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Pride and Prejudice Continues #1
The Darcys and the Bingleys (Pride & Prejudice Continues) by Marsha Altman (2009) Paperback
Excellent Book
Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
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About the author
Marsha Altman
18 books134 followersMarsha Altman is an author and historian specializing in Rabbinic literature in late antiquity. She is also an expert on Jane Austen sequels, having read nearly all of them. She works in publishing and is writing a series continuing the story of the Darcys and Bingleys. She lives in New York City. She does not own any cats.
The order of the "Darcys and the Bingleys" series is:
1. The Darcys and the Bingleys
2. The plight of the Darcy Brothers
3. Mr. Darcy's Great Escape
4. The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy
(4b. Other Tales eBook)
5. The Knights of Derbyshire
6. Georgiana and the Wolf
7. Young Mr. Darcy in Love
8. The Chrysanthemum and the Rose
9. The Trials of George Wickham the Younger
10. The Last of the Wine
The order of the "Darcys and the Bingleys" series is:
1. The Darcys and the Bingleys
2. The plight of the Darcy Brothers
3. Mr. Darcy's Great Escape
4. The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy
(4b. Other Tales eBook)
5. The Knights of Derbyshire
6. Georgiana and the Wolf
7. Young Mr. Darcy in Love
8. The Chrysanthemum and the Rose
9. The Trials of George Wickham the Younger
10. The Last of the Wine
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
dnf
March 19, 2016DNFed at 41%
BO-RING! Nothing exciting has happened so far and I don't have the interest or time to read 200+ pages of nothing.
At least it's out of my TBR after 5+ years!
BO-RING! Nothing exciting has happened so far and I don't have the interest or time to read 200+ pages of nothing.
At least it's out of my TBR after 5+ years!
July 2, 2010
To be completely honest, I'm surprised so many of the reviews on here were as positive as they were. I found this book to be beyond idiotic, and when you really boiled it down, it was actually really dull. First of all, the plot lines were beyond ridiculous. Second of all, Elizabeth isn't so much dazzlingly witty and clever in this book as she is rude and kind of stupidly obvious in her comments. Not every word out of Elizabeth Bennet's mouth was a joke or a jibe at somebody else's expense.
The truth of the matter is that this book just struck me as lazy, and kind of stupid. If you want something better, try Helen Halstead's Mr. Darcy Presents His Bride.
The truth of the matter is that this book just struck me as lazy, and kind of stupid. If you want something better, try Helen Halstead's Mr. Darcy Presents His Bride.
September 20, 2008
Altman, Marsha. 2008. The Darcys & The Bingleys: Pride and Prejudice Continues: A Tale of Two Gentlemen's Marriages to Two Most Devoted Sisters.
Without a doubt, The Darcys & The Bingleys is a good book. As a sequel to the original novel by Jane Austen, people may be wary. After all, some are of the opinion 'the more the merrier' and welcome all prequels, sequels, companions, and retellings. Others have their reservations and look down their noses on authors that dare to try to walk in Austen's shoes. And then there are a few of us--myself included--that wish that there were books that could do justice to the original. We hope Austen-related books are well-written, but often are disappointed. Yet still the hope lingers on (however small) that a good one can be found among the many wanna-bes out there.
The Darcys & The Bingleys reads more as three short novellas. (Though it isn't arranged that way at all. The narrative just has three distinct stories that slide together.) The book is told from multiple perspectives: Charles, Darcy, Jane, Elizabeth, etc.
The first part of the novel begins a few days before the double wedding ceremony of Charles and Jane and Darcy and Elizabeth. This portion has a few potentially squirmy sections as Bingley seeks out his best friend for some advice. He has some questions about the wedding night. Darcy, dear that he is, won't really talk about that. But he will gift his friend with a book (The Kama Sutra) on the matter. While that book plays a small role in the book, Bingley's surprise at the illustrations for example, it is rather refreshing and quite a relief that once the ceremony takes place, the reader is left outside the bedroom door. The intimate details of marriage are left to the readers' imagination--if they choose to go there--and we're not "blessed" with them.
The second part of the novel focuses on the first pregnancies of Elizabeth and Jane. They're both expecting at the same time--and deliver about a week or two apart, I believe. The men are in competition--who will deliver first, what sex the babies will be, etc. They are both ecstatic at the idea of becoming dads. This occurs around Christmas and New Years, and they are all together at Pemberley.
The third part of the novel occurs about a year (maybe a little longer) later. Charles' sister, Miss Bingley, wants to be married to a Lord Kincaid. But Charles has reservations. He seeks out his best friend, Darcy, to obtain his opinion. Darcy and Charles set off for London to meet the fellow and investigate him. And if the situation arises, to prevent the marriage from taking place. Jane--expecting her second child--is left behind with Elizabeth for company. This part of the novel seeks to give depth to Miss Bingley as a character. And it also seeks to illustrate the close friendship these two men share.
I won't go into details on how the situation resolves--if it is resolved--but I will say this, the book is good and well worth reading. The book is true to the original as far as characters and social conventions. There is NO premarital sex, for example. And there are no graphic sex scenes after marriage either. If you've been frightened away by Linda Berdoll's books, you'll find these to be the exact opposite: well written, true to the book, and entertaining. (I stomached part of one of her books. The second sequel actually. And I found the fact that she had Jane and Charles so miserably married--him cheating on her and bringing an illegitimate child into the world--simply unacceptable. She did the Bingleys a great disservice, Jane and Charles both lacking in love, common sense, and heart.)
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
Without a doubt, The Darcys & The Bingleys is a good book. As a sequel to the original novel by Jane Austen, people may be wary. After all, some are of the opinion 'the more the merrier' and welcome all prequels, sequels, companions, and retellings. Others have their reservations and look down their noses on authors that dare to try to walk in Austen's shoes. And then there are a few of us--myself included--that wish that there were books that could do justice to the original. We hope Austen-related books are well-written, but often are disappointed. Yet still the hope lingers on (however small) that a good one can be found among the many wanna-bes out there.
The Darcys & The Bingleys reads more as three short novellas. (Though it isn't arranged that way at all. The narrative just has three distinct stories that slide together.) The book is told from multiple perspectives: Charles, Darcy, Jane, Elizabeth, etc.
The first part of the novel begins a few days before the double wedding ceremony of Charles and Jane and Darcy and Elizabeth. This portion has a few potentially squirmy sections as Bingley seeks out his best friend for some advice. He has some questions about the wedding night. Darcy, dear that he is, won't really talk about that. But he will gift his friend with a book (The Kama Sutra) on the matter. While that book plays a small role in the book, Bingley's surprise at the illustrations for example, it is rather refreshing and quite a relief that once the ceremony takes place, the reader is left outside the bedroom door. The intimate details of marriage are left to the readers' imagination--if they choose to go there--and we're not "blessed" with them.
The second part of the novel focuses on the first pregnancies of Elizabeth and Jane. They're both expecting at the same time--and deliver about a week or two apart, I believe. The men are in competition--who will deliver first, what sex the babies will be, etc. They are both ecstatic at the idea of becoming dads. This occurs around Christmas and New Years, and they are all together at Pemberley.
The third part of the novel occurs about a year (maybe a little longer) later. Charles' sister, Miss Bingley, wants to be married to a Lord Kincaid. But Charles has reservations. He seeks out his best friend, Darcy, to obtain his opinion. Darcy and Charles set off for London to meet the fellow and investigate him. And if the situation arises, to prevent the marriage from taking place. Jane--expecting her second child--is left behind with Elizabeth for company. This part of the novel seeks to give depth to Miss Bingley as a character. And it also seeks to illustrate the close friendship these two men share.
I won't go into details on how the situation resolves--if it is resolved--but I will say this, the book is good and well worth reading. The book is true to the original as far as characters and social conventions. There is NO premarital sex, for example. And there are no graphic sex scenes after marriage either. If you've been frightened away by Linda Berdoll's books, you'll find these to be the exact opposite: well written, true to the book, and entertaining. (I stomached part of one of her books. The second sequel actually. And I found the fact that she had Jane and Charles so miserably married--him cheating on her and bringing an illegitimate child into the world--simply unacceptable. She did the Bingleys a great disservice, Jane and Charles both lacking in love, common sense, and heart.)
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
August 2, 2023
Wonderful!
Reviewed in Canada on June 22, 2019
This book had left me turning pages with an almost continual smile on my face if I wasn’t already laughing out loud. Thoroughly delightful dialogue and banter among friends and family. I just loved it. There was a villain, but it wasn’t Wickham. One thing though—I don’t think they said “okay” back then. That really stuck out as not belonging.
Reviewed in Canada on June 22, 2019
This book had left me turning pages with an almost continual smile on my face if I wasn’t already laughing out loud. Thoroughly delightful dialogue and banter among friends and family. I just loved it. There was a villain, but it wasn’t Wickham. One thing though—I don’t think they said “okay” back then. That really stuck out as not belonging.
February 10, 2016
Claudine of the Just Jane 1813 blog has been recommending this book to me (along with the rest of the Altman series) for quite some time. So when she graciously sent me a paperback copy, what’s a girl to do? I, of course, determined that I had to not only read this but also give her and anyone else who reads my reviews my honest feedback. I found this book very enjoyable. Although sex is mentioned (as in a “Elizabeth-rewarded-him-later-that-night-when-he-came-to-her-bedroom”, type of comment) there are no graphic descriptions of the act. At 417 pages this was not a quick read.
The book begins in the countdown of days until the wedding for the two Bennet sisters. And here the funny stuff begins. Bingley comes to Darcy and in his mumbling shy style (I am sure you can just picture it.) wants advice from Darcy as to how to “make my wife…happy”!!! Can you imagine? I was laughing. We must now learn about why Bingley would ask this of Darcy. Does he keep a mistress? Has he seduced women of whom we have hitherto fore had no knowledge? Again: I am laughing. And we are told early in this narrative that Darcy limits himself to one drink. Could his experience with a certain Juliana back in his days at Cambridge have anything to do with that decision?
So Darcy refuses to talk to Bingley but he is off to London to retrieve a wedding present for Bingley. Here we have a book mentioned in Chapter Four (and in some later chapters) entitled THE BOOK. We are told that on the bottom of the cover is written “Translation by M. L. Watts” and while we are never given the title of the book I (and others) assume it is the Kama Sutra. Why? Well, immediately Bingley opens it and finds it full of illustrations and is blushing. Darcy keeps his copy of the book in a locked drawer with a false bottom in his desk. Bingley now decides to hide his under the mattress…I am suspicious of this decision as this leaves the possibility of the servants finding it.
That is just a small example of the humor in this book. Not all of it has to do with intimate relations in the bedroom. So now as we read on we find a rather tame tale of the first months in the two marriages, of pregnancies, of the Bingleys settling near the Darcys in their Chatton estate and of Georgiana’s coming out. But all of a sudden, things begin to stir, and lead to some mayhem and physical harm to one dear character. Can you imagine Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth taking off into the lowlands of Scotland to spy out a certain man’s background? And furthermore: Is there anybody on earth that you would imagine Bingley not approving of? Book 1 within this first novel gives us a surprise near the end and a little over half way through the entirety. Caroline Bingley being the unwitting author of all this is a new twist.
So as we get into the second book we learn how this situation is wrapped up. (Or is it?) New actors in this book, the Lords Kincaid and Dr. Maddox and his brother, Brian, add to the action. Again, as in canon, we read of the supposed importance of a person’s fortune and connections. Hasn’t anyone learned that lesson? No, some have to learn it for themselves, not through observation, and you may find a bit of satisfaction in just who is the recipient of that education and how they accept or don’t accept the lessons given.
I loved Bingley’s character in this book. Darcy tells us of how he was better at math and languages and we read of how close the two were at Cambridge and later. We also learn a little about how Darcy uses his fencing skills to sum up an opponent’s character. I found it all well written and interesting. There remain a few flashes of Darcy’s old act of staring out windows or giving a person a look of disdain, but his marriage has improved his reticence. Jane is Jane but her threats to Bingley while in her pregnancy are hilarious!
While this book has little of the angst I love, it did have events which stirred the families into action. There are some surprises, not ones of the characters acting in different behaviors, but in dangers posed to the peace and happiness of the Darcys and the Bingleys.
The book begins in the countdown of days until the wedding for the two Bennet sisters. And here the funny stuff begins. Bingley comes to Darcy and in his mumbling shy style (I am sure you can just picture it.) wants advice from Darcy as to how to “make my wife…happy”!!! Can you imagine? I was laughing. We must now learn about why Bingley would ask this of Darcy. Does he keep a mistress? Has he seduced women of whom we have hitherto fore had no knowledge? Again: I am laughing. And we are told early in this narrative that Darcy limits himself to one drink. Could his experience with a certain Juliana back in his days at Cambridge have anything to do with that decision?
So Darcy refuses to talk to Bingley but he is off to London to retrieve a wedding present for Bingley. Here we have a book mentioned in Chapter Four (and in some later chapters) entitled THE BOOK. We are told that on the bottom of the cover is written “Translation by M. L. Watts” and while we are never given the title of the book I (and others) assume it is the Kama Sutra. Why? Well, immediately Bingley opens it and finds it full of illustrations and is blushing. Darcy keeps his copy of the book in a locked drawer with a false bottom in his desk. Bingley now decides to hide his under the mattress…I am suspicious of this decision as this leaves the possibility of the servants finding it.
That is just a small example of the humor in this book. Not all of it has to do with intimate relations in the bedroom. So now as we read on we find a rather tame tale of the first months in the two marriages, of pregnancies, of the Bingleys settling near the Darcys in their Chatton estate and of Georgiana’s coming out. But all of a sudden, things begin to stir, and lead to some mayhem and physical harm to one dear character. Can you imagine Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth taking off into the lowlands of Scotland to spy out a certain man’s background? And furthermore: Is there anybody on earth that you would imagine Bingley not approving of? Book 1 within this first novel gives us a surprise near the end and a little over half way through the entirety. Caroline Bingley being the unwitting author of all this is a new twist.
So as we get into the second book we learn how this situation is wrapped up. (Or is it?) New actors in this book, the Lords Kincaid and Dr. Maddox and his brother, Brian, add to the action. Again, as in canon, we read of the supposed importance of a person’s fortune and connections. Hasn’t anyone learned that lesson? No, some have to learn it for themselves, not through observation, and you may find a bit of satisfaction in just who is the recipient of that education and how they accept or don’t accept the lessons given.
I loved Bingley’s character in this book. Darcy tells us of how he was better at math and languages and we read of how close the two were at Cambridge and later. We also learn a little about how Darcy uses his fencing skills to sum up an opponent’s character. I found it all well written and interesting. There remain a few flashes of Darcy’s old act of staring out windows or giving a person a look of disdain, but his marriage has improved his reticence. Jane is Jane but her threats to Bingley while in her pregnancy are hilarious!
While this book has little of the angst I love, it did have events which stirred the families into action. There are some surprises, not ones of the characters acting in different behaviors, but in dangers posed to the peace and happiness of the Darcys and the Bingleys.
February 7, 2012
For a little while, Kindle offered a bunch of Jane-Austen-related books for free, and I snapped up a few of them. This was one of them. I guess I got what I paid for.
The book wasn't badly written and I thank whoever proofread it (she commented on here) because it was a refreshing change to read an ebook not riddled with grammatical and spelling errors. But the dialogue was far too contemporary and the characters often acted, well, out-of-character. Darcy a cheap drunk? Jane threatening to strangle Bingley during her pregnancy? There wasn't much plot for 400+ page book
The first half of the book focused entirely too much on the Darcys' and Bingleys' sex lives, and while I appreciated that it was not graphic, it was still more than I needed to know. How did Elizabeth and Jane handle suddenly finding themselves mistresses of these large estates? What did they do all day? We don't get any detail on that, but plenty of detail on what they did all night! The second half of the book was somewhat more interesting plot-wise than the first, in that there was an actual plot, but by then I was so "over" the book that I still found myself rushing to the end. There were a few humorous bits that made me smile, which got this review to two stars, but overall, I've read much better P&P-related books.
The book wasn't badly written and I thank whoever proofread it (she commented on here) because it was a refreshing change to read an ebook not riddled with grammatical and spelling errors. But the dialogue was far too contemporary and the characters often acted, well, out-of-character. Darcy a cheap drunk? Jane threatening to strangle Bingley during her pregnancy? There wasn't much plot for 400+ page book
The first half of the book focused entirely too much on the Darcys' and Bingleys' sex lives, and while I appreciated that it was not graphic, it was still more than I needed to know. How did Elizabeth and Jane handle suddenly finding themselves mistresses of these large estates? What did they do all day? We don't get any detail on that, but plenty of detail on what they did all night! The second half of the book was somewhat more interesting plot-wise than the first, in that there was an actual plot, but by then I was so "over" the book that I still found myself rushing to the end. There were a few humorous bits that made me smile, which got this review to two stars, but overall, I've read much better P&P-related books.
April 8, 2009
This book is a bit like a family block of chocolate- very yummy and intriguing at first bite, but the last bite leaves you wondering how you got this far.
Unfortunately Ms Altman is not Jane Austen. The language at the start of the book is promising and she has some witty dialogue, but not the description of Pride and Prejudice.
**SPOILER ALERT**
We all know the characters, Darcy, Bingley and the Bennet sisters. Of course we knew that they would live happily and have children, but a murder at Pemberley? Miss Bingley marrying a -gasp- doctor? Darcy a cheap drunk? I enjoy alternate storylines, but there are some things in this book that read more like The Bourne Identity meets The Bold and the Beautiful.
The first book, although modern in its subject, I felt was more true to what *I* believe happens after the end of P & P. This was enjoyable.
The second book- well, I couldn't really care too much about Caroline Bingley and I'm sorry, but I didn't feel sympathetic towards her (mainly because she seems to have created the sensationalist storylines). I took off a star for this book.
This book is okay is you want escapist fare, but it's not Jane Austen. If you enjoy P & P fan fic that's well written, please get this book.
Unfortunately Ms Altman is not Jane Austen. The language at the start of the book is promising and she has some witty dialogue, but not the description of Pride and Prejudice.
**SPOILER ALERT**
We all know the characters, Darcy, Bingley and the Bennet sisters. Of course we knew that they would live happily and have children, but a murder at Pemberley? Miss Bingley marrying a -gasp- doctor? Darcy a cheap drunk? I enjoy alternate storylines, but there are some things in this book that read more like The Bourne Identity meets The Bold and the Beautiful.
The first book, although modern in its subject, I felt was more true to what *I* believe happens after the end of P & P. This was enjoyable.
The second book- well, I couldn't really care too much about Caroline Bingley and I'm sorry, but I didn't feel sympathetic towards her (mainly because she seems to have created the sensationalist storylines). I took off a star for this book.
This book is okay is you want escapist fare, but it's not Jane Austen. If you enjoy P & P fan fic that's well written, please get this book.
February 18, 2018
This was my second time reading this book, the first being before I joined Goodreads so I never wrote a review for it!
This book was published by Sourcebooks back when Sourcebooks was posting everything P&P related, and this was definitely one of the better offerings. At first it was a bit dull, but when we got to the matter of Caroline Bingley's engagement it was very enjoyable and thrilling to read. The witticisms between Darcy, Bingley, etc are clever and fun, albeit possibly a bit OOC but that's ok. It made me keep the 4 star rating I originally gave it all those years ago.
A word of warning, this book is book 1 of a 10-book series about the Darcys and Bingley's and I must confess I gave up after book #4. It just became such a unique world with so many adventures and original characters I lost interest.
This book was published by Sourcebooks back when Sourcebooks was posting everything P&P related, and this was definitely one of the better offerings. At first it was a bit dull, but when we got to the matter of Caroline Bingley's engagement it was very enjoyable and thrilling to read. The witticisms between Darcy, Bingley, etc are clever and fun, albeit possibly a bit OOC but that's ok. It made me keep the 4 star rating I originally gave it all those years ago.
A word of warning, this book is book 1 of a 10-book series about the Darcys and Bingley's and I must confess I gave up after book #4. It just became such a unique world with so many adventures and original characters I lost interest.
May 17, 2020
First let me say that Marsha Altman is one of my favorite authors. You know what you are going to get with her, a well-written book that is clever and a joy to read. The first book in the series of ten, The Darcys and The Bingleys has not only a lot of charm but much humor and wit. I find a lot of Jaff is lacking in it or the wit is often too harsh and biting. Ms Altman is the master. I have read this one many times. It never gets old.
Reread: Going through this series again. If you haven't read it, you are missing out.
Reread: Going through this series again. If you haven't read it, you are missing out.
February 9, 2009
This was kind of a fun book, but it didn't really have the same flavor as Jane Austen--the language seemed more modern, and some of the situations seemed more modern. The book seemed to obsess about sex, too, even though there was nothing graphic, it really had a lot more than Jane Austen would have included. I'd like to try some other Darcy sequels and see how they compare.
December 24, 2008
As far as Austen sequels go, I've read better, but I've also read worse!
The plot was amusing, but think too hard about it and it all becomes illogical and full of holes!
My biggest problem was the languauge - use of 'okay' and people being 'perfectly fine' ring rather arkwardly for my ears.
The plot was amusing, but think too hard about it and it all becomes illogical and full of holes!
My biggest problem was the languauge - use of 'okay' and people being 'perfectly fine' ring rather arkwardly for my ears.
Read
November 4, 2017In The Darcys & the Bingleys, Marsha Altman picks up Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice just before Mr. Darcy marries Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Bingley marries Jane Bennet. In the midst of the chaos of planning a wedding, there is some talk about the nervousness of the wedding night. While Charlotte Collins assures Elizabeth and Jane that it’s not as bad as Mrs. Bennet makes it out to be, Bingley turns to the reserved Darcy — and Darcy’s advice is a copy of The Kama Sutra. This makes for some hilarious conversation.
With the couples settling into married life at their respective estates, the plot turns to Caroline Bingley, Mr. Bingley’s arrogant sister who, in Pride and Prejudice, works to keep her brother and Jane apart and hates that Elizabeth catches the eye of Mr. Darcy, whom she hopes to wed. She’s being courted by a Lord Kincaid, and there’s something about this Scot that rubs Bingley the wrong way, prompting him to seek Darcy’s help in digging up whatever dirt they can find on him.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Darcys & the Bingleys and found myself laughing out loud quite frequently. This is the most amusing Austen sequel I’ve come across thus far, and I appreciate how Altman makes the characters her own without compromising the original story. The book is filled with witty dialogue, and I loved the bantering between Elizabeth and Darcy and Darcy and Bingley. Moreover, I was thrilled that Altman included numerous scenes with Mr. Bennet, whose humor is among my favorite things about Pride and Prejudice. Some of the best dialogue occurs when an injured Darcy is high on laudanum.
Given that The Darcys & the Bingleys chronicles the early days of the couples’ marriages, of course, there is sex talk. How can there not be when The Kama Sutra is involved? However, the scenes are humorous and tastefully done and not at all graphic. Thankfully, Altman leaves much to the imagination.
Altman creates new and exciting characters and merges them into the lives of the Darcys and the Bingleys quite seamlessly, from the shady Lord Kincaid to the quiet Dr. Maddox. It almost felt like they’d been there all along.
Some readers might be concerned about Altman’s treatment of their beloved characters, especially Mr. Darcy who is not at all the arrogant ass he was in Pride and Prejudice. But marriage, and Elizabeth in particular, has changed Darcy, and I think Altman does a great job handling the character’s evolution. I think it’s important to emphasize that Altman isn’t trying to rewrite Pride and Prejudice; she’s building upon and broadening the world that Austen created. And considering all the laughing I did when reading and the fact that I breezed through more than 400 pages in just a couple of days, I’d say Altman was successful.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
With the couples settling into married life at their respective estates, the plot turns to Caroline Bingley, Mr. Bingley’s arrogant sister who, in Pride and Prejudice, works to keep her brother and Jane apart and hates that Elizabeth catches the eye of Mr. Darcy, whom she hopes to wed. She’s being courted by a Lord Kincaid, and there’s something about this Scot that rubs Bingley the wrong way, prompting him to seek Darcy’s help in digging up whatever dirt they can find on him.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Darcys & the Bingleys and found myself laughing out loud quite frequently. This is the most amusing Austen sequel I’ve come across thus far, and I appreciate how Altman makes the characters her own without compromising the original story. The book is filled with witty dialogue, and I loved the bantering between Elizabeth and Darcy and Darcy and Bingley. Moreover, I was thrilled that Altman included numerous scenes with Mr. Bennet, whose humor is among my favorite things about Pride and Prejudice. Some of the best dialogue occurs when an injured Darcy is high on laudanum.
Given that The Darcys & the Bingleys chronicles the early days of the couples’ marriages, of course, there is sex talk. How can there not be when The Kama Sutra is involved? However, the scenes are humorous and tastefully done and not at all graphic. Thankfully, Altman leaves much to the imagination.
Altman creates new and exciting characters and merges them into the lives of the Darcys and the Bingleys quite seamlessly, from the shady Lord Kincaid to the quiet Dr. Maddox. It almost felt like they’d been there all along.
Some readers might be concerned about Altman’s treatment of their beloved characters, especially Mr. Darcy who is not at all the arrogant ass he was in Pride and Prejudice. But marriage, and Elizabeth in particular, has changed Darcy, and I think Altman does a great job handling the character’s evolution. I think it’s important to emphasize that Altman isn’t trying to rewrite Pride and Prejudice; she’s building upon and broadening the world that Austen created. And considering all the laughing I did when reading and the fact that I breezed through more than 400 pages in just a couple of days, I’d say Altman was successful.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
August 28, 2009
This book isn't the best Pride and Prejudice Sequel I ever read, but I did find it a very entertaining book. It is not close to the style of Jane's writing, her characters (I don't think she would have Mr. Darcy be so easily drunk), or her style (she would not be writing about the Kama Sutra). Nevertheless, it is a fresh sequel to Pride and Prejudice and depicts the lives of the Bingley's and the Darcy's right before and long after marriage.
If you are critical (and there is nothing wrong with being critical) in your selection of Jane Austen Sequels and other writings, I wouldn't buy this book right away, maybe borrow it from the library first, see how you like it.
Of course a Pride and Prejudice sequel wouldn't be a Pride and Prejudice sequel without Caroline Bingley. I would say 1/4 of the story is about Caroline Bingley and her choice of fiance. If you are not a big fan of Caroline Bingley, you might not care for this book then.
By reading the other reviews and the plot on Amazon you might think this book is all about Kama Sutra and might be rated R. There really isn't that much about the Kama Sutra later in the book and it is not graphic or explicit. I would even say it is more PG-13.
If you are critical (and there is nothing wrong with being critical) in your selection of Jane Austen Sequels and other writings, I wouldn't buy this book right away, maybe borrow it from the library first, see how you like it.
Of course a Pride and Prejudice sequel wouldn't be a Pride and Prejudice sequel without Caroline Bingley. I would say 1/4 of the story is about Caroline Bingley and her choice of fiance. If you are not a big fan of Caroline Bingley, you might not care for this book then.
By reading the other reviews and the plot on Amazon you might think this book is all about Kama Sutra and might be rated R. There really isn't that much about the Kama Sutra later in the book and it is not graphic or explicit. I would even say it is more PG-13.
November 18, 2008
Maybe it was because I went into this book with exceedingly low expectations after reading the reference to the Kama Sutra on the back cover (don't worry it's just mentioned as something they look at but no details are given), but I had a fun time with this book. It's certainly not one of the most faithful books to either the storyline or to Jane Austen's characters, but Altman's dialogue and writing was just plain fun--in a few cases, even laugh out loud funny. I like her light and witty writing style, so I was able to overlook the way Altman "used and abused at [her] whim" the characters and just relaxed and had fun. Don't expect a faithful rendition if you read this, but you should have a good time.
November 8, 2023
I liked this story well enough. There are parts when the author has streaks of brilliance in her writing but then falls short by writing scenarios that are too far-fetched, contrived to be believable, ie. Lizzy riding horseback (alone) all the way from Scotland to London to courier important evidence to Darcy and Bingley. She personalizes her characters very well and gives them likeable converstaion. The backstory of Darcy and Bingley's initial meeting is highly amusing as well. It is a sweet story by all means and I am happy to have this unique spin on The Darcy's and The Bingley's in my collection.
August 11, 2016
I really liked this P & P sequel and I am not a huge fan of sequels for reasons that will become clear if you read my other reviews. This is a fun, clean, upbeat continuation of the Pride and Prejudice.
There is more action and adventure than would have been the norm during Miss Austen's time but it doesn't detract from the story. There are new characters to that add to the fun and excitement.
There is more action and adventure than would have been the norm during Miss Austen's time but it doesn't detract from the story. There are new characters to that add to the fun and excitement.
July 21, 2019
Did not finish. Dull, hyper focused on sex, without ever saying the word. Introduces the Kama sutra, which a cursory google search shows wasn’t published in English until 1883. Even I know p&p was early 1800’s, so that’s just lazy, even for fan-fic.
Read
June 1, 2015I found this book abominable.
The basis of the plot seemed promisingly comedic, but was abandoned before the halfway mark - there were minor nods in its direction throughout, but ulitmately, the story rambled aimlessly. The only interesting bits were not even about the Darcys or the Bingleys, they were about Lord Kincaid, so the book was misnamed from the outset. There was barely enough conflict to fill a thimble, and that litte conflict was artlessly introduced, utterly unlikely (not in an interesting, unexpected way, but more of an absurd 'what?!' way) and painfully cliche in its resolution. The language and sentence structure were forced and unconvincing. The characters were portrayed as gross parodies of themselves, which would be fine if one were to view this as a satyrical work, but if it was meant to be read as such, that intent was too foggy to be effective.
I could almost believe this book was written for the benefit of juvenille readers if not for all the references to the Kama Sutra. I just kept turning the pages, thinking 'surely it will start to get better, any second now the story will emerge and my patience and forebearance will be vindicated'. Never happened. I will admit I got a few laughs out of Darcy when he was drunk, but that was not nearly enough to justify the rest of it.
There are simply better ways you can use your time than on this book. Sorry Ms. Altman. Better luck (and writing) next time.
The basis of the plot seemed promisingly comedic, but was abandoned before the halfway mark - there were minor nods in its direction throughout, but ulitmately, the story rambled aimlessly. The only interesting bits were not even about the Darcys or the Bingleys, they were about Lord Kincaid, so the book was misnamed from the outset. There was barely enough conflict to fill a thimble, and that litte conflict was artlessly introduced, utterly unlikely (not in an interesting, unexpected way, but more of an absurd 'what?!' way) and painfully cliche in its resolution. The language and sentence structure were forced and unconvincing. The characters were portrayed as gross parodies of themselves, which would be fine if one were to view this as a satyrical work, but if it was meant to be read as such, that intent was too foggy to be effective.
I could almost believe this book was written for the benefit of juvenille readers if not for all the references to the Kama Sutra. I just kept turning the pages, thinking 'surely it will start to get better, any second now the story will emerge and my patience and forebearance will be vindicated'. Never happened. I will admit I got a few laughs out of Darcy when he was drunk, but that was not nearly enough to justify the rest of it.
There are simply better ways you can use your time than on this book. Sorry Ms. Altman. Better luck (and writing) next time.
June 1, 2011
This is a fan fiction sequel to Pride and Prejudice. I read this book in its entirety and I guess it was a fun read, but it was a low quality writing in my opinion. I didn't the think author did a very good job of capturing Austen's characters' true personalities, or capturing Austen's writing style. It seem that she instead picked and chose what she like out of the character's personality and ignore the rest. The first part of the book was also slightly smutty, and I think Jane Austen probably rolls in her grave every time a fan writes smuttiness out of one of her characters, since Miss Austen was a lady I'm sure she never implied what fans have sometimes interpretative. Altman is by far not the only author who has done this. But the second part of the book was fun even if the author didn't do a very good job of character representation. I thought she made Darcy's character unrealistic, I find it highly unlikely that he would have made a 180 in personality adjustment after marriage. Darcy would still be Darcy, marriage does not really change people. Then again, I am a minority in thinking Darcy is not a knight in shining armor. I like Darcy as much as the next girl, but he is always a pompous jerk, and that is why he so appealing, no one really wants someone perfect. Darcy is not the symbol of perfection that most fans make him out to be. He would still be rich and insolent whether he married Elizabeth Bennet or not.
November 7, 2019
I just loved this book! It's definitely taking a place in my list of favorite P&P sequels/spinoffs!
If would like to see a humorous take on the characters of Pride & Prejudice, a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, and not to mention a story that leaves the reader at the door with regards to the various couples' bedroom activities, then you'll definitely enjoy it. Marsha Altman injects a good deal of humor and wit into the lives of the Darcys and the Bingleys in the time leading up to and after their marriages.
For anyone who might be concerned about the mention of the Kama Sutra on the back cover, don't be alarmed -- the book and its contents are only mentioned and/or alluded to. Nothing graphic is ever described.
I especially liked that Altman continued the theme from P&P of misadventures pertaining to marriage. For example, Darcy is called upon by Bingley to help him save Miss Bingley of all people from a possible rogue Scottish nobleman, and in the course of those events we learn that there actually is someone who can touch Miss Bingley's well-armored heart (though it was hardly the Scottish nobleman she was temporarily set on marrying, but instead a far better man).
A very lovely, light-hearted story.
If would like to see a humorous take on the characters of Pride & Prejudice, a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, and not to mention a story that leaves the reader at the door with regards to the various couples' bedroom activities, then you'll definitely enjoy it. Marsha Altman injects a good deal of humor and wit into the lives of the Darcys and the Bingleys in the time leading up to and after their marriages.
For anyone who might be concerned about the mention of the Kama Sutra on the back cover, don't be alarmed -- the book and its contents are only mentioned and/or alluded to. Nothing graphic is ever described.
I especially liked that Altman continued the theme from P&P of misadventures pertaining to marriage. For example, Darcy is called upon by Bingley to help him save Miss Bingley of all people from a possible rogue Scottish nobleman, and in the course of those events we learn that there actually is someone who can touch Miss Bingley's well-armored heart (though it was hardly the Scottish nobleman she was temporarily set on marrying, but instead a far better man).
A very lovely, light-hearted story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2010
'Now they had come to it, the moment he dreaded. “We are to marry in nearly two days -”
“It has not escaped my notice, I assure you.”
“- and I find myself in need of some . . . advice.”' Mr. Bingley & Mr. Darcy, The Darcys & the Bingleys
And so gentle readers, begins the premise of the latest sequel to Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, entitled The Darcys and The Bingleys. In this debut novel by Marsha Altman the story is centered on the friendship of Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy, elevating Mr. Bingley to co-protagonist with his future brother-in-law. We are immediately reconnected to the original story as Charles Bingley, that amiably good natured friend of the commanding Mr. Darcy ruminates over their approaching marriages to the Bennet sisters, Jane and Elizabeth. Endearingly true to character, Mr. Bingley is not quite sure of himself or how to resolve a pressing matter. After much deliberation he determines that his closest friend Mr. Darcy is the best man to approach on the delicate subject of martial relations and entreats his advice. Mr. Darcy responds by presenting him with a wedding gift; — ‘the book’– an illustrated and transcribed ancient Indian text of the Kama Sutra.
Not only is Charles Bingley concerned about his wedding night performance, his future bride Jane Bennet is in turn confused and alarmed after the obligatory mother-daughter chat on wifely duties that her mother unloads on her and sister Elizabeth the day before the wedding. Luckily their aunt Mrs. Gardiner was also present to smooth the waters so-to-speak, but even cool and clever Elizabeth is befuddled by the vagueness of the information and asks her fiancé, Mr. Darcy for reassurance.
As the invited guests arrive for the wedding, we are re-acquainted with many familiar characters from Pride and Prejudice; Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Rev. Mr. Collins and wife Charlotte, Mr. & Mrs. Bennet and their daughters Kitty and Mary, Lydia Wickham, Anne de Borough who has escaped from Rosings and the clutches of her mother Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana Darcy, Mr. & Mrs. Hurst, Caroline Bingley, and one uninvited guest, George Wickham who is unceremoniously pitched out the second floor window of Netherfield Park and into a manure pile by Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. The men folk then proceed to throw a stag party, and Mr. Darcy has a bit too much to drink.
We are also privy to a snipet of the back story on the friendship of Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy many years before “Netherfield Park is let at last” when Pride and Prejudice begins, enlightening us further on their personalities and relationships. Bingley and Darcy became fast friends at Cambridge University after Bingley rescued him from a scandalous situation after their introduction at a faculty soirée. A nineteen-year old Mr. Darcy was deep in his cups, seduced by a disreputable young lady and found in another student’s dorm room incoherent and disheveled. With Bingley’s help, the matter was swiftly smoothed over, but since it was so unlike his friend’s usual reserved manner, he continues to chide him about it whenever he needs to privately put the grand Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in his place.
At the conclusion of the wedding ceremony and dinner, the Darcy’s and the Bingley’s depart for there respective townhouses in London, and hopefully on to connubial bliss. Like Mr. Darcy’s new bride Elizabeth, we see a more relaxed and casual husband after the ceremony. This Darcy makes jokes with his new wife.
"I shall do my best to be an upstanding gentleman, ignoring your presence almost entirely in company, and never endeavour to gaze upon you or whisper private jokes in your ear at parties_ "
Her response was to kiss him. Well, to kiss him and to climb on top of him, the ultimate assertion of authority. “That is not what I prefer, Mr. Darcy.”
“Then we are in agreement. I will treat you with great love and compassion in front of guests and as a wanton wench in the bedchamber.”
To this, she could not find a reason to raise dispute.
On the other martial front, the sun rose on the Bingley household and Jane exclaims, “I do not believe that I have ever been so happy.” Charles Bingley credits the book and then shows it to Jane.
Six months have passed and Jane and Elizabeth are both with child and expecting at the same time. In appreciation for his friend’s considerable favour of the wedding gift, Bingley sends Darcy a new book that he has tracked down and imported from India, the Ananga Ranga, another sex manual. The ongoing competition between the two friends continues to the point of their placing bets on whose home will be used for their wives confinements, and who will be first to deliver a child. Bingley wins the £5.
The second half of the novel involves Charles Bingley’s sister Caroline, who as you will remember in Pride and Prejudice tries her hardest to attract Mr. Darcy, but he does not give her a moment’s thought in the romance arena. She is a caustic and abrasive character in Austen’s novel, and gets much of the plum biting dialogue. In this treatment she is more sympathetically portrayed, and many of the faults and foibles in her personality are smoothed out and explained. When the two friends Darcy and Bingley are called into action to check out a prospective beau of Caroline’s, the ongoing comedy continues and the story ends just like Austen with a wedding.
Recently, author Marsha Altman was interviewed on the Risky Regencies blog by fellow Austen-esque author Janet Mullany, who asked her how she felt about taking on Jane Austen?
I’m trying to have fun with her characters. As to whether she would mine, Miss Austen has posthumously endured her nephew and extended family publishing all of her unfinished writing and personal letters for profit, numerous sequels and adaptations, books analyzing her personal life, and even movies about her starring actresses wearing heavy lipstick. So, if she’s been spinning in her grave, she’s probably tired by now and may well have gotten over it. That or she understands imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, if that phrase existed in the Regency period.
Fun is the operative word here, and if one reads this book within the context of expecting a light, frothy, humorously diverting comedy written in a contemporary style based on Jane Austen’s characters from Pride and Prejudice, you will not be disappointed. On the other hand, if you are expecting a Regency novel whose language, plot, character development and historical reference are similar to Austen’s, this may not be for you.
Ms. Altman states that imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery. I do not think that imitation was her intention here, and Miss Austen may have to take a few more spins at Winchester Cathedral.
“It has not escaped my notice, I assure you.”
“- and I find myself in need of some . . . advice.”' Mr. Bingley & Mr. Darcy, The Darcys & the Bingleys
And so gentle readers, begins the premise of the latest sequel to Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, entitled The Darcys and The Bingleys. In this debut novel by Marsha Altman the story is centered on the friendship of Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy, elevating Mr. Bingley to co-protagonist with his future brother-in-law. We are immediately reconnected to the original story as Charles Bingley, that amiably good natured friend of the commanding Mr. Darcy ruminates over their approaching marriages to the Bennet sisters, Jane and Elizabeth. Endearingly true to character, Mr. Bingley is not quite sure of himself or how to resolve a pressing matter. After much deliberation he determines that his closest friend Mr. Darcy is the best man to approach on the delicate subject of martial relations and entreats his advice. Mr. Darcy responds by presenting him with a wedding gift; — ‘the book’– an illustrated and transcribed ancient Indian text of the Kama Sutra.
Not only is Charles Bingley concerned about his wedding night performance, his future bride Jane Bennet is in turn confused and alarmed after the obligatory mother-daughter chat on wifely duties that her mother unloads on her and sister Elizabeth the day before the wedding. Luckily their aunt Mrs. Gardiner was also present to smooth the waters so-to-speak, but even cool and clever Elizabeth is befuddled by the vagueness of the information and asks her fiancé, Mr. Darcy for reassurance.
As the invited guests arrive for the wedding, we are re-acquainted with many familiar characters from Pride and Prejudice; Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Rev. Mr. Collins and wife Charlotte, Mr. & Mrs. Bennet and their daughters Kitty and Mary, Lydia Wickham, Anne de Borough who has escaped from Rosings and the clutches of her mother Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana Darcy, Mr. & Mrs. Hurst, Caroline Bingley, and one uninvited guest, George Wickham who is unceremoniously pitched out the second floor window of Netherfield Park and into a manure pile by Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. The men folk then proceed to throw a stag party, and Mr. Darcy has a bit too much to drink.
We are also privy to a snipet of the back story on the friendship of Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy many years before “Netherfield Park is let at last” when Pride and Prejudice begins, enlightening us further on their personalities and relationships. Bingley and Darcy became fast friends at Cambridge University after Bingley rescued him from a scandalous situation after their introduction at a faculty soirée. A nineteen-year old Mr. Darcy was deep in his cups, seduced by a disreputable young lady and found in another student’s dorm room incoherent and disheveled. With Bingley’s help, the matter was swiftly smoothed over, but since it was so unlike his friend’s usual reserved manner, he continues to chide him about it whenever he needs to privately put the grand Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in his place.
At the conclusion of the wedding ceremony and dinner, the Darcy’s and the Bingley’s depart for there respective townhouses in London, and hopefully on to connubial bliss. Like Mr. Darcy’s new bride Elizabeth, we see a more relaxed and casual husband after the ceremony. This Darcy makes jokes with his new wife.
"I shall do my best to be an upstanding gentleman, ignoring your presence almost entirely in company, and never endeavour to gaze upon you or whisper private jokes in your ear at parties_ "
Her response was to kiss him. Well, to kiss him and to climb on top of him, the ultimate assertion of authority. “That is not what I prefer, Mr. Darcy.”
“Then we are in agreement. I will treat you with great love and compassion in front of guests and as a wanton wench in the bedchamber.”
To this, she could not find a reason to raise dispute.
On the other martial front, the sun rose on the Bingley household and Jane exclaims, “I do not believe that I have ever been so happy.” Charles Bingley credits the book and then shows it to Jane.
Six months have passed and Jane and Elizabeth are both with child and expecting at the same time. In appreciation for his friend’s considerable favour of the wedding gift, Bingley sends Darcy a new book that he has tracked down and imported from India, the Ananga Ranga, another sex manual. The ongoing competition between the two friends continues to the point of their placing bets on whose home will be used for their wives confinements, and who will be first to deliver a child. Bingley wins the £5.
The second half of the novel involves Charles Bingley’s sister Caroline, who as you will remember in Pride and Prejudice tries her hardest to attract Mr. Darcy, but he does not give her a moment’s thought in the romance arena. She is a caustic and abrasive character in Austen’s novel, and gets much of the plum biting dialogue. In this treatment she is more sympathetically portrayed, and many of the faults and foibles in her personality are smoothed out and explained. When the two friends Darcy and Bingley are called into action to check out a prospective beau of Caroline’s, the ongoing comedy continues and the story ends just like Austen with a wedding.
Recently, author Marsha Altman was interviewed on the Risky Regencies blog by fellow Austen-esque author Janet Mullany, who asked her how she felt about taking on Jane Austen?
I’m trying to have fun with her characters. As to whether she would mine, Miss Austen has posthumously endured her nephew and extended family publishing all of her unfinished writing and personal letters for profit, numerous sequels and adaptations, books analyzing her personal life, and even movies about her starring actresses wearing heavy lipstick. So, if she’s been spinning in her grave, she’s probably tired by now and may well have gotten over it. That or she understands imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, if that phrase existed in the Regency period.
Fun is the operative word here, and if one reads this book within the context of expecting a light, frothy, humorously diverting comedy written in a contemporary style based on Jane Austen’s characters from Pride and Prejudice, you will not be disappointed. On the other hand, if you are expecting a Regency novel whose language, plot, character development and historical reference are similar to Austen’s, this may not be for you.
Ms. Altman states that imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery. I do not think that imitation was her intention here, and Miss Austen may have to take a few more spins at Winchester Cathedral.
December 27, 2009
There is only one regret I have for this book, and it's why did I not read this one sooner? it was hilarious! I heard myself chuckle here and there at almost every other chapter. Darcy and Bingley are central to this book as most of the humor surrounds them and their actions. Sometimes it's their playful banter, other times it's Darcy's wit and his ability to take it out on Charles. Other times...well let's just say when they drink it just gets even more funny. It was a nice side to see to these two men, I've always thought they can't always be so stuffy and formal can they? they have to loosen up sometimes during life! and this book shows the side of the two that you've always wondered about. It's definitely a fun read and a cheerful one.
Aside from the wit and humor, you also see inside of both their marriages and again, it's a different face to the characters you're used to reading in Pride and Prejudice. It's amazing to see both Jane and Elizabeth take charge in their marriages and manage to get their own way when it comes to decisions. I liked seeing Darcy having to give in to Elizabeth's demands although it may seem very uncharacteristic at first as whoever thought Elizabeth could just order Darcy around and have him coiled around her little finger? (I actually never pictured their marriage to be this way but it's not that bad to read). You don't hear much from Lydia or Wickham in this book. Also Mary and Kitty have their own appearances but small ones.
You also get to see a different side from Caroline Bingley (she's still catty, but she's actually got a heart) and that, I think got a little too strange and a little too different. The outcome of Caroline in the novel, is nice but I couldn't really get used to it. Perhaps because with previous Jane Austen spinoffs, Caroline Bingley was always catty, mean, and always had a snide comment here and there as a means of insulting someone "politely". It's just hard to picture her being nice and loving (yes..she was loving believe it or not). It's a different side to Caroline, yes. I suppose it's the author's way of showing that Caroline can be human too.
Aside from that, the other problem I had with this book was there were times where present day English would accidentally appear throughout the dialogue. It does take the realism out of the story just a little bit. The characters and their new different "face" might take a while to get some die hard Austen fans to get used to (perhaps they might cry out sacrilege) but the storyline is wonderful, the humor is great, and I'm really looking forward to more from Marsha Altman's works.
Overall a hilarious read with plenty of fun adventures. It makes you wonder what's going to happen next with the Darcys and the Bingleys. I recommend this book to those in love with Jane Austen spinoffs.
Aside from the wit and humor, you also see inside of both their marriages and again, it's a different face to the characters you're used to reading in Pride and Prejudice. It's amazing to see both Jane and Elizabeth take charge in their marriages and manage to get their own way when it comes to decisions. I liked seeing Darcy having to give in to Elizabeth's demands although it may seem very uncharacteristic at first as whoever thought Elizabeth could just order Darcy around and have him coiled around her little finger? (I actually never pictured their marriage to be this way but it's not that bad to read). You don't hear much from Lydia or Wickham in this book. Also Mary and Kitty have their own appearances but small ones.
You also get to see a different side from Caroline Bingley (she's still catty, but she's actually got a heart) and that, I think got a little too strange and a little too different. The outcome of Caroline in the novel, is nice but I couldn't really get used to it. Perhaps because with previous Jane Austen spinoffs, Caroline Bingley was always catty, mean, and always had a snide comment here and there as a means of insulting someone "politely". It's just hard to picture her being nice and loving (yes..she was loving believe it or not). It's a different side to Caroline, yes. I suppose it's the author's way of showing that Caroline can be human too.
Aside from that, the other problem I had with this book was there were times where present day English would accidentally appear throughout the dialogue. It does take the realism out of the story just a little bit. The characters and their new different "face" might take a while to get some die hard Austen fans to get used to (perhaps they might cry out sacrilege) but the storyline is wonderful, the humor is great, and I'm really looking forward to more from Marsha Altman's works.
Overall a hilarious read with plenty of fun adventures. It makes you wonder what's going to happen next with the Darcys and the Bingleys. I recommend this book to those in love with Jane Austen spinoffs.
July 10, 2009
The description of this book sounds quite silly: Mr. Darcy gives Mr. Bingley a rare copy of the Kama Sutra before their double wedding, and their brides come upon the book and peruse it. Naturally this leads to some post-wedding bliss in the bedchambers of the two couples. But don't worry, there's no smut here. Altman merely alludes to the act rather than explicitly giving details. This Kama Sutra storyline constitutes only a portion of the novel, as the rest of it concerns the goings-on outside the bedchamber.
The first section of the book is lighthearted and fun, following the Bingleys' and Darcys' early months of marriage. The second part is filled with action and drama, some of which is implausible but still fun nonetheless. Caroline Bingley, the antagonist from Austen's novel, comes more into the forefront here and the reader can't help but actually like her. I know, who'd have thought that possible?
One complaint that Austen fans have about the numerous Pride and Prejudice sequels is that Elizabeth Darcy, née Bennet, loses her wit and sparkle that attracted Mr. Darcy to her in the first place. Such is not the case in Altman's continuation of the characters' story. Her Lizzy is playful, funny and smart. She constantly engages in verbal spars with her husband, something I think Lizzy fans will enjoy.
As for Mr. Darcy, Altman has taken a few liberties with him. In her depiction, Darcy is still the proud, aloof man he is in Austen's classic, but he's softened up a bit after marrying Elizabeth. His gentlemanlike manners are still there, but with an added characteristic — drunkenness. I lost count of how many times Darcy is described as having too much to drink. He is the butt of many jokes between Bingley and Lizzy. I found it amusing at times, but sometimes I just thought to myself, 'Darcy is drunk again?'
The Darcys & the Bingleys focuses a lot on the friendship between the two gentlemen, but there are also a lot of Darcy/Lizzy moments. I would've liked to see equal coverage of Jane's and Mr. Bingley's marriage as there is of the Darcys' marriage. But I suppose, if that was the case, the book would end up being too long.
The dialogue is not exactly Regency-esque. A lot of the speech is modern, but this doesn't detract from the story much. Anyone who enjoys Pride and Prejudice — and wouldn't mind seeing their favorite characters acting a bit silly at times — might want to give this fun book a try. But don't take it too seriously!
The first section of the book is lighthearted and fun, following the Bingleys' and Darcys' early months of marriage. The second part is filled with action and drama, some of which is implausible but still fun nonetheless. Caroline Bingley, the antagonist from Austen's novel, comes more into the forefront here and the reader can't help but actually like her. I know, who'd have thought that possible?
One complaint that Austen fans have about the numerous Pride and Prejudice sequels is that Elizabeth Darcy, née Bennet, loses her wit and sparkle that attracted Mr. Darcy to her in the first place. Such is not the case in Altman's continuation of the characters' story. Her Lizzy is playful, funny and smart. She constantly engages in verbal spars with her husband, something I think Lizzy fans will enjoy.
As for Mr. Darcy, Altman has taken a few liberties with him. In her depiction, Darcy is still the proud, aloof man he is in Austen's classic, but he's softened up a bit after marrying Elizabeth. His gentlemanlike manners are still there, but with an added characteristic — drunkenness. I lost count of how many times Darcy is described as having too much to drink. He is the butt of many jokes between Bingley and Lizzy. I found it amusing at times, but sometimes I just thought to myself, 'Darcy is drunk again?'
The Darcys & the Bingleys focuses a lot on the friendship between the two gentlemen, but there are also a lot of Darcy/Lizzy moments. I would've liked to see equal coverage of Jane's and Mr. Bingley's marriage as there is of the Darcys' marriage. But I suppose, if that was the case, the book would end up being too long.
The dialogue is not exactly Regency-esque. A lot of the speech is modern, but this doesn't detract from the story much. Anyone who enjoys Pride and Prejudice — and wouldn't mind seeing their favorite characters acting a bit silly at times — might want to give this fun book a try. But don't take it too seriously!
June 10, 2010
The Darcys and the Bingleys picks up where Pride and Prejudice left off. It is divided into two parts. Part one basically reads like one long epilogue of Pride and Prejudice beginning with a dual wedding of Darcy to Elizabeth and Bingley to Jane. Part two is another story that centers around Caroline Bingley’s engagement and the Darcys’ and the Bingleys’ involvement in it. I feel that readers who haven’t read Pride and Prejudice will feel lost without having read it first. Ms. Altman assumes that the reader is already familiar with these characters. I, myself, read Pride and Prejudice a couple of years ago and at times I found myself racking my brain trying to remember a certain character and how they were related to whom.
The first part of the book was a little boring. Not because it was bad writing, quite the contrary actually, it’s just that there was very little conflict. It was almost too sweet and therefore little to hold my interest. Also, quite frequently a character would have a “remember when” moment and then the character would recount an event from the past. When book two began, things started to pick up speed and I found myself turning the pages faster. Actually, if it wasn’t for the second part of the book, I would have found myself grading the story much lower.
For the most part I enjoyed Ms. Altman’s writing style, most especially the conversations between characters. Darcy and Bingley’s relationship is explored further in this book and it was definitely welcome. I liked the competition they had between each other. Ms. Altman also weaves subtle humor throughout the story that would leave me smiling at something Darcy or Elizabeth said. I felt like Ms Altman remained true to the characters as I remembered them. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Jane Austin who are clamoring for more.
The first part of the book was a little boring. Not because it was bad writing, quite the contrary actually, it’s just that there was very little conflict. It was almost too sweet and therefore little to hold my interest. Also, quite frequently a character would have a “remember when” moment and then the character would recount an event from the past. When book two began, things started to pick up speed and I found myself turning the pages faster. Actually, if it wasn’t for the second part of the book, I would have found myself grading the story much lower.
For the most part I enjoyed Ms. Altman’s writing style, most especially the conversations between characters. Darcy and Bingley’s relationship is explored further in this book and it was definitely welcome. I liked the competition they had between each other. Ms. Altman also weaves subtle humor throughout the story that would leave me smiling at something Darcy or Elizabeth said. I felt like Ms Altman remained true to the characters as I remembered them. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Jane Austin who are clamoring for more.
July 11, 2016
This is pure Pride and Prejudice fanfiction. The best way to read this book to be mentally prepared not to expect anything remotely similar to Austen's original, including the characters. The mention on the blurb of Bingley and Darcy picking up a copy of the Kama Sutra is probably ample warning.
I was fortunately armed with that knowledge when I read this, so I was able to overlook the way Austen's characters were ripped out of context and their personalities twisted to create humor. As a parody, it doesn't disappoint. Once you stop taking it too seriously and let yourself go along for the ride, it's light and quirky, and I even found some of Darcy and Bingley's predicaments rather funny.
My comments above summarize what I felt when I turned my brain off and rolled with it, but once you sit back and think, you quickly realize that a story like this is only a step up from something that you'd expect to find on Fanfiction.net. True, Altman might write better, but plot-wise, she hasn't produced anything in her P&P "sequel" that I haven't read before. Everything about the Caroline Bingley story in the second half of the book reminded me of Carrie Bebris' "Pride and Prescience", where mystery also surrounds Caroline's seemingly rich and perfect husband-to-be. The only difference is the writing in Pride and Prescience far exceed that in this book and Lizzy/Darcy are actually themselves in it, so I would recommend picking up a copy of that instead if you're after a better Pride & Prejudice "continuation."
I was fortunately armed with that knowledge when I read this, so I was able to overlook the way Austen's characters were ripped out of context and their personalities twisted to create humor. As a parody, it doesn't disappoint. Once you stop taking it too seriously and let yourself go along for the ride, it's light and quirky, and I even found some of Darcy and Bingley's predicaments rather funny.
My comments above summarize what I felt when I turned my brain off and rolled with it, but once you sit back and think, you quickly realize that a story like this is only a step up from something that you'd expect to find on Fanfiction.net. True, Altman might write better, but plot-wise, she hasn't produced anything in her P&P "sequel" that I haven't read before. Everything about the Caroline Bingley story in the second half of the book reminded me of Carrie Bebris' "Pride and Prescience", where mystery also surrounds Caroline's seemingly rich and perfect husband-to-be. The only difference is the writing in Pride and Prescience far exceed that in this book and Lizzy/Darcy are actually themselves in it, so I would recommend picking up a copy of that instead if you're after a better Pride & Prejudice "continuation."
February 12, 2011
The characters in this book were so cardboard, almost every character had an identical personality. I felt like I was reading a book written for children.
Rather than get to know and understand the personalities of the characters, the author seems to have taken a single characteristic and applied it to everything. Darcy who we know cares deeply for his friends is painted as a jovial tease as Bingley tries to ask him about sex.
The book is disjointed, making me wonder if the author had any idea about plot direction. From a conversation about the birds and the bees she launches into an irrelevant and rather long flashback about college life for Darcy and Bingley (a life strangely missing much of Wickham). I have trouble believing that, on the eve of his wedding, Bingley would run around asking Darcy how to pleasure a woman. The plot ends up on a bizarre romp with characters (including Elizabeth who is only painted as independent) all riding to Scotland for barely conceivable reasons.
The book has some redeeming features. The college flashback is actually somewhat revealing of Darcy's personality (I somewhat because it mostly focuses on more sex). The stirrings surrounding Caroline is sweet (though it still lacks believability). The author would have done well to focus less on sex and more on writing a story with one of her subplots as a central theme.
Overall the characters are cardboard and the stirrings inconceivable.
Rather than get to know and understand the personalities of the characters, the author seems to have taken a single characteristic and applied it to everything. Darcy who we know cares deeply for his friends is painted as a jovial tease as Bingley tries to ask him about sex.
The book is disjointed, making me wonder if the author had any idea about plot direction. From a conversation about the birds and the bees she launches into an irrelevant and rather long flashback about college life for Darcy and Bingley (a life strangely missing much of Wickham). I have trouble believing that, on the eve of his wedding, Bingley would run around asking Darcy how to pleasure a woman. The plot ends up on a bizarre romp with characters (including Elizabeth who is only painted as independent) all riding to Scotland for barely conceivable reasons.
The book has some redeeming features. The college flashback is actually somewhat revealing of Darcy's personality (I somewhat because it mostly focuses on more sex). The stirrings surrounding Caroline is sweet (though it still lacks believability). The author would have done well to focus less on sex and more on writing a story with one of her subplots as a central theme.
Overall the characters are cardboard and the stirrings inconceivable.
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May 10, 2017I received a copy of this book for review, and am sorry I wasn't able to finish it. I had to mark as DNF at 16% because I really didn't care for the subject matter.
"He was flummoxed by the illustration and read the description several times before finally saying, 'This cannot be very gentlemanly.'
'But it does work - quite well.' Darcy was so at ease."
o.O
A book does not need to contain graphic content in order to be inappropriate. I'm sure I don't need to quote more. I really didn't need to hear about Bingley seeking wedding night advice from Darcy, Darcy showing him the Kama Sutra, reading about them poring over it and wondering how certain positions are even possible, seeing Lizzy and Jane blushing every time someone mentioned the wedding, and being reminded that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had to sleep together at least five times!
I'm really sorry, but this is what I call a complete and utter waste of a book. If you don't mind a sequel that has the Darcys and the Bingleys' sex lives as the plot (albeit without any graphic scenes, I was told) and you don't take any of it seriously, then you might enjoy it. The writing was very good for the most part, and it could have been a charming story if it had focused on something else. Me, I do not want to read more. Sorry.
"He was flummoxed by the illustration and read the description several times before finally saying, 'This cannot be very gentlemanly.'
'But it does work - quite well.' Darcy was so at ease."
o.O
A book does not need to contain graphic content in order to be inappropriate. I'm sure I don't need to quote more. I really didn't need to hear about Bingley seeking wedding night advice from Darcy, Darcy showing him the Kama Sutra, reading about them poring over it and wondering how certain positions are even possible, seeing Lizzy and Jane blushing every time someone mentioned the wedding, and being reminded that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had to sleep together at least five times!
I'm really sorry, but this is what I call a complete and utter waste of a book. If you don't mind a sequel that has the Darcys and the Bingleys' sex lives as the plot (albeit without any graphic scenes, I was told) and you don't take any of it seriously, then you might enjoy it. The writing was very good for the most part, and it could have been a charming story if it had focused on something else. Me, I do not want to read more. Sorry.
April 10, 2011
The Darcys and the Bingleys is my favorite of all the Pride and Prejudice sequels I have read so far. I love the humour and the wonderful brotherly rivalry between Darcy and Bingley, it made me laugh many times, especially when they were betting about whose wife would have a baby first. :)
Part one chronicles the first year of marriage, beginning right before the double wedding of Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane and Charles. Both couples struggle with pre-marital nerves and a great deal of unsolicited advice from numerous relations, with everyone concerned wishing that the wedding could be done with so that they can actually spend some time with their respective spouses.
Part two takes Darcy on another adventure into the world of marriage-prevention when Bingley asks his favor in investigating a suitor of Caroline Bingley's. This seemingly straightforward task leads to excitement and peril that nobody suspected, and that may place all of their lives in danger.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves comedy, romance, and adventure. I, personally, will definitely be re-reading this one in the future, as well as keeping an eye out for later books in the series.
http://liedermadchen.blogspot.com/201...
Part one chronicles the first year of marriage, beginning right before the double wedding of Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane and Charles. Both couples struggle with pre-marital nerves and a great deal of unsolicited advice from numerous relations, with everyone concerned wishing that the wedding could be done with so that they can actually spend some time with their respective spouses.
Part two takes Darcy on another adventure into the world of marriage-prevention when Bingley asks his favor in investigating a suitor of Caroline Bingley's. This seemingly straightforward task leads to excitement and peril that nobody suspected, and that may place all of their lives in danger.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves comedy, romance, and adventure. I, personally, will definitely be re-reading this one in the future, as well as keeping an eye out for later books in the series.
http://liedermadchen.blogspot.com/201...
February 17, 2009
This is such a wonderful sequel to “Pride and Prejudice”! Parts of this novel are absolutely hilarious. I did enjoy this version so much more than Linda Berdoll’s sequel. I have yet to read Ms. Berdoll’s sequel to her sequel, however, unlike Ms. Berdoll’s book, Ms. Altman doesn’t use heavy handed language. Thank goodness! I also have to add here that most of Ms. Bedroll’s original sequel was somewhat depressing, while this book, again- thank goodness- is not! It book is hilarious, easy to read, and the fun is over way too fast. This book begins about three days before the double wedding of Elizabeth and Jane to their respective fiancée’s. This book contains their children, more action with the Bennett family, Miss Caroline Bingley and her suitors, and a few new characters. We also find out that Colonel Fitzwilliam is engaged to someone very unexpected. So, basically that leaves Miss Georgiana Darcy, who did come out into society, her adventures with suitors which Ms. Altman will probably focus at least part of her next book on. There is no publication date set. Ms. Altman is continuing her story of the Darcys and the Bingleys, much to my delight!
July 29, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this book even more than I had expected. In the past I have read “sequels” to Pride and Prejudice but found them lacking in either not staying true to the original characters or just not having a very interesting story. I thought Marsha Altman did a wonderful job in this book in not only keeping to how I pictured Darcy, Elizabeth and the other characters but also adding a good does of humor. I always enjoy a book that makes me smile or laugh out loud while being clever.
The story begins not long before the wedding and then moves along quickly as we see both Elizabeth and Jane settling in with their respective spouses. The reader will also get glimpses into what happens with other characters such as Caroline, Mr. Bingley’s sister, Colonel Fitzwilliam as well as a few other characters. My favorite parts involve the on-going joke between Darcy and Bingley over a certain “educational” book that Darcy gives Bingley as a wedding gift. If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice I think you will find this to be a satisfying sequel and Marsha Altman will soon be having a second book coming out next month in the series.
The story begins not long before the wedding and then moves along quickly as we see both Elizabeth and Jane settling in with their respective spouses. The reader will also get glimpses into what happens with other characters such as Caroline, Mr. Bingley’s sister, Colonel Fitzwilliam as well as a few other characters. My favorite parts involve the on-going joke between Darcy and Bingley over a certain “educational” book that Darcy gives Bingley as a wedding gift. If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice I think you will find this to be a satisfying sequel and Marsha Altman will soon be having a second book coming out next month in the series.
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