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Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation
WARNING This story is about rape. It is not graphic but realistically portrays the emotional legacy of such an attack as well as portraying faithfully the attitudes of society.
A life altering event inextricably links a fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Bennet to Fitzwilliam Darcy while simultaneously creating an almost insurmountable divide. This Pride and Prejudice deviation takes the reader on a journey through a labyrinth filled with misunderstandings, bias, guilt and fear--not to mention, laughter, animal magnetism and waltzing. As Elizabeth says, 'she shed enough tears to float one of Lord Nelson's frigates' but as she also observes 'unhappiness does, indeed, have comic aspects one should never underestimate.'
Though the path for our protagonists is much more arduous than canon the benefit remains the same, a very happy Janeite ending for these two soul-mates. Along the way there is retribution, redemption and reward for other characters--including a few that recall players in Ms Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility.'
Beth Massey's second 'Mr Darcy's Cottage of Earthly Delight, Shades of Pride and Prejudice' will be released in late December of 2012.
Elizabeth Bennet visits Mr Darcy's estate, against her better judgement. Overhearing some disturbing gossip, prompts her to escape a devastating revelation with a solitary exploration of his beautiful park. Caught in a downpour, she is rescued by none other than the recently returned from London, master of Pemberley. Jealousy, anger and passion combine to create a different outcome than her remorse-ridden imagination could have ever imagined.
A life altering event inextricably links a fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Bennet to Fitzwilliam Darcy while simultaneously creating an almost insurmountable divide. This Pride and Prejudice deviation takes the reader on a journey through a labyrinth filled with misunderstandings, bias, guilt and fear--not to mention, laughter, animal magnetism and waltzing. As Elizabeth says, 'she shed enough tears to float one of Lord Nelson's frigates' but as she also observes 'unhappiness does, indeed, have comic aspects one should never underestimate.'
Though the path for our protagonists is much more arduous than canon the benefit remains the same, a very happy Janeite ending for these two soul-mates. Along the way there is retribution, redemption and reward for other characters--including a few that recall players in Ms Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility.'
Beth Massey's second 'Mr Darcy's Cottage of Earthly Delight, Shades of Pride and Prejudice' will be released in late December of 2012.
Elizabeth Bennet visits Mr Darcy's estate, against her better judgement. Overhearing some disturbing gossip, prompts her to escape a devastating revelation with a solitary exploration of his beautiful park. Caught in a downpour, she is rescued by none other than the recently returned from London, master of Pemberley. Jealousy, anger and passion combine to create a different outcome than her remorse-ridden imagination could have ever imagined.
637 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2012
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did-not-finish
December 16, 2012Recently I was offered the opportunity to review Goodly Creatures by Beth Massey for Austenprose. I knew this book was generating a good deal of discussion in the JAFF world. I’m always up for books that are labeled “controversial” as they are great conservation starters. What could be more interesting than a book that stimulates discussions and sparks minds?
NOTE: For those that do wish to read the book I encourage you to stop reading my review. I’m discussing the novel openly which may lead to there being spoilers you wished you hadn’t read.
Those that are familiar with Pride and Prejudice will notice several differences from the original text right off the bat. The first difference is that the events of the first half of Goodly Creatures take place five years before the original, so the characters are younger than we are used to. Additionally, Darcy has entered a marriage of convenience with his cousin Anne de Bourgh. Mr. Bennet is also going blind and heavily relies on Elizabeth to help him with handling the correspondence and finances of Longbourn. I’m pretty liberal with my Austen fan fiction reading, meaning I’m open to the majority of different scenarios that authors come up with. None of the above really bothered me as far as changes go. If anything it excited me to see how Darcy and Elizabeth would overcome the obstacle that is Anne.
The majority of the discord that surrounds this works seems to stem from the character of Edmund Fitzwilliam. He is also one of the major reasons for my dislike of the novel. Edmund is Darcy’s cousin (Col Fitzwilliam’s older brother) and is the subject of much of this initial conflict of the first section of the book. He enjoys watching Elizabeth at the theater because of her childlike features. “This chit was just the way he liked them – tiny and not at all womanly. Her face, what he could see of it, was dominated by large, expressive eyes, the way children’s are before they grow into their features – eyes so very appealing. How he would delight in seeing them helpless.” (p 25) Edmund’s fascination with the childlike qualities Elizabeth exhibits would be enough to make me uncomfortable, but there is more. Anne mentions that she sees Edmund’s fascination with Elizabeth and “it did not surprise her. During her time spent with him over the winter, she had noticed his preference for the very young.” (p 29)
I’m going to come back to these quotes in a minute, but in order to make my point I need to explain more of the plot. Anne strikes up a friendship with Elizabeth (which we later find out is behind Darcy’s back) because she enjoys Elizabeth’s confidence and personality. She feels that she can learn how to grow a backbone with the friendship of this witty young woman. One afternoon Anne picks Elizabeth up from the Gardiner’s townhouse in London and is brought back to Darcy House. Anne “goes to get a dress to show her,” essentially leaving Elizabeth alone. Edmund walks in and Elizabeth quickly realizes all is not right. The door is locked and he pushes her into the next room with him, which is his bedroom. It’s quickly realized that Anne helped orchestrate the event of getting Elizabeth alone with Edmund to “visit her.” Edmund rapes Elizabeth and then leaves her. In Despair, Elizabeth leaves the house and runs into Darcy, who follows her home (because he’s worried about her). He has no idea of the events that have transpired that afternoon but realizes something isn’t right. About 2-3 months after the rape Elizabeth finds herself with child. When her aunt and uncle reveal their increasing suspicions, she asks them, “How is it possible to have a baby if you are not married?” (p 74) My heart instantly broke for this re-imagined version of Elizabeth Bennet; moreover were the passages that followed in which she blamed herself for the rape. Claiming that it was her “silliness and pride” that allowed for it to have happened. Not only does Elizabeth blame herself, but her aunt and uncle chastise themselves for what they believe were digressions in their chaperoning duties. This was shocking. Where is the blame for Edmund, or Anne for that matter?
Let’s go back to the first quotes I mentioned. It’s obvious from the start that Anne knew Edmund had a thing for Elizabeth and for young girls. Anne claims that she only thought Edmund wanted to talk to Elizabeth, yet it’s honestly not possible for Anne to have made the astute observation that her cousin enjoys young females, yet think he just wanted to talk to Elizabeth alone. Being the daughter of Lady Catherine, don’t you think she would know the rules of propriety that do not allow men and woman to be alone in a room un-chaperoned? The transgressions and lack of discipline that these two characters display made it more and more difficult to read Elizabeth’s self-admonishments about her own behavior. NO. It is NOT your fault that you were raped. All rape victims should know this, and be told it continually until they believe it. In Elizabeth’s case she’s told she can marry Edmund or have her child raised by her aunt and uncle as their own. The decision is eventually made that Darcy and Anne will raise the baby as their own, giving Elizabeth a small fortune in exchange.
Darcy too has reservations about his cousin’s preferences for younger girls. So imagine my surprise when a 15 year-old Elizabeth Bennet shows up at Darcy House to inform them all about her pregnancy and has to deal with the scowls coming her way from Darcy, as he concludes the fault of the rape was hers by thinking that her “poor behavior was probably the result of improper and haphazard training…”(p 91) Even with all evidence to the contrary he places the blame on the wrong person.
Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that for that time period, women were blamed in cases of lost chastity, whether or not it was rape. Men were the head honchoes of the world and could do whatever they wanted. I applaud Massey for bringing this point up. My confusion lies with why this is being told as a Pride and Prejudice variation? Why are the characters we know and love being changed into these unrecognizable people just so attention can be given to a serious social issue and how it was dealt with in Georgian times? I feel that the characters are being molded and changed to fit this story that essentially has no place in Pride and Prejudice. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make others aware of the difficulties women faced during this time, but I don’t see its place with these characters.
Not only were the changes of the characters bothersome to me, but there were times where the story veered off onto other tracks which made no sense in the general context of the overarching plot. Elizabeth is at one time given a history of the Irish Revolution. I’m not sure what that had to do with the rape plot, or helping her find love with Darcy, or anything else for that matter. Rather, it read like passages from history novels thrown in a story influenced by Pride and Prejudice.
The final nail in the coffin was when Edmund seemed to want to make Georgiana his next victim. “Little Georgiana had also come to the forefront with this newest addition to the household. For the first time he noticed his eleven-year-old cousin’s appearance. She was very different from the baby’s mother but still another delightful variation of an appealing little girl. Miss Elizabeth had been a joyful, intelligent and impertinent sprite with whom he could engage in a battle of wits and ultimately defeat. Georgie was more like a spirited thoroughbred colt – all legs and a long elegant neck – waiting for someone to break her in.” (p 169) I literally was almost physically ill after reading that passage.
As a book reviewer for over two and half years now I’ve come to realize that books fall into three categories: books you like, books you don’t like, and books you can’t finish. Unfortunately Goodly Creatures fell into the latter category for me. I’m not here to write a review bashing the novel or the author, but lay claim to the feelings I had that led to me being uncomfortable enough to not finish the book. In addition, it is not my intent to discourage anybody else from reading this book either. I’ve spoken with others who mentioned that they enjoyed it—everyone has their own tastes to discern from. I look forward to continuing my journey in the JAFF world and discovering new books and new authors that appeal to my tastes.
Since I didn’t complete the book I feel it’s unfair for me to give it a rating.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
Originally Posted: http://wp.me/p18lIL-1k4
Publisher’s description from Goodreads: A life altering event inextricably links a fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Bennet to Fitzwilliam Darcy while simultaneously creating an almost insurmountable divide. This Pride and Prejudice deviation takes the reader on a journey through a labyrinth filled with misunderstandings, bias, guilt and fear – not to mention, laughter, animal magnetism and waltzing. As Elizabeth says, ‘she shed enough tears to float one of Lord Nelson’s frigates’ but as she learned from her father ‘unhappiness does, indeed, have comic aspects one should never underestimate.’
Though the path for our protagonists is much more arduous than canon, the benefit remains the same; a very happy Janeite ending for these two star-crossed lovers. Along the way there is retribution, redemption and reward for other characters – including a few that recall players in two grave injustices as written by Ms Austen in ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ These grievances prompted this long-time struggle for women’s rights to write a tale that provided these women vindication.”
NOTE: For those that do wish to read the book I encourage you to stop reading my review. I’m discussing the novel openly which may lead to there being spoilers you wished you hadn’t read.
Those that are familiar with Pride and Prejudice will notice several differences from the original text right off the bat. The first difference is that the events of the first half of Goodly Creatures take place five years before the original, so the characters are younger than we are used to. Additionally, Darcy has entered a marriage of convenience with his cousin Anne de Bourgh. Mr. Bennet is also going blind and heavily relies on Elizabeth to help him with handling the correspondence and finances of Longbourn. I’m pretty liberal with my Austen fan fiction reading, meaning I’m open to the majority of different scenarios that authors come up with. None of the above really bothered me as far as changes go. If anything it excited me to see how Darcy and Elizabeth would overcome the obstacle that is Anne.
The majority of the discord that surrounds this works seems to stem from the character of Edmund Fitzwilliam. He is also one of the major reasons for my dislike of the novel. Edmund is Darcy’s cousin (Col Fitzwilliam’s older brother) and is the subject of much of this initial conflict of the first section of the book. He enjoys watching Elizabeth at the theater because of her childlike features. “This chit was just the way he liked them – tiny and not at all womanly. Her face, what he could see of it, was dominated by large, expressive eyes, the way children’s are before they grow into their features – eyes so very appealing. How he would delight in seeing them helpless.” (p 25) Edmund’s fascination with the childlike qualities Elizabeth exhibits would be enough to make me uncomfortable, but there is more. Anne mentions that she sees Edmund’s fascination with Elizabeth and “it did not surprise her. During her time spent with him over the winter, she had noticed his preference for the very young.” (p 29)
I’m going to come back to these quotes in a minute, but in order to make my point I need to explain more of the plot. Anne strikes up a friendship with Elizabeth (which we later find out is behind Darcy’s back) because she enjoys Elizabeth’s confidence and personality. She feels that she can learn how to grow a backbone with the friendship of this witty young woman. One afternoon Anne picks Elizabeth up from the Gardiner’s townhouse in London and is brought back to Darcy House. Anne “goes to get a dress to show her,” essentially leaving Elizabeth alone. Edmund walks in and Elizabeth quickly realizes all is not right. The door is locked and he pushes her into the next room with him, which is his bedroom. It’s quickly realized that Anne helped orchestrate the event of getting Elizabeth alone with Edmund to “visit her.” Edmund rapes Elizabeth and then leaves her. In Despair, Elizabeth leaves the house and runs into Darcy, who follows her home (because he’s worried about her). He has no idea of the events that have transpired that afternoon but realizes something isn’t right. About 2-3 months after the rape Elizabeth finds herself with child. When her aunt and uncle reveal their increasing suspicions, she asks them, “How is it possible to have a baby if you are not married?” (p 74) My heart instantly broke for this re-imagined version of Elizabeth Bennet; moreover were the passages that followed in which she blamed herself for the rape. Claiming that it was her “silliness and pride” that allowed for it to have happened. Not only does Elizabeth blame herself, but her aunt and uncle chastise themselves for what they believe were digressions in their chaperoning duties. This was shocking. Where is the blame for Edmund, or Anne for that matter?
Let’s go back to the first quotes I mentioned. It’s obvious from the start that Anne knew Edmund had a thing for Elizabeth and for young girls. Anne claims that she only thought Edmund wanted to talk to Elizabeth, yet it’s honestly not possible for Anne to have made the astute observation that her cousin enjoys young females, yet think he just wanted to talk to Elizabeth alone. Being the daughter of Lady Catherine, don’t you think she would know the rules of propriety that do not allow men and woman to be alone in a room un-chaperoned? The transgressions and lack of discipline that these two characters display made it more and more difficult to read Elizabeth’s self-admonishments about her own behavior. NO. It is NOT your fault that you were raped. All rape victims should know this, and be told it continually until they believe it. In Elizabeth’s case she’s told she can marry Edmund or have her child raised by her aunt and uncle as their own. The decision is eventually made that Darcy and Anne will raise the baby as their own, giving Elizabeth a small fortune in exchange.
Darcy too has reservations about his cousin’s preferences for younger girls. So imagine my surprise when a 15 year-old Elizabeth Bennet shows up at Darcy House to inform them all about her pregnancy and has to deal with the scowls coming her way from Darcy, as he concludes the fault of the rape was hers by thinking that her “poor behavior was probably the result of improper and haphazard training…”(p 91) Even with all evidence to the contrary he places the blame on the wrong person.
Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that for that time period, women were blamed in cases of lost chastity, whether or not it was rape. Men were the head honchoes of the world and could do whatever they wanted. I applaud Massey for bringing this point up. My confusion lies with why this is being told as a Pride and Prejudice variation? Why are the characters we know and love being changed into these unrecognizable people just so attention can be given to a serious social issue and how it was dealt with in Georgian times? I feel that the characters are being molded and changed to fit this story that essentially has no place in Pride and Prejudice. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make others aware of the difficulties women faced during this time, but I don’t see its place with these characters.
Not only were the changes of the characters bothersome to me, but there were times where the story veered off onto other tracks which made no sense in the general context of the overarching plot. Elizabeth is at one time given a history of the Irish Revolution. I’m not sure what that had to do with the rape plot, or helping her find love with Darcy, or anything else for that matter. Rather, it read like passages from history novels thrown in a story influenced by Pride and Prejudice.
The final nail in the coffin was when Edmund seemed to want to make Georgiana his next victim. “Little Georgiana had also come to the forefront with this newest addition to the household. For the first time he noticed his eleven-year-old cousin’s appearance. She was very different from the baby’s mother but still another delightful variation of an appealing little girl. Miss Elizabeth had been a joyful, intelligent and impertinent sprite with whom he could engage in a battle of wits and ultimately defeat. Georgie was more like a spirited thoroughbred colt – all legs and a long elegant neck – waiting for someone to break her in.” (p 169) I literally was almost physically ill after reading that passage.
As a book reviewer for over two and half years now I’ve come to realize that books fall into three categories: books you like, books you don’t like, and books you can’t finish. Unfortunately Goodly Creatures fell into the latter category for me. I’m not here to write a review bashing the novel or the author, but lay claim to the feelings I had that led to me being uncomfortable enough to not finish the book. In addition, it is not my intent to discourage anybody else from reading this book either. I’ve spoken with others who mentioned that they enjoyed it—everyone has their own tastes to discern from. I look forward to continuing my journey in the JAFF world and discovering new books and new authors that appeal to my tastes.
Since I didn’t complete the book I feel it’s unfair for me to give it a rating.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
Originally Posted: http://wp.me/p18lIL-1k4
June 23, 2021
So, I bit the bullet and read this book. I admit to skimming the first part as I didn't need all those details.
First off, in no way did this book have to be so long. Can we puh-leeeze get off the repetition train, Yo?!?
Second, reading this could have been a drinking game with every time Darcy had a derogatory thought about Elizabeth, her low standing in society, mercenarism and him using her as his own personal centerfold whenever he feels the need for self personal gratification. (And SHE is the one with low standing??? Pot meet kettle!!!) I would be drunk for 48 hours!
Third, it reminds a lot of The Unwitting Compromise, 2021. Another I didn't like- in the way that it took Darcy so frickin long to buy a Vowel! Dude, seriously! I mean what an absolute, unmitigated A$$!!!
I was impressed by the antithesis of Darcy vs women's/slave's/poor people's rights. The discussion regarding women's rights, abolishing slavery, the french revolution and the Irish conflict was in direct opposition to EVERYTHING Darcy was and how he lived his life. Ivory tower, check, superior opinion of himself, check, couldn't possibly be wrong, double check. One's life is simply a matter of luck of the draw, yet he really did consider himself and the rest of the first circle as superior. Only the low class can possibly be brutes! Sadly it took what was supposed to be a noble character far too long to perceive the true noble characters in this story was anyone but the 10%.
I also liked the Mary/Collins duo, nicely done for a change. and the dialog with the kids was the best part of the whole book.
This book actually got to dealing with the true victim's survival only well after the 50% mark. Up to that point it could have been described as Darcy's self centered soliloquy.
I find it so interesting that throughout most the book the terms used for Elizabeth's trauma is violated, no longer chaste, assault, coercion... Yet, it took one who has seen all aspects of the world and the worst it has to offer to call a spade a spade - Rape! and if you help to facilitate that rape, its called conspiracy to commit!
So while the high drama kept me flipping digital pages, and skimming large sections, cause blah-blah repeat, it was meh.
First off, in no way did this book have to be so long. Can we puh-leeeze get off the repetition train, Yo?!?
Second, reading this could have been a drinking game with every time Darcy had a derogatory thought about Elizabeth, her low standing in society, mercenarism and him using her as his own personal centerfold whenever he feels the need for self personal gratification. (And SHE is the one with low standing??? Pot meet kettle!!!) I would be drunk for 48 hours!
Third, it reminds a lot of The Unwitting Compromise, 2021. Another I didn't like- in the way that it took Darcy so frickin long to buy a Vowel! Dude, seriously! I mean what an absolute, unmitigated A$$!!!
I was impressed by the antithesis of Darcy vs women's/slave's/poor people's rights. The discussion regarding women's rights, abolishing slavery, the french revolution and the Irish conflict was in direct opposition to EVERYTHING Darcy was and how he lived his life. Ivory tower, check, superior opinion of himself, check, couldn't possibly be wrong, double check. One's life is simply a matter of luck of the draw, yet he really did consider himself and the rest of the first circle as superior. Only the low class can possibly be brutes! Sadly it took what was supposed to be a noble character far too long to perceive the true noble characters in this story was anyone but the 10%.
I also liked the Mary/Collins duo, nicely done for a change. and the dialog with the kids was the best part of the whole book.
This book actually got to dealing with the true victim's survival only well after the 50% mark. Up to that point it could have been described as Darcy's self centered soliloquy.
I find it so interesting that throughout most the book the terms used for Elizabeth's trauma is violated, no longer chaste, assault, coercion... Yet, it took one who has seen all aspects of the world and the worst it has to offer to call a spade a spade - Rape! and if you help to facilitate that rape, its called conspiracy to commit!
So while the high drama kept me flipping digital pages, and skimming large sections, cause blah-blah repeat, it was meh.
November 14, 2023
Gripping
Serious subject matter, not normally found in a P&P variation, but so well written I was drawn in from the beginning. It was gripping and at times so very heart-rending. While there were moments of terror brought on by pure evil, humor and love was still found among the goodly creatures of Elizabeth’s life. As a woman, I’m glad I wasn’t living back then. Excellent dialogue. I’ve read this book twice but didn’t note the second date. Highly recommend.
August 15, 2020 - I have just finished reading Goodly Creatures for the third time. I somehow seem to be drawn back to it and want to read it once more. No doubt I will again.
August 20, 2022 - Still my favorite Beth Massey book.
Serious subject matter, not normally found in a P&P variation, but so well written I was drawn in from the beginning. It was gripping and at times so very heart-rending. While there were moments of terror brought on by pure evil, humor and love was still found among the goodly creatures of Elizabeth’s life. As a woman, I’m glad I wasn’t living back then. Excellent dialogue. I’ve read this book twice but didn’t note the second date. Highly recommend.
August 15, 2020 - I have just finished reading Goodly Creatures for the third time. I somehow seem to be drawn back to it and want to read it once more. No doubt I will again.
August 20, 2022 - Still my favorite Beth Massey book.
August 7, 2012
A Note from Indie Jane:
The author was informed in advance that this review would not be positive and elected to go forward with the publication. Indie Jane fully supports Patty Marq and her balanced review of Goodly Creatures.
*****
The other day, Nancy tweeted a link to book recommendations for different kinds of Janeites (http://roofbeamreader.net/2012/08/03/...). There they described three types of Janeites: Purists who read only the original works and other letters and unfinished works written by Jane Austen, Free-for-Alls who read anything related to Jane Austen, and the Inbetweeners who read adaptations, sequels but want to stay loyal to the original works. Depending on which type of Janeite you are, there are some stories which you will or will not tolerate.
In Goodly Creatures, Beth Massey writes about a series of events that happen years before Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, events that forever change the fate of all the characters from Pride and Prejudice. In this book, we see some of the more negative circumstances often not talked about in light-hearted Regency romances, such as rape and murder. And that is the main problem with this book, that while other stories have included pre-marital sex or children born out of wedlock, we do not often see it to the extremes of portraying the rape of a girl so young that she is basically a child nor a young teenager committing murder with very little afterthought. A good portion of the book is spent on re-telling the horrible events that happened so long ago and we get to see inside the thoughts of a man who has become a pedophiliac. If you were looking for a lighthearted adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, you will not find it here.
However, later in the book we start to get the redemption that many of the characters needed. We see punishment come to those who deserve it but at the cost of being faithful to the characters portrayed. This is another problem I have with the book, some characters change without explanation. While the main characters do have a backstory to explain why their characters have undergone changes, it is the people around them who change without reason. Lydia becomes a good judge of character but nothing of her past explains the dissonance between Lydia in Goodly Creatures and Lydia in Pride and Prejudice. Charlotte marries Colonel Forster but we do not know how this even came to happen, it is just stated. While I have no problem seeing the characters with different characters or partners, I like to see a plausible explanation why they changed.
In the end, we do get our happy endings. Those who were prevented from being together as they should have been earlier in the book finally get to be together at the end but the story of how they got there was too horrific to make this a book I would recommend to others. It deals with the horrific rape of a girl who was practically a child and that is something we constantly relive throughout the book due to her posttraumatic stress disorder.
Two out of five stars.
Reviewed by Patty Marq for Indie Jane.
The author was informed in advance that this review would not be positive and elected to go forward with the publication. Indie Jane fully supports Patty Marq and her balanced review of Goodly Creatures.
*****
The other day, Nancy tweeted a link to book recommendations for different kinds of Janeites (http://roofbeamreader.net/2012/08/03/...). There they described three types of Janeites: Purists who read only the original works and other letters and unfinished works written by Jane Austen, Free-for-Alls who read anything related to Jane Austen, and the Inbetweeners who read adaptations, sequels but want to stay loyal to the original works. Depending on which type of Janeite you are, there are some stories which you will or will not tolerate.
In Goodly Creatures, Beth Massey writes about a series of events that happen years before Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, events that forever change the fate of all the characters from Pride and Prejudice. In this book, we see some of the more negative circumstances often not talked about in light-hearted Regency romances, such as rape and murder. And that is the main problem with this book, that while other stories have included pre-marital sex or children born out of wedlock, we do not often see it to the extremes of portraying the rape of a girl so young that she is basically a child nor a young teenager committing murder with very little afterthought. A good portion of the book is spent on re-telling the horrible events that happened so long ago and we get to see inside the thoughts of a man who has become a pedophiliac. If you were looking for a lighthearted adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, you will not find it here.
However, later in the book we start to get the redemption that many of the characters needed. We see punishment come to those who deserve it but at the cost of being faithful to the characters portrayed. This is another problem I have with the book, some characters change without explanation. While the main characters do have a backstory to explain why their characters have undergone changes, it is the people around them who change without reason. Lydia becomes a good judge of character but nothing of her past explains the dissonance between Lydia in Goodly Creatures and Lydia in Pride and Prejudice. Charlotte marries Colonel Forster but we do not know how this even came to happen, it is just stated. While I have no problem seeing the characters with different characters or partners, I like to see a plausible explanation why they changed.
In the end, we do get our happy endings. Those who were prevented from being together as they should have been earlier in the book finally get to be together at the end but the story of how they got there was too horrific to make this a book I would recommend to others. It deals with the horrific rape of a girl who was practically a child and that is something we constantly relive throughout the book due to her posttraumatic stress disorder.
Two out of five stars.
Reviewed by Patty Marq for Indie Jane.
January 7, 2022
Hard to read but definitely worth it.
Heart-wrenching, excruciating angst, engaging, deep and captivating.
Elizabeth is violated in this book and the repercussions are the story.
Substantial read that made me laugh and cry.
Heartily recommend!
Reread January22
Heart-wrenching, excruciating angst, engaging, deep and captivating.
Elizabeth is violated in this book and the repercussions are the story.
Substantial read that made me laugh and cry.
Heartily recommend!
Reread January22
April 11, 2021
Epic love story
From the beginning depths of a horrible act by an evil man when she was 15, Lizzie and Darcy craft, with the help of goodly creatures around them, a love for the ages.
Retribution and the deepest of love allows a multi-generational family of goodly people to exist and thrive.
From the ashes of evil, the Phoenix of love arises and a bounty of love snaking it’s way throughout the the land is triumphant.
Beautiful story in every way. Thank god for the littlest avenging angel, Lydia. Thank god for the Rock that is Richard. Thank god for the love of Lizzie and Darcy.
I recommend this book highly.
From the beginning depths of a horrible act by an evil man when she was 15, Lizzie and Darcy craft, with the help of goodly creatures around them, a love for the ages.
Retribution and the deepest of love allows a multi-generational family of goodly people to exist and thrive.
From the ashes of evil, the Phoenix of love arises and a bounty of love snaking it’s way throughout the the land is triumphant.
Beautiful story in every way. Thank god for the littlest avenging angel, Lydia. Thank god for the Rock that is Richard. Thank god for the love of Lizzie and Darcy.
I recommend this book highly.
April 11, 2016
At this time, I feel unable to write a review on this book. My rating will have to do, but I can say it is truly worth reading.
August 28, 2015
I am in awe of this book and the author. When putting up my five stars I had to suppress a brief urge to go back to all my other read P&P novels and lower their rating just to make this book shine out some more.
Not everyone will be happy with the main trigger for this "deviation". It is certainly a very difficult topic and Jane Austen purists may feel it is too much of an imposition. And because the circumstance of the story is so extreme, by necessity some of the propriety of behaviour must fall away by the end creating dialogue and scenes that some may consider not authentic but I assure you that when reading nothing feels more natural than the way the book evolves.
The best compliment I can give this book is that it is not just another "damsel in distress" variation. The author does not weaken Lizzy just to allow us to see the softer side of Mr. Darcy emerge early as he tries to protect her. Because, let's face it, the reason P&P-inspired novels are so popular is because they allow us ladies to spend a little more time with the perfect fantasy of Mr. Darcy. Even in the happiest of marriages we still seek the fantasy of that protective gentleman who will go out of his way to look after the people he loves in their moments of weakness and distress. This is not one of those books. The misunderstanding between Lizzy and Mr. Darcy persists for much of the book and brings disquiet to the reader. This is not written for us to enjoy the fantasy of Mr. Darcy. This is an author's personal journey to deal with her own tragedy and she asks the question: what would happen if Lizzy experienced the same event? I think it is important that this is understood. This book is not about gratuitous evil or violence. And perhaps because the tale plumbs the depths of despair so much more deeply than the original work, the happy endings appear that much happier and sweeter for having overcome greater obstacles.
I will not summarise the novel here or spoil the particular twists and turns of the tale but I will set out the circumstances of how the story arises. There are three "deviations" in the set-up of this tale from the original: The most minor one is Mr. Bennet's failing eyesight. This is a contrivance to create more extensive interaction between Mr. Bennet and his daughters (first Lizzy and then others) as they are required to read to him, both for entertainment and for the management of the estate. Secondly, by the time this tale begins, some five years prior to the events set out by Jane Austen, Mr. Darcy is already married, having proposed to Ms. Anne de Bourgh earlier, both to give his cousin an escape from her mother's overbearance and to allow him avoid the torments of "the Season" and the search for a wife. These two contrivances set the stage for the event around which everything else involves: the violation of fifteen-year old Elizabeth Bennet at the hands of one of his depraved cousin while on a visit to her aunt and uncle in London.
This one event so manifestly changes the tale that when we finally arrive, six years later, in Herefortshire and the arrival of Mr. Bingley and his brooding friend, the exact same happenings produce unexpected results to alter the tale far beyond recognition. Lizzy returns to her sisters altered, stronger and weaker at the same time. While hiding her terrible secret she is determined to protect her sisters from her own mistake, altering their own characters as a result. Jane Austen's beloved words come out but from the mouths of different characters. It is Lizzy who is forced to write to Mr. Darcy to put him on guard about the schemes of Mr. Wickham. Jane's stoic reserve is given root cause as does Mrs. Bennet's obsession with marrying off her daughters. Lizzy's alteration makes her most unsuitable to the attentions of Mr. Collins, who instead takes on the dour Mary, only Mary is no longer dour, having been changed by her forced interaction with her father when assisting him in Lizzy's absence. While truly evil characters have no redemption here, the author finds it in her heart to grant it to everyone else. Even the misguided Mr. Collins and the frivolous Mrs. Bennet are turned into "goodly creatures". But there is no forced conversion or uncomfortable compromise in the story to make these events happen thanks to the skillful manipulation of the author.
Stepping away from the events, I have just as much praise for the depth of the author's research. I often peruse the acknowledgements if they come before the start of the book and I was initially surprised by the length and to the range of literature, art and music to which the author referred. But having read the book the literary and artistic references are integral to the book as the the works referred to are used to mirror the situations being played out. The references do not bore even if they are unfamiliar and they are constantly used to further the story rather than fill pages with unnecessary descriptions.
Some people set on total authenticity may criticise certain conversations which cross the bounds of propriety but I believe in this case the criticism doesn't apply as the novel itself strives to cross that line intentionally to acknowledge that event which is so often concealed and not spoken about. To reach resolution and happiness the characters are forced to discuss the unspeakable and the skill of the dialogue makes these conversations feel natural.
The worst I can say about this book is that the author needs to have it better edited for some minor typographical errors such as the occasional lost quotation marks and one or two words that look to have gone missing and so forth.
Don't read this if you want a frivolous romance romp. Read this if you want to keep thinking for a while after you put the book down and are interested in an emotional journey that, even with the scars, comes out all the sweeter and happier for the trials and tribulations.
Not everyone will be happy with the main trigger for this "deviation". It is certainly a very difficult topic and Jane Austen purists may feel it is too much of an imposition. And because the circumstance of the story is so extreme, by necessity some of the propriety of behaviour must fall away by the end creating dialogue and scenes that some may consider not authentic but I assure you that when reading nothing feels more natural than the way the book evolves.
The best compliment I can give this book is that it is not just another "damsel in distress" variation. The author does not weaken Lizzy just to allow us to see the softer side of Mr. Darcy emerge early as he tries to protect her. Because, let's face it, the reason P&P-inspired novels are so popular is because they allow us ladies to spend a little more time with the perfect fantasy of Mr. Darcy. Even in the happiest of marriages we still seek the fantasy of that protective gentleman who will go out of his way to look after the people he loves in their moments of weakness and distress. This is not one of those books. The misunderstanding between Lizzy and Mr. Darcy persists for much of the book and brings disquiet to the reader. This is not written for us to enjoy the fantasy of Mr. Darcy. This is an author's personal journey to deal with her own tragedy and she asks the question: what would happen if Lizzy experienced the same event? I think it is important that this is understood. This book is not about gratuitous evil or violence. And perhaps because the tale plumbs the depths of despair so much more deeply than the original work, the happy endings appear that much happier and sweeter for having overcome greater obstacles.
I will not summarise the novel here or spoil the particular twists and turns of the tale but I will set out the circumstances of how the story arises. There are three "deviations" in the set-up of this tale from the original: The most minor one is Mr. Bennet's failing eyesight. This is a contrivance to create more extensive interaction between Mr. Bennet and his daughters (first Lizzy and then others) as they are required to read to him, both for entertainment and for the management of the estate. Secondly, by the time this tale begins, some five years prior to the events set out by Jane Austen, Mr. Darcy is already married, having proposed to Ms. Anne de Bourgh earlier, both to give his cousin an escape from her mother's overbearance and to allow him avoid the torments of "the Season" and the search for a wife. These two contrivances set the stage for the event around which everything else involves: the violation of fifteen-year old Elizabeth Bennet at the hands of one of his depraved cousin while on a visit to her aunt and uncle in London.
This one event so manifestly changes the tale that when we finally arrive, six years later, in Herefortshire and the arrival of Mr. Bingley and his brooding friend, the exact same happenings produce unexpected results to alter the tale far beyond recognition. Lizzy returns to her sisters altered, stronger and weaker at the same time. While hiding her terrible secret she is determined to protect her sisters from her own mistake, altering their own characters as a result. Jane Austen's beloved words come out but from the mouths of different characters. It is Lizzy who is forced to write to Mr. Darcy to put him on guard about the schemes of Mr. Wickham. Jane's stoic reserve is given root cause as does Mrs. Bennet's obsession with marrying off her daughters. Lizzy's alteration makes her most unsuitable to the attentions of Mr. Collins, who instead takes on the dour Mary, only Mary is no longer dour, having been changed by her forced interaction with her father when assisting him in Lizzy's absence. While truly evil characters have no redemption here, the author finds it in her heart to grant it to everyone else. Even the misguided Mr. Collins and the frivolous Mrs. Bennet are turned into "goodly creatures". But there is no forced conversion or uncomfortable compromise in the story to make these events happen thanks to the skillful manipulation of the author.
Stepping away from the events, I have just as much praise for the depth of the author's research. I often peruse the acknowledgements if they come before the start of the book and I was initially surprised by the length and to the range of literature, art and music to which the author referred. But having read the book the literary and artistic references are integral to the book as the the works referred to are used to mirror the situations being played out. The references do not bore even if they are unfamiliar and they are constantly used to further the story rather than fill pages with unnecessary descriptions.
Some people set on total authenticity may criticise certain conversations which cross the bounds of propriety but I believe in this case the criticism doesn't apply as the novel itself strives to cross that line intentionally to acknowledge that event which is so often concealed and not spoken about. To reach resolution and happiness the characters are forced to discuss the unspeakable and the skill of the dialogue makes these conversations feel natural.
The worst I can say about this book is that the author needs to have it better edited for some minor typographical errors such as the occasional lost quotation marks and one or two words that look to have gone missing and so forth.
Don't read this if you want a frivolous romance romp. Read this if you want to keep thinking for a while after you put the book down and are interested in an emotional journey that, even with the scars, comes out all the sweeter and happier for the trials and tribulations.
Read
November 3, 2017Beth Massey’s Goodly Creatures is subtitled “A Pride and Prejudice Deviation,” and readers can expect just that. Although this retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is much darker than any other Austen-inspired novel I’ve read, I was glued to the book for the entire 600+ page ride.
In Goodly Creatures, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are connected long before he visits the Netherfield estate with Mr. Bingley and gets Mrs. Bennet all excited about the prospect of rich bachelors for the daughters she’s so desperate to marry off. Darcy meets a 15-year-old Elizabeth when she attends the theater in London with her aunt and uncle, and he is captivated by her reaction to Shakespeare’s play and her ability to make him laugh. However, when they first meet, Darcy is a married man, having entered into a marriage of convenience with his cousin, Anne, daughter of the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Darcy also is accompanied that evening by his cousin, Lord Wolfbridge, a well-known rake and a pervert who enjoys compromising teenage girls with childlike features. What happens between Elizabeth and Lord Wolfbridge during her time in London sets the tone for the entire book, sucking the life — but not the impertinence — out of Elizabeth. She is broken by this incident, vowing never to marry because of her fear of men and her fear of this secret being exposed, but she exacts revenge in a way that both protects her sisters’ reputations and ruins Darcy’s opinion of her.
When Darcy and Elizabeth cross paths five years later in Hertfordshire, they are much different people from when they first met. Elizabeth has endured years of gossip, but not even her dearest sister Jane or her father know her secret. Darcy can’t deny his attraction to her, but misunderstandings involving Anne and Mr. Wickham, the need to conceal their prior acquaintance, and the wall Elizabeth has built around her heart stand in the way of their happiness.
It’s hard to say more about the plot of Goodly Creatures without giving too much away. Massey’s take on Pride and Prejudice is quite different, and she indicates in the Acknowledgements that the novel is her way of righting the wrongs in Eliza Williams’ story in Sense and Sensibility using the basic plot and characters of Austen’s most popular novel. In doing so, she raises a valid question: What if the compromised women in Austen’s novels weren’t merely silly girls who allowed themselves to be seduced? And what follows is a story both fraught with pain and filled with hope.
I liked many things about Goodly Creatures, especially how Massey was fearless in injecting such dark themes as rape and murder into a novel I’ve always thought of as a humorous social commentary…minus Lydia Bennet’s horrible fate. I’m not an Austen purist; I can separate the original novels and characters from those of the sequels and retellings, so I don’t mind when the characters become almost unrecognizable as long as the book is unique, interesting, and well written.
I thought the various literary and political discussions were interesting and added context, and I especially loved the allusion to Austen’s Persuasion through the character of Sir Walter Trent, the longtime friend of Mr. Bennet who leases Netherfield to Mr. Bingley, moves to Bath because of his extravagant spending habits, and is overly concerned with his outward appearance — very much like Sir Walter Elliot. Massey also makes Mr. Collins more likable, and she allows us to imagine a world in which Lydia is sensible and not self absorbed and Jane is reckless and needs saving.
Although Goodly Creatures is a decent self-published novel, it would have benefited from some additional editing. I came across several typos and font formatting issues, and I grew tired of hearing Elizabeth’s secret retold in its entirety nearly every time it was disclosed to another character. There also were several scenes that were more telling than showing; one toward the end had Mr. Darcy traveling to quickly meet his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, to take care of a very major problem, and it was all resolved in a single paragraph.
Even so, I enjoyed the book and appreciate what Massey was trying to accomplish in her handling of the characters, especially Elizabeth, who is haunted by her memories of Lord Wolfbridge and focuses on the happiness of her sisters because she doesn’t believe she’ll ever be whole again. I couldn’t help but think that if Elizabeth and Darcy could overcome the obstacles Massey put in their path, then they could overcome anything. It’s amazing to think how many unique stories have been written in response to a single novel, and I just can’t get enough of them. If you love Austen-inspired novels as much as I do and don’t mind lengthy tales, then go ahead and give Goodly Creatures a try.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
I received a free copy of this book for review.
In Goodly Creatures, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are connected long before he visits the Netherfield estate with Mr. Bingley and gets Mrs. Bennet all excited about the prospect of rich bachelors for the daughters she’s so desperate to marry off. Darcy meets a 15-year-old Elizabeth when she attends the theater in London with her aunt and uncle, and he is captivated by her reaction to Shakespeare’s play and her ability to make him laugh. However, when they first meet, Darcy is a married man, having entered into a marriage of convenience with his cousin, Anne, daughter of the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Darcy also is accompanied that evening by his cousin, Lord Wolfbridge, a well-known rake and a pervert who enjoys compromising teenage girls with childlike features. What happens between Elizabeth and Lord Wolfbridge during her time in London sets the tone for the entire book, sucking the life — but not the impertinence — out of Elizabeth. She is broken by this incident, vowing never to marry because of her fear of men and her fear of this secret being exposed, but she exacts revenge in a way that both protects her sisters’ reputations and ruins Darcy’s opinion of her.
When Darcy and Elizabeth cross paths five years later in Hertfordshire, they are much different people from when they first met. Elizabeth has endured years of gossip, but not even her dearest sister Jane or her father know her secret. Darcy can’t deny his attraction to her, but misunderstandings involving Anne and Mr. Wickham, the need to conceal their prior acquaintance, and the wall Elizabeth has built around her heart stand in the way of their happiness.
It’s hard to say more about the plot of Goodly Creatures without giving too much away. Massey’s take on Pride and Prejudice is quite different, and she indicates in the Acknowledgements that the novel is her way of righting the wrongs in Eliza Williams’ story in Sense and Sensibility using the basic plot and characters of Austen’s most popular novel. In doing so, she raises a valid question: What if the compromised women in Austen’s novels weren’t merely silly girls who allowed themselves to be seduced? And what follows is a story both fraught with pain and filled with hope.
I liked many things about Goodly Creatures, especially how Massey was fearless in injecting such dark themes as rape and murder into a novel I’ve always thought of as a humorous social commentary…minus Lydia Bennet’s horrible fate. I’m not an Austen purist; I can separate the original novels and characters from those of the sequels and retellings, so I don’t mind when the characters become almost unrecognizable as long as the book is unique, interesting, and well written.
I thought the various literary and political discussions were interesting and added context, and I especially loved the allusion to Austen’s Persuasion through the character of Sir Walter Trent, the longtime friend of Mr. Bennet who leases Netherfield to Mr. Bingley, moves to Bath because of his extravagant spending habits, and is overly concerned with his outward appearance — very much like Sir Walter Elliot. Massey also makes Mr. Collins more likable, and she allows us to imagine a world in which Lydia is sensible and not self absorbed and Jane is reckless and needs saving.
Although Goodly Creatures is a decent self-published novel, it would have benefited from some additional editing. I came across several typos and font formatting issues, and I grew tired of hearing Elizabeth’s secret retold in its entirety nearly every time it was disclosed to another character. There also were several scenes that were more telling than showing; one toward the end had Mr. Darcy traveling to quickly meet his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, to take care of a very major problem, and it was all resolved in a single paragraph.
Even so, I enjoyed the book and appreciate what Massey was trying to accomplish in her handling of the characters, especially Elizabeth, who is haunted by her memories of Lord Wolfbridge and focuses on the happiness of her sisters because she doesn’t believe she’ll ever be whole again. I couldn’t help but think that if Elizabeth and Darcy could overcome the obstacles Massey put in their path, then they could overcome anything. It’s amazing to think how many unique stories have been written in response to a single novel, and I just can’t get enough of them. If you love Austen-inspired novels as much as I do and don’t mind lengthy tales, then go ahead and give Goodly Creatures a try.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
I received a free copy of this book for review.
March 25, 2015
My heart goes out to this author who felt compelled to write this book. I read that she had a a personal take on this and it is sad to hear of anyone dealing in such pain.That being said,when I read P&P variations I like to walk away feeling inspired and lets face it,I think when we read we want to escape our everyday struggles and worries. The story lacked in my expectations there was too much time spent with Elizabeth recapping her experience with almost every aquaintance. I felt it took alot of the romance out of the story I love to hear told over and over again. I really wanted to see more of that connection I've read in other variations. The book left me feeling depressed and empty. I know this is a fact of life that things like this do take place but I just wish the author would have used her own charcters to do it. I bought it to see Darcy save the day and feel the love they shared together. Instead even after the tragedy it snowballed and lost my interest. Darcy's loyalty to Anne De Bourge,of all people, was very painful to read and as a mother of two myself to not know your child until 5 years of their life has been lived is depressing.If your looking for a book on healing this would be a good place to start if your looking for Darcy and Elizabeth its not.
September 18, 2022
A dark thoroughly engrossing story that delves into areas of life that might cause many of us to cringe in revulsion.
The life of a young girl whose entire future is ruined by a depraved man, So begins this gloomy tale.
Almost a child at 15 our Lizzy is a delight at the London theatre. Adorable and intelligent she intrigues 2 well known cousins of the Ton. Both married men. One of them a well known Viscount. Our villain has arrived - Scene one.
A truly evil predator drooling in anticipation. There is a special kind of hell reserved for men who lust after and enjoy the terror of very young girls as they steal their virtue.
That our heroine is his victim was almost too much to bear. The temptation to delete before going further was great.
This author is gifted and tells a very disturbing story in a very creative way. The twists and turns will move you. Three times I was surprised to find tears on my cheek .
Elizabeth’s anger in her decision to ask for payment was hard to read as you knew she would be perceived as a manipulative cunning con artist. Darcy thought she was a conniving gold digger throughout most of the book.
Very uncomfortable reading at times. However I couldn't seem to put it down. I found myself reading long into the wee hours of the morning. This author is very clever at raising every emotion in the reader.
My only complaint is that we weren’t given enough of Elizabeth’s feelings when she finally saw her five year old daughter.
The story is a long and hard read. But very worthwhile indeed.
The life of a young girl whose entire future is ruined by a depraved man, So begins this gloomy tale.
Almost a child at 15 our Lizzy is a delight at the London theatre. Adorable and intelligent she intrigues 2 well known cousins of the Ton. Both married men. One of them a well known Viscount. Our villain has arrived - Scene one.
A truly evil predator drooling in anticipation. There is a special kind of hell reserved for men who lust after and enjoy the terror of very young girls as they steal their virtue.
That our heroine is his victim was almost too much to bear. The temptation to delete before going further was great.
This author is gifted and tells a very disturbing story in a very creative way. The twists and turns will move you. Three times I was surprised to find tears on my cheek .
Elizabeth’s anger in her decision to ask for payment was hard to read as you knew she would be perceived as a manipulative cunning con artist. Darcy thought she was a conniving gold digger throughout most of the book.
Very uncomfortable reading at times. However I couldn't seem to put it down. I found myself reading long into the wee hours of the morning. This author is very clever at raising every emotion in the reader.
My only complaint is that we weren’t given enough of Elizabeth’s feelings when she finally saw her five year old daughter.
The story is a long and hard read. But very worthwhile indeed.
September 30, 2015
Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation
This was a good story, but was difficult to read. Darcy's wife, Anne, had conspired with their perverted cousin, Viscount Wolfbridge to leave fifteen year old Elizabeth locked alone in the Viscount's private rooms at Darcy House. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, what the Viscount Wolfbridge did left Elizabeth with child. When Elizabeth and her Uncle Gardiner confront the Darcys and the Viscount and ask for money, the Viscount sneers at her while Darcy thinks she's a mercenary. When Anne convinces him that she wants the child, Elizabeth agrees to accept £20000. Anne promises Elizabeth to tell Darcy what really happened in his home and what she did to allow their cousin to rape a fifteen year old. When Elizabeth returns to Longbourn, she is a changed sixteen year old. She is sad and afraid and pretty much becomes a recluse. She will not talk to anyone, not even Jane. When Anne is dying crook childbirth within the next year after Bethany, she tries to tell Darcy the truth but slips into unconsciousness and dies. Six years have passed and while assisting Charles at Netherfield, Caroline and Darcy make unkind comments about the missing recluse within hearing distance of her family. In this story, the Bennet sisters are very close and more than one defend Elizabeth. Somehow Darcy has seemed to have forgotten the name Bennet, but comes to apologize the next day. Mr. Bennet puts Darcy through an integration. When Darcy is out riding, he happens upon Elizabeth at Oakham Mount and his unwavering pride continues to plague his feelings for Elizabeth. In fact, he has dreamt of her since meeting her at the theater six years ago. His marriage to Anne was a marriage of convenience and when he makes comments about her dress and Wickham, she realizes that he still thinks of her as being a whore and a mercenary. Elizabeth leaves, but decides to write a letter explaining why he allowed Wickham to think she believed his story. Turns out that Wickham is good friends with the Viscount and Elizabeth is worried that is why he sought her out. While in Hunsford, when Georgiana meets Elizabeth she is in shock. Before her is Bethany's mother. The children love her immediately and want their father to marry her. Colonel Fitzwilliam relates too much of Darcy's interference in Jane and Georgiana's love life and tells him that she cannot get married. When Jane writes to say that she has met the Viscount and in London, Lizzy makes for London to be sure that they attend the theater and tea that Lady Elderton having. Darcy follows the next day with his children. All are present at the tea and Elizabeth tells her to come to Darcy House. She tells Jane the awful truth about her relationship to the Viscount. When she explains that she's too old and developed for the Viscount, but the Earl would had propositioned her and possibly done what the Viscount done to her, Jane is beside herself with grief. Luckily, Darcy brought Charles and Sir Gareth Hughes with him. Darcy stays to confront both the Viscount and the Earl of Elderton and when the Viscount makes a snide remark about Elizabeth, Darcy punches him so hard that he broke his nose and knocks one tooth out and completely slides across the room slamming against the wall. Charlotte is married to Colonel Forster and invites Lydia to accompany Maria. In Brighton they meet Colonel Fitzwilliam, Colonel Bledsoe, and his sister Sally. Lydia sees that Sally is fond of Wickham. When Lydia tells her of his sins against mankind, Sally doesn't believe it and continues to sneak away. While the three girls are shopping Sally sneaks off with Wickham. She sends Maria back for the three colonels while she follows them. Seeing what house they go into, Lydia takes the knife Elizabeth gave here having been taught by the three colonels how to use it, bursts into the house to confront Wickham. Seeing Wickham downstairs, she asks where Sally is. Just then she hears a blood curdling screen from upstairs. When she arrives at the room, she sees Sally in the corner with her dress torn. She tells Sally to take her shaw, cover herself, and run. She also tells her what her told her about kicking Wickham between the legs. Not knowing who this young girl is, but is too well developed for him, when he asks her and he finds out she's Elizabeth's sister, he begins abusing Elizabeth's character being very explicit about what he did and the resulting bastard she birthed. Lydia snapped and ended the evil Viscount's practices against young girls. Fitzwilliam decides what he is going to do and sends Wickham from England never to return. Wickham is scared enough of the three colonels that he doesn't realize Fitzwilliam used his sword to stab the Viscount exactly where the knife wound was and returns it to the sword to its scabbard. Wickham is voted off the island with directions to never return. When Bingley returns to Netherfield, he tells Lizzy that his desires have not changed. When he learns exactly what happened that day at Darcy House he is mortified, besides he has wasted five years with his pride refusing to love Elizabeth from their first meeting, because he never stopped to ask. After Darcy passed away, Elizabeth goes to visit Bethany and her family. During a time out enjoying French pastries, Bethany tells her mother, Elizabeth, that she has known that she was her birth mother. Finally, Elizabeth is able to let her secrets vanish.
This was a good story, but was difficult to read. Darcy's wife, Anne, had conspired with their perverted cousin, Viscount Wolfbridge to leave fifteen year old Elizabeth locked alone in the Viscount's private rooms at Darcy House. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, what the Viscount Wolfbridge did left Elizabeth with child. When Elizabeth and her Uncle Gardiner confront the Darcys and the Viscount and ask for money, the Viscount sneers at her while Darcy thinks she's a mercenary. When Anne convinces him that she wants the child, Elizabeth agrees to accept £20000. Anne promises Elizabeth to tell Darcy what really happened in his home and what she did to allow their cousin to rape a fifteen year old. When Elizabeth returns to Longbourn, she is a changed sixteen year old. She is sad and afraid and pretty much becomes a recluse. She will not talk to anyone, not even Jane. When Anne is dying crook childbirth within the next year after Bethany, she tries to tell Darcy the truth but slips into unconsciousness and dies. Six years have passed and while assisting Charles at Netherfield, Caroline and Darcy make unkind comments about the missing recluse within hearing distance of her family. In this story, the Bennet sisters are very close and more than one defend Elizabeth. Somehow Darcy has seemed to have forgotten the name Bennet, but comes to apologize the next day. Mr. Bennet puts Darcy through an integration. When Darcy is out riding, he happens upon Elizabeth at Oakham Mount and his unwavering pride continues to plague his feelings for Elizabeth. In fact, he has dreamt of her since meeting her at the theater six years ago. His marriage to Anne was a marriage of convenience and when he makes comments about her dress and Wickham, she realizes that he still thinks of her as being a whore and a mercenary. Elizabeth leaves, but decides to write a letter explaining why he allowed Wickham to think she believed his story. Turns out that Wickham is good friends with the Viscount and Elizabeth is worried that is why he sought her out. While in Hunsford, when Georgiana meets Elizabeth she is in shock. Before her is Bethany's mother. The children love her immediately and want their father to marry her. Colonel Fitzwilliam relates too much of Darcy's interference in Jane and Georgiana's love life and tells him that she cannot get married. When Jane writes to say that she has met the Viscount and in London, Lizzy makes for London to be sure that they attend the theater and tea that Lady Elderton having. Darcy follows the next day with his children. All are present at the tea and Elizabeth tells her to come to Darcy House. She tells Jane the awful truth about her relationship to the Viscount. When she explains that she's too old and developed for the Viscount, but the Earl would had propositioned her and possibly done what the Viscount done to her, Jane is beside herself with grief. Luckily, Darcy brought Charles and Sir Gareth Hughes with him. Darcy stays to confront both the Viscount and the Earl of Elderton and when the Viscount makes a snide remark about Elizabeth, Darcy punches him so hard that he broke his nose and knocks one tooth out and completely slides across the room slamming against the wall. Charlotte is married to Colonel Forster and invites Lydia to accompany Maria. In Brighton they meet Colonel Fitzwilliam, Colonel Bledsoe, and his sister Sally. Lydia sees that Sally is fond of Wickham. When Lydia tells her of his sins against mankind, Sally doesn't believe it and continues to sneak away. While the three girls are shopping Sally sneaks off with Wickham. She sends Maria back for the three colonels while she follows them. Seeing what house they go into, Lydia takes the knife Elizabeth gave here having been taught by the three colonels how to use it, bursts into the house to confront Wickham. Seeing Wickham downstairs, she asks where Sally is. Just then she hears a blood curdling screen from upstairs. When she arrives at the room, she sees Sally in the corner with her dress torn. She tells Sally to take her shaw, cover herself, and run. She also tells her what her told her about kicking Wickham between the legs. Not knowing who this young girl is, but is too well developed for him, when he asks her and he finds out she's Elizabeth's sister, he begins abusing Elizabeth's character being very explicit about what he did and the resulting bastard she birthed. Lydia snapped and ended the evil Viscount's practices against young girls. Fitzwilliam decides what he is going to do and sends Wickham from England never to return. Wickham is scared enough of the three colonels that he doesn't realize Fitzwilliam used his sword to stab the Viscount exactly where the knife wound was and returns it to the sword to its scabbard. Wickham is voted off the island with directions to never return. When Bingley returns to Netherfield, he tells Lizzy that his desires have not changed. When he learns exactly what happened that day at Darcy House he is mortified, besides he has wasted five years with his pride refusing to love Elizabeth from their first meeting, because he never stopped to ask. After Darcy passed away, Elizabeth goes to visit Bethany and her family. During a time out enjoying French pastries, Bethany tells her mother, Elizabeth, that she has known that she was her birth mother. Finally, Elizabeth is able to let her secrets vanish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
nope-not-interested
December 17, 2012Book status updates are NOT stalking.
Neither are blog posts on a PUBLIC website the author's private journal about their hurt feewings. This horrible "personal attack" was a very thoughtful and detailed critique of the book, and the reviewer didn't even give it a star ratings because they DNF! The blog post also seems to suggest that a reader shouldn't be disturbed by the rape of a teenager because it wasn't explicit.
Neither are blog posts on a PUBLIC website the author's private journal about their hurt feewings. This horrible "personal attack" was a very thoughtful and detailed critique of the book, and the reviewer didn't even give it a star ratings because they DNF! The blog post also seems to suggest that a reader shouldn't be disturbed by the rape of a teenager because it wasn't explicit.
February 8, 2024
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
Amazing. I would’ve finished it way sooner but I’ve been busy with work. I think I can say hands down that this was one of the best variations I’ve ever read, no question. It’s a long book, it traverses a lot of time and some very sensitive topics. As the author says, she isn’t graphic about the rape, but it’s enough that I had to skip over it. It just hurts my heart to even think about what Lizzy went through, even though it’s fiction. I love how Beth handled the topic and was very realistic as to the recovery that you have to go through after such a traumatic experience.
If you like Pride and Prejudice variations, I’d urge you to read this. It’s different than the typical variation, but because of that it’s so moving and beautifully written. You won’t be able to put it down. I would give this more stars if I could.
2/8/24- hard to believe it’s been almost 3 years since I first read this. what stood out to me most was that, while some of the writing is flawed and the flow is a bit choppy, it’s the spirit of the story that flows and makes it whole. the author did such a good job of showing us Elizabeth’s grief and terror after Edmund raped her, and then trying to learn how to function in the years to come. I think her trauma trapped her thinking for a while like that of her 15 year old injured self—and once she saw Darcy again and learned about her daughter, and told her father and family about it all, that she started to heal.
It always makes me so sad that Darcy died first. He fought for her for so long and then became her protector above all else, for her to lose him—it just makes me want to cry 😭
I can only hope to find a love as strong and as patient as theirs.
Amazing. I would’ve finished it way sooner but I’ve been busy with work. I think I can say hands down that this was one of the best variations I’ve ever read, no question. It’s a long book, it traverses a lot of time and some very sensitive topics. As the author says, she isn’t graphic about the rape, but it’s enough that I had to skip over it. It just hurts my heart to even think about what Lizzy went through, even though it’s fiction. I love how Beth handled the topic and was very realistic as to the recovery that you have to go through after such a traumatic experience.
If you like Pride and Prejudice variations, I’d urge you to read this. It’s different than the typical variation, but because of that it’s so moving and beautifully written. You won’t be able to put it down. I would give this more stars if I could.
2/8/24- hard to believe it’s been almost 3 years since I first read this. what stood out to me most was that, while some of the writing is flawed and the flow is a bit choppy, it’s the spirit of the story that flows and makes it whole. the author did such a good job of showing us Elizabeth’s grief and terror after Edmund raped her, and then trying to learn how to function in the years to come. I think her trauma trapped her thinking for a while like that of her 15 year old injured self—and once she saw Darcy again and learned about her daughter, and told her father and family about it all, that she started to heal.
It always makes me so sad that Darcy died first. He fought for her for so long and then became her protector above all else, for her to lose him—it just makes me want to cry 😭
I can only hope to find a love as strong and as patient as theirs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I would classify it as a Historical fiction combined with our beloved "Pride and Prejudice". It's historical because the writer delves into the landscape of the times and raises issues to the forefront.
In this alteration the story starts out 6yrs earlier. Darcy is married and he meets Elizabeth at the theater. He is with his wife and Viscount Wolbridge(col F's older brother). The Tempest is being played out and this definitely sets the stage for the book. The unthinkable happens to 15 yr old Elizabeth and to keep her out of harms way her family procede to protect her. This involves Darcy and Anne Debourge Darcy.
The story is quite intricate and we learn alot about the characters. The author does a fabulas job keeping the characters we love the way they should be and she adds a few characters that are dispicable but also some characters you will grow to love. I won't lie, the journey this book takes is long and full of angst but well worth it. Our favorite characters are better off for it. And I just love how in the epilogue we learn everything that ougt to be!! Really enjoyed this book. A definite read for ALL the JAFF readers out there.
Oh by the way this author inserts Jane Austens words very adeptly. You will recognise them imediately. They may not becoming out of the mouths of who you expect but it is done so perfectly you will love reading it. Also you will find references to Jane Austen's other novels.
In this alteration the story starts out 6yrs earlier. Darcy is married and he meets Elizabeth at the theater. He is with his wife and Viscount Wolbridge(col F's older brother). The Tempest is being played out and this definitely sets the stage for the book. The unthinkable happens to 15 yr old Elizabeth and to keep her out of harms way her family procede to protect her. This involves Darcy and Anne Debourge Darcy.
The story is quite intricate and we learn alot about the characters. The author does a fabulas job keeping the characters we love the way they should be and she adds a few characters that are dispicable but also some characters you will grow to love. I won't lie, the journey this book takes is long and full of angst but well worth it. Our favorite characters are better off for it. And I just love how in the epilogue we learn everything that ougt to be!! Really enjoyed this book. A definite read for ALL the JAFF readers out there.
Oh by the way this author inserts Jane Austens words very adeptly. You will recognise them imediately. They may not becoming out of the mouths of who you expect but it is done so perfectly you will love reading it. Also you will find references to Jane Austen's other novels.
June 30, 2021
A self man takes advantage of a young girl's innocence and the repercussions become the plot of this story. As actions have consequences, the negotiation and treatment of the result sets the characters on their paths as they learn of each other and their true motives. Through out all is the attraction between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they navigate the strange twists and turns their lives take them on.
I would NOT recommend this book if rape is a trigger for you. The action is not graphic, but not hidden and is discussed frequently throughout the story. If you are able to get past the concept, the story is heart wrenching as our dear couple is torn in so many ways emotionally. They do have a happily ever after but even that has a bit of a shadow.
I would NOT recommend this book if rape is a trigger for you. The action is not graphic, but not hidden and is discussed frequently throughout the story. If you are able to get past the concept, the story is heart wrenching as our dear couple is torn in so many ways emotionally. They do have a happily ever after but even that has a bit of a shadow.
November 10, 2017
Regency Sensibility Transcends Time
By happenstance, I've just reread this book and due to the current climate (Autumn 2017), find its relevancy astonishing and strongly compelling. This is a heart rendering depiction of the effects of society's acceptance of deviant behaviors and the life altering effects upon its victims. Forced by propriety into concealment and shame, this story beautifully illustrates aspects of a situation where the consequences affect entire lifetimes and beyond. Highly recommended.
By happenstance, I've just reread this book and due to the current climate (Autumn 2017), find its relevancy astonishing and strongly compelling. This is a heart rendering depiction of the effects of society's acceptance of deviant behaviors and the life altering effects upon its victims. Forced by propriety into concealment and shame, this story beautifully illustrates aspects of a situation where the consequences affect entire lifetimes and beyond. Highly recommended.
September 29, 2021
Wow! I couldn’t put it down.
What a a beautifully written, emotional, historically infused and intelligent “deviation.” I applaud Ms. Massey‘s bravery and taking JAFF to a new level. This novel easily stands on its own, and parts of it could be disconcerting if the reader seeks out JAFF purely for the romantic high. However, if you are adventurous and want to go on a journey that more accurately depicts the reality and status of women in early 19th century in England, read this book!
What a a beautifully written, emotional, historically infused and intelligent “deviation.” I applaud Ms. Massey‘s bravery and taking JAFF to a new level. This novel easily stands on its own, and parts of it could be disconcerting if the reader seeks out JAFF purely for the romantic high. However, if you are adventurous and want to go on a journey that more accurately depicts the reality and status of women in early 19th century in England, read this book!
September 1, 2022
Captivating Story
I enjoyed this book. The story was engaging - occasionally horrifying, but most often I was excited to see Elizabeth recover and triumph.
One of the most well-written, insightful books in the genre.
I enjoyed this book. The story was engaging - occasionally horrifying, but most often I was excited to see Elizabeth recover and triumph.
One of the most well-written, insightful books in the genre.
October 24, 2015
While this book is very well written and quite engrossing, I cried throughout almost all of the book. It should have a warning for victims of rape.
October 23, 2017
I honestly would have given this book a five star rating but I cringed too much. I read reviews about this controversial book yet still chose to read it. And I am happy to say I truly enjoyed this book. However, I also cringed. It's an honest reaction to reading about the delicate matter of sexual assualt,, the verbal abuse of Elizabeth from members of the Fitzwilliam family, and Mr. Darcy on occasion.
The story was good, the ramifications and suffering of Elizabeth was really heartbreaking, and the additional new characters meshed well with Pride and Prejudice's famous characters. I was thrilled not to be reading about George Wickham being the baddie for once, but I will admit I loathed Lord Wolfbridge. He was truly despicable.
All in all, I am glad I read it, but if your heart is a delicate one, I would steer away. I typically steer away, but my curiosity was piqued. Happy Reading.
The story was good, the ramifications and suffering of Elizabeth was really heartbreaking, and the additional new characters meshed well with Pride and Prejudice's famous characters. I was thrilled not to be reading about George Wickham being the baddie for once, but I will admit I loathed Lord Wolfbridge. He was truly despicable.
All in all, I am glad I read it, but if your heart is a delicate one, I would steer away. I typically steer away, but my curiosity was piqued. Happy Reading.
January 27, 2019
A difficult subject treated with respect
This is a story that, most of all, made me think that we haven't advanced much in certain things. A sad story with an improbable ending that captured my interest and was hard to put down. Have lots of tissues on hand to read it.
This is a story that, most of all, made me think that we haven't advanced much in certain things. A sad story with an improbable ending that captured my interest and was hard to put down. Have lots of tissues on hand to read it.
July 26, 2018
Some Austenesque fiction is meant to be read quickly and taken in like a light, cool treat on a hot summer day. Other derivations are less of this persuasion and more like a sumptuous, multi-course victual event. Beth Massey’s Goodly Creatures is of the latter variety. This writer of fan fiction, women’s rights advocate and educated reader of Shakespeare has crafted a novel that many Janeites would find nourishing and entertaining, provided they can accept a certain proviso at the start.
This review will not reveal many spoiling plot points, but there is one aspect of the tale that is crucial to the reader’s enjoyment of the novel. And as the event in question is particularly addressed in the book’s opening acknowledgments, I feel confident that Ms. Massey will not take offense at my mentioning it in my review.
All Austenesque fiction requires a bit of a leap—that moment when the author diverts from Jane Austen’s work, and the reader must choose to go along for the ride in order to enjoy the journey. In Goodly Creatures, Elizabeth Bennet does encounter a rake as she does in the original Pride and Prejudice. However, in this iteration of the story, the rake is a different man than the scheming George Wickham. This new villain is far more wicked, and at age 15, Elizabeth is significantly younger than the fundamental Lizzy in Austen’s work. She is young and naïve, and this leads to her violation by this horrific man.
When I read in the acknowledgments that Massey was “committing a major heresy by raping Elizabeth Bennet”, I was shocked and surprised that she would take this tack in her storytelling. However, I decided to keep an open mind to see where the story would take us. As the author could relate to this incident personally, I didn’t think she would use the event in a gratuitous or exploitative way. If anything, she would use this assault to speak to the issue of crimes against women, not only in the 19th century, but in our modern day as well.
Beth Massey won me over in her storytelling. Goodly Creatures is a wonderful homage to not only Jane Austen’s work, but to Shakespeare, poetry and art. There are so many occasions when Massey fuses her work with that of so many talented writers and artists, producing a richness that is not always found in this kind of novel. The difficult issues surrounding Elizabeth’s assault are handled with realism, but without excessive details. No, this is not for young girls to read. We are definitely in mature territory here. But the themes of injustice, retribution, forgiveness and healing are so incredibly pronounced—it’s well worth the hard moments that we encounter.
Massey’s writing is extremely well crafted. Her academic knowledge shines through, but she pairs it with excellent, accessible wording. She takes her time with the story, with over 600 pages of text in the volume. And while I did appreciate the fact that nothing was rushed in this epic, there were moments at the end (particularly in the Epilogue, as satisfying as it was), when I felt that the story could have been trimmed just a bit. But this is a minor concern. I genuinely enjoyed the vast majority of the novel.
Those looking for a serious, extended, satisfying journey with Jane Austen’s beloved characters (and a few new ones) will find an excellent read in Beth Massey’s Goodly Creatures. With sobering subjects and a particularly depraved villain, this novel is not for the faint of heart. However, Massey’s Pride and Prejudice diversion is well worth the journey. I encourage those who are willing to take the leap into her vision of this story and become enveloped in it. Like the world we live in, Goodly Creatures is tragic, difficult, and yet glorious as well.
This review will not reveal many spoiling plot points, but there is one aspect of the tale that is crucial to the reader’s enjoyment of the novel. And as the event in question is particularly addressed in the book’s opening acknowledgments, I feel confident that Ms. Massey will not take offense at my mentioning it in my review.
All Austenesque fiction requires a bit of a leap—that moment when the author diverts from Jane Austen’s work, and the reader must choose to go along for the ride in order to enjoy the journey. In Goodly Creatures, Elizabeth Bennet does encounter a rake as she does in the original Pride and Prejudice. However, in this iteration of the story, the rake is a different man than the scheming George Wickham. This new villain is far more wicked, and at age 15, Elizabeth is significantly younger than the fundamental Lizzy in Austen’s work. She is young and naïve, and this leads to her violation by this horrific man.
When I read in the acknowledgments that Massey was “committing a major heresy by raping Elizabeth Bennet”, I was shocked and surprised that she would take this tack in her storytelling. However, I decided to keep an open mind to see where the story would take us. As the author could relate to this incident personally, I didn’t think she would use the event in a gratuitous or exploitative way. If anything, she would use this assault to speak to the issue of crimes against women, not only in the 19th century, but in our modern day as well.
Beth Massey won me over in her storytelling. Goodly Creatures is a wonderful homage to not only Jane Austen’s work, but to Shakespeare, poetry and art. There are so many occasions when Massey fuses her work with that of so many talented writers and artists, producing a richness that is not always found in this kind of novel. The difficult issues surrounding Elizabeth’s assault are handled with realism, but without excessive details. No, this is not for young girls to read. We are definitely in mature territory here. But the themes of injustice, retribution, forgiveness and healing are so incredibly pronounced—it’s well worth the hard moments that we encounter.
Massey’s writing is extremely well crafted. Her academic knowledge shines through, but she pairs it with excellent, accessible wording. She takes her time with the story, with over 600 pages of text in the volume. And while I did appreciate the fact that nothing was rushed in this epic, there were moments at the end (particularly in the Epilogue, as satisfying as it was), when I felt that the story could have been trimmed just a bit. But this is a minor concern. I genuinely enjoyed the vast majority of the novel.
Those looking for a serious, extended, satisfying journey with Jane Austen’s beloved characters (and a few new ones) will find an excellent read in Beth Massey’s Goodly Creatures. With sobering subjects and a particularly depraved villain, this novel is not for the faint of heart. However, Massey’s Pride and Prejudice diversion is well worth the journey. I encourage those who are willing to take the leap into her vision of this story and become enveloped in it. Like the world we live in, Goodly Creatures is tragic, difficult, and yet glorious as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2022
This variation of Pride and Prejudice was long, creative, and thought provoking. It begins with Elizabeth as a young girl of barely fifteen who visits the Gardiner's in London. Darcy already dutifully married to Anne de Bourgh, is memorized when seeing Elizabeth at the theater and becomes cautious of his feelings. Unfortunately Elizabeth is viciously introduced to the ton and the Darcy/Fitzwilliam family when she is attacked by the Colonel's elder brother the Viscount.
As a result of the attack, stripped of her innocence, Elizabeth's life will forever now be connected intimately with what she sees as an evil family. With her strength and courage, she is able to procure a secure future for her sisters and a knowledge of the world that will teach them to be cautious of their hearts and the intentions of others. With time Elizabeth comes to understand the meaning of true love and trust, and can enjoy her life fully.
There were many things I enjoyed about this novel, but the biggest was that it was a real piece of literature that examined not only the time period, history, and literature of the era, but wove it in a way to make insightful comparisons and commentary on the world these characters lived in. Massey did not create a lusty, fluffy, romantic Lizzy and Darcy novel (which I do love by the way), but at just under 650 pages, it is an epic dark tale of bright innocence too quickly extinguished. With a lack of any real juicy romance, this was a darker look at the relationships and marriages of the 19th century. References to Shakespeare, other poets and writers, politicians, historical events, and even Jane Austen herself provided a way to include political and social commentary.
I was actually unsure while reading it if Darcy and Elizabeth would ever actually overcome her past to create a strong lasting relationship. I think that is quite a feat for an Austen author to make me second guess the conclusion. The epilogue was a little weird for me in that I felt like it was a sequel's story board rather than a final chapter. Rushed to describe every character's life story I found myself depressed at the ending rather than euphoric from Darcy and Lizzy's love. However, maybe that was more of an appropriate emotional response to this darker P&P tale. It was very well done.
As a result of the attack, stripped of her innocence, Elizabeth's life will forever now be connected intimately with what she sees as an evil family. With her strength and courage, she is able to procure a secure future for her sisters and a knowledge of the world that will teach them to be cautious of their hearts and the intentions of others. With time Elizabeth comes to understand the meaning of true love and trust, and can enjoy her life fully.
There were many things I enjoyed about this novel, but the biggest was that it was a real piece of literature that examined not only the time period, history, and literature of the era, but wove it in a way to make insightful comparisons and commentary on the world these characters lived in. Massey did not create a lusty, fluffy, romantic Lizzy and Darcy novel (which I do love by the way), but at just under 650 pages, it is an epic dark tale of bright innocence too quickly extinguished. With a lack of any real juicy romance, this was a darker look at the relationships and marriages of the 19th century. References to Shakespeare, other poets and writers, politicians, historical events, and even Jane Austen herself provided a way to include political and social commentary.
I was actually unsure while reading it if Darcy and Elizabeth would ever actually overcome her past to create a strong lasting relationship. I think that is quite a feat for an Austen author to make me second guess the conclusion. The epilogue was a little weird for me in that I felt like it was a sequel's story board rather than a final chapter. Rushed to describe every character's life story I found myself depressed at the ending rather than euphoric from Darcy and Lizzy's love. However, maybe that was more of an appropriate emotional response to this darker P&P tale. It was very well done.
June 17, 2012
This Pride & Prejudice variation deals with a very hard issue...rape, based on this I was leary to read it, but I was happy to find the details of the rape were not expounded upon and as I read on, I found the story very good! I loved how Lizzy deals with the situation, how very strong and brave she is. How she is able to go on and help her family. There was a level of angst throughout most of the story that kept me wanting to read more! I had many late nights reading this, as it is a rather long story.
At age 15, Elizabeth is in London visiting the Gardiners. They go to the theater one night where they make the acquaintance of the Darcys. She becomes a visitor of Darcy House a few times until one day she finds herself alone with the Viscount, Darcy's cousin. That's when her life is shaken and turned up side down.
I loved this Lizzy! Like I said, she is strong. I really liked how she didn’t wallow in self-pity, even though she had her fears, sadness and guilt to deal with, as she kept this secret even from her family. She also wanted to make sure her sisters weren’t as naive as she was.
There is so much going on in this story I can’t possibly cover it all but let me say, I loved all the Bennet sisters and their new stories. Lydia is a bit more discerning in this variation, she is still silly and loves a man in uniform, but she is able to read people a little better. Mary is not as solemn, and I was amused when her and Mr. Bennet team up to solve a mystery! I loved Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, and several of the new characters Massey brings into the story, like Mr. Reynolds, the nephew of Mrs. Reynolds. Amazingly enough I even liked Mr. Collins!
This story had me crying and laughing! But with all the emotions I felt through out the book, I felt the ending was a little flat. Don’t get me wrong they had their Happily Ever After. I felt for Lizzy’s pain, fear, and her brave front but I thought I should have felt more for her joy at the end. I was happy for her, it just didn’t evoke the same amount of emotion for me.
This story is a great read and I would definitely recommend it.
I was provided a copy of the book for review.
At age 15, Elizabeth is in London visiting the Gardiners. They go to the theater one night where they make the acquaintance of the Darcys. She becomes a visitor of Darcy House a few times until one day she finds herself alone with the Viscount, Darcy's cousin. That's when her life is shaken and turned up side down.
I loved this Lizzy! Like I said, she is strong. I really liked how she didn’t wallow in self-pity, even though she had her fears, sadness and guilt to deal with, as she kept this secret even from her family. She also wanted to make sure her sisters weren’t as naive as she was.
There is so much going on in this story I can’t possibly cover it all but let me say, I loved all the Bennet sisters and their new stories. Lydia is a bit more discerning in this variation, she is still silly and loves a man in uniform, but she is able to read people a little better. Mary is not as solemn, and I was amused when her and Mr. Bennet team up to solve a mystery! I loved Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, and several of the new characters Massey brings into the story, like Mr. Reynolds, the nephew of Mrs. Reynolds. Amazingly enough I even liked Mr. Collins!
This story had me crying and laughing! But with all the emotions I felt through out the book, I felt the ending was a little flat. Don’t get me wrong they had their Happily Ever After. I felt for Lizzy’s pain, fear, and her brave front but I thought I should have felt more for her joy at the end. I was happy for her, it just didn’t evoke the same amount of emotion for me.
This story is a great read and I would definitely recommend it.
I was provided a copy of the book for review.
June 8, 2012
From the time I picked up Beth's book until I laid it aside three days later, I was all but obsessed. It isn't often that I have been so emotionally drawn into the lives of fictional characters. In this case, I found myself truly sensing the thoughts and emotions of Lizzie as she lived out this personal tragedy. Beth did such an amazing job of describing the rape scene;......describing Lizzie's behavior at the time of the rape (not screaming, unbuttoning her own dress, etc) as well as her thinking and her actions following the incident.. ..... (the guilt......the perspectives in that time and culture.........the twisted way of thinking because of what others would think - even to the point of 'protecting' this man of status - not soiling his reputation). There was also Lizzie's intense awareness of how her sisters could be viewed and the impact this could have on their futures. In my opinion she absolutely nailed the rape and the far reaching consequences for a rape victim. She has obviously lived it and was able to weave this one incident in and out of the entire story in such a realistic manner - just as it is woven in and out of any victim's life because it becomes a part of her (his) very being. It becomes a part of who that person is........... Something about how Beth put it all together emphasized the kind of power that such a violent act has on a person. I knew that but her words somehow brought it so much more to the surface.
Hoping to see more from this gifted writer!
Hoping to see more from this gifted writer!
March 10, 2013
I read it from one evening to the next, I couldn't put it down! I had been put off reading this for some time because I knew that an incident of rape was the main plot point in the story, and sexual violence is something I tend to purposely avoid when choosing my novels. Thankfully it was not overly detailed, which made it much easier to read. I was not expecting the story to develop the way it did from there, and I found it refreshing among so many other variations.
I found the last few chapters dragged a bit, I just wanted my happy ending! :D
All in all I was most impressed!
I found the last few chapters dragged a bit, I just wanted my happy ending! :D
All in all I was most impressed!
June 16, 2021
Beyond Epic!!
5 stars is not enough for a story that is this Riveting and Epic!To be able to 100% believe that our dizzy finds the strength and courage to survive and thrive dispute the unthinkable and realistically portrayed aftermath of being physically, mentally, & emotionally raped. Changed, wounded, but wise & loving beyond her years.
5 stars is not enough for a story that is this Riveting and Epic!To be able to 100% believe that our dizzy finds the strength and courage to survive and thrive dispute the unthinkable and realistically portrayed aftermath of being physically, mentally, & emotionally raped. Changed, wounded, but wise & loving beyond her years.
June 25, 2014
It took me sometime to accept lizzy's ordeal and why the author would want her to suffer so. It was heartbreaking yet warming to know that no matter what their love was stronger than all the obsticles put before them.
The kind of book you enjoy reading quietly.
The kind of book you enjoy reading quietly.
September 29, 2021
Good writing and editing. Just be warned; it's unflinchingly grim many places, and contains some sexually violent scenes. Many, many triggers. Does have a happy ending, but it's one of the few I've never reread and won't.
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