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The Victorian Vagaries #1
Pride & Precipitance: A Victorian Pride and Prejudice Vagary
The Victorian Vagaries are a bit of a fairy tale... Have you ever read Pride and Prejudice, a Variation, a sequel, or any other book, and just wish it could go on for years? The Victorian Vagaries is the story of the Bennet women over twelve years of life and love... The men and heroes we love are ever present of course, but this is the story of the Bennet women in a slightly more modern setting, while keeping to the historical fiction theme that we all love.
Moving the story forward 36 years brings us to a time where more women were working, and the industrial revolution is taking over. Times and opportunities are changing for men and women alike, and Lady Elizabeth Astley, a society widow, and the eldest of her siblings, must protect herself and her vast fortune earned by investing with her uncle from fortune hunters and heiress snatchers, as well as support her step mother and four half sisters as they each break free from the fates laid down before them and meet their destinies. Some characters deviate from canon, others remain charmingly as we know them, and friends from other Jane Austen worlds join us, but never how you might expect, though everyone we love finds their happy ending, and when Elizabeth and Darcy find their happiness, their bond is as strong and beautiful as any of us could hope…
In Volume One of our Victorian Vagaries, Lady Elizabeth Astley, three years widowed, has returned to Meryton to enjoy the country with her young daughter. The eldest of Mr Bennet's daughters, Elizabeth is an outcast among her sisters and step-mother, but does her best to help her sisters find themselves – and to help Jane when Caroline and Mrs Bennet's behavior causes catastrophe.
Will Netherfield's impressive guest Mr Darcy recognize Elizabeth's worth, or will he continue in his typical prideful behavior? Follow Elizabeth as she narrowly evades the aggressive pursuit of our favorite wastrel – who is a true villain – assists Rosings Park and her cousin Charlotte Collins when disaster strikes Hunsford, and teaches a proud and foolish man the art of pleasing a woman worthy of being pleased.
This slow burn, sweet and clean Victorian era vagary is 123,000 words.
Moving the story forward 36 years brings us to a time where more women were working, and the industrial revolution is taking over. Times and opportunities are changing for men and women alike, and Lady Elizabeth Astley, a society widow, and the eldest of her siblings, must protect herself and her vast fortune earned by investing with her uncle from fortune hunters and heiress snatchers, as well as support her step mother and four half sisters as they each break free from the fates laid down before them and meet their destinies. Some characters deviate from canon, others remain charmingly as we know them, and friends from other Jane Austen worlds join us, but never how you might expect, though everyone we love finds their happy ending, and when Elizabeth and Darcy find their happiness, their bond is as strong and beautiful as any of us could hope…
In Volume One of our Victorian Vagaries, Lady Elizabeth Astley, three years widowed, has returned to Meryton to enjoy the country with her young daughter. The eldest of Mr Bennet's daughters, Elizabeth is an outcast among her sisters and step-mother, but does her best to help her sisters find themselves – and to help Jane when Caroline and Mrs Bennet's behavior causes catastrophe.
Will Netherfield's impressive guest Mr Darcy recognize Elizabeth's worth, or will he continue in his typical prideful behavior? Follow Elizabeth as she narrowly evades the aggressive pursuit of our favorite wastrel – who is a true villain – assists Rosings Park and her cousin Charlotte Collins when disaster strikes Hunsford, and teaches a proud and foolish man the art of pleasing a woman worthy of being pleased.
This slow burn, sweet and clean Victorian era vagary is 123,000 words.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2024
46 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 21, 2024
Interesting
This is a superwoman Elizabeth version. Mr Bennett's first wife is descended from Italian aristocracy, and she is Elizabeth's mother. She dies when Elizabeth is just four years old, and Mr Bennett remarries quickly to vapid and empty headed Fannie Gardiner. The second Mrs Bennett resents Elizabeth, so she's sent to the Gardiners to be raised. She is married to a renowned physician who is elevated by a knighthood, she has a daughter, and her husband dies, leaving her a wealthy widow.
However, that's just one facet of her wealth. Elizabeth learns about investing, inventing, purchasing businesses and properties, etc, etc. Eventually she has more money than she can even count. She learns self defense, including fencing. She breeds rare horses. There's no end to what she takes on, while all the while trying to establish a relationship with her Bennett sisters and mother. She doesn't trust her father because of an event where he tried to trick her out of her fortune.
Elizabeth meets Darcy at the Meryton assembly, where he delivers the infamous insult. But because she's a widow, Darcy comes around quickly, and finds many reasons to admire her. The course of love isn't smooth, of course, particularly since Elizabeth has no need to marry, and is used to ruling her roost. The story is action packed and interesting. I wish the author hadn't laid it on quite that thick when it came to all of Elizabeth's fortunes, famous connections, accomplishments, and possessions. It became almost ridiculous.
I felt this book could have been significantly shortened by ruthless editing, without sacrificing integrity. There was a great deal of repetition, and listing of tedious details. I found many instances of something said, and then repeated directly after with minor changes of wording. It was mentioned ad nauseam that Elizabeth had very heavy security around her.
The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it for an original take on the P&P universe.
This is a superwoman Elizabeth version. Mr Bennett's first wife is descended from Italian aristocracy, and she is Elizabeth's mother. She dies when Elizabeth is just four years old, and Mr Bennett remarries quickly to vapid and empty headed Fannie Gardiner. The second Mrs Bennett resents Elizabeth, so she's sent to the Gardiners to be raised. She is married to a renowned physician who is elevated by a knighthood, she has a daughter, and her husband dies, leaving her a wealthy widow.
However, that's just one facet of her wealth. Elizabeth learns about investing, inventing, purchasing businesses and properties, etc, etc. Eventually she has more money than she can even count. She learns self defense, including fencing. She breeds rare horses. There's no end to what she takes on, while all the while trying to establish a relationship with her Bennett sisters and mother. She doesn't trust her father because of an event where he tried to trick her out of her fortune.
Elizabeth meets Darcy at the Meryton assembly, where he delivers the infamous insult. But because she's a widow, Darcy comes around quickly, and finds many reasons to admire her. The course of love isn't smooth, of course, particularly since Elizabeth has no need to marry, and is used to ruling her roost. The story is action packed and interesting. I wish the author hadn't laid it on quite that thick when it came to all of Elizabeth's fortunes, famous connections, accomplishments, and possessions. It became almost ridiculous.
I felt this book could have been significantly shortened by ruthless editing, without sacrificing integrity. There was a great deal of repetition, and listing of tedious details. I found many instances of something said, and then repeated directly after with minor changes of wording. It was mentioned ad nauseam that Elizabeth had very heavy security around her.
The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it for an original take on the P&P universe.
September 2, 2024
Talk about different
Talk about different...in your sister
Here Elizabeth, born first and her mom died. She is the unwanted step daughter. Life was good to her though, and she is very well to do financially.
You habe evil, angst ...oh my, what a Jane!
Talk about different...in your sister
Here Elizabeth, born first and her mom died. She is the unwanted step daughter. Life was good to her though, and she is very well to do financially.
You habe evil, angst ...oh my, what a Jane!
August 25, 2024
Wonderful Price and Prejudice variation
It is always wonderful when our Elizabeth is wealthy in the beginning and an unusually successful business woman for the mid-19th century. She is widowed early in the book and as the story progresses she delightfully helps her sisters with their lives. It is disappointing that she is not close to Jane, though. I definitely recommend this book!!
It is always wonderful when our Elizabeth is wealthy in the beginning and an unusually successful business woman for the mid-19th century. She is widowed early in the book and as the story progresses she delightfully helps her sisters with their lives. It is disappointing that she is not close to Jane, though. I definitely recommend this book!!
August 24, 2024
A veritable family saga
The narrative is this novel’s strongest point. The characters, in the main, are more one dimensional. There is a four year olds who never utters a single word. The romance takes a back seat to Bennet family Dramas.
I did not enjoy Elizabeth’s character. She is such a paragon, a veritable Victorian Renaissance woman. And she manages everyone—for their own good, of course. She is more goddess than human.
The narrative is this novel’s strongest point. The characters, in the main, are more one dimensional. There is a four year olds who never utters a single word. The romance takes a back seat to Bennet family Dramas.
I did not enjoy Elizabeth’s character. She is such a paragon, a veritable Victorian Renaissance woman. And she manages everyone—for their own good, of course. She is more goddess than human.
August 23, 2024
Enjoyed this
A rather interesting and inventive variation inspired by the works of Jane Austen by Caroline Cartier. I really enjoyed this.
A rather interesting and inventive variation inspired by the works of Jane Austen by Caroline Cartier. I really enjoyed this.
August 8, 2024
A different and brilliant take
This is a great story , its different enough from other takes on p&p out there that its not boring at all yet still similar enough you can keep pace and enjoy the overall story looking forward to reading the rest of the series
This is a great story , its different enough from other takes on p&p out there that its not boring at all yet still similar enough you can keep pace and enjoy the overall story looking forward to reading the rest of the series
August 3, 2024
worth it!
This has a super Lizzy with noble connections, and a bad Jane. Darcy still puts his foot in his mouth. I think Elizabeth was too nice to her family at times, but this is a good variation with a bad Mr Bennet, bad Mrs. Bennet, and an awful Wickham. Minimal angst. Definitely worth reading.
This has a super Lizzy with noble connections, and a bad Jane. Darcy still puts his foot in his mouth. I think Elizabeth was too nice to her family at times, but this is a good variation with a bad Mr Bennet, bad Mrs. Bennet, and an awful Wickham. Minimal angst. Definitely worth reading.
August 4, 2024
Loved it!
I am so glad that I will not have to wait very long for the next book of the series. I enjoyed this so much that if I had book 2 already, I probably would have just continued to read without leaving a review.
I am so glad that I will not have to wait very long for the next book of the series. I enjoyed this so much that if I had book 2 already, I probably would have just continued to read without leaving a review.
September 19, 2025
3.25⭐️
I liked this book. It needed a little more editing to condense it as there was a lot of exposition on things that did not forward the plot and I think mentioning how good having modern plumbing is twice or near about is enough instead of almost every chapter. There was a lot of repetition. I kind of liked that the setting was pushed forward by around 3 decades and we are in the middle of the 19th century instead of the turn of it. It made sense with the direction that the author wanted to take. While we did not get to see much of Darcy and Elizabeth together in this book apart from the start and the end, I am OK with it as there is a sequel where I hope to see more of them. And this version of Elizabeth seems to be a wonder woman of her time with great intelligence, connections and money. I am intrigued to see where this story takes us as I am spoiled by the Memories trilogy and now am unfairly holding up any other multi series P&P variation up to that series.
I liked this book. It needed a little more editing to condense it as there was a lot of exposition on things that did not forward the plot and I think mentioning how good having modern plumbing is twice or near about is enough instead of almost every chapter. There was a lot of repetition. I kind of liked that the setting was pushed forward by around 3 decades and we are in the middle of the 19th century instead of the turn of it. It made sense with the direction that the author wanted to take. While we did not get to see much of Darcy and Elizabeth together in this book apart from the start and the end, I am OK with it as there is a sequel where I hope to see more of them. And this version of Elizabeth seems to be a wonder woman of her time with great intelligence, connections and money. I am intrigued to see where this story takes us as I am spoiled by the Memories trilogy and now am unfairly holding up any other multi series P&P variation up to that series.
September 5, 2024
It is 1847 in this Pride and Prejudice variation where Lady Elizabeth Astley, 25, is a widow of three years, mother to daughter four, with four younger half-sisters, sharing a father in Bennet who she is estranged from. Unfortunately it would seem that Lady Elizabeth Astley is so just perfect, she even has the midas touch as far as money matters go and becomes super rich, which she partly uses to protect her family. Elizabeth is not always likeable but I was interested enough in the possible pairing of Mary to continue reading and start Book Two.
So overall and interesting and entertaining Victorian variation.
So overall and interesting and entertaining Victorian variation.
September 8, 2024
I could not put it down!
Elizabeth was tops. I have never liked her more. Wait till you see. And Mr Bennett makes a great villain. And I suspect Lady Catherine caused the horrible disaster.
Elizabeth was tops. I have never liked her more. Wait till you see. And Mr Bennett makes a great villain. And I suspect Lady Catherine caused the horrible disaster.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews