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Caroline and the Footman: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Short Story
This "Pride and Prejudice" variation explores the possibility that Caroline Bingley's behavior is motivated by goals other than a desire to attract Darcy. In an effort to shatter the Caroline Bingley villain motif, "Caroline and the Footman" portrays a Caroline who is not stupid, greedy or villainous, but rather someone with her own life and dreams, though her actions do still influence Darcy's and Elizabeth's relationship. Readers will find everything they thought they knew about Caroline Bingley turned on its head.
This short story is also included in the compilation Pride & Prejudice Villains Revisited - Redeemed - Reimagined: A Collection of Six Short Stories.
This short story is about 10,000 words.
This short story is also included in the compilation Pride & Prejudice Villains Revisited - Redeemed - Reimagined: A Collection of Six Short Stories.
This short story is about 10,000 words.
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2015
24 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 8, 2017
Short and sweet. I loved this alternate motivation for Caroline's behavior. Fun read.
February 3, 2015
This P&P what if reveals a side of Caroline Bingley that will surprise everyone, and proves she is not the most evil of the superior sisters. At times funny, at times sad it made me appreciate Caroline.
August 9, 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. The story is well written with a very good storyline. 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 A Pride and Prejudice Variation series. This short story is also included in the compilation Pride and Prejudice Villains: Revisited – Redeemed – Reimagined, A Collection of Six Short Stories.
This story explores the possibility that Caroline Bingley's behavior is motivated by goals other than a desire to attract Darcy. In an effort to shatter the Caroline Bingley villain motif, "Caroline and the Footman" portrays a Caroline who is not stupid, greedy or villainous, but rather someone with her own life and dreams, though her actions do still influence Darcy's and Elizabeth's relationship. Readers will find everything they thought they knew about Caroline Bingley turned on its head. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds 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. The story is well written with a very good storyline. 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 A Pride and Prejudice Variation series. This short story is also included in the compilation Pride and Prejudice Villains: Revisited – Redeemed – Reimagined, A Collection of Six Short Stories.
This story explores the possibility that Caroline Bingley's behavior is motivated by goals other than a desire to attract Darcy. In an effort to shatter the Caroline Bingley villain motif, "Caroline and the Footman" portrays a Caroline who is not stupid, greedy or villainous, but rather someone with her own life and dreams, though her actions do still influence Darcy's and Elizabeth's relationship. Readers will find everything they thought they knew about Caroline Bingley turned on its head. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
April 8, 2024
In this Pride and Prejudice variation Caroline Bingley has been in love with servant Robert Smith since the age 14. What can she do to stop her family marrying her to a suitable gentleman before her majority, and freedom to marry the man who has her heart.
An entertaining story, a different look at the motives of Caroline.
An entertaining story, a different look at the motives of Caroline.
May 3, 2020
Different and new ideas
This was interesting point of Carolina's view. Caroline is depicted differently then in any other I read so far. Truly unique and different. I liked this very much. Recommended to read
This was interesting point of Carolina's view. Caroline is depicted differently then in any other I read so far. Truly unique and different. I liked this very much. Recommended to read
August 17, 2021
It was okay but I don't think I'd read it a second time.
Interesting premise to explain why Caroline acted so mean spirited when deep down she's the opposite, however it's also completely implausible. Besides why try to make readers like someone they love to hate?
Interesting premise to explain why Caroline acted so mean spirited when deep down she's the opposite, however it's also completely implausible. Besides why try to make readers like someone they love to hate?
August 1, 2019
I like seeing a kinder, cleverer Caroline.
March 22, 2022
lovely version of Caroline
Indeed, I would love to read more with a Caroline like this. Very sweet. I enjoyed this quick read very much
Indeed, I would love to read more with a Caroline like this. Very sweet. I enjoyed this quick read very much
May 6, 2024
A fairly brief short story with a lovely ending for CB.
February 23, 2015
Une petite histoire absolument stupéfiante qui prend le parti de balayer tout ce qu'on sait sur Caroline Bingley et donne un éclairage très original sur son comportement dans Pride & Prejudice. Dans cette novella, Caroline, amoureuse d'un valet de pied, agit de manière pédante pour protéger son histoire d'amour et la dissimuler aux yeux de la redoutable Louisa... Et quel meilleur moyen que de faire mine de jeter son dévolu sur Darcy ? Tout en faisant en sorte de se montrer aussi hautaine que possible histoire de rebuter au maximum le dit Darcy. Alors oui, clairement, on sait tous que ce n'est sûrement pas dans cette intention que Jane Austen a créé le personnage de Caroline mais j'aime beaucoup cette version qui tente de redorer le blason du personnage en nous en offrant une nouvelle interprétation.
Le tout se lit assez vite, sans prise de tête (le vocabulaire anglais est assez simple) et en définitive, j'ai bien aimé la vision de Caroline sur Mr Darcy ( lui peut se montrer méprisant mais il le condamne chez les autres !) Bon après j'ai plus de réserves sur le côté correspondance autorisée mais de tout ce que les auteures auraient pu faire c'était le choix le plus raisonnable.
Ce que j'aime : découvrir une nouvelle Caroline (pour une fois que le personnage n'est pas conspué, je ne vais pas bouder mon plaisir)
Ce que j'aime moins : j'ai un peu bloqué sur l'échange de lettres qui ne me semble pas jouable avec les usages de l'époque (la réputation tout ça), le style qui est simplissime (en même temps tant mieux pour moi, j'ai pas galéré)
En bref : Une variation agréable à lire qui offre une vision inédite du personnage de Caroline Bingley. Sympathique et rapide à lire mais il ne faut pas être trop regardant sur le respect du personnage tel que l'a écrit Jane Austen.
Ma note
6,5/10
Le tout se lit assez vite, sans prise de tête (le vocabulaire anglais est assez simple) et en définitive, j'ai bien aimé la vision de Caroline sur Mr Darcy ( lui peut se montrer méprisant mais il le condamne chez les autres !) Bon après j'ai plus de réserves sur le côté correspondance autorisée mais de tout ce que les auteures auraient pu faire c'était le choix le plus raisonnable.
Ce que j'aime : découvrir une nouvelle Caroline (pour une fois que le personnage n'est pas conspué, je ne vais pas bouder mon plaisir)
Ce que j'aime moins : j'ai un peu bloqué sur l'échange de lettres qui ne me semble pas jouable avec les usages de l'époque (la réputation tout ça), le style qui est simplissime (en même temps tant mieux pour moi, j'ai pas galéré)
En bref : Une variation agréable à lire qui offre une vision inédite du personnage de Caroline Bingley. Sympathique et rapide à lire mais il ne faut pas être trop regardant sur le respect du personnage tel que l'a écrit Jane Austen.
Ma note
6,5/10
February 5, 2015
Don't bother
I couldn't believe how bad this book is. A Professor once told me that if you include enough sex and violence in a book it will get published. Now with Amazon and self publishing these things are all you need to get what you want. This sort of trash used to be published in paperback and were called "Bodice Rippers" I confess I didn't read very much of it. I was overcome by a sense of nausea.
I couldn't believe how bad this book is. A Professor once told me that if you include enough sex and violence in a book it will get published. Now with Amazon and self publishing these things are all you need to get what you want. This sort of trash used to be published in paperback and were called "Bodice Rippers" I confess I didn't read very much of it. I was overcome by a sense of nausea.
January 30, 2019
This was another really interesting story about Caroline Bingley by Renata McMann. I really liked the way Caroline's behavior and attitude was explained in this story to allow the reader to like her and want to see her get her HEA at the end of the story. The epilogue 16 years later was also fun. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
March 21, 2015
This was a quick read, short story. I can't say much about the story as it was rather bland. The premise was promising but it just fell flat for me. Maybe it was the length being too short that the characters and storyline never pulled me in. An ok read.
July 8, 2016
I enjoyed this clean, sweet romance. Never thought I'd care for Caroline Bingley, but Ms. McMann wrote a believable tale of how Caroline might be better than we thought.
This was a nice short story that I thoroughly enjoyed. And I look forward to Ms. McMann new books.
This was a nice short story that I thoroughly enjoyed. And I look forward to Ms. McMann new books.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews