Persistence Prevails: A Novel of Darcy and Elizabeth

by Don H. Miller

Darcy first meets Elizabeth the year he graduates from Cambridge, when she is but 16, but she impresses him more than any other young woman he has ever met. Her beauty, intelligence, and personality become a standard for him over the following year, as he meets other young women. When all fall short of his standards, he wonders if his father will condone him pursuing a woman of her status when she is finally out. Unfortunately, before any decision can be made, his father dies, and he spends over a year in mourning. In the meantime, when Elizabeth turns 17, because of troubles at Longbourn, she moves in permanently with her uncle and aunt in London. Darcy’s reaction, when he learns of it, is that she has willingly given up her status as a gentlewoman to be the ward of a merchant, and thus, not only is she someone he cannot consider as a potential mate, but also his sister, who has been corresponding with Elizabeth, must end their friendship. This does not sit will with Elizabeth, and when they finally meet again when she comes out in London two years later, she greatly dislikes him. He becomes convinced he was wrong about her acceptability, and subtly tries to court her, but she distrusts and resists him.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2017

About the author

Don H. Miller was born and grew up in Iowa, went to the University of North Carolina where he received a degree in Mathematics, spent three years as a U.S. Navy officer, got a Ph.D. in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Chicago, spent three years as a college professor, and then spent the rest of his working career as a research scientist working in various fields including naval operations research, environmental impact analysis, and command, control and communications technology. He is now retired, enjoys golfing, pickleball, and writing, and is the art director of the monthly newsletter of the community in which he now lives. He has written twenty-five novels in the genre of Jane Austen fan fiction.

Reviews

[Madenna U · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Darcy meets Elizabeth with his father when she is very young while she is traveling with the Gardiners. He learns that she is an extraordinary person, even then. As time passes, Elizabeth spends more and more time in London with her aunt and uncle before making it her permanent home. She meets more and more people who are attracted to her knowledge, musical ability and zest for life. She makes friends with very powerful people.

Believing that she has lowered herself into trade, Darcy chooses to no longer associate with Elizabeth, feeling that she is below him. He has a lot of learning to do if he wants to catch his true match and find his happily ever after.

I only have one complaint about the story, and that is Elizabeth complains over and over about not wanting to be in society. She eventually comes out but the conversation about it was repeated a lot.

[James S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strangely unemotional

As I read the book it struck me how unlikely a lot of it is. For instance Lizzie is her father’s favorite but her mother want her to live permanently with her aunt and uncle. Lizzie accepts this without nary an emotion. I know if my mother had farmed me out to some relatives I would have been devastated. The whole book is like that.

Lizzie is brilliant, can sing like an opera star, and interacts with everyone as if she was a robot. If the story wasn’t a P&P variation and I was unconsciously laying Jane Austen’s characters attributes onto Lizzie’s character in this book, if the story was about just a normal 17 year old, I would consider Lizzie was psychotic.

I don’t recommend this book.

[lori huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The backstories on Don H Miller JAFF books

I feel as if I've approached this author's books backwards, since I started apparently with later creations, and he always seems to use the same accessory characters and situations in his JAFF variations. This one has some of the backstories that you need in order to better understand how things became as they are, not that his later books cannot be read as standalones. Elizabeth meets Darcy and his father when she's sixteen, and they're both very impressed by her intelligence and confidence. When she returns to Longbourn, Elizabeth has a serious falling out with her mother, and decides to live permanently with the Gardiners, who she stays with frequently in London anyways. Through Aunt Gardiner's charitable connections, Elizabeth meets members of high society, who are all impressed with her, especially since she's a gifted singer. Eventually, she's sponsored as a debutante in the ton. However, Darcy ,who's never forgotten her, is in her black books because of a snub she received from him earlier, so he must dig himself out of a hole.

Elizabeth is always kind of a superwoman in books by this author. She's beautiful, highly intelligent, manages Longbourn, helps uncle Gardiner with accounting, works with the charities, speaks several languages, sings like an angel, and everyone instantly likes her. There are no real villains in this one except the attitudes of high society with regards to the merchant class, such as the Gardiners. Ironically, it seems as if Elizabeth is the one who's always bringing up that subject, and emphasizing her own shortcomings. She almost seems obsessed by it.

I deducted a star because the romance is a bit too clinical in the face of Elizabeth's constant insistence that she's socially inferior. However, the book is well written, and I recommend it for a satisfying and enjoyable story.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.

This was so BORING. I think parts were almost the same as other books by this author. It was the most unromantic proposal I've ever read. But, it was fairly well written as far as grammar. but super boring. Really, just stay away.

[Debby Sangiovanni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tough to get through

Wow...where to start? I'm surprised that this book is written so poorly because the author's work has obviously improved so much and I enjoy his work. However, there was such a sense of perfection that was given to Elizabeth's character it was a wonder she didn't walk on water! ("And pictures of perfection, you know, make me sick and wicked." )
Elizabeth also spoke nonstop to everyone, even to people she had just been introduced, about how poor she was and how low her station in life was, something that I had thought was vulgar to speak about in that time.
There were some run on sentences, typos and, at times, things just got confusing. For example: Col. Fitzwilliam is granted the 5th dance at a ball but then another person comes to claim "their" dance which is the 5th. The Darcy's go into a dinner given in honor of Darcy's birthday at the Matlock's home, they have cake at the end of the meal and then within a few more sentences, the party goes in to have dinner. What???? I found myself checking back to make sure I had read things correctly.
I think the thing I found most annoying was the last chapter of the book being almost the exact same, word-for-word final chapter in another Miller work, 'The Gazebo'! Really?
Final thought: This should be a miss which is really too bad because the premise was good and it could have been a decent book.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avid Reader

As always I enjoyed reading this author's work. However, I felt that it had the same final chapter as The Gazebo. The deceased Mr. Darcy felt that Elizabeth was perfect for Darcy. In spite of her lower status, Elizabeth had numerous connections in the first circles, which surprised Darcy. When it was discovered that her father was a baron, she became more acceptable.

[Lisa E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unrealistic dialog

Elizabeth is too perfect, too young, and to verbose. I believe there are a few anachronisms in the story. How realistic is it that you learn how to sing and perfectly pronounce Garlic, all from books? A bit over the top

[Donna Beveridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good time read

Another fine story from one of my new favorite authors. Dizzy is stubborn, Darcy is determined and it all ends happily for ODC! Relax and enjoy!