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Second Impressions
Blurb: What if Mr. Darcy literally got off his high horse and confronted Mr. Wickham on the street in Meryton instead off riding away? How would that have changed things?
A P&P short story.
A P&P short story.
12 pages, Unknown Binding
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About the author
Jack Caldwell
36 books102 followersJack Caldwell, born and raised in the Bayou County of Louisiana, is an author, amateur historian, professional economic developer, playwright, and like many Cajuns, a darn good cook.
His nickname -- The Cajun Cheesehead -- came from his devotion to his two favorite NFL teams: the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. (Every now and then, Jack has to play the DVD again to make sure the Saints really won in 2010.)
Always a history buff, Jack found and fell in love with Jane Austen in his twenties, struck by her innate understanding of the human condition. Jack uses his work to share his knowledge of history. Through his characters, he hopes the reader gains a better understanding of what went on before, developing an appreciation for our ancestors' trials and tribulations.
When not writing or traveling with Barbara, Jack attempts to play golf. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons.
Jack's blog postings -- The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles -- appear regularly at Austen Variations.
His nickname -- The Cajun Cheesehead -- came from his devotion to his two favorite NFL teams: the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. (Every now and then, Jack has to play the DVD again to make sure the Saints really won in 2010.)
Always a history buff, Jack found and fell in love with Jane Austen in his twenties, struck by her innate understanding of the human condition. Jack uses his work to share his knowledge of history. Through his characters, he hopes the reader gains a better understanding of what went on before, developing an appreciation for our ancestors' trials and tribulations.
When not writing or traveling with Barbara, Jack attempts to play golf. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons.
Jack's blog postings -- The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles -- appear regularly at Austen Variations.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 15, 2017
This is a beautifully written short (VERY short!) story. No additional length is needed for Darcy and Elizabeth to get to their HEA.
It is assumed the reader is familiar with Pride and Prejudice, whose well known original title was First Impressions. This is aptly titled, as Elizabeth's negative first impression of Mr. Darcy is already firmly established.
As the story begins, Mr. Collins has been boring the Bennet sisters with his long-winded speeches about nothing. All six set out walking to town, where Lydia and Kitty see officers and run off to greet their favorites, and the others follow and join them. Mr. Wickham has barely been introduced as a new recruit when Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy arrive.
What follows is a perfectly crafted alternate scenario that leads to an earlier understanding by Elizabeth of Darcy's true character and by Darcy of Elizabeth's true feelings about him. In this case, second impressions truly are the most important.
It is assumed the reader is familiar with Pride and Prejudice, whose well known original title was First Impressions. This is aptly titled, as Elizabeth's negative first impression of Mr. Darcy is already firmly established.
As the story begins, Mr. Collins has been boring the Bennet sisters with his long-winded speeches about nothing. All six set out walking to town, where Lydia and Kitty see officers and run off to greet their favorites, and the others follow and join them. Mr. Wickham has barely been introduced as a new recruit when Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy arrive.
What follows is a perfectly crafted alternate scenario that leads to an earlier understanding by Elizabeth of Darcy's true character and by Darcy of Elizabeth's true feelings about him. In this case, second impressions truly are the most important.
February 15, 2017
I do so like the way in which Jack Caldwell tells a story.
This very short story (12 pages) takes the point at which the Bennet sisters along with their cousin, Mr. Collins, have walked into Meryton and are being introduced by Mr. Denny to a new recruit, Mr. Wickham. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy arrive on horseback and HERE we have our variation. Mr. Darcy gets off his horse and confronts Wickham and even demands he leave town.
The onlooking party do not know what to make of this. Darcy first addresses Mr. Collins in low tones as to his statement about Darcy's "intended" and then partners Elizabeth and they have a bit of a verbal set-to about his manners, his insult and his treatment of Mr. Wickham. They do sort it all out and she is even corrected about what his stares are all about. He, and Bingley, accompany the group to Longbourn and Mr. Bennet is also informed of the needed knowledge of a dishonorable man in their midst.
The Netherfield Ball and a visit after Christmas with the Gardiners bring us to our Happily Ever After.
All of Jack's stories have been delightful reads for me. I do have to read his modern trilogy but it is on my kindle. I recommend this and all his stories to lovers of JAFF.
This very short story (12 pages) takes the point at which the Bennet sisters along with their cousin, Mr. Collins, have walked into Meryton and are being introduced by Mr. Denny to a new recruit, Mr. Wickham. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy arrive on horseback and HERE we have our variation. Mr. Darcy gets off his horse and confronts Wickham and even demands he leave town.
The onlooking party do not know what to make of this. Darcy first addresses Mr. Collins in low tones as to his statement about Darcy's "intended" and then partners Elizabeth and they have a bit of a verbal set-to about his manners, his insult and his treatment of Mr. Wickham. They do sort it all out and she is even corrected about what his stares are all about. He, and Bingley, accompany the group to Longbourn and Mr. Bennet is also informed of the needed knowledge of a dishonorable man in their midst.
The Netherfield Ball and a visit after Christmas with the Gardiners bring us to our Happily Ever After.
All of Jack's stories have been delightful reads for me. I do have to read his modern trilogy but it is on my kindle. I recommend this and all his stories to lovers of JAFF.
February 18, 2017
Very short, < 12 pages, story that makes P&P faster and smarter. When Darcy meets Wickham in Meryton instead of riding off in a huff he makes a stand and communicates Mr. Wickham's failings as well as asking Elizabeth for the first set at the Netherfield Ball. And they all live HEA
March 5, 2015
There are a few pivotal points in Pride and Prejudice that if the character involved chose a different path would have led to a vastly different story. Naturally! In this short story 'what if', the author chooses to engage in what would have happened at the point when the Bennet sisters and their cousin Collins are meeting the dastardly Wickham if Darcy had chose to speak up about Wickham's reputation and their past dealings together.
This was a very abbreviated story. More of a summary of scenes. But I really enjoyed seeing how the changes affected things- Lizzy's attitude and view of Darcy, Darcy's contact with the Bennet family and even Charles and Jane's romance. Turned out to be a nice, sweet, nearly confrontation free piece that was nice for a change of pace.
This was a very abbreviated story. More of a summary of scenes. But I really enjoyed seeing how the changes affected things- Lizzy's attitude and view of Darcy, Darcy's contact with the Bennet family and even Charles and Jane's romance. Turned out to be a nice, sweet, nearly confrontation free piece that was nice for a change of pace.
February 14, 2017
“My belief is you have one chance to make a first impression.” Kevin McCarthy
It is too bad that Mr. Darcy didn’t know that saying. However, he was granted a second impression in this story by Jack Caldwell. It was in this second impression that Darcy was able to show Elizabeth Bennet his true side.
We have often wanted Darcy to get off his horse when he first encountered Wickham in Meryton. We wanted him exposed for the scoundrel and rake that he was. The ‘failure to inform’ has always grated against my sense of propriety. I always blamed Darcy for simply abandoning Meryton society [the female population] to the likes of his rat-bastard. Every woman, whether gently born or servant girl, was open game for this rake. As my grandmother used to say… he culled nothing… and if there was a scent of a fortune on her, then she became his prime objet d’amour.
This was short, fast, clean and I simply adored it.
It is too bad that Mr. Darcy didn’t know that saying. However, he was granted a second impression in this story by Jack Caldwell. It was in this second impression that Darcy was able to show Elizabeth Bennet his true side.
We have often wanted Darcy to get off his horse when he first encountered Wickham in Meryton. We wanted him exposed for the scoundrel and rake that he was. The ‘failure to inform’ has always grated against my sense of propriety. I always blamed Darcy for simply abandoning Meryton society [the female population] to the likes of his rat-bastard. Every woman, whether gently born or servant girl, was open game for this rake. As my grandmother used to say… he culled nothing… and if there was a scent of a fortune on her, then she became his prime objet d’amour.
This was short, fast, clean and I simply adored it.
February 11, 2017
A very straightforward story that has Darcy explain to all the Bennets his relationship to Wickham and why they are estranged. This corrects their impression of Darcy, and their second impression is much more favorable. Without the misunderstandings, Darcy and Elizabeth much more quickly reach their HEA, as do Bingley and Jane. Amazing how unromantic it is when everything runs smoothly.
January 5, 2015
lol, a very short P&P variation! In this story one frank conversation between Darcy and Elizabeth pretty much eliminates the whole original P&P story.
December 31, 2021
Short freebie on Austen Variations. I liked it.
May 11, 2017
This short Pride and Prejudice variation is wonderfully written and shows what can happen when people discuss and communicate. Darcy confronts Wickham when they meet in town and enough is revealed during the walk home for Elizabeth to take a second impression of Darcy. The resulting honesty makes a for a beautiful happily ever after.
February 24, 2015
Free e excerpt from Jack Caldwell. Written in true Jane Austen style.
February 11, 2017
I enjoyed it. I must say that if I read a romance, I really appreciate it when the two protagonists actually discuss things and are straightforward with each other rather than consistantly misunderstanding each other. Honest, clear communication and respect in romance, such as is found in this tale is, in my book, the most romantic. (I think that many authors find angst and misunderstanding easier to write about in their efforts to keep the writing engaging.)
Caldwell made this one interesting and engaging without relying on the angst/misunderstanding bit that so many authors in this genre employ. Nicely done.
Caldwell made this one interesting and engaging without relying on the angst/misunderstanding bit that so many authors in this genre employ. Nicely done.
January 4, 2015
12 page short story that was a free download from austenvariations.com
Instead of riding off when he encounters Wickham in Meryton, Darcy gets off his "high" horse to set Wickham straight. Elizabeth calls him out on it and thus begins a new understanding between the two of them. Meryton is thus safe from George Wickham, Elizabeth gets a new understanding of Darcy's character and they form a courtship much earlier in the story than the original P&P as there is no pride or prejudice to impede them.
Instead of riding off when he encounters Wickham in Meryton, Darcy gets off his "high" horse to set Wickham straight. Elizabeth calls him out on it and thus begins a new understanding between the two of them. Meryton is thus safe from George Wickham, Elizabeth gets a new understanding of Darcy's character and they form a courtship much earlier in the story than the original P&P as there is no pride or prejudice to impede them.
November 7, 2015
A Pride and Prejudice Variation - a short story of what happens when Darcy and Bingley meet the Bennets as they are about to be introduced to Wickham and Darcy confronts Wickham.
March 5, 2015
Blurb: What if Mr. Darcy literally got off his high horse and confronted Mr. Wickham on the street in Meryton instead off riding away? How would that have changed things?
A P&P short story.
A P&P short story.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews