victoria becomes Queen. Also, she clearly illustrates the difference between the time in which her novel takes place versus the time in which Pride & Prejudice is set by emphasizing that society is changing, with London being much more modern than the rest of the country. Specifically, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have to raise their children in a country where societal rules become less strict and a younger generation starts rebelling against them. This historical aspect makes the novel less Austenesque, but more pleasant to read as a contemporary sequel, in my opinion.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this sequel to the classic tale of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from the beginning, if only for the uniqueness of the setting. Instead of the usual starting point of after their wedding or in the early years of their marriage, Birchall instead takes the reader over two decades into the future, when Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are still very much in love and the proud parents of three adult children.

Of course, this future is not entirely golden, and Birchall did a great job mixing Austen's canon characters and the realism of life. That Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, for all their care and good sense, managed to have a son who behaved more like a mixture of Lydia's selfishness and Mr. Bennet's obliviousness than either of them, speaks to real life more than anything, and I thought it was a great touch.

What I love most about this book is that Birchall really took into account the fact that this really is over two decades after Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage. Society has changed much, and indeed the story ends just as the Victorian Age begins, and hints at the changes that will soon descend on Pemberley's idyllic world.

For all that, I did have a few problems with the story. I disliked the treatment of Kitty's character. The end of P&P mentions her great improvement after she spends much of her time under Jane and Elizabeth's influence. I grant you that her disappointments in life -- not having any children of her own and being forced to dote on her sister's children -- might engender some sadness and even bitterness on Kitty's part, but I didn't like that she basically fell back into who she was as a young girl. It felt a bit too much like a cop out to me. Jane and Elizabeth were given the chance to grow and mature in their adulthood, and even Mary seems a bit more mature than she was in the book, why not Kitty?

Overall, an intriguing look into the future of the classical characters and where their lives went after the curtain fell on Jane Austen's part of the story.

[Carol Perrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Twenty-five years after Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage, they are still very much in love. They have two sons and one daughter. Fitzwilliam, their oldest, seems to be a problem in that he doesn't take his responsibility of inheriting Pemberley seriously and seems not to be very smart. How the Darcys could have birth this child is a mystery. Their second son, Henry, seems to have inherited the good sense and smarts of the Darcys. Their daughter, Jane, is beautiful and the apple of her father's eyes. Tragedy falls upon Pemberley when the two oldest daughters are invited to Pemberley followed by their mother, Lydia. One daughter, Bettina, is an exact copy of her useless mother and father combined, whereas the other daughter, Cloe, reminds the Darcys of Jane Bingley. Disaster strikes their oldest son who is left paralyzed from the waist down. While Darcy and Elizabeth are upset, Darcy knows his second son will help run Pemberley. The thing I didn't like in this story was that Lydia, with her crude big mouth, was allowed to be at Pemberley in the first place especially when she loudly states that Bettina and Fitzwilliam will marry. Even after they do run off to London together, Lydia stays on. Darcy would never have let Lydia cause such a disaster. It would not be the stoic, proud, and proper Darcy of Austen's original story.

[Holly (2 Kids and Tired) · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a rule, I don't like attempted sequels. I especially don't like attempted sequels of classic novels, when those sequels are written by wannabe Jane Austens or Margaret Mitchells.

When I picked up Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma, I was prepared to dislike it. (When Austen wannabes try to be Jane, they fail miserably. No one can do that, so just stop trying, ok?) As I read the book though, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying it instead. It was entertaining and difficult to put down. Diana Birchall didn't try to be Jane Austen. Thank goodness. Birchall did, however, manage to capture the essence of Pride and Prejudice as this novel picks up 25 years after the end of the original. Elizabeth and Darcy have 3 children and the novel is about the exploits of those children. Darcy's compassion is readily apparent, as is his pride and the expectation he has for his family. His tenderness with Elizabeth is sweet.

While there is a bit too much Lydia in the book, I also found that Birchall's take on how Lydia's life turned out was believable. Her two eldest daughters play a major role in the book, and the Collinses, as well as Elizabeth's other sisters and Lady Catherine all make appearances as well.

Overall, an entertaining and delightful read.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"When Mrs. Darcy invited her sister Lydia's daughters to come for a visit, she felt it was a small kindness she could do for her poor nieces. Little did she imagine the upheaval that would ensue. But with her elder son, the Darcy's heir, in danger of losing his heart, a theatrical scandal threatening to engulf them all, and daughter Jane on the verge of her come-out, the Mistress of Pemberley must make some difficult decisions ..."
~~back cover

The author captured all of Jane Austen's characterizations very nicely, with the exception of Mr. Darcy -- I think he would have been more involved with his family than he was. The new haracters: the one niece was very Jane Austen, but the other was entirely too brazen. The eldest son was also not a character I would have thought Jane Austen would have created, although the second son certainly was.

The plot was rather weak, and very reminiscent of a major plot theme in Pride and Prejudice. The ending was entirely unsatisfactory, imho.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma revisits the Darcy family 25 years later. In this sequel, readers get to visit Elizabeth and Darcy, and meet their children. The story, however, focuses on the Darcy children and their adventures in life and love. With the inclusion of their Wickham cousins, Aunt Lydia, Caroline Bingley, and Darcy's Aunt Catherine, you can bet the Darcys will face several dilemmas.
Of the many sequels I have read to Pride and Prejudice, I liked this one the best. I enjoyed the fact that this story was not just an imagined continuation of Austen's original novel. I also appreciated that the author did not try to recreate Elizabeth and Darcy; but developed a seperate story incoporating them. Besides the above, I liked this author's imagining of the Darcy children and each child's struggle with pride and prejudice. I found the story well written and thought it kept true to Austen's style. Therefore, I would recommend this book to others.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cant help myself. I really liked this book. Now I know.. its not like Pride and Prejudice, but that was only one book.. what if I need a Elizabeth and Darcy fix..lol.. there are several people out their whom write spin-offs of Jane Austens book but not all of them capture the feeling of D&E like this woman. I will without a doubt be reading more by her.

This book is set after D&E have been married for a number of years and have 3 children. 2 sons and a daughter. Now, the oldest of the sons is a pompous ass and the middle son is more mellow and safe. When E's nieces come to visit, one is very much impulsive like her mother and the other is trying to make up for it. Problems arise and E definetly has a dilema but HEA does prevail because hey.. most likely I wouldnt read it if it didnt..lol...

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a few Jane Austen sequels and fanfic, and this one has to be the best so far. Birchall's novel stands out because she captures the conversational tone and humor that Austen used to reveal her characters' characters: it's funny, light and respectful of Austen's world, and she does not try to rewrite it into our 21st century image. Set 25 years after Pride and Prejudice, she is not only able to show the mature versions of the Bennet sisters and all their in-laws and relations, but also present an engaging set of characters in the next generation. Henry and Jane Darcy are only mildly interesting, as good Young People must be, but there are plenty of less upright cousins to mix things up. I also liked the way that Birchall captured the changing times at the beginning of the Victorian age. This would be a good first choice for anyone who is interested in reading beyond Austen's canon.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most interesting part of this book was reading about what had supposedly happened to all the characters of Pride and Prejudice in the 25 years following the book. However, when I read Austen I usually hear the voices from my favorite movie adaptations and I did not hear those voices very often while reading this book. Lydia was closest to what I would expect but her voice sounded like her mother which was what one would expect of Lydia 25 years after P&P so kudos to Birchall for that one at least. As far as plot lines go, I felt like this book borrowed much from Austen's books (and not just P&P). Usually when I become involved in a book I stay up through the night to finish reading but this book didn't hold me tightly enough for that and I was glad to go to bed and finish the book another day. So overall the book was good enough to finish but not one that I would ever read again.