Mr. Darcy's Cousin

by Mariele Kirkby

When Fitzwilliam Darcy married Elizabeth Bennet, one person was forgotten in the joy of their wedding. Young Anne de Bourgh, informally affianced to her cousin from birth, must face a future with the man her domineering mother has chosen as a suitable replacement. But when Anne meets her future bridegroom, she finds the courage to defy Lady Catherine's iron will. In her headlong flight, Anne finds more than freedom. She encounters a love forbidden by Regency society and must choose between social acceptance and her newly awakened heart.

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2013

Reviews

[Paula Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne De Bourgh is a sketched character in Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Here she is fleshed out as the oppressed and abused daughter, and beautifully imagined as a free spirit who fights back. This is well written, with no distracting American or obviously modern phrases, a lovely passionate but chaste romance, adventure and excitement.

There are several new characters, well drawn. The familiar people of Pride and Prejudice are true to the originals.

The only inauthentic note I did not enjoy was Anne's experimentation with makeup.

I seem to be a sucker for Austen-inspired works at the moment, and this is the best I have found so far.

[elsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and easy to read, but I did often wonder where the characterisation of some came from.