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Darcy's Sweet Repose: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
On the way to Pemberley, Mr. Darcy falls asleep and magically wakes twenty years later to find someone else living in his house and his younger sister married with children. But his greatest concern is finding Miss Elizabeth Bennet again. He hopes he is not too late to woo and win her. Darcy’s Sweet Repose is a Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella inspired by Rip Van Winkle.
- GenresRomanceHistorical
115 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2017
23 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Jane Grix
43 books31 followersI've been half in love with Mr. Darcy since I was twelve, although I'll admit, the first time I read Pride and Prejudice, I was totally taken in by Wickham. I was stunned when Mr. Darcy proposed (I guess I was reading too quickly to catch all the hints), and even more stunned when Wickham turned out to be a jerk. But by the end of the book I was completely smitten by Darcy. I am still smitten.
The best part about writing Jane Austen Variations is that I can relive those moments of discovery and watch Elizabeth fall in love with Darcy one more time.
All my books and short stories are standalone stories, each with a slightly different Darcy and Elizabeth.
The best part about writing Jane Austen Variations is that I can relive those moments of discovery and watch Elizabeth fall in love with Darcy one more time.
All my books and short stories are standalone stories, each with a slightly different Darcy and Elizabeth.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 11, 2017
“The only thing that comes to a sleeping man is dreams.” Tupac Shakur
I was able to read this in one setting. I could-not-put-it-down. I loved this story. It was P&P with a paranormal twist, and a nod to Rip Van Winkle, that was done so well. We are at the point where Darcy is going ahead of the Bingley party to see his steward at Pemberley. He does not know that Elizabeth and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner are already on the grounds taking the tour. We are post Hunsford with our dear couple still grieving the loss of each other. Darcy arrives at Pemberley and decides to stretch his legs and walk the rest of the way from the drive. Enjoying the leisurely pace, and tired of traveling, he decides to stop and rest for a minute and quickly falls asleep.
When he wakes up, he notices subtle changes to the grounds around Pemberley. Walking into the house, there are servants that he does not recognize and more changes have been done to the décor within the house. One servant, he remembered as a young boy, recognizes him and sends for the master… em… acting master. Darcy soon finds out he has been asleep for twenty years.
What a creative twist on our P&P story. What confusion as Darcy stumbles through the following days, weeks, months, finding out all the changes that have occurred during the twenty years that he slept. He hears of the deaths, marriages, births, and through all of this, he wondered where was Elizabeth? And, what had happened to her? We are given a glimpse into the changed lives of the Bennet family. Darcy was not there to find Wickham and Lydia. Much happened with the Bennets. And then he found Elizabeth and began attempting to renew his relationship with her. That night, when he went to sleep, there was joy in his heart… only to wake up back at Pemberley twenty years before. He could now pick up where he left off, only now... with full knowledge of the events that were about to happen.
OMG! What twists and turns this story took. I was amazed at the big reveal with Wickham. Did not see that coming. WOW! Loved this story. [4.5-stars]
I was able to read this in one setting. I could-not-put-it-down. I loved this story. It was P&P with a paranormal twist, and a nod to Rip Van Winkle, that was done so well. We are at the point where Darcy is going ahead of the Bingley party to see his steward at Pemberley. He does not know that Elizabeth and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner are already on the grounds taking the tour. We are post Hunsford with our dear couple still grieving the loss of each other. Darcy arrives at Pemberley and decides to stretch his legs and walk the rest of the way from the drive. Enjoying the leisurely pace, and tired of traveling, he decides to stop and rest for a minute and quickly falls asleep.
When he wakes up, he notices subtle changes to the grounds around Pemberley. Walking into the house, there are servants that he does not recognize and more changes have been done to the décor within the house. One servant, he remembered as a young boy, recognizes him and sends for the master… em… acting master. Darcy soon finds out he has been asleep for twenty years.
What a creative twist on our P&P story. What confusion as Darcy stumbles through the following days, weeks, months, finding out all the changes that have occurred during the twenty years that he slept. He hears of the deaths, marriages, births, and through all of this, he wondered where was Elizabeth? And, what had happened to her? We are given a glimpse into the changed lives of the Bennet family. Darcy was not there to find Wickham and Lydia. Much happened with the Bennets. And then he found Elizabeth and began attempting to renew his relationship with her. That night, when he went to sleep, there was joy in his heart… only to wake up back at Pemberley twenty years before. He could now pick up where he left off, only now... with full knowledge of the events that were about to happen.
OMG! What twists and turns this story took. I was amazed at the big reveal with Wickham. Did not see that coming. WOW! Loved this story. [4.5-stars]
December 23, 2017
Life is too short to sleep on low thread-count sheets. ~ Leah Stussy
Low thread-count sheets? Indeed! And what if a person were to fall asleep in the woods? Under a tree?
To sleep, perchance to dream …~ William Shakespeare
Darcy returns to Pemberley earlier than his traveling party as in canon. As he nears the house, he rests in the woods and falls asleep. Soon he wakes and walks to the house but finds many changes in his beloved home. While he has slept for twenty years, the world has continued. His cousin is in charge at Pemberley, residing there with his family. Georgiana is married and a mother. Bingley has married Jane Bennet. But what has happened to Elizabeth?
When Rip van Darcy returns to the world, he finds his dream has foretold the future. Will his knowledge of the future enable him to change events? Or will he just be prepared as events unfold?
This is a unique and amusing little story that I enjoyed very much. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys JAFF and simple, clean love stories.
And if tonight my soul may find her peace
in sleep, and sink in good oblivion,
and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower
then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created.
~ D.H. Lawrence
Low thread-count sheets? Indeed! And what if a person were to fall asleep in the woods? Under a tree?
To sleep, perchance to dream …~ William Shakespeare
Darcy returns to Pemberley earlier than his traveling party as in canon. As he nears the house, he rests in the woods and falls asleep. Soon he wakes and walks to the house but finds many changes in his beloved home. While he has slept for twenty years, the world has continued. His cousin is in charge at Pemberley, residing there with his family. Georgiana is married and a mother. Bingley has married Jane Bennet. But what has happened to Elizabeth?
When Rip van Darcy returns to the world, he finds his dream has foretold the future. Will his knowledge of the future enable him to change events? Or will he just be prepared as events unfold?
This is a unique and amusing little story that I enjoyed very much. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys JAFF and simple, clean love stories.
And if tonight my soul may find her peace
in sleep, and sink in good oblivion,
and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower
then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created.
~ D.H. Lawrence
November 10, 2017
The Rip Van Winkle element of this story is unique and interesting. When Darcy comes back to Pemberley in late summer the day before the rest of his traveling party, he finds himself fatigued, leans against a tree not far from his estate, and takes a little nap. His nap lasts 20 years. He awakens to new inhabitants at Pemberley, and his reflection in the mirror proves that he is now 48 years old rather than 28. He learns the fates of family, friends and acquaintances over the past 20 years but is afraid to ask specifically about Elizabeth Bennet, fearing that she is either married or deceased.
Once that part of the story is resolved, things revert back to his original time. While there are some elements that reflect Darcy's foreknowledge of what will happen when things run their course, I don't find much significant alteration in the results. It essentially becomes a Pride and Prejudice variation where Darcy can predict some things that happen.
There's an episodic quality to the post-nap portion of the book, too. Wickham causes his usual trouble, but Darcy discovers something (in THIS time period) that changes how Wickham is dealt with. There's another issue that arises back at Longbourn which Darcy is able to foresee but can't change. It has the potential to delay any marriages, but a solution is found for that. Lady Catherine shows up near the end, almost as an afterthought. She breezes in and out of the story without any significance to what happens beforehand or what follows. There's no cohesive central plot in the book. Although the various storylines are interesting, they don't work together to build to a single decisive turning point.
This is a good author in that the writing flows pretty well without egregious grammar errors. There are lots of good ideas mixed in here, but it falls short of a great read because they don't all blend together smoothly.
Once that part of the story is resolved, things revert back to his original time. While there are some elements that reflect Darcy's foreknowledge of what will happen when things run their course, I don't find much significant alteration in the results. It essentially becomes a Pride and Prejudice variation where Darcy can predict some things that happen.
There's an episodic quality to the post-nap portion of the book, too. Wickham causes his usual trouble, but Darcy discovers something (in THIS time period) that changes how Wickham is dealt with. There's another issue that arises back at Longbourn which Darcy is able to foresee but can't change. It has the potential to delay any marriages, but a solution is found for that. Lady Catherine shows up near the end, almost as an afterthought. She breezes in and out of the story without any significance to what happens beforehand or what follows. There's no cohesive central plot in the book. Although the various storylines are interesting, they don't work together to build to a single decisive turning point.
This is a good author in that the writing flows pretty well without egregious grammar errors. There are lots of good ideas mixed in here, but it falls short of a great read because they don't all blend together smoothly.
December 30, 2017
I read this on fanfiction and could not even pause to remark on each chapter as I was eager to learn what happened next.
A mash-up of Rip Van Winkle and P&P in which Darcy uses his "dream" from his 20 years in slumber to calm upsetting events or to make decisions best for the circumstances. Best of all he places his hopes on Elizabeth's changed attitudes as dreamt of in approaching her when he encounters her again at Pemberley.
I liked this short story and read it in one sitting. I do believe other JAFF readers will find it intriguing as well.
A mash-up of Rip Van Winkle and P&P in which Darcy uses his "dream" from his 20 years in slumber to calm upsetting events or to make decisions best for the circumstances. Best of all he places his hopes on Elizabeth's changed attitudes as dreamt of in approaching her when he encounters her again at Pemberley.
I liked this short story and read it in one sitting. I do believe other JAFF readers will find it intriguing as well.
December 18, 2020
Sweet Time Travel
Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2020
Very enjoyable short story has Darcy falling asleep only to awake twenty years later. I thought it was well written.
Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2020
Very enjoyable short story has Darcy falling asleep only to awake twenty years later. I thought it was well written.
December 16, 2017
This story goes to prove that Darcy has a one track mind. On his return trip to Pemberley just as in canon, Darcy returns ahead of his party. He falls asleep while watching the clouds pass by and when he awakens and returns to Pemberley, he finds that twenty years have passed and his cousin, Julian is running Pemberley in his absence. Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Charles Bingley have all married while he has been asleep. When he visits Bingley at Netherfield, Bingley talks about everyone except Elizabeth the one person he is interested in. Finding that Elizabeth was in London and unmarried, Darcy vows to win Elizabeth's love this time. Happy for the first time in twenty years, Darcy wakes up only to find himself in 1812 England. Remembering that the Gardiners and Elizabeth visited Pemberley at this time, he hurries home. Finding Elizabeth at Pemberley is all he had hoped for. Both have changed since the horrible confrontation at Rosings and their feelings won't be repressed. Engaged at Pemberley, the letter from Jane arrives the next morning. Darcy handles everything and both fortunately and unfortunately the happenings in his dream do take place. Had outcomes that most variations never had before. Was a very enjoyable read. Loved this Darcy's steadfast love for Elizabeth that spanned twenty years even if in his dreams.
May 11, 2021
Mr. Darcy returns to Pemberley a day ahead of everyone else in August 1812, just as in canon. But instead of encountering Elizabeth touring his estate, he sits down and falls asleep... and wakes up 20 years later in August 1832. He gets to see what life is like without him in it and what has happened with those he knows, including Elizabeth. When he learns Elizabeth is not married, he attempts to court her and win her heart. But then, he wakes up again and is back in August 1812. How will he use this experience from his weird “dream” and can he still gain Elizabeth’s regard?
While the plot sounds great, it was not well executed. No real depth to the characters, including Elizabeth and Darcy who seemed to be 1-dimensional in my opinion. The conversations were awkward and story did not flow very well. I want to say that there was a lot of “telling” rather than “showing” but honestly, there wasn’t even telling sometimes. It was just lines back and forth. The author did not set the mood for the reader and did not convey an emotional connection or response between the characters in order to engage the readers emotions. As much as I wanted to like it, this type of writing style is not my type.
While the plot sounds great, it was not well executed. No real depth to the characters, including Elizabeth and Darcy who seemed to be 1-dimensional in my opinion. The conversations were awkward and story did not flow very well. I want to say that there was a lot of “telling” rather than “showing” but honestly, there wasn’t even telling sometimes. It was just lines back and forth. The author did not set the mood for the reader and did not convey an emotional connection or response between the characters in order to engage the readers emotions. As much as I wanted to like it, this type of writing style is not my type.
November 12, 2017
Clever
Darcy's insightful dream prompts him to rethink his proud and prejudiced opinions. He is able to successfully court and win Lizzy with his altered behavior. Some different twists for Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Wickham, and Lydia. Loved Lizzy's future career. Very entertaining.
Darcy's insightful dream prompts him to rethink his proud and prejudiced opinions. He is able to successfully court and win Lizzy with his altered behavior. Some different twists for Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Wickham, and Lydia. Loved Lizzy's future career. Very entertaining.
November 25, 2017
Washington Irving Meets Jane Austen
What a wonderful, fanciful variation to a beloved classic! I was hooked from page one. If you love Pride and Prejudice variations, this is a must read.
What a wonderful, fanciful variation to a beloved classic! I was hooked from page one. If you love Pride and Prejudice variations, this is a must read.
December 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this!!! I loved the twist and the fact that in a way?....we saw not one but 2 variations in one story and 2 proposals by Darcy. This was fun and well-written and I really enjoyed this. I'd definitely recommend this!
April 17, 2020
Would you behave differently if you knew the future? Would the love of your life believe you or think you were ready for Bedlam. Darcy is going to find out in this cute story that finds him sleeping for 20 years.
June 9, 2020
This was a sweet, low angst mix of P&P & Rip Van Winkle. Darcy wakes up from a short nap to find 20 years have passed where he was believed to be dead. He is given a second chance to try & find happiness.
December 14, 2017
Cute. Quick read
December 29, 2017
It was sweet, it was fascinating, it did not take long to read - great!
July 24, 2020
Sweet little story but some edits needed eg. Jane and Lizzy discuss a proposal and then a week later Lizzy surprises Jane by telling her about the same proposal.
May 24, 2022
meh
Not my favorite but not bad
Not my favorite but not bad
Not my favorite but not bad
I guess
Not my favorite but not bad
Not my favorite but not bad
Not my favorite but not bad
I guess
June 6, 2022
An interesting potpourri of Pride and Prejudice, Rip van Winkle and magical time travel. Very enjoyable variation.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews