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May I Have the Pleasure: Six Pride and Prejudice Stories in Six Styles
Cozy up for a tour of six Pride and Prejudice stories in a variety of flavours. This collection encompasses six different forms from play to epistolary novella. Enjoy as we push the boundaries of propriety, stubbornness, pride, and even absurdity. From the silly to the sweet to the serious, this collection appeals to everyone.
The Propriety Fiction
: Elizabeth Bennet enters the Netherfield Ball with a desperate plan in mind, willing to break, or at least bend, all the rules of propriety just to save herself, no matter the cost.
The Sounds of Silence
: What happens when the intervention of a mysterious benefactor helps Mr Darcy learn the folly of slighting a lady very soon after the event, and he subsequently tries his best to make amends? Will he be able to overcome the bad start, or will his overtures be met with the sounds of silence?
Letters From Cheapside
: After Elizabeth Bennet is thrown out of Longbourn by her mother over her refusal of Mr. Collins, she returns to Cheapside with her aunt and uncle, then begins a long correspondence with her sisters. How long will it go on? How long will she be banished from her childhood home? What other mysteries await?
The Bad Lot
: When Mr Collins takes a couple weeks to work up his nerve to propose, Lizzy hears Mr Collins's proposal long after she knows the Netherfield party has decamped, Jane has gone to London leaving her alone, and Wickham has moved his attentions to Mary King. She therefore has a much more cynical view of the Netherfield party, her matrimonial prospects, and perhaps even…
The Propriety Advisor
: Since the rules of propriety are sort of like laws, what happens when you violate one… or two… or maybe more? What happens if two different people break the code? Do they cancel each other out, or do you have two wrongs don't make a right? If any of this unclear, do you need a referee or umpire… or maybe a Propriety Advisor.
The Wedding Afternoon
: Ever wonder what happened during the ever-important interval between the wedding breakfast and the wedding night? Let's find out!
- GenresFan Fiction
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2024
149 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 15, 2025
I discovered this author online and have enjoyed many of his posted stories over the past several years. He has a distinctively unique writing style that's apparent in each of these six short stories/vignettes/novellas, which are new to me. His stories usually follow a rather odd path of logic that make Darcy and Elizabeth both incredibly quick-witted and brilliant.
The first story here, The Propriety Fiction, begins at the Netherfield ball and follows Elizabeth's point of view as she reluctantly approaches Mr. Darcy to request a favor that is "well outside the bounds of propriety," but then she thinks better of it and starts to withdraw. Rather than let it go, he prods her with his assurance that he will not judge her and will not mention her request to anyone else whether he grants her the favor or not. Mr. Darcy's response is a pleasant surprise to her, and she quickly reflects on all their interactions, which have demonstrated him to be an unflinchingly honest man. Her request is that he find a gentleman willing to pretend to have requested her first set "retroactively," which would allow her to avoid dancing the first with Mr. Collins without having to miss dancing for the rest of the evening. Darcy acquiesces, but he has a request of his own. The story continues on, gradually unfurling a brilliant plan that he cooked up on the spot that leads to a very satisfying conclusion.
The Sounds of Silence has Darcy at the Meryton Assembly suffering secretly from a wicked migraine, which is why he's so rude when Bingley importunes him about dancing. Shortly after he dismisses his friend, a lady comes up behind him, directs him not to turn around to discover her identity (since they have not been properly introduced), and whispers directions in his ear with a remedy to cure it. It works, and Darcy is filled with gratitude for the grace he'd been shown and regret for his previous haughty behavior. Consequently, he wishes to find his anonymous benefactor and reverse the bad first impression he must have made on Bingley's neighbors. The change in his attitude results in a vastly different trajectory for the story.
The story Letters from Cheapside is just that. It's comprised of letters Elizabeth sends to various correspondents after being banished from Longbourn by her mother, who stubbornly blames her for refusing Mr. Collins and for Mr. Bingley having quit the neighborhood without proposing marriage to Jane. Elizabeth is the one who calls on Miss Bingley and is treated shabbily in return. She also comes across Mr. Darcy with Bingley and Miss Darcy, which seems to confirm that Miss Bingley was telling the truth regarding that. Also, it's Jane who goes to Hunsford and has the "interesting" discussion with Colonel Fitzwilliam about how Darcy saved Bingley from an imprudent marriage. This is the longest of the six stories, with many ingenious twists and turns.
The Bad Lot is a hoot! Mr. Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth, as in canon. When she stops to think about it rationally, she realizes she may NOT ever get an offer from another man and gives serious consideration to saying yes to Mr. Collins. Her ruminations on the subject make her realize she must seek more information before she can give him an answer.
The last two have the most outlandish plots. In The Propriety Advisor, Elizabeth calls on Lady Catherine at Rosings unexpectedly. This is between the time that Darcy delivered his letter to her and the time he and Colonel Fitzwilliam take their leave of their aunt. The two gentlemen are in the drawing room when she arrives asking for Lady Catherine's opinion on "a rather sticky matter of propriety." In doing so, the clever girl sends an unmistakable message to Darcy.
By far, the most unbelievable is The Wedding Afternoon. Mr. Mann clearly enjoyed writing this one, which is relayed completely by untagged dialogue. It's up to the reader to determine the speaker and who is being addressed based solely on their words. The story propels Elizabeth through various marriages, none of which are consummated because her grooms come to unfortunate ends sometime between the marriage ceremony and consummation of the marriage. With each marriage, Elizabeth gets wealthier and moves higher up the social ladder. You have to read it to see how high she gets and how she and Darcy can end up together without him becoming a victim to her apparent curse.
I mention the narrative style of the last story and Letters from Cheapside, but each one employs a different narrative technique: First Person, Free Indirect Discourse, Third Person, and even a One Act Play are used for the others.
Content is clean.
Highly recommend!
The first story here, The Propriety Fiction, begins at the Netherfield ball and follows Elizabeth's point of view as she reluctantly approaches Mr. Darcy to request a favor that is "well outside the bounds of propriety," but then she thinks better of it and starts to withdraw. Rather than let it go, he prods her with his assurance that he will not judge her and will not mention her request to anyone else whether he grants her the favor or not. Mr. Darcy's response is a pleasant surprise to her, and she quickly reflects on all their interactions, which have demonstrated him to be an unflinchingly honest man. Her request is that he find a gentleman willing to pretend to have requested her first set "retroactively," which would allow her to avoid dancing the first with Mr. Collins without having to miss dancing for the rest of the evening. Darcy acquiesces, but he has a request of his own. The story continues on, gradually unfurling a brilliant plan that he cooked up on the spot that leads to a very satisfying conclusion.
The Sounds of Silence has Darcy at the Meryton Assembly suffering secretly from a wicked migraine, which is why he's so rude when Bingley importunes him about dancing. Shortly after he dismisses his friend, a lady comes up behind him, directs him not to turn around to discover her identity (since they have not been properly introduced), and whispers directions in his ear with a remedy to cure it. It works, and Darcy is filled with gratitude for the grace he'd been shown and regret for his previous haughty behavior. Consequently, he wishes to find his anonymous benefactor and reverse the bad first impression he must have made on Bingley's neighbors. The change in his attitude results in a vastly different trajectory for the story.
The story Letters from Cheapside is just that. It's comprised of letters Elizabeth sends to various correspondents after being banished from Longbourn by her mother, who stubbornly blames her for refusing Mr. Collins and for Mr. Bingley having quit the neighborhood without proposing marriage to Jane. Elizabeth is the one who calls on Miss Bingley and is treated shabbily in return. She also comes across Mr. Darcy with Bingley and Miss Darcy, which seems to confirm that Miss Bingley was telling the truth regarding that. Also, it's Jane who goes to Hunsford and has the "interesting" discussion with Colonel Fitzwilliam about how Darcy saved Bingley from an imprudent marriage. This is the longest of the six stories, with many ingenious twists and turns.
The Bad Lot is a hoot! Mr. Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth, as in canon. When she stops to think about it rationally, she realizes she may NOT ever get an offer from another man and gives serious consideration to saying yes to Mr. Collins. Her ruminations on the subject make her realize she must seek more information before she can give him an answer.
The last two have the most outlandish plots. In The Propriety Advisor, Elizabeth calls on Lady Catherine at Rosings unexpectedly. This is between the time that Darcy delivered his letter to her and the time he and Colonel Fitzwilliam take their leave of their aunt. The two gentlemen are in the drawing room when she arrives asking for Lady Catherine's opinion on "a rather sticky matter of propriety." In doing so, the clever girl sends an unmistakable message to Darcy.
By far, the most unbelievable is The Wedding Afternoon. Mr. Mann clearly enjoyed writing this one, which is relayed completely by untagged dialogue. It's up to the reader to determine the speaker and who is being addressed based solely on their words. The story propels Elizabeth through various marriages, none of which are consummated because her grooms come to unfortunate ends sometime between the marriage ceremony and consummation of the marriage. With each marriage, Elizabeth gets wealthier and moves higher up the social ladder. You have to read it to see how high she gets and how she and Darcy can end up together without him becoming a victim to her apparent curse.
I mention the narrative style of the last story and Letters from Cheapside, but each one employs a different narrative technique: First Person, Free Indirect Discourse, Third Person, and even a One Act Play are used for the others.
Content is clean.
Highly recommend!
January 7, 2025
lots of stories
Lots of stories here. All written use different point of views or some other quirk in style. Making them all a bit more interesting. On top of that the stories themselves were pretty good stories. Recommended with 5 👍🏻
Lots of stories here. All written use different point of views or some other quirk in style. Making them all a bit more interesting. On top of that the stories themselves were pretty good stories. Recommended with 5 👍🏻
April 20, 2025
It has been a long time since I enjoyed a book so much. This author has mastered the turn of a phrase. I startled my cat several times by howling with laughter. Other times I could not hold back the tears.
I will not attempt to review each story, but rest assured that I loved every word on every page. My only suggestion to the author would be please proofread before publishing.
65
I will not attempt to review each story, but rest assured that I loved every word on every page. My only suggestion to the author would be please proofread before publishing.
65
October 6, 2025
A compilation of 6 enjoyable stories.
Image: this is what the author looked like when writing this, as the sole purpose of each story was make Elizabeth and Mr Darcy get engaged through improbable scenarios.
I've noticed a few modern expressions here and there, the dates didn't always match, there were plot inconsistencies (the funniest one was Elizabeth starting the dialogue with "Miss BINGLEY!" and three lines later being angry at the woman for assuming Elizabeth was still a Miss after 7 years have passed), I'm not sure all of the legalities and titles were correct and a lot of the stuff were out-of-character - somehow it seemed minor.
I think the difference between these stories having Out-Of-Character behaviour as a premise and other fully-fledged novels that had OOC behaviour, is that here the stories were short, and they needed to run its course fast, so it was a good solution to tell the story from start to finish in a quick manner, and the out-of-characterness didn't piss me off as much as it would in a fully fledged novel. Based on many things I've seen here, I don't think I'd enjoy a fully fledged novel by the same writer, but these stories were thoroughly enjoyable.
Besides Darcy&Elizabeth forever and ever, and them both being of excellent understanding and having ability to make the correct decisions fast, another recurrent theme here was Elizabeth being mad at her father's incompetence, and I like that the author chose to tackle that and create a few scenarios around that concept. I think Mr Bennet gets too much leeway from modern readers / fans of the 2005 movie, and if there're no Mr Bennet haters, that means I'm no longer on this Earth.
Now here's a short summery of every story and my thoughts about them:
The Propriety Fiction
Elizabeth asks Darcy to help her fight off a most undesirable suitor (Mr Collins), and through that single evening Elizabeth understands what an honorable man Mr Darcy is and accepts his hand in marriage.
Mr Collins dialogue was very enjoyable and made me laugh, however the end with the proposal came out of nowhere and was too much for me.
The Sound of Silence
It was so out of character, I had a solid expectation that it was going to turn out one of those mystery / fantasy / fae stories where Lizzy turned out to be a witch and has mixed some magical powder that had made Darcy more amiable (or some fairy - they like to play with human lives, you know - did the powder thing as well as made her voice sound like Elizabeth's to make Darcy think it's her who helped him with the powder).
Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Darcy making effort to get acquainted with the neighborhood. The fact that through amiability Darcy managed to gain the reputation of a "good man, but not one looking to marry" was especially amusing. It even made me question, whether it was possible - and maybe it was! Spreading his attention among multiple ladies equally, keeping flirting only to a kindness level, and still somehow keeping a certain cold and detached air - yes, I think a single man in possession of a good fortune may be too busy with his present concerns to look for a wife in every place he visits. Perhaps he already has an attachment somewhere and they're waiting because *reasons*, perhaps he wants to extend his bachleror-hood into his early 30s (not unheard of, even in regency times), perhaps he wants to see his sister married off before taking on the task himself. Who knows? Why can't a single man of a large fortune, who has no inclination to marry, enjoy a company of several young ladies at assembly balls?
The rule of the 6s was amusing, however, the proposal in the end was, again, too much.
Letters from Cheapside
Another fun one. Elizabeth is kicked out of the house after denying Mr Collins and comes to live with her uncle. Dissatisfied with her parents and realizing she must make something out of herself, Elizabeth completely abandons her sphere of gentility and starts working for his business partner, mingling with the tradespeople. At certain point she finds herself in Derbyshire (the highlight of this story), gets reacquainted with the Darcy and realizes he's a much better man than she previously thought.
Told in epistolary format, it was quite enjoyable, although it read mostly like a diary entry. What I didn't like is that Elizabeth didn't have any of the important "discussions" with Darcy that she had in the original — Elizabeth came to all the same conclusions she came in the original without hearing his side of the story, without hearing him defend himself. There's no "wooing" going on. After thinking about him for a year, she realizes she was incorrect in her opinion of him, comes to all the same opinions she had in the end of P&P, and on seeing him the next time, gives her hand to him. The end.
The Bad Lot - my favourite
The author explored a Lizzy's more cynical side, "The more I see of this world, the more I am dissatisfied with it", and so Elizabeth realizes she's unlikely to ever get another marriage proposal, isn't optimistic about the chances of Jane and even her younger sisters, and decides to sacrifice her life and become Mrs Collins, which would save her mother and sisters from poverty upon the death of Mr Bennet. She understands her life as the future Mrs Collins perfectly, and her only qualm is about Lady Catherine de Bourgh, as she's not sure how much of a role that woman will play in her marriage. And so Lizzy goes to the only other person who's familiar with the great Lady - her nephew. Mr Darcy is horrified to find out Miss Elizabeth is to become new Mrs Collins, and proposes to her out of desperation.
There was no "the talk" in the last story, and this story was making up for it. A big part of this story is "what if Elizabeth and Darcy actually talked, without caring about any rules of propriety", and that part was, again, enjoyable. However, I thought the story was cut short with another acceptance of a proposal.
The Propriety Advisor
Lady Catherine acting in her condescending manner will always make me smile, if not laugh. Here she did the latter.
Out of all stories, this felt most like a sketch that came out of fanfiction.net. I'm calling it "a sketch" because it's told in the format of a Play, except it lasted for one scene of one act. It goes like this: Elizabeth catches Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy saying goodbye as the gentlemen take their leave, and the heroine tells them a story of a gentleman #1 proposing to a lady after insulting her multiple times and after separating his friend gentleman #2 from that lady's sister and boasting about it to gentleman #3. So, the whole story was basically a retelling of the first half of Pride&Prejudice with Lady Catherine's commentary inserted here and there. Because of the Play format, it paid little attention to character's thoughts and facial expressions. Despite it, I thought Fitzwilliam should've had more of a reaction, as he had to realize he was the gentleman #3, at the very least, and through that decipher the identities of the other persons involved.
And it ended in yet another unlikely and too fast of proposal.
The Wedding Afternoon
, or the Seven Husbands of Elizabeth Bennet.
Elizabeth Bennet, pressured by her mother, father and her three sisters (the one excluded is Kitty, I'm guessing, NOT Jane), agreed to marry Mr Collins, who died before the wedding night. Being his widow (and mad at her family), she stayed in Kent under the protection of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and after a few months of talking with solicitors, she ends up inheriting everything he owned, and was left a well-off widow. Darcy comes to Kent, proposes, and she tells him off. So she married again, much to the same fate. And again, with similar result... and again - each marriage making her richer and more esteemed, yet her husbands keep dying before the wedding night. Darcy's and her dislike of each other is water under the bridge, she actually respects him and trusts him with property management advice. And as soon as she can marry him, she does.
A rather amusing story, but a bit too long for me and it started losing its charm the longer it went on. Had Darcy been her 4th husband, I'd love it, but adding #4, #5 and #6 turned my amusement into annoyance. And the format was lazy - it consisted only of dialogue, which is why it felt so unfinished. Just like with the last story, it felt like the author was simply too lazy to polish it. The dialogue format was confusing at times, there wasn't even "he said, she said", so I needed to constantly pay attention and guess who was talking to whom.
I was also very disappointed with what the author did to Jane. She was one of the "evil sisters". And what's the point in having Colonel bragging about Darcy saving Mr Bingley from an imprudent marriage if Elizabeth is angry at Jane anyway? You can make Kitty into an agreeable sister without making Jane evil. Kitty being agreeable wouldn't even be an OOC behaviour — canonically she's only silly in proximity to Lydia, but improves a lot when following example of her oldest sisters.
Image: this is what the author looked like when writing this, as the sole purpose of each story was make Elizabeth and Mr Darcy get engaged through improbable scenarios.
I've noticed a few modern expressions here and there, the dates didn't always match, there were plot inconsistencies (the funniest one was Elizabeth starting the dialogue with "Miss BINGLEY!" and three lines later being angry at the woman for assuming Elizabeth was still a Miss after 7 years have passed), I'm not sure all of the legalities and titles were correct and a lot of the stuff were out-of-character - somehow it seemed minor.
I think the difference between these stories having Out-Of-Character behaviour as a premise and other fully-fledged novels that had OOC behaviour, is that here the stories were short, and they needed to run its course fast, so it was a good solution to tell the story from start to finish in a quick manner, and the out-of-characterness didn't piss me off as much as it would in a fully fledged novel. Based on many things I've seen here, I don't think I'd enjoy a fully fledged novel by the same writer, but these stories were thoroughly enjoyable.
Besides Darcy&Elizabeth forever and ever, and them both being of excellent understanding and having ability to make the correct decisions fast, another recurrent theme here was Elizabeth being mad at her father's incompetence, and I like that the author chose to tackle that and create a few scenarios around that concept. I think Mr Bennet gets too much leeway from modern readers / fans of the 2005 movie, and if there're no Mr Bennet haters, that means I'm no longer on this Earth.
Now here's a short summery of every story and my thoughts about them:
The Propriety Fiction
Elizabeth asks Darcy to help her fight off a most undesirable suitor (Mr Collins), and through that single evening Elizabeth understands what an honorable man Mr Darcy is and accepts his hand in marriage.
Mr Collins dialogue was very enjoyable and made me laugh, however the end with the proposal came out of nowhere and was too much for me.
The Sound of Silence
It was so out of character, I had a solid expectation that it was going to turn out one of those mystery / fantasy / fae stories where Lizzy turned out to be a witch and has mixed some magical powder that had made Darcy more amiable (or some fairy - they like to play with human lives, you know - did the powder thing as well as made her voice sound like Elizabeth's to make Darcy think it's her who helped him with the powder).
Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Darcy making effort to get acquainted with the neighborhood. The fact that through amiability Darcy managed to gain the reputation of a "good man, but not one looking to marry" was especially amusing. It even made me question, whether it was possible - and maybe it was! Spreading his attention among multiple ladies equally, keeping flirting only to a kindness level, and still somehow keeping a certain cold and detached air - yes, I think a single man in possession of a good fortune may be too busy with his present concerns to look for a wife in every place he visits. Perhaps he already has an attachment somewhere and they're waiting because *reasons*, perhaps he wants to extend his bachleror-hood into his early 30s (not unheard of, even in regency times), perhaps he wants to see his sister married off before taking on the task himself. Who knows? Why can't a single man of a large fortune, who has no inclination to marry, enjoy a company of several young ladies at assembly balls?
The rule of the 6s was amusing, however, the proposal in the end was, again, too much.
Letters from Cheapside
Another fun one. Elizabeth is kicked out of the house after denying Mr Collins and comes to live with her uncle. Dissatisfied with her parents and realizing she must make something out of herself, Elizabeth completely abandons her sphere of gentility and starts working for his business partner, mingling with the tradespeople. At certain point she finds herself in Derbyshire (the highlight of this story), gets reacquainted with the Darcy and realizes he's a much better man than she previously thought.
Told in epistolary format, it was quite enjoyable, although it read mostly like a diary entry. What I didn't like is that Elizabeth didn't have any of the important "discussions" with Darcy that she had in the original — Elizabeth came to all the same conclusions she came in the original without hearing his side of the story, without hearing him defend himself. There's no "wooing" going on. After thinking about him for a year, she realizes she was incorrect in her opinion of him, comes to all the same opinions she had in the end of P&P, and on seeing him the next time, gives her hand to him. The end.
The Bad Lot - my favourite
The author explored a Lizzy's more cynical side, "The more I see of this world, the more I am dissatisfied with it", and so Elizabeth realizes she's unlikely to ever get another marriage proposal, isn't optimistic about the chances of Jane and even her younger sisters, and decides to sacrifice her life and become Mrs Collins, which would save her mother and sisters from poverty upon the death of Mr Bennet. She understands her life as the future Mrs Collins perfectly, and her only qualm is about Lady Catherine de Bourgh, as she's not sure how much of a role that woman will play in her marriage. And so Lizzy goes to the only other person who's familiar with the great Lady - her nephew. Mr Darcy is horrified to find out Miss Elizabeth is to become new Mrs Collins, and proposes to her out of desperation.
There was no "the talk" in the last story, and this story was making up for it. A big part of this story is "what if Elizabeth and Darcy actually talked, without caring about any rules of propriety", and that part was, again, enjoyable. However, I thought the story was cut short with another acceptance of a proposal.
The Propriety Advisor
Lady Catherine acting in her condescending manner will always make me smile, if not laugh. Here she did the latter.
Out of all stories, this felt most like a sketch that came out of fanfiction.net. I'm calling it "a sketch" because it's told in the format of a Play, except it lasted for one scene of one act. It goes like this: Elizabeth catches Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy saying goodbye as the gentlemen take their leave, and the heroine tells them a story of a gentleman #1 proposing to a lady after insulting her multiple times and after separating his friend gentleman #2 from that lady's sister and boasting about it to gentleman #3. So, the whole story was basically a retelling of the first half of Pride&Prejudice with Lady Catherine's commentary inserted here and there. Because of the Play format, it paid little attention to character's thoughts and facial expressions. Despite it, I thought Fitzwilliam should've had more of a reaction, as he had to realize he was the gentleman #3, at the very least, and through that decipher the identities of the other persons involved.
And it ended in yet another unlikely and too fast of proposal.
The Wedding Afternoon
, or the Seven Husbands of Elizabeth Bennet.
Elizabeth Bennet, pressured by her mother, father and her three sisters (the one excluded is Kitty, I'm guessing, NOT Jane), agreed to marry Mr Collins, who died before the wedding night. Being his widow (and mad at her family), she stayed in Kent under the protection of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and after a few months of talking with solicitors, she ends up inheriting everything he owned, and was left a well-off widow. Darcy comes to Kent, proposes, and she tells him off. So she married again, much to the same fate. And again, with similar result... and again - each marriage making her richer and more esteemed, yet her husbands keep dying before the wedding night. Darcy's and her dislike of each other is water under the bridge, she actually respects him and trusts him with property management advice. And as soon as she can marry him, she does.
A rather amusing story, but a bit too long for me and it started losing its charm the longer it went on. Had Darcy been her 4th husband, I'd love it, but adding #4, #5 and #6 turned my amusement into annoyance. And the format was lazy - it consisted only of dialogue, which is why it felt so unfinished. Just like with the last story, it felt like the author was simply too lazy to polish it. The dialogue format was confusing at times, there wasn't even "he said, she said", so I needed to constantly pay attention and guess who was talking to whom.
I was also very disappointed with what the author did to Jane. She was one of the "evil sisters". And what's the point in having Colonel bragging about Darcy saving Mr Bingley from an imprudent marriage if Elizabeth is angry at Jane anyway? You can make Kitty into an agreeable sister without making Jane evil. Kitty being agreeable wouldn't even be an OOC behaviour — canonically she's only silly in proximity to Lydia, but improves a lot when following example of her oldest sisters.
February 13, 2025
Thank you, Wade H Mann!!
I appreciate the rare and wonderful gift of this collection of short stories, all romantic, endearing, and some of them laugh-out-loud funny. Don't look for anything too serious. These are madcap, silly, and out-of-character for ODC, but oh so much fun.
I hope and pray that Mr Mann will continue to create JAFF. He is now officially an automatic purchase for me. The book is very well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
I appreciate the rare and wonderful gift of this collection of short stories, all romantic, endearing, and some of them laugh-out-loud funny. Don't look for anything too serious. These are madcap, silly, and out-of-character for ODC, but oh so much fun.
I hope and pray that Mr Mann will continue to create JAFF. He is now officially an automatic purchase for me. The book is very well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
February 17, 2025
Ebook
May I Have the Pleasure: Six Pride and Prejudice Stories in Six Styles
Wade H Mann
6 short stories with "what if" from pride and prejudice
- The Propriety Fiction 3 stars - very cute but very hush decision for the engagement
- The Sounds of Silence 3 stars - a good idea dor the what if, but they change Mr darcy personality a lot.
- Letters from cheap side 2 stars - a different way to tell the story but still Elizabeth change her perception in every letter , and this is irritated
- The bad lot - 3 stars very good spar and I like this new interpretation of Mr. Collins proposal.
- The propriety advisor - 3 stars
- the wedding afternoon - 3 stars
May I Have the Pleasure: Six Pride and Prejudice Stories in Six Styles
Wade H Mann
6 short stories with "what if" from pride and prejudice
- The Propriety Fiction 3 stars - very cute but very hush decision for the engagement
- The Sounds of Silence 3 stars - a good idea dor the what if, but they change Mr darcy personality a lot.
- Letters from cheap side 2 stars - a different way to tell the story but still Elizabeth change her perception in every letter , and this is irritated
- The bad lot - 3 stars very good spar and I like this new interpretation of Mr. Collins proposal.
- The propriety advisor - 3 stars
- the wedding afternoon - 3 stars
January 19, 2025
A delightful book
I loved every story written here. Even though the last one took quite a convoluted and lengthy time to get there, each had a HEA for ODC. Each was filled with humor and witty writing. I will admit in that last story I lost my way on occasion on who was speaking, but eventually it all made sense. It was also the one that had Lizzy distance herself from her family and Lydia had an eyebrow raising outcome. I believe I will have to check out more of Mann’s books.
I loved every story written here. Even though the last one took quite a convoluted and lengthy time to get there, each had a HEA for ODC. Each was filled with humor and witty writing. I will admit in that last story I lost my way on occasion on who was speaking, but eventually it all made sense. It was also the one that had Lizzy distance herself from her family and Lydia had an eyebrow raising outcome. I believe I will have to check out more of Mann’s books.
January 5, 2025
A Fun Romp
I loved the first 5 stories. The drama rent styles were interesting but mostly the plot pulled me in.
Although it seemed lighthearted I realized there was a deeper meaning. Without the anger from the overheard words of Darcy at the assembly behaviors changed in a logical sequence with a lighthearted air. Jane Austen showed us human foibles which are timeless and Mr. Mann shows an escape.
I loved the first 5 stories. The drama rent styles were interesting but mostly the plot pulled me in.
Although it seemed lighthearted I realized there was a deeper meaning. Without the anger from the overheard words of Darcy at the assembly behaviors changed in a logical sequence with a lighthearted air. Jane Austen showed us human foibles which are timeless and Mr. Mann shows an escape.
January 5, 2025
Wonderful stories!
A potpourri of romance, whimsy, setdowns, plot variations, and writing styles gives the reader witty entertainment, plenty of giggles, and many sweetly romantic moments in six very different stories. The author is endlessly creative in finding ways to give our dear couple their well-deserved happy ending, but only after teaching them many valuable and important lessons. Just loved it!
A potpourri of romance, whimsy, setdowns, plot variations, and writing styles gives the reader witty entertainment, plenty of giggles, and many sweetly romantic moments in six very different stories. The author is endlessly creative in finding ways to give our dear couple their well-deserved happy ending, but only after teaching them many valuable and important lessons. Just loved it!
August 7, 2025
I loved it!
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. These stories are well written with very good storylines. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation. This is a part of the Pride and Prejudice Variations series. Cozy up for a tour of six Pride and Prejudice stories in a variety of flavours. This collection encompasses six different forms from play to epistolary novella. Enjoy as we push the boundaries of propriety, stubbornness, pride, and even absurdity. From the silly to the sweet to the serious, this collection appeals to everyone.
The Propriety Fiction: Elizabeth Bennet enters the Netherfield Ball with a desperate plan in mind, willing to break, or at least bend, all the rules of propriety just to save herself, no matter the cost.
The Sounds of Silence: What happens when the intervention of a mysterious benefactor helps Mr Darcy learn the folly of slighting a lady very soon after the event, and he subsequently tries his best to make amends? Will he be able to overcome the bad start, or will his overtures be met with the sounds of silence?
Letters From Cheapside: After Elizabeth Bennet is thrown out of Longbourn by her mother over her refusal of Mr. Collins, she returns to Cheapside with her aunt and uncle, then begins a long correspondence with her sisters. How long will it go on? How long will she be banished from her childhood home? What other mysteries await?
The Bad Lot: When Mr Collins takes a couple weeks to work up his nerve to propose, Lizzy hears Mr Collins's proposal long after she knows the Netherfield party has decamped, Jane has gone to London leaving her alone, and Wickham has moved his attentions to Mary King. She therefore has a much more cynical view of the Netherfield party, her matrimonial prospects, and perhaps even…
The Propriety Advisor: Since the rules of propriety are sort of like laws, what happens when you violate one… or two… or maybe more? What happens if two different people break the code? Do they cancel each other out, or do you have two wrongs don't make a right? If any of this unclear, do you need a referee or umpire… or maybe a Propriety Advisor.
The Wedding Afternoon: Ever wonder what happened during the ever-important interval between the wedding breakfast and the wedding night? Let's find out!
So with all that and more these stories pull you in and hold you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. These stories are well written with very good storylines. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation. This is a part of the Pride and Prejudice Variations series. Cozy up for a tour of six Pride and Prejudice stories in a variety of flavours. This collection encompasses six different forms from play to epistolary novella. Enjoy as we push the boundaries of propriety, stubbornness, pride, and even absurdity. From the silly to the sweet to the serious, this collection appeals to everyone.
The Propriety Fiction: Elizabeth Bennet enters the Netherfield Ball with a desperate plan in mind, willing to break, or at least bend, all the rules of propriety just to save herself, no matter the cost.
The Sounds of Silence: What happens when the intervention of a mysterious benefactor helps Mr Darcy learn the folly of slighting a lady very soon after the event, and he subsequently tries his best to make amends? Will he be able to overcome the bad start, or will his overtures be met with the sounds of silence?
Letters From Cheapside: After Elizabeth Bennet is thrown out of Longbourn by her mother over her refusal of Mr. Collins, she returns to Cheapside with her aunt and uncle, then begins a long correspondence with her sisters. How long will it go on? How long will she be banished from her childhood home? What other mysteries await?
The Bad Lot: When Mr Collins takes a couple weeks to work up his nerve to propose, Lizzy hears Mr Collins's proposal long after she knows the Netherfield party has decamped, Jane has gone to London leaving her alone, and Wickham has moved his attentions to Mary King. She therefore has a much more cynical view of the Netherfield party, her matrimonial prospects, and perhaps even…
The Propriety Advisor: Since the rules of propriety are sort of like laws, what happens when you violate one… or two… or maybe more? What happens if two different people break the code? Do they cancel each other out, or do you have two wrongs don't make a right? If any of this unclear, do you need a referee or umpire… or maybe a Propriety Advisor.
The Wedding Afternoon: Ever wonder what happened during the ever-important interval between the wedding breakfast and the wedding night? Let's find out!
So with all that and more these stories pull you in and hold you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
July 24, 2025
First one, at the Netherfield ball, is written in the first person. Elizabeth asks Darcy for help in avoiding the first dance with Collins,
Second one is at the Meryton assembly, where Darcy delivers his insult. Elizabeth secretly helps him relieve his headache. She then disappears from the story, while he spends weeks trying to find the lady who matches the voice. In the process, he becomes a better man. Who knew he was a psychologist?
Third one is an epistolary novella, all letters from Elizabeth to Jane and Mary. She is staying with the Gardiners after Mrs. Bennet kicked her out of Longbourn for refusing Collins. Over time, she encounters Darcy unexpectedly in several places. Elizabeth's hatred of Darcy grows, instead of abating. There's even time for Darcy to rescue Lydia. An epilogue even. Wickham is I didn't buy that part, but the story was engaging.
Fourth one...Elizabeth seriously considers Mr. Collins's proposal as a sacrifice for her family. She has three days to decide, so she goes to London with Mr. Bennet in order to ask Darcy if Lady Catherine is tolerable. They talk it out in Hyde Park and
Fifth one..A one-act play, in which Elizabeth recounts to Lady Catherine her history with Darcy, while making her think she's speaking of other people.
Last one, all in dialogue, is insane, and gets more so as it goes on. One shock after another. Even though it's preposterous, it's very entertaining, though somewhat marred by the author's frequently used italicized sentences for no obvious reason. He did the same thing in The Cheapside Runners. There's also a lot of distracting stuttering.
There are some very nice sketches throughout. In the first one, Darcy appears to be wearing a pirate shirt. All the stories are more cerebral than swoonworthy. Still, a well-deserved 5 stars.
Second one is at the Meryton assembly, where Darcy delivers his insult. Elizabeth secretly helps him relieve his headache. She then disappears from the story, while he spends weeks trying to find the lady who matches the voice. In the process, he becomes a better man. Who knew he was a psychologist?
Third one is an epistolary novella, all letters from Elizabeth to Jane and Mary. She is staying with the Gardiners after Mrs. Bennet kicked her out of Longbourn for refusing Collins. Over time, she encounters Darcy unexpectedly in several places. Elizabeth's hatred of Darcy grows, instead of abating. There's even time for Darcy to rescue Lydia. An epilogue even. Wickham is I didn't buy that part, but the story was engaging.
Fourth one...Elizabeth seriously considers Mr. Collins's proposal as a sacrifice for her family. She has three days to decide, so she goes to London with Mr. Bennet in order to ask Darcy if Lady Catherine is tolerable. They talk it out in Hyde Park and
Fifth one..A one-act play, in which Elizabeth recounts to Lady Catherine her history with Darcy, while making her think she's speaking of other people.
Last one, all in dialogue, is insane, and gets more so as it goes on. One shock after another. Even though it's preposterous, it's very entertaining, though somewhat marred by the author's frequently used italicized sentences for no obvious reason. He did the same thing in The Cheapside Runners. There's also a lot of distracting stuttering.
There are some very nice sketches throughout. In the first one, Darcy appears to be wearing a pirate shirt. All the stories are more cerebral than swoonworthy. Still, a well-deserved 5 stars.
January 12, 2025
I very much enjoy this author's bold writing, excellent vocabulary and gift for witty (and sarcastic) dialogue and witty descriptions also! Not to mention his ability to come up with crazy logic for Lizzy and/or Mr. Darcy and somehow manage to have it make sense to the story.
Oh, goodness, I loved all the stories! The different styles were also a lot of fun. It's difficult to pick a favorite, but I think at this first reading, I have to pick The Sounds of Silence as my favorite. Quite possibly the same story could not have been so successful if it were not written in the Free Indirect Discourse style, though I may be wrong. In any case, I loved how we got to know what Mr. Darcy was thinking and feeling. I also loved this version of Mr. Darcy, as he forces himself to talk to people, only to find that they are not as awful as he expected, and he can be a good friend, help people, and not be besieged by matchmakers or people seeking his money.
I liked Letters from Cheapside very much. The misunderstandings are sometimes hilarious, and Lizzy's sharp tongue really comes out in her letters. I loved to watch her gradually have her assumptions about Mr. Darcy smashed to smithereens. Mr. Gardiner's set-down to Mr. Darcy, explaining the bad behavior of The Four Northerners is priceless.
The Propriety Fiction and The Bad Lot would be my next favorites. They are both very clever, especially the analogy of running from a bear that Mr. Darcy uses in The Bad Lot. Mr. Darcy's advice to Mr. Collins in The Propriety Fiction is fun.
The Propriety Advisor is a very fun little one-act play. I didn't care as much for The Wedding Afternoon, which I think I can mostly blame on the dialogue-only style. The story is funny/ironic/clever, but I just don't care so much for that style.
I highly recommend this book!
Oh, goodness, I loved all the stories! The different styles were also a lot of fun. It's difficult to pick a favorite, but I think at this first reading, I have to pick The Sounds of Silence as my favorite. Quite possibly the same story could not have been so successful if it were not written in the Free Indirect Discourse style, though I may be wrong. In any case, I loved how we got to know what Mr. Darcy was thinking and feeling. I also loved this version of Mr. Darcy, as he forces himself to talk to people, only to find that they are not as awful as he expected, and he can be a good friend, help people, and not be besieged by matchmakers or people seeking his money.
I liked Letters from Cheapside very much. The misunderstandings are sometimes hilarious, and Lizzy's sharp tongue really comes out in her letters. I loved to watch her gradually have her assumptions about Mr. Darcy smashed to smithereens. Mr. Gardiner's set-down to Mr. Darcy, explaining the bad behavior of The Four Northerners is priceless.
The Propriety Fiction and The Bad Lot would be my next favorites. They are both very clever, especially the analogy of running from a bear that Mr. Darcy uses in The Bad Lot. Mr. Darcy's advice to Mr. Collins in The Propriety Fiction is fun.
The Propriety Advisor is a very fun little one-act play. I didn't care as much for The Wedding Afternoon, which I think I can mostly blame on the dialogue-only style. The story is funny/ironic/clever, but I just don't care so much for that style.
I highly recommend this book!
October 17, 2025
Two, too much of a stretch, and four are enjoyable charming
There are 6 short stories in this compilation, all cleverly written. The first two is not as likable as the other four succeeding them as they present more cynical and unlikely versions of the beloved couple, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
The four last stories are delightful, funny and at times hilarious. The styles they are presented are novel and unconventional, but no less interesting and enjoyable. Elizabeth Bennet’s impertinence and at times improprieties are legendary. While Fitzwilliam Darcy gets his just dessert as many JAFF fans expects him to get. Yet, there is always the happily-ever-after, which is the best reward in reading these shorts. Unputdownable indeed! Salute to a most courageous and intrepid author!
There are 6 short stories in this compilation, all cleverly written. The first two is not as likable as the other four succeeding them as they present more cynical and unlikely versions of the beloved couple, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
The four last stories are delightful, funny and at times hilarious. The styles they are presented are novel and unconventional, but no less interesting and enjoyable. Elizabeth Bennet’s impertinence and at times improprieties are legendary. While Fitzwilliam Darcy gets his just dessert as many JAFF fans expects him to get. Yet, there is always the happily-ever-after, which is the best reward in reading these shorts. Unputdownable indeed! Salute to a most courageous and intrepid author!
April 22, 2025
Most of these stories are good. However, I cannot recommend strongly enough for any sane reader to AVOID this book.
However, I must emphatically state the final story, The Wedding Afternoon, is as preposterous as Lady Catherine’s insistence that Darcy is engaged to Anne de Bourgh.
I will state I could follow up to the point of Lizzy’s 3rd mourning period. However, once that part of the story unfolded, the author lost me. I cannot stress how STUPID this story gets after that. It’s beyond any farce ever written, and probably ever will be written.
For that reason, SKIP THIS!!!!!
However, I must emphatically state the final story, The Wedding Afternoon, is as preposterous as Lady Catherine’s insistence that Darcy is engaged to Anne de Bourgh.
I will state I could follow up to the point of Lizzy’s 3rd mourning period. However, once that part of the story unfolded, the author lost me. I cannot stress how STUPID this story gets after that. It’s beyond any farce ever written, and probably ever will be written.
For that reason, SKIP THIS!!!!!
June 12, 2025
All Hilarious
Each story, in their various styles, is hilarious, well written, and a fun read. The final one, of course, is easiest to recall and the most interesting. All quotes, context tells who is speaking, and Elizabeth Bennet goes from wife to widow, heiress, and up the scale, in strange and unusual ways. The play, also, was interestingly written. One scene in which all is revealed, forgiven, and amended. Though Lady Catherine might have been appalled to understand what she was promoting!
Very enjoyable.
Each story, in their various styles, is hilarious, well written, and a fun read. The final one, of course, is easiest to recall and the most interesting. All quotes, context tells who is speaking, and Elizabeth Bennet goes from wife to widow, heiress, and up the scale, in strange and unusual ways. The play, also, was interestingly written. One scene in which all is revealed, forgiven, and amended. Though Lady Catherine might have been appalled to understand what she was promoting!
Very enjoyable.
July 14, 2025
This is a fun collection of short stories and novelettes, by a creative, humorous author.
I enjoyed them all, and have read most of them before in their online incarnation. My faves are the five first stories. . Letters From Cheapside is a bit of a misnomer as several letters are written elsewhere. The last story was occasionally a bit difficult to follow (it's written as dialogue only, and you have to work out who's talking). And it gets more and more implausible as it goes on.
Steam level: some suggestive references, nothing explicit.
I enjoyed them all, and have read most of them before in their online incarnation. My faves are the five first stories. . Letters From Cheapside is a bit of a misnomer as several letters are written elsewhere. The last story was occasionally a bit difficult to follow (it's written as dialogue only, and you have to work out who's talking). And it gets more and more implausible as it goes on.
Steam level: some suggestive references, nothing explicit.
January 13, 2025
So very creative! Each story is written in a different style. One is written as a one-act play and another is dialogue only. Others are written in different perspectives. Not only are the various styles quite a creative difference from most short story anthologies, each story is a page-turner. They include comedy, drama, romance and have very original premises. Also each are well-written and edited. I think these are a must read and I now have a wonderful new author to keep my eye on.
August 20, 2025
Couldn't read it
The story tries to force us into the character's mind with the first person perspective but fails because the perspective itself is a distraction from the actual story. It rarely works well for novels, and for a Pride & Prejudice novel it's just insulting: as it almost tries to lose the original flavor of the story entirely. Very unfortunate as it sounded like an interesting premise.
The story tries to force us into the character's mind with the first person perspective but fails because the perspective itself is a distraction from the actual story. It rarely works well for novels, and for a Pride & Prejudice novel it's just insulting: as it almost tries to lose the original flavor of the story entirely. Very unfortunate as it sounded like an interesting premise.
September 11, 2025
Lovbed the propriety fiction. the dialogues were awesome and Darcy actually comes across as kind and very intelligent. The Bad lot is hilarious. Loved it. Letters from cheap side have a lizzy who keeps jumping to wrong conclusions at every turn. the story is good but i couldn't stomach the end where wickham. richard and darcy are having good relationship
The last one was good too at start but it got dragged on when Sweden got involved
overall a good book
The last one was good too at start but it got dragged on when Sweden got involved
overall a good book
January 14, 2025
These are enchanting stories. Mainly I think because the characters speak out. There is none of the hint/talk around the issue manners so often employed by J. Austen writers. Well done is the manners in which each story is presented. And having said that, I did find the last story to drag a little. Who could imagine there could be too much conversation.
February 24, 2025
5 out of 6 isn’t bad ….
As obvious from above, I thought 5 of the 6 stories were great, one I didn’t like. To not prejudice other readers, that one will not be identified. All the different styles were a lot of fun, even the one where I didn’t like the content.
To all readers: enjoy this one!
As obvious from above, I thought 5 of the 6 stories were great, one I didn’t like. To not prejudice other readers, that one will not be identified. All the different styles were a lot of fun, even the one where I didn’t like the content.
To all readers: enjoy this one!
December 14, 2025
Wonderfully written. I enjoyed all the variations presented, and especially loved the different styles of writing explored. This was JAFF at its best - lighthearted, adventurous, hilarious, and creative. Don’t take it too seriously and close your eyes to a couple of typos (punctuation especially) and you’ll enjoy this book too.
January 3, 2025
Wonderful
What a unique and clever book! I just could not put it down! As I started each story, I had certain trepidations as to would I enjoy this next story. But each story hooked me! The techniques were very interesting and could only work if used correctly. They were.
What a unique and clever book! I just could not put it down! As I started each story, I had certain trepidations as to would I enjoy this next story. But each story hooked me! The techniques were very interesting and could only work if used correctly. They were.
January 8, 2025
Six rather different stories/ writing styles.
These are six shortish stories by one author. I enjoyed 5 of the 6. Perhaps the last just wasn't my cup of tea because it was a little too far-fetched.
I would enjoy reading more by Wade H Mann
These are six shortish stories by one author. I enjoyed 5 of the 6. Perhaps the last just wasn't my cup of tea because it was a little too far-fetched.
I would enjoy reading more by Wade H Mann
January 14, 2025
Delightful
I’m delighted with this creative collection of stories. The author has a wonderful imagination and way with words. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read of this author’s, and now I need to read this one again.
I’m delighted with this creative collection of stories. The author has a wonderful imagination and way with words. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read of this author’s, and now I need to read this one again.
January 28, 2025
Read the first two stories
I really enjoyed the first two stories, worth a five star rating. The others dragged it down to a four star reading. The last one was too convoluted for my taste.
I really enjoyed the first two stories, worth a five star rating. The others dragged it down to a four star reading. The last one was too convoluted for my taste.
March 4, 2025
An awesome read!
Highly recommend! I loved all the short stories. Darcy and Elizabeth are the center of each one of them. The last story is the most entertaining. You will not only chuckle but shall laugh out loud instead. Happy reading everyone!
Highly recommend! I loved all the short stories. Darcy and Elizabeth are the center of each one of them. The last story is the most entertaining. You will not only chuckle but shall laugh out loud instead. Happy reading everyone!
January 6, 2025
I liked all of the stories. Fun and original. Some parts came off more as a pitch or an outline.
January 12, 2025
Excellent
V good compilation of novellas/ short stories. I especially like The Wedding Afternoon. Is it believable? Doesn't need to be. Classic JAFF. Loved it.
V good compilation of novellas/ short stories. I especially like The Wedding Afternoon. Is it believable? Doesn't need to be. Classic JAFF. Loved it.
January 12, 2025
Fabulous!
What a treat. So many stories, each clever, astonishing and unique. P&P fans will love these. Mr Mann I thank you....
What a treat. So many stories, each clever, astonishing and unique. P&P fans will love these. Mr Mann I thank you....
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