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The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy
Pride and Prejudice told from a delightfully different point of view. "The Holy Grail of P&P sequels." (Austenblog)
Originally published in the U.K., Mary Street's ingenious retelling of Jane Austen's classic story now makes its U.S. debut-to the delight of the fans of Austen's comic masterpiece of divine romance. In Fitzwilliam Darcy, Austen created the ultimate romantic hero. Yet Pride and Prejudice reveals little of Darcy's innermost thoughts. Here, Street unveils the true motives and mysteries of Elizabeth Bennet's enigmatic suitor. Through Darcy's eyes we discover the reality of his relationships with his sister Georgiana, his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, the dastardly Wickham, his friend Bingley, and his formidable aunt, Lady Catherine. And of course, all his memorable encounters with Elizabeth, from that first view of her fine eyes to his disastrous proposal, and then to a pride and arrogance tempered by an unquenchable love.
Originally published in the U.K., Mary Street's ingenious retelling of Jane Austen's classic story now makes its U.S. debut-to the delight of the fans of Austen's comic masterpiece of divine romance. In Fitzwilliam Darcy, Austen created the ultimate romantic hero. Yet Pride and Prejudice reveals little of Darcy's innermost thoughts. Here, Street unveils the true motives and mysteries of Elizabeth Bennet's enigmatic suitor. Through Darcy's eyes we discover the reality of his relationships with his sister Georgiana, his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, the dastardly Wickham, his friend Bingley, and his formidable aunt, Lady Catherine. And of course, all his memorable encounters with Elizabeth, from that first view of her fine eyes to his disastrous proposal, and then to a pride and arrogance tempered by an unquenchable love.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 1999
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3808 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
January 14, 2019
To this day I still laugh at that AustenBlog blurb, which of course I wrote. Settle in for a story, kids.
Many years ago, when the Internet was young and ebooks the domain of extreme nerds and archivists, this book was published. I read and reviewed it on my website (pre-blog) and as I liked it well enough, said so. I often received emails from people asking me where they could buy a copy. Unfortunately Robert Hale, the publisher, did small print runs and the book had been out of print for a few years. I directed them to eBay and used book sites, but couldn't help otherwise. One person wrote back to thank me for my time, and I made bold to ask her why she was so eager to get that book. She said it was the only P&P sequel that got consistently good reviews. (This was long before the rise of self-published JAFF.)
Finally I wrote to Hale--I mean, typed a letter on paper, stood in line at the post office for an airmail stamp, a LETTER--telling them about my correspondents and perhaps they should consider a reprint. I received a very polite British letter telling me they were considering a reprint.
So I went over to the Derbyshire Writers Guild and told the JAFF-fans that if they want to read it, they should let Hale know. I understand a letter-writing campaign was undertaken which resulted in a reprint. By that time I had started AustenBlog and wrote a post saying, "Hey, this book that everyone is dying to read will be coming out again soon. I know it's the Holy Grail for some of you." (paraphrasing because too lazy to look it up)
A few years later, a (very smart) American publisher decided to republish it and has (smartly) kept it in print since. And when it appeared, it had my Holy Grail comment, completely out of context, on the cover. This delights me so much.
As to the book: it's pretty good and Darcy fans will enjoy it. You know who you are, you Knights Templars of JAFF. Go forth and get your Darcy on.
Many years ago, when the Internet was young and ebooks the domain of extreme nerds and archivists, this book was published. I read and reviewed it on my website (pre-blog) and as I liked it well enough, said so. I often received emails from people asking me where they could buy a copy. Unfortunately Robert Hale, the publisher, did small print runs and the book had been out of print for a few years. I directed them to eBay and used book sites, but couldn't help otherwise. One person wrote back to thank me for my time, and I made bold to ask her why she was so eager to get that book. She said it was the only P&P sequel that got consistently good reviews. (This was long before the rise of self-published JAFF.)
Finally I wrote to Hale--I mean, typed a letter on paper, stood in line at the post office for an airmail stamp, a LETTER--telling them about my correspondents and perhaps they should consider a reprint. I received a very polite British letter telling me they were considering a reprint.
So I went over to the Derbyshire Writers Guild and told the JAFF-fans that if they want to read it, they should let Hale know. I understand a letter-writing campaign was undertaken which resulted in a reprint. By that time I had started AustenBlog and wrote a post saying, "Hey, this book that everyone is dying to read will be coming out again soon. I know it's the Holy Grail for some of you." (paraphrasing because too lazy to look it up)
A few years later, a (very smart) American publisher decided to republish it and has (smartly) kept it in print since. And when it appeared, it had my Holy Grail comment, completely out of context, on the cover. This delights me so much.
As to the book: it's pretty good and Darcy fans will enjoy it. You know who you are, you Knights Templars of JAFF. Go forth and get your Darcy on.
December 19, 2017
I bought this book on January 15, 2008 and just finished reading it for, at least, the third time. In owning over 100 JAFF in paperback and on kindle, it is very difficult to remember what each is about. Some do stand out. With this one I remember finding it began and ended with amusing lines. First, Darcy is fuming that Elizabeth "contrived to bring herself so much to my notice throughout the course of that evening." And, last, he is admonished to remember "You cannot expect to excel if you do not practise a great deal." by Elizabeth when he bungles their first kiss.
I own at least three other Darcy POV variations on P&P: Pamela Aiden's Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman, Regina Jeffers' Darcy's Passions and Stanley Hurd's Darcy's Tale in 3 Volumes. I have to say Mr. Hurd's is so far my favorite but Volume III of his trilogy is not yet out. And to be fair, he is writing 6 years after this author so he has her and the others' work(s) and the reviews of such to learn from and expand upon.
I found this book to be very enjoyable. First, my copy only had 2 errors. It was also complete vs. copies which had duplicated chapters. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I found that, I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. Mary Street does follow canon. Ironically, I read reviews that "hammer" authors for using JA's words while other authors, such as in these reviews, are told that the book is boring because of the use of JA's words. JA's words helped to ground me in the story. It may not have been Regency language every time but I found it very interesting.
I did not like the way it ended...the bungled kiss was so UNromantic, even though funny. I would have liked to have read more sexual tension, not necessarily sex, but that angst when the chemistry is astir. I did like reading step-by-step of how his totally negative opinion (sturdy figure, indeed!) changes. And it not a sudden thing but more "I was in the middle of it before I realized" or to that effect. I especially liked the various scenes in which he overhears/eavesdrops and learns more about her wit and about her kindness, in certain situations. There are no surprises with this story. Rather just someone wanting us to look at it from Darcy's viewpoint. More could have been done with it but this is enjoyable, especially when you consider how many years ago it was written and how this JAFF genre has evolved.
I own at least three other Darcy POV variations on P&P: Pamela Aiden's Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman, Regina Jeffers' Darcy's Passions and Stanley Hurd's Darcy's Tale in 3 Volumes. I have to say Mr. Hurd's is so far my favorite but Volume III of his trilogy is not yet out. And to be fair, he is writing 6 years after this author so he has her and the others' work(s) and the reviews of such to learn from and expand upon.
I found this book to be very enjoyable. First, my copy only had 2 errors. It was also complete vs. copies which had duplicated chapters. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I found that, I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. Mary Street does follow canon. Ironically, I read reviews that "hammer" authors for using JA's words while other authors, such as in these reviews, are told that the book is boring because of the use of JA's words. JA's words helped to ground me in the story. It may not have been Regency language every time but I found it very interesting.
I did not like the way it ended...the bungled kiss was so UNromantic, even though funny. I would have liked to have read more sexual tension, not necessarily sex, but that angst when the chemistry is astir. I did like reading step-by-step of how his totally negative opinion (sturdy figure, indeed!) changes. And it not a sudden thing but more "I was in the middle of it before I realized" or to that effect. I especially liked the various scenes in which he overhears/eavesdrops and learns more about her wit and about her kindness, in certain situations. There are no surprises with this story. Rather just someone wanting us to look at it from Darcy's viewpoint. More could have been done with it but this is enjoyable, especially when you consider how many years ago it was written and how this JAFF genre has evolved.
July 31, 2017
Ok, I can't get enough of hearing the whole story from Darcy's point of view. And this story was most pleasing and very possible, in my opinion.
August 28, 2024
For everyone who wanted to know what went on in Fitzwilliam Darcy's head when he met Elizabeth Bennet and her family...
Both Darcy and Lizzie are likable characters despite occasionally frustrating the reader with the choices they made. Through Darcy's eyes, I saw his imperfect patterns of thought that lead him down the wrong path. But as I read his story, I also witnessed a unique, lovable and sincere gentleman.
Both Darcy and Lizzie are likable characters despite occasionally frustrating the reader with the choices they made. Through Darcy's eyes, I saw his imperfect patterns of thought that lead him down the wrong path. But as I read his story, I also witnessed a unique, lovable and sincere gentleman.
June 29, 2020
This is P&P from Darcy's point of view. Published originally in 1999 this is a manly Darcy. Not a whiny emo cry baby. Yes he loves Elizabeth but he doesn't take to drink; much, mope, whine, cry or let Pemberley crumble to the ground.
Tightly written and easy to read. A lovely story.
Tightly written and easy to read. A lovely story.
February 7, 2016
I enjoyed this very much. It is really no more than Pride & Prejudice told through Darcy's eyes, but it is well done and, unlike others I have read, fairly convincing. The only slight issue I would take with the storyline is that Darcy really does seem as arrogant and unpleasant as Elizabeth first believes him to, up to the point of the proposal at Hunsford when he begins to mend his ways. In the original, the interlude with the housekeeper at Pemberley makes it fairly clear that was not really the case (but of course this part is excluded from this book as Darcy would not have been privy to it).However, overall I found this a very satisfying read, although if you prefer the more outrageous P&P offerings, it is probably not for you
March 12, 2011
So far so good ... but what is the deal with this: on page 101 Georgiana "practised till her fingers bled." Um, what? I have practiced piano for 6 hours straight and ... I'm sorry ... but those milky smooth keys just don't make fingers bleed. Maybe she could have practiced till her back ached? Or till her rear end started going numb? Or till she was practically falling asleep right there on the bench? Those things are more likely.
On second thought, perhaps if she was doing hours and hours worth of glissandos, a black-key glissando may have ripped some skin off. I must admit that I have done that before. Ouch.
On second thought, perhaps if she was doing hours and hours worth of glissandos, a black-key glissando may have ripped some skin off. I must admit that I have done that before. Ouch.
May 27, 2023
I really love this pride and prejudice pov 🤍
August 28, 2009
Many Austen fans say that Mr.Darcy is one of their favorite Austen heroes. And why wouldn't he be? He is tall, dark, handsome, passionate, and does everything in his power to win a woman. It is not surprising that many have attempted to portray his feelings and thoughts during Pride and Prejudice. It is something every Darcy fan wants to know. When did he fall in love with her? What did he feel after her rejection? What did he do during the time in London? This attempt to retell Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's point-of-view was enjoyable and insightful, yet sometimes it fell short of the mark.
I recommend reading "Pride and Prejudice" before reading this story, as you will better appreciate how and where the author derived her story. The story starts with Darcy arriving at the Meryton Assembly and seeing Elizabeth for the first time. We hear the famous insult he says towards Elizabeth and from that point he can't stop thinking about her. I enjoyed exploring his feelings and hearing his thoughts.
However, I wish the author gave us more. I was wanting Darcy to be more passionate, I wanted to see more of the struggle he felt within himself. The Darcy in Mary Street's book did an immediate 180 after receiving Elizabeth's rejection. I would like to believe that as a proud and sometimes stubborn person, it might take Darcy a while to realize the error of his ways. Another thing that irked me was that Darcy seemed omnipotent or psychic sometimes. It was as if he could read Elizabeth's mind and knew why she did what she did, when it didn't seem probable. I didn't think that Jane Austen's Darcy was that insightful. In addition, I wish the author was more creative with adding new characters or creating what Darcy did in the period where he was away from Elizabeth and in London.
Overall, I am glad I read it as I enjoy reading aoubt Darcy and it is not the worst Darcy retelling I have read. Out of the ones I have read this is how I would reank them:
1. An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman)
2. The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy
3. Mr. Darcy's Diary
4. Darcy's Story
I recommend this book to fans of Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, and Mr. Darcy. It was an enjoyable, light, and easy read.
I recommend reading "Pride and Prejudice" before reading this story, as you will better appreciate how and where the author derived her story. The story starts with Darcy arriving at the Meryton Assembly and seeing Elizabeth for the first time. We hear the famous insult he says towards Elizabeth and from that point he can't stop thinking about her. I enjoyed exploring his feelings and hearing his thoughts.
However, I wish the author gave us more. I was wanting Darcy to be more passionate, I wanted to see more of the struggle he felt within himself. The Darcy in Mary Street's book did an immediate 180 after receiving Elizabeth's rejection. I would like to believe that as a proud and sometimes stubborn person, it might take Darcy a while to realize the error of his ways. Another thing that irked me was that Darcy seemed omnipotent or psychic sometimes. It was as if he could read Elizabeth's mind and knew why she did what she did, when it didn't seem probable. I didn't think that Jane Austen's Darcy was that insightful. In addition, I wish the author was more creative with adding new characters or creating what Darcy did in the period where he was away from Elizabeth and in London.
Overall, I am glad I read it as I enjoy reading aoubt Darcy and it is not the worst Darcy retelling I have read. Out of the ones I have read this is how I would reank them:
1. An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman)
2. The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy
3. Mr. Darcy's Diary
4. Darcy's Story
I recommend this book to fans of Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, and Mr. Darcy. It was an enjoyable, light, and easy read.
July 24, 2008
One of the better "Pride and Prejudice from Darcy's perspective" novels I've read (and I can't seem to help myself when it comes to them). Georgiana and Fitzwilliam were both given more screen time than in the original, and the Bingleys were perfectly in character.
Street did a much better job looking at Darcy's motivations than some other writers, and the change in him was quite clear - if a bit sudden, happening very quickly after a certain proposal scene.
In a book like this, so closely tied to the original, the author can't help but use some of the dialogue we all know. Street did a good job of keeping in only the pertinent bits, and focused more on Darcy's internal monologue, his reactions to Elizabeth's teasing being the important part.
Altogether, it's a fast moving read, and she did a very good job of keeping up the tension and suspense the original had - I was very cranky with the poor customer who interrupted me just as Darcy was visited by Lady Catherine. :)
Street did a much better job looking at Darcy's motivations than some other writers, and the change in him was quite clear - if a bit sudden, happening very quickly after a certain proposal scene.
In a book like this, so closely tied to the original, the author can't help but use some of the dialogue we all know. Street did a good job of keeping in only the pertinent bits, and focused more on Darcy's internal monologue, his reactions to Elizabeth's teasing being the important part.
Altogether, it's a fast moving read, and she did a very good job of keeping up the tension and suspense the original had - I was very cranky with the poor customer who interrupted me just as Darcy was visited by Lady Catherine. :)
November 17, 2008
Don't be turned off by my 3-star rating. I have realized that I've been too generous in past reviews, and rather than go back and change them all, I'll just institute my new standards now.
I really enjoyed this book! It was so much fun to have a classic revisited with a fresh perspective and from Mr. Darcy's side. This was recommended, along with Darcy's Story - and I think the two just don't compare. Confession was creative, true to the story but failed to regurgitate all of the original Pride and Prejudice. The characters were easier to relate to from this new side, but not as black and white as in Darcy's Story. Overall - one that could be fun to have in the home library along with P&P
I really enjoyed this book! It was so much fun to have a classic revisited with a fresh perspective and from Mr. Darcy's side. This was recommended, along with Darcy's Story - and I think the two just don't compare. Confession was creative, true to the story but failed to regurgitate all of the original Pride and Prejudice. The characters were easier to relate to from this new side, but not as black and white as in Darcy's Story. Overall - one that could be fun to have in the home library along with P&P
May 13, 2013
This book was amazing! It is quite my favorite of the Darcy's pov books I have read. The tone was very Jane Austen and the language was relatable and yet still old-fashioned at the same time. The characters were all spot on. Darcy remained a gentleman and his thoughts and actions made very much sense.
I found that the pacing was very good and nothing was repeated from P&P in a way that would make it annoying. I liked the way everything was portrayed and how some things were skipped because Darcy's pov could add nothing to the scene. And everything was so cute and charming and romantic.
Basically this is one of the best Austen "sequels' I have ever read. I highly recommend it.
I found that the pacing was very good and nothing was repeated from P&P in a way that would make it annoying. I liked the way everything was portrayed and how some things were skipped because Darcy's pov could add nothing to the scene. And everything was so cute and charming and romantic.
Basically this is one of the best Austen "sequels' I have ever read. I highly recommend it.
May 31, 2023
4.5 stars for this OG Jane Austen fanfic.
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This is Pride & Prejudice, from Darcy's point of view.
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I loved seeing Darcy really take the "selfish disdain" point to heart and try to be more compassionate and charitable to others as he grows into the hero he is.
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The Wickham/Lydia storyline was handled so well, maybe one of the best spins on it that I've read.
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I just really enjoyed this one.
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This is Pride & Prejudice, from Darcy's point of view.
.
I loved seeing Darcy really take the "selfish disdain" point to heart and try to be more compassionate and charitable to others as he grows into the hero he is.
.
The Wickham/Lydia storyline was handled so well, maybe one of the best spins on it that I've read.
.
I just really enjoyed this one.
August 21, 2020
סיפור מחדש של ספרה של ג'יין אוסטן, גאווה ודיעה קדומה, אחד הספרים האהובים עליי ביותר, מנקודת מבטו של מר דארסי. נחמד בהחלט אבל לא מרגש יותר מידי.
July 9, 2021
I first read this in July 2013. It has to be one of the earliest retellings of P&P from Darcy’s point of view. It was originally published in 1996, so 25 years ago. I have read so many great Austen variations and retellings that I found this a little wanting this time around. One minor thing that bothered me was Georgiana calling Darcy “sir”— it just seemed too formal. Fitzwilliam called him that, too, and it was distracting. My favorite parts were Darcy’s dealings with Wickham as he tried to negotiate his marriage to Lydia. I also liked his interactions with Bingley, for some behind the scenes of what Jane Austen alludes to but didn’t write. Everything closely follows what we know from P&P, though the first chapter might be my favorite. It opens at the Meryton assembly.
First line:
“I know not how Miss Elizabeth Bennet contrived to bring herself so much to my notice throughout the course of the evening.”
Second page:
“At one point, I even found myself moving towards the lady. I stopped abruptly and turned away, determined she should have no more of my attention, whatever arts she employed.”
Poor Darcy, smitten already and he doesn’t even know it!
3.5 stars, rounded up.
First line:
“I know not how Miss Elizabeth Bennet contrived to bring herself so much to my notice throughout the course of the evening.”
Second page:
“At one point, I even found myself moving towards the lady. I stopped abruptly and turned away, determined she should have no more of my attention, whatever arts she employed.”
Poor Darcy, smitten already and he doesn’t even know it!
3.5 stars, rounded up.
February 1, 2016
The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy
Enjoyed this book. It followed Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but much was added during his realization why Elizabeth refused his offer of marriage at Hunsford. Soul searching more in depth with Darcy realizing just how badly he's acted in the past with Elizabeth. His Aunt Catherine's tirade after confronting Elizabeth again gave him the push that he needed to go back to Meryton. Same misunderstandings throughout this story, but I think Fitzwilliam's soul searching after his refusal was excellently written. In this version the first kiss was awkward because their lips missed, but the second was powerful. Elizabeth reminds him that they'll never be proficient unless they practice! Well, Lady Catherine's lesson was finally taken to heart. She'd be proud!
Enjoyed this book. It followed Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but much was added during his realization why Elizabeth refused his offer of marriage at Hunsford. Soul searching more in depth with Darcy realizing just how badly he's acted in the past with Elizabeth. His Aunt Catherine's tirade after confronting Elizabeth again gave him the push that he needed to go back to Meryton. Same misunderstandings throughout this story, but I think Fitzwilliam's soul searching after his refusal was excellently written. In this version the first kiss was awkward because their lips missed, but the second was powerful. Elizabeth reminds him that they'll never be proficient unless they practice! Well, Lady Catherine's lesson was finally taken to heart. She'd be proud!
November 28, 2019
Kiss
Very good story. P&P from Darcy’s point of view. Very well done. Just like P&P there is no kiss...except on the very last page. But it was done so poorly and in a funny way, I do think I can say it was a kiss.
Very good story. P&P from Darcy’s point of view. Very well done. Just like P&P there is no kiss...except on the very last page. But it was done so poorly and in a funny way, I do think I can say it was a kiss.
January 13, 2023
I’ve always wanted Darcy’s perspective on it all and while I’m not sure Queen Jane Austen would fully approve of this book, I had a great time reading
September 16, 2025
even though it's another DNF (at 55%), I'm compelled to add it to Goodreads because one thing about it I found unique and I wanted to note that.
I haven't read any "P&P from Darcy's POV", I've seen VERY few and was put off by those.
This one intrigued me, because straight from the first page I felt Mr Darcy's pride and condescension in full.
A lot of authors like to invent an "I was tired" explanation to Darcy's words at the Meryton assembly (which doesn't make sense to me, because Darcy continues to verbally abuse Elizabeth further in private "Beauty? I'd soon call her mother a wit!), so I was glad the author took Darcy's words at face value and created a rather haughty image of Fitzwilliam Darcy. I immediately felt it was going to be over the board (and I was right), but I thought the author added something different and interesting to the fancannon full of lovey-gooey Darcys, and I appreciated that.
Where the novel didn't work for me was the writing style, which was boring and stiff. It was full of "I-s", - I said, I did, I noted, I looked, etcetc. There were often multiple short sentences in a row that started with I-s. The plot, the sequence of events were boring to read.
The dialogues were retold in a tedious and ugly-to-look-at fashion. Oftentimes dialogues were word-for-word from the actual book (very little rephrasing & summarizing dialogues into a paragraph), except Darcy's lines were replaced with "I said that [indirect speech formed from Darcy's answers in P&P".
The tenses were also confusing with the switch between present tense and past tense.
I'm an english non-native and I think that's the thing in my reviews I'm most conscious and ashamed about - I think I switch too much into "I am" and "I was" when describing my thoughts and "The characters act" and "the characters acted" when describing my vexations with the novel. I know there's a place to sometimes switch the tenses, however, I haven't found it and have given up on fixing it because I do not want to spend extra hour polishing my reviews.
Thus, I admit I'm NOT an expert on the topic; however amidst an endless string of past tense, paragraphs like "Yes, of course I did. I am a man of the world, I know how mattetrs are arranged. I knew her situation" seemed jarring to me. It may be I'm the illiterate one, may be the author is.
Fitzwilliam misunderstood Elizabeth on many occasions, and although he misunderstands her BIG time in the original (which led to a second-worst proposal in P&P), here it seemed neither true to the text or interesting. In the original I felt like oftentimes Darcy was in on Elizabeth's jokes (even though he misunderstood the non-existing flirtation), and that's the opposite here. Darcy is confused by Elizabeth, YET I barely felt like he thought she was flirting with him (which Darcy definitely did in the original).
The way I see the original is that in Hertfordshire he was in on the jokes, thought Elizabeth saw he was in, too, and them being in-together was a form of flirtation, which continued into their Rosings encounters.
Here: misunderstands Elizabeth constantly (and recognizes it! He says she doesn't know what's she about), thinks she expects his proposal (even though there's no flirting).
As I've already noted, the retelling of events of the book was boring because of the writing style, another big issue with it is that I didn't think it was true to the book. For example, Darcy chastised himself for agreeing to stay at Rosings, which seems to go wholly against the novel. Funnily, at the same time as (this)Darcy was "agreeing to stay in Rosings", actual P&P Elizabeth says how she knows no other man who loves to manage his own life more than Mr Darcy. Colonel responds by saying that it's Darcy who delays leave from Kent, which was Austen's way to hint that Darcy was staying in Rosings to continue courting Elizabeth.
The word "agree" that Mary Street chosen paints Darcy as a subject controlled by the whims of the environment/other people, rather than a master of his own destiny, who Mr Darcy actually is.
And the climax of my disappointment was the fact that the author decided to completely skip the proposal scene and instead retold it after-the-fact. There was little emotionality to the entire novel, so I attribute this exclusion to the author's inability to write high emotional stakes + the fact that up to that point, Darcy's emotions weren't exactly logical and true to the book, hence his thoughts in-the-moment would've been even harder to explain.
Pride & Prejudice retellings:
Constant as the Sun: 2/5 stars, DNF at ~40%, or my thoughts behind my interest in "courtship novels" and my philosophy behind adding P&P fanfiction to goodreads.
Elizabeth Bennet's Inheritance: 2/5 stars, DNF at ~60%
One Kiss: 2/5 stars, DNF at ~50%, or my thoughts about 2005 adaptation
Companion of His Future Life: 1/5 stars or my thoughts on the worst type of fanfiction
A Fine Joke: 3/5 stars
May I have the Pleasure (Anthology): 4/5 stars or how a short format of OOC behaviour is more enjoyable than a long format
What Kitty Did Next: 4.5/5 stars, or my thoughts on a good type of fanfiction
Unequal Affections: 3/5 stars, or 50 shades of Fitzwilliam Darcy
Bingley's Blunder: 5/5 stars, a short story done right
The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy: 2/5 stars, DNF at 55% or how to add something interesting to Darcy's POV , while butchering the good parts of P&P
I've also read (both DNF at 50% and completed) other published works (one of them I enjoyed) but decided not to add it
It's really a shame, some of the best/most interesting works I've read are not published and will remain on fanfictionnet/AO3.
I haven't read any "P&P from Darcy's POV", I've seen VERY few and was put off by those.
This one intrigued me, because straight from the first page I felt Mr Darcy's pride and condescension in full.
A lot of authors like to invent an "I was tired" explanation to Darcy's words at the Meryton assembly (which doesn't make sense to me, because Darcy continues to verbally abuse Elizabeth further in private "Beauty? I'd soon call her mother a wit!), so I was glad the author took Darcy's words at face value and created a rather haughty image of Fitzwilliam Darcy. I immediately felt it was going to be over the board (and I was right), but I thought the author added something different and interesting to the fancannon full of lovey-gooey Darcys, and I appreciated that.
Where the novel didn't work for me was the writing style, which was boring and stiff. It was full of "I-s", - I said, I did, I noted, I looked, etcetc. There were often multiple short sentences in a row that started with I-s. The plot, the sequence of events were boring to read.
The dialogues were retold in a tedious and ugly-to-look-at fashion. Oftentimes dialogues were word-for-word from the actual book (very little rephrasing & summarizing dialogues into a paragraph), except Darcy's lines were replaced with "I said that [indirect speech formed from Darcy's answers in P&P".
The tenses were also confusing with the switch between present tense and past tense.
I'm an english non-native and I think that's the thing in my reviews I'm most conscious and ashamed about - I think I switch too much into "I am" and "I was" when describing my thoughts and "The characters act" and "the characters acted" when describing my vexations with the novel. I know there's a place to sometimes switch the tenses, however, I haven't found it and have given up on fixing it because I do not want to spend extra hour polishing my reviews.
Thus, I admit I'm NOT an expert on the topic; however amidst an endless string of past tense, paragraphs like "Yes, of course I did. I am a man of the world, I know how mattetrs are arranged. I knew her situation" seemed jarring to me. It may be I'm the illiterate one, may be the author is.
Fitzwilliam misunderstood Elizabeth on many occasions, and although he misunderstands her BIG time in the original (which led to a second-worst proposal in P&P), here it seemed neither true to the text or interesting. In the original I felt like oftentimes Darcy was in on Elizabeth's jokes (even though he misunderstood the non-existing flirtation), and that's the opposite here. Darcy is confused by Elizabeth, YET I barely felt like he thought she was flirting with him (which Darcy definitely did in the original).
The way I see the original is that in Hertfordshire he was in on the jokes, thought Elizabeth saw he was in, too, and them being in-together was a form of flirtation, which continued into their Rosings encounters.
Here: misunderstands Elizabeth constantly (and recognizes it! He says she doesn't know what's she about), thinks she expects his proposal (even though there's no flirting).
As I've already noted, the retelling of events of the book was boring because of the writing style, another big issue with it is that I didn't think it was true to the book. For example, Darcy chastised himself for agreeing to stay at Rosings, which seems to go wholly against the novel. Funnily, at the same time as (this)Darcy was "agreeing to stay in Rosings", actual P&P Elizabeth says how she knows no other man who loves to manage his own life more than Mr Darcy. Colonel responds by saying that it's Darcy who delays leave from Kent, which was Austen's way to hint that Darcy was staying in Rosings to continue courting Elizabeth.
The word "agree" that Mary Street chosen paints Darcy as a subject controlled by the whims of the environment/other people, rather than a master of his own destiny, who Mr Darcy actually is.
And the climax of my disappointment was the fact that the author decided to completely skip the proposal scene and instead retold it after-the-fact. There was little emotionality to the entire novel, so I attribute this exclusion to the author's inability to write high emotional stakes + the fact that up to that point, Darcy's emotions weren't exactly logical and true to the book, hence his thoughts in-the-moment would've been even harder to explain.
Pride & Prejudice retellings:
Constant as the Sun: 2/5 stars, DNF at ~40%, or my thoughts behind my interest in "courtship novels" and my philosophy behind adding P&P fanfiction to goodreads.
Elizabeth Bennet's Inheritance: 2/5 stars, DNF at ~60%
One Kiss: 2/5 stars, DNF at ~50%, or my thoughts about 2005 adaptation
Companion of His Future Life: 1/5 stars or my thoughts on the worst type of fanfiction
A Fine Joke: 3/5 stars
May I have the Pleasure (Anthology): 4/5 stars or how a short format of OOC behaviour is more enjoyable than a long format
What Kitty Did Next: 4.5/5 stars, or my thoughts on a good type of fanfiction
Unequal Affections: 3/5 stars, or 50 shades of Fitzwilliam Darcy
Bingley's Blunder: 5/5 stars, a short story done right
The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy: 2/5 stars, DNF at 55% or how to add something interesting to Darcy's POV , while butchering the good parts of P&P
I've also read (both DNF at 50% and completed) other published works (one of them I enjoyed) but decided not to add it
It's really a shame, some of the best/most interesting works I've read are not published and will remain on fanfictionnet/AO3.
April 29, 2019
This book is the RNA to Austen's DNA. It sticks very closely to the original. I'm not sure whether I'm happy with that... I think I would have liked more insights that are not so readily inferred from the original. For example, Mr. Bennet is pretty shrewd in some ways so when he says he's surprised that Wickham wed Lydia for the amount of money his brother-in-law writes him of, I took his estimate seriously and assumed Mr. Darcy had coughed up more money than anyone ever credited him for. In this telling, it's Mr. Darcy's bargaining skills that seal the deal, with not enough detail to really satisfy my curiosity. But the conversations Mr. Darcy has with Georgina are worth the read of this book.
July 15, 2016
No man thinks in those long sighing moments where everything is wonderful and she's beautiful and we're going to get married and life is great. Men just don't think like that. Instead they're thinking about that horse they got outbid on which is probably why he's gruff and NOT thinking the entire time about her. They like good food, good horses, good sport, and sometimes a pair of pretty eyes. Most of the time none of that is even worth writing down. Especially not to their much younger sister in page after page. Darcy is NOT A WOMAN.
June 5, 2022
I know there is a lot of fan fiction out there that retells Pride and Prejudice from multiple viewpoints, and I found this one from Darcy’s POV a lot of fun and it gave me new insights into the original story by Jane Austen. Reading it concurrently helped me appreciate how the author wrote this story and how much she must have studied Pride and Prejudice to make this work. I liked her “Mr Darcy” and his inner dialogue did feel authentic and in-line with the character Jane Austen created. I would recommend this to fans of Pride and Prejudice.
September 26, 2008
I think I am turning into a total Jane Austen geek-this book gave me goosebumps!
I enjoyed reading this story again from Mr. Darcy's perspective. I have to confess, that when I read P & P, I never gave much thought as to what Mr. Darcy was going through after his failed proposal. It never occurred to me that he might see the error of his ways and set about changing the way he acted or thought of others. Reading the story from his perspective makes it much more interesting!
I enjoyed reading this story again from Mr. Darcy's perspective. I have to confess, that when I read P & P, I never gave much thought as to what Mr. Darcy was going through after his failed proposal. It never occurred to me that he might see the error of his ways and set about changing the way he acted or thought of others. Reading the story from his perspective makes it much more interesting!
December 1, 2023
Loved this version of Price and Prejudice, as told from Darcy's side!
October 31, 2019
Eh.
This reads more like a backstory dreamed up in the mind of a fan overwhelmed by Colin Firth's than Miss Austen's Darcy. While I'm all very much in favor of Mr Firth's rendition of the character on screen, he is most definitely that - the movie version, not the literary one. Miss Austen would well recognize the difference, in spite of the out-of-context quote on the back cover of the book. Not nearly as well done as The Bar Sinister, in spite of that one's unfortunate topic. Am still in search of the "perfect" literary continuance of the story begun in Miss Austen's novel.
This reads more like a backstory dreamed up in the mind of a fan overwhelmed by Colin Firth's than Miss Austen's Darcy. While I'm all very much in favor of Mr Firth's rendition of the character on screen, he is most definitely that - the movie version, not the literary one. Miss Austen would well recognize the difference, in spite of the out-of-context quote on the back cover of the book. Not nearly as well done as The Bar Sinister, in spite of that one's unfortunate topic. Am still in search of the "perfect" literary continuance of the story begun in Miss Austen's novel.
April 27, 2023
I am a snob when it comes to regency authenticity. I get annoyed when I find myself thinking, they never would have said/done that! But this book felt super authentic to the times and to Darcy’s character and to Jane Austen’s style of writing. Bravo to the author for nailing it! That being said, it was a little anticlimactic since I already knew how everything would play out through the whole book but it was fun to get it from Darcy’s perspective and for the author to hypothetically fill in many of the blanks.
November 18, 2021
Kudos to the author for managing to retell Pride & Prejudice from Darcy's perspective. There are moments when one can readily see why certain actions were interpreted the way they were, or gain an insight into characters that builds upon what we know from Jane Austen's original. It was an enjoyable read and the author nicely balances introspection and angst and humour.
July 14, 2023
2.5 stars
One of the better retellings I've read, but still not particularly good unless you are an avid Janeite. (Yes, I know I'm hard on Austen retellings and should just stick to the originals.)
This novel felt closer to Austen's actual characters compared with most retellings and didn't take many liberties with the story. Two wins there! However, it had a few instances where the writing used such modern phrasing that I was yanked right out of the story. (Wish I had written down examples, but I laughed out loud at how absurdly out of place one of them was. Definitely didn't belong in anything trying to sound like Austen.) Also, for a book that follows book Darcy so carefully, I was stunned when the author contradicted source material and ignored the fact that Darcy himself wanted Bingley to marry Georgiana and is subconsciously influenced against Jane for that very reason. Street attributes this desire exclusively to Caroline, which felt like shabby research.
One of the better retellings I've read, but still not particularly good unless you are an avid Janeite. (Yes, I know I'm hard on Austen retellings and should just stick to the originals.)
This novel felt closer to Austen's actual characters compared with most retellings and didn't take many liberties with the story. Two wins there! However, it had a few instances where the writing used such modern phrasing that I was yanked right out of the story. (Wish I had written down examples, but I laughed out loud at how absurdly out of place one of them was. Definitely didn't belong in anything trying to sound like Austen.) Also, for a book that follows book Darcy so carefully, I was stunned when the author contradicted source material and ignored the fact that Darcy himself wanted Bingley to marry Georgiana and is subconsciously influenced against Jane for that very reason. Street attributes this desire exclusively to Caroline, which felt like shabby research.
July 20, 2018
This read as Pride and Prejudice fanfiction, and it was fine. It was a passable, pleasant read but nothing more than that. It at least served to make me want to re-read the original again.
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