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Darcy #6
Mr. Darcy's Dream
From the author of Mr. Darcy's Daughters, the delightful escapades of the Darcy family continue with an enchanting story set at Pride and Prejudice's Pemberley.
When Phoebe, a young niece of Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy, is shattered by an unhappy romance, she retreats to Pemberley and is joined by kind-hearted Louisa Bingley, unmarried after three London seasons. Once the young ladies are situated in the house, several handsome strangers also arrive -- all hopeful of winning the girls' hearts. As preparations for the ball which Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are to give at Pemberley gain momentum, mischief and love triangles abound, making life as difficult as possible for anyone connected with the Darcy family.
Populated with authentic characters firmly rooted in Jane Austen's mores and stylistic traditions, Mr. Darcy's Dream has an unforgettable combination of romance, societal scandals, friendship, family, and marriage.
When Phoebe, a young niece of Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy, is shattered by an unhappy romance, she retreats to Pemberley and is joined by kind-hearted Louisa Bingley, unmarried after three London seasons. Once the young ladies are situated in the house, several handsome strangers also arrive -- all hopeful of winning the girls' hearts. As preparations for the ball which Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are to give at Pemberley gain momentum, mischief and love triangles abound, making life as difficult as possible for anyone connected with the Darcy family.
Populated with authentic characters firmly rooted in Jane Austen's mores and stylistic traditions, Mr. Darcy's Dream has an unforgettable combination of romance, societal scandals, friendship, family, and marriage.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2009
20 people are currently reading
703 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Aston
53 books230 followersI’m the daughter of two Jane Austen addicts, who decided to call me after a character from one of Jane Austen’s novels. So it’s no wonder that I also became a passionate Jane Austen fan.
Elizabeth Aston is a pen name (it's actually my married name). I first wrote under the name Elizabeth Pewsey, and now Attica Books are reissuing those novels as ebooks under my Aston name.
I've also published several books under my own name Elizabeth Edmondson. They're historicals, but set in the 20th century.
from http://www.elizabeth-aston.com/catego...
Elizabeth Aston is a pen name (it's actually my married name). I first wrote under the name Elizabeth Pewsey, and now Attica Books are reissuing those novels as ebooks under my Aston name.
I've also published several books under my own name Elizabeth Edmondson. They're historicals, but set in the 20th century.
from http://www.elizabeth-aston.com/catego...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
September 21, 2011
Last book in the series? Amen. I LOVE Austen....and this woman is NOWHERE near the level of writing. Why have I continued reading? Because...well---I have an annoying habit of finishing all series I read (because I am naive and hope it will get better) AND because I love to read badly written things inspired by Austen.... This book remains true to the series...in that it is light reading....and easy to figure out.
Story? Georgina's daughter is in love with someone her parents do not approve of....so she runs off to Pemberly to heal her broken heart....with a friend. Both fall in love. Gee, I wonder with who??? And...I don't think Austen would have agreed with the man she ends up with.
Glad its done, not sure I would pick up the next one if she wrote another.
Story? Georgina's daughter is in love with someone her parents do not approve of....so she runs off to Pemberly to heal her broken heart....with a friend. Both fall in love. Gee, I wonder with who??? And...I don't think Austen would have agreed with the man she ends up with.
Glad its done, not sure I would pick up the next one if she wrote another.
July 29, 2018
I read this long ago just after it was published, in paperback, and have been meaning to reread in order to post an honest review but this will have to do for now.
March 5, 2013
I was sucked into reading this by the blurb on the back that said, "Jane Austen would be proud". Would she really? I'm not so sure. This is kind of like Jane Austen mixed with a tabloid. Imagine if Jane Austen's characters acted like today's Hollywood stars... Lots of affairs, divorce, seductions, elopements, domestic abuse, sex before marriage- you name it. If it would have been scandalous in Jane Austen's day, then Elizabeth Aston will write it in one of her books. Many of these are subjects that Jane Austen was too much of lady to ever mention in her books. This one was better than Mr. Darcy's Daughters - probably because the majority of the characters were made up and not Jane Austen's. The books are entertaining, just realize that you are getting the tabloid version of Jane Austen. If you want authentic regency novels, turn to Georgette Heyer. She is truly the next best thing to reading Jane Austen.
June 17, 2017
So I didn't think this was particularly part of a series when I bought it. While reading it I realized that, technically, it's a stand-alone book. However, I think that reading the other books in the series first would have been a huge help. As I didn't read Mr. Darcy's Daughters I was confused on who the characters were and how everyone was related. I can't say that those characters factored much into the story, however, they were referenced a lot. The only thing that really helped was that some of the characters provided backstory or servants called them by different names.
The story follows Mr. Darcy's niece Phoebe (the daughter of Georgiana - which I didn't figure out until halfway through the book). She had been proposed to be a man that she was completely in love with and thought above reproach. Her father rejects the proposal, describing the man as a rake and wholly unsuitable for his daughter. When she searches for answers she stumbles upon circumstances that make her believe her father. In despair she retreats to Pemberly for the season where she is joined by Jane and Charles Bingley's daughter Louisa. The two wish to spend a quiet season in the country, only planning the traditional mid-summer ball for the Pemberley estate. Unfortunately, their plans are side-tracked when the Phoebe's lost love reappears in the country seeking her out.
Overall, the story wasn't bad but I was expecting something a little more mature, in the same vein as Austen. This story was, however, very predictable and seemed geared toward a younger audience. It is a completely clean read, so suggesting this book to teens, particularly girls in may 7th grade or up would be completely acceptable. They may not understand all the undercurrents or side comments that go on with the snide remarks that were typical of the Victorian era society but that is not altogether a bad thing.
The characters were fairly well developed, but could be done a little better. There was very little actually connected to the original Pride and Prejudice but that is to be expected in the sixth book in a sequel series. The story line could have picked up its pace somewhat though. The majority of the book were Phoebe avoiding the man that only wanted to talk to her in order to explain things. If they had done that soon, there honestly wouldn't have been much of a book. The side story with Louisa Bingley was a nice touch and I actually enjoyed that plot line more. There were also the standard characters resembling members of the original book, but that made it somewhat more predictable instead of adding in new personalities that could add strife and drama.
All-in-all a light, enjoyable read that is good for the beach or an easy night. Not a whole lot of thinking involved or elegant, advanced vocabulary like you'd expect from Austen, but a clean, fairly interesting read. I'd suggest it to young adults more so than grown adults. I would, however, suggest reading the other books in the series first.
Check out my blog: www.bookmouseblog.wordpress.com
The story follows Mr. Darcy's niece Phoebe (the daughter of Georgiana - which I didn't figure out until halfway through the book). She had been proposed to be a man that she was completely in love with and thought above reproach. Her father rejects the proposal, describing the man as a rake and wholly unsuitable for his daughter. When she searches for answers she stumbles upon circumstances that make her believe her father. In despair she retreats to Pemberly for the season where she is joined by Jane and Charles Bingley's daughter Louisa. The two wish to spend a quiet season in the country, only planning the traditional mid-summer ball for the Pemberley estate. Unfortunately, their plans are side-tracked when the Phoebe's lost love reappears in the country seeking her out.
Overall, the story wasn't bad but I was expecting something a little more mature, in the same vein as Austen. This story was, however, very predictable and seemed geared toward a younger audience. It is a completely clean read, so suggesting this book to teens, particularly girls in may 7th grade or up would be completely acceptable. They may not understand all the undercurrents or side comments that go on with the snide remarks that were typical of the Victorian era society but that is not altogether a bad thing.
The characters were fairly well developed, but could be done a little better. There was very little actually connected to the original Pride and Prejudice but that is to be expected in the sixth book in a sequel series. The story line could have picked up its pace somewhat though. The majority of the book were Phoebe avoiding the man that only wanted to talk to her in order to explain things. If they had done that soon, there honestly wouldn't have been much of a book. The side story with Louisa Bingley was a nice touch and I actually enjoyed that plot line more. There were also the standard characters resembling members of the original book, but that made it somewhat more predictable instead of adding in new personalities that could add strife and drama.
All-in-all a light, enjoyable read that is good for the beach or an easy night. Not a whole lot of thinking involved or elegant, advanced vocabulary like you'd expect from Austen, but a clean, fairly interesting read. I'd suggest it to young adults more so than grown adults. I would, however, suggest reading the other books in the series first.
Check out my blog: www.bookmouseblog.wordpress.com
March 4, 2021
Phoebe Hawkins is the daughter of having troubles with love. Louisa Bingley(Jane Bennett's daughter) is happy to be away from London and"The Season". She tried her hand for two or three seasons and was unsuccessful at finding a husband. They both are at Pemberley for their own reasons. Mr. Darcy's dream, an ill named book in my opinion, is to have a glasshouse built of epic proportions. His contractor, Mr. Drummond, is in the process of erecting a magnificent structure. Louisa is enthralled with the plants, and nature, and Mr. Drummond. There are all kinds of interesting characters here. Phoebe, Louisa and Mr. Drummond, of course, but Mr. Stanhope, from whom Phoebe is continually hiding, Mr. Warren, the scoundrel, a parson who is intent on having Louisa Bingley and of course, her fortune, Lady Redburn, a person who is never satisfied, tells everyone that she knows how it should be done correctly and is rude to everyone. There is to be a major ball to be given at Pemberley to show off the new glass house...Mr. Darcy's dream. He, however, has turned all the planning and details over to Phoebe, with a little help from his man in London. While she has been know to do an excellent job in the past, this is Mr. Darcy that we're speaking of. AND he doesn't arrive back at Pemberley until the afternoon of his own ball. Some of his guests are already arrived. Wouldn't he want to make sure that everything was in order, to greet his guests and welcome them to his home? It would be like going to a major social event and having the babysitter answer the door. "No, I'm sorry, they're not back in the country just yet, but please, come in, make yourselves at home. When will they be here? I'm not sure." Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this book, just some things were not written very well.
December 6, 2023
Mr. Darcy‘s dream is sixth of Elizabeth Ashton‘s Darcy novels. In this one, Louisa Bingley is retreating to Pemberly after three unsuccessful, Lund seasons there she joins young Phoebe Hawkins, who has been sent down to Pemberly after being told that she cannot marry Arthur Stanhope. Mr. Stanhope has been in a five year affair with Mrs Vereker, wife, and then widow. But once Arthur Stanhope has met Phoebe, he breaks off the relationship with Mrs. Vereker, and asks Sir Giles for Phoebe’s hand and marriage and is refused. George Warren stepson of Carolyn Bingley. Warren is in the mix to cause trouble. Phoebe and Louisa find friendship at Pemberly and Phoebe is tasked with planning the ball for Mr. Darcy as Mr. Drummond finishes, the extensive renovations to gardens and greenhouses at Pemberly. He and Louisa spend a great tale of time together, pouring over the architectural drawings that he has created, his plans for the gardens, and the plantings, and developing a warm, but very proper relationship.
Arthur Stanley‘s sister, Louisa, married, and happily rusticating in the countryside near Pemberly with her older husband, Sir Henry,, has discovered that Sir Henry is having an affair. That affair is with the French governess hired to take care of Georgina, Darcy‘s children at Pemberly.m
This book rather tumbles together together with one evil, following another, and happily ever after occurring and true love, finding its way, and rather a jumble and fast coming together at the end. Not the best of writing, but an enjoyable romance.
Arthur Stanley‘s sister, Louisa, married, and happily rusticating in the countryside near Pemberly with her older husband, Sir Henry,, has discovered that Sir Henry is having an affair. That affair is with the French governess hired to take care of Georgina, Darcy‘s children at Pemberly.m
This book rather tumbles together together with one evil, following another, and happily ever after occurring and true love, finding its way, and rather a jumble and fast coming together at the end. Not the best of writing, but an enjoyable romance.
September 19, 2017
I must say that I am quite disappointed in this book, especially considering that this is one of the last of the Aston's books in this series - so one would think the author only improves with each volume she produces. Not so much in this case. It is written well enough when it comes to language, however it lacks the charm and wit of the previous books from the Mr. Darcy's daughters series and is extremely slow paced.
This is supposed to be a historical romance, but it seems as it is everything but. We get to see a lot of everyday British country life, which is in fact very boring and could be summarized quite quickly. There really isn't any action here either - and the only interaction we get to see between the main love interests is being related to us in conversations between third parties. I honestly don't want to see what has happened from a conversation in which Miss A takes into confidence Miss B as to what has happened, shoot me now - I want to actually read it happen; or get to know the facts from gossiping servants - this is extremely boring and brings out no emotions whatsoever.
If this was the first book by Aston that I've read I would not have bothered to read her other books. You won't loose much if you skip on this one, but I do recommend her Mr. Darcy's daughters series.
This is supposed to be a historical romance, but it seems as it is everything but. We get to see a lot of everyday British country life, which is in fact very boring and could be summarized quite quickly. There really isn't any action here either - and the only interaction we get to see between the main love interests is being related to us in conversations between third parties. I honestly don't want to see what has happened from a conversation in which Miss A takes into confidence Miss B as to what has happened, shoot me now - I want to actually read it happen; or get to know the facts from gossiping servants - this is extremely boring and brings out no emotions whatsoever.
If this was the first book by Aston that I've read I would not have bothered to read her other books. You won't loose much if you skip on this one, but I do recommend her Mr. Darcy's daughters series.
December 29, 2019
Aston has big shoes to fill, carrying on for Austen in subsequent generations of Bennets, Bingleys, & Darcys in the Pride and Prejudice story-line. She succeeds. This is the first I've picked up, however, and it is her fifth, so I have some gaps to fill in when I return to these novels with the first. Ashton was wise not attempt the flourishing language of the day in her narrative, but carries it respectably in dialogue between characters. And this one is set at Pemberly, the Darcy estate undergoing advancements and updates of the times. She cultivates the same fondness for elegance, courtesies, and social import while concerns and proprieties progress with their times, all of which are show-cased in preparing for a grand ball on the estate. However, I still chafe at the double standard of behavior for men & women, so the "happy ending" left something to be desired, and was not entirely convincing.
October 14, 2019
A Fitting Ending for the Series
While this novel has only the most tenuous connection to the original Pride and Prejudice, it is an enjoyable regency romance. Because it drifts so far from Austen, I would not call it true Jane Austen Fan Fiction. Keeping the characters referred to straight is very difficult and knowing where they fit within the novel's family is impossible unless you have read all of the earlier books in the series--and maybe even drawn a diagram of the family tree. To me this is the least successful of all the books in the series, but for a quick read and to complete the series by highlighting daughters of Georgiana and of Jane, it is enjoyable though somewhat confusing. I strongly recommend you read the earlier books first, though. Oddly enough, you don't need to know much if anything about Austen's original.
While this novel has only the most tenuous connection to the original Pride and Prejudice, it is an enjoyable regency romance. Because it drifts so far from Austen, I would not call it true Jane Austen Fan Fiction. Keeping the characters referred to straight is very difficult and knowing where they fit within the novel's family is impossible unless you have read all of the earlier books in the series--and maybe even drawn a diagram of the family tree. To me this is the least successful of all the books in the series, but for a quick read and to complete the series by highlighting daughters of Georgiana and of Jane, it is enjoyable though somewhat confusing. I strongly recommend you read the earlier books first, though. Oddly enough, you don't need to know much if anything about Austen's original.
October 25, 2019
Aston is, without a doubt, one of my favorite Austen spinoff writers. She is unique in that each of her novels deals directly with characters either descended from or otherwise related to Austen's original P&P characters, but the latter do not actually make an appearance. This Darcy novel, however, is decidedly Aston's weakest work to date. The heroine, Phoebe Hawkins, Darcy's niece, spends the entire book running from Arthur Stanhope, the man she wished to marry at the start of the novel. She convinces herself he is a rake, then spends the rest of the book studiously avoiding him, only to readily accept his proposal when he gets a chance to say, "Hey, I'm not a rake!" Too easy a conclusion, something of which I am not a big fan. Enjoyable enough, but, again, Aston's least accomplished novel.
December 30, 2022
I stumbled into the book by accident and now think there has got to be a lot more to the story. There seemed to be bits and pieces about other people mentioned in this book that I think were deeply covered in others in the series and because of that I felt a bit off like other readers knew more about this situation than I did. It was easy to read and I'd rate it a G. I don't remember anything questionable in it. I don't know if it captures austen... but it's a decent book. I miss the more snappy dialog.. this see.ed to drag a bit here and there but that may be my perception due to feeling like I missed a piece of the puzzle from the start.
January 29, 2023
J'ai bien aimé la série des Darcy d'E.Aston.
Celui-là est le moins bon. Que de délayage pour tout boucler dans les deux derniers chapitres ! On se doute de tout, même de ce qui arrive ou plutôt n'arrive pas à M. ..* avec la gouvernante, mais tout pourrait être bouclé en 10 chapitres alors, on décrit et introduit des personnages secondaires et des détails qui ne sont pas exploités ou n'ont aucun intérêt pour l'histoire. Je me demande si ce n'est tout simplement pas une nouvelle étirée en roman...
Celui-là est le moins bon. Que de délayage pour tout boucler dans les deux derniers chapitres ! On se doute de tout, même de ce qui arrive ou plutôt n'arrive pas à M. ..* avec la gouvernante, mais tout pourrait être bouclé en 10 chapitres alors, on décrit et introduit des personnages secondaires et des détails qui ne sont pas exploités ou n'ont aucun intérêt pour l'histoire. Je me demande si ce n'est tout simplement pas une nouvelle étirée en roman...
March 10, 2018
For any Jane Austin Fan, these books are the fix we have needed. I loved this one particularly as much of it is set at Pemberly. Love Aston's writing and research, and these are truly done in the Austin spirit. One reviewer said she read one of these books in "one gulp" and that is a perfect description. I read six in "one gulp" I could not put them down. You will almost feel like you are there with the dresses and gowns and balls. And who doesn't like a happy ending!
June 1, 2025
The tea was hot with this one. ☕ It's not a perfect book - there are some bits that moved too fast and sudden for my likening - but it was a fun and easy read! Also, it was so nice to read a romance that wasn't bogged down by smut. The scandal and tension were there and it slotted nicely with P&P without feeling like a fanfiction.
August 17, 2020
So much turmoil, so many quirky characters our returning villain out to once again cause trouble. an annoying cleric a lovely coupe and two troubled couples. This was an enjoyable read that twisted and turned to keep me interested to the end.
November 15, 2020
Cute regency era novel with only passing references to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This book tells the tale of Mr. Darcy's niece, Phoebe, and her love life, as she settles in for a stay at Pemberley. I found the whole thing a tad implausible, but it makes for a light read on a cold day.
June 6, 2018
Solid effort. Enjoyed one of the romances more than the other, but it was fun to imagine myself at Pemberley. (The other books have been set in London.)
June 7, 2021
Didn’t get past page 50. I had such high hopes.
January 30, 2022
تقريبا على اخر الرواية استوعبت ان فيبي بنت جورجيانا 🤦🏻♀️
July 18, 2022
I’d give this one four and a half stars if I could. It’s well written, but compared to others it doesn’t feel like it has much of a story. These are however very cleverly done.
August 28, 2022
Started really well, really liked the writing style. However about 2/3rd through the book it lost me totally. Lost interest in the characters and found the latter part flat.
December 18, 2022
Enjoyable read. The main storyline took too long to resolve and so there was a lot of repetition of scenes. The secondary love story was more enjoyable watching unfold.
April 23, 2023
Enjoyable read. The main storyline took too long to resolve and so there was a lot of repetition of scenes. The secondary love story was more enjoyable watching unfold.
November 28, 2023
I love Aston's books. I really feel like I am reading Jane Austen.
January 23, 2015
Les livres d'Elizabeth Aston, ce sont toujours des montagnes russes. Parfois c'est très mauvais, parfois c'est vraiment sympathique. En fait, plus elle s'éloigne de Jane Austen et plus elle laisse son oeuvre tranquille, meilleure elle est. Dommage qu'elle ne s'en rende pas compte. Et ce tome-ci ne déroge pas à la règle puisqu'il est très exactement à la croisée des chemins. Il découle d'Orgueil et Préjugés sans en être trop proche et du coup me laisse un sentiment mitigé.
Ce que j'ai aimé, c'est la romance historique en elle-même et dans toute sa splendeur si je puis dire, ce qui pour moi ce traduit par un livre facile à lire, une ambiance agréable et une histoire d'amour, le tout sans grande surprise mais tout en sachant qu'on ne lit pas ce genre de livre pour être surpris non? "Quoi? Elle ne l'épouse pas à la fin???" Sacrilège!!! Bref, ce côté-là marche plutôt bien. J'ai quelques scènes qui me restent en tête, des fêtes où j'ai la joyeuse impression de m'être rendue, des confidence des héroïnes qu'elles semblent m'avoir chuchotées à l'oreille.
J'ai beaucoup aimé également me retrouver à Pemberley, y suivre la vie domestique et le réaménagement des jardins, ainsi que l'apparition discrète de Darcy, une présence, une phrase prononcée, juste la petite touche qu'il fallait pour faire plaisir aux lectrices sans trop toucher à ce personnage sacré!
Une autre chose que j'ai apprécié, et ça en fait quand même pas mal je trouve, ce sont toutes les petites intrigues secondaires dont le dénouement de l'une m'a pour le coup prise au dépourvu. Comme quoi, il y a même eu parfois plus que ce que j'espérais!
En revanche, là où ça marche beaucoup moins pour moi, c'est du côté des personnages. Bien sûr que je les ai trouvé attachants, ce sont exactement les mêmes que dans l'original!! Les deux jeunes filles en sont presque des caricatures. Certaines scènes également sont copiées-collées et je trouve ça très décevant. Et, plus agaçant que tout, sont toutes les descriptions des moeurs de l'époque. Pour commencer, elles sont totalement inutiles mais en plus, sont placées extrêmement maladroitement. Ce qui me venait à l'esprit à chaque page, c'est cette maxime enfantine: "la culture c'est comme la confiture, moins on en a, plus on l'étale." L'auteur tente tellement de nous convaincre qu'elle connait bien l'époque que ça tourne parfois au ridicule!!
Autre point négatif, pour servir l'intrigue, toutes les femmes croisées dans le roman on fait un mariage malheureux. Alors on ne peut pas prôner tous le long des 300 pages que tous les hommes sont infidèles et qu'aucun mariage, d'amour ou de convenance, ne fonctionne sur le long terme et espérer ensuite nous faire adhérer au "happy ending". A un moment donné, il faut choisir son camp!
Enfin, dernier point négatif, qui est certes un détail mais qui fait partie de toute cette nouvelle mode austenienne et du profit qu'en tirent certains: le titre ou comment caser "Mr Darcy" dans le titre d'un roman qui ne parle absolument pas de lui. Bravo.
http://janeausten.hautetfort.com/arch...
Ce que j'ai aimé, c'est la romance historique en elle-même et dans toute sa splendeur si je puis dire, ce qui pour moi ce traduit par un livre facile à lire, une ambiance agréable et une histoire d'amour, le tout sans grande surprise mais tout en sachant qu'on ne lit pas ce genre de livre pour être surpris non? "Quoi? Elle ne l'épouse pas à la fin???" Sacrilège!!! Bref, ce côté-là marche plutôt bien. J'ai quelques scènes qui me restent en tête, des fêtes où j'ai la joyeuse impression de m'être rendue, des confidence des héroïnes qu'elles semblent m'avoir chuchotées à l'oreille.
J'ai beaucoup aimé également me retrouver à Pemberley, y suivre la vie domestique et le réaménagement des jardins, ainsi que l'apparition discrète de Darcy, une présence, une phrase prononcée, juste la petite touche qu'il fallait pour faire plaisir aux lectrices sans trop toucher à ce personnage sacré!
Une autre chose que j'ai apprécié, et ça en fait quand même pas mal je trouve, ce sont toutes les petites intrigues secondaires dont le dénouement de l'une m'a pour le coup prise au dépourvu. Comme quoi, il y a même eu parfois plus que ce que j'espérais!
En revanche, là où ça marche beaucoup moins pour moi, c'est du côté des personnages. Bien sûr que je les ai trouvé attachants, ce sont exactement les mêmes que dans l'original!! Les deux jeunes filles en sont presque des caricatures. Certaines scènes également sont copiées-collées et je trouve ça très décevant. Et, plus agaçant que tout, sont toutes les descriptions des moeurs de l'époque. Pour commencer, elles sont totalement inutiles mais en plus, sont placées extrêmement maladroitement. Ce qui me venait à l'esprit à chaque page, c'est cette maxime enfantine: "la culture c'est comme la confiture, moins on en a, plus on l'étale." L'auteur tente tellement de nous convaincre qu'elle connait bien l'époque que ça tourne parfois au ridicule!!
Autre point négatif, pour servir l'intrigue, toutes les femmes croisées dans le roman on fait un mariage malheureux. Alors on ne peut pas prôner tous le long des 300 pages que tous les hommes sont infidèles et qu'aucun mariage, d'amour ou de convenance, ne fonctionne sur le long terme et espérer ensuite nous faire adhérer au "happy ending". A un moment donné, il faut choisir son camp!
Enfin, dernier point négatif, qui est certes un détail mais qui fait partie de toute cette nouvelle mode austenienne et du profit qu'en tirent certains: le titre ou comment caser "Mr Darcy" dans le titre d'un roman qui ne parle absolument pas de lui. Bravo.
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November 12, 2014
In this latest book in the Mr. Darcy's Daughters series, 20 year old Phoebe Hawkins, daughter of Georgiana Darcy and a Sir Giles Hawkins, has found love in her second season. After a whirlwind night of dancing and falling in love, Mr. Stanhope informs Phoebe he is going to call on her father to ask leave to pay his addresses. Sir Giles is against the match for two reason: one, Mr. Stanhope and his family are Whigs while Sir Giles is a Tory. Whigs are thought to be immoral and they marry their own kind. The other reason Sir Giles objects is because Mr. Stanhope as a lady in keeping and a reputation as a rake. She is crushed by her father's decision but determined to see Mr. Stanhope again because she doesn't believe the gossip. Unfortunately, Phoebe happens to see the dashing Mrs. Vereker leaving Mr. Stanhope's apartments shattering all Phoebe's hopes and dreams. Phoebe knows just enough about unfaithfulness and the unhappiness it causes within families to know she does not want to be married to such a one as Mr. Stanhope. She is packed off to Pemberley where she meets with her cousin Louisa Bingley (daughter of Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley). Mr. Darcy has hired an up-and-coming young landscape architecht, High Drummond, to modernize the Pemberley grounds and to build a new, large greenhouse for the tropical plans Elizabeth has collected on her travels. Once the renovations are complete, Mr. Darcy is to hold a ball and leaves Phoebe in charge of all the arrangements. Phoebe and Louisa's only other companion is a Miss Verney, a French emigree, forced to work as a governess for Mr. Darcy's grandchildren. Phoebe dislikes and mistrusts Miss Verney, but lkike her parents, Louisa refuses to see bad in anyone. Meanwhile, Mr. Stanhope learns that Phoebe is in the country and dashes off to see his married sister who lives in the neighborhood. He senses unhappiness all around him with his sister, with Phoebe and the mysterious Miss Verney. Phoebe spends a lot of time and energy trying to avoid Mr. Stanhope while Louisa becomes closer to Mr. Drummond. George Warren steps in to try to make trouble but this time everyone is suspicious and determined he will not make trouble for the Darcys again. Everything culminates at Mr. Darcy's ball where under the moonlight futures will be made and everything changes.
This is another rewrite of Pride and Prejudice featuring the next generation. It was a little confusing to keep everyone straight and follow the plot.
The mystery and villianry are hinted at and then dropped and then picked up again only to be resolved quickly and easily. The romances are predictable and come off as I hoped but there wasn't much of solid conclusion to Phoebe's story.
Though of all Aston's spinoffs, this one comes closest to actually being a story that a 19th century lady could have written. I enjoyed it and am sad that it seems to be the last in the series.
This is another rewrite of Pride and Prejudice featuring the next generation. It was a little confusing to keep everyone straight and follow the plot.
The mystery and villianry are hinted at and then dropped and then picked up again only to be resolved quickly and easily. The romances are predictable and come off as I hoped but there wasn't much of solid conclusion to Phoebe's story.
Though of all Aston's spinoffs, this one comes closest to actually being a story that a 19th century lady could have written. I enjoyed it and am sad that it seems to be the last in the series.
May 12, 2009
There seems to be many Austen sequels around lately and I haven't read that many. A few years ago I read Elizabeth's Aston Mr Darcy's Daughters and had a nice memory of it so when I won this one at Jane Austen's Today I decided to give it a go. Mr Darcy's Dream is book 6 in a series that Aston wrote about Austen P&P characters. Although it's not mandatory to read the others before this one I think it would actually improve the reading if you did because the Darcy's and the Bingley's have so many daughters that it is a bit difficult to locate everyone at first. The book can be read as a standalone though.
It tells the story of Georgiana Darcy's, now Lady Hawkins, daughter Phoebe. Phoebe has fallen in love with a young man called Arthur Stanhope. Mr Stanhope loves in return but unfortunately he doesn't belong to the same political party as Phoebe's father and he does have a bit of a rakish reputation so Sir Giles Hawkins denies them permission to marry and makes Phoebe promise she won’t see him again. While upset at first Phoebe readily agrees after she sees him with the woman she believes to be his mistress.
Out of sorts and unhappy Phoebe is sent to Pemberley for the summer. The Darcy's are away but are planning a ball for their return and Mr Darcy leaves Phoebe to do all the organising. To keep her company she has Louisa Bingley, Jane Bennet and Mr Bingley's daughter, who after 3 seasons in London still hasn't found a man who interests her. In the house is also Mr Drummond, the man who is redesigning Mr Darcy's gardens, he is a close friend of Mr Stanhope who in turn comes to Derbyshire ostensibly to visit his sister but in fact to speak to Phoebe. Stanhope pursues Phoebe who tries to avoid him and Miss Bingley and Mr Drummond develop a fondness for each other while talking about plants and plotting to bring their friends together.
While I felt there was great potential in the book I think most of the tension is nonexistent due to the fact that there is never a confrontation between Phoebe and Stanhope about their feelings. Phoebe never explains to him that it is the fact that she saw him with another woman that disappointed her and not just her father’s orders. Since there was no real conflict it is just the story of his pursuit of her. I would have liked to see a bit more of Louisa Bingley's romance too as she was such a nice secondary character. The same goes for Stanhope's sister, I was glad that her problems were at an end but I would have liked to see a bit more of her and her thoughts.
Grade: 4/5
It tells the story of Georgiana Darcy's, now Lady Hawkins, daughter Phoebe. Phoebe has fallen in love with a young man called Arthur Stanhope. Mr Stanhope loves in return but unfortunately he doesn't belong to the same political party as Phoebe's father and he does have a bit of a rakish reputation so Sir Giles Hawkins denies them permission to marry and makes Phoebe promise she won’t see him again. While upset at first Phoebe readily agrees after she sees him with the woman she believes to be his mistress.
Out of sorts and unhappy Phoebe is sent to Pemberley for the summer. The Darcy's are away but are planning a ball for their return and Mr Darcy leaves Phoebe to do all the organising. To keep her company she has Louisa Bingley, Jane Bennet and Mr Bingley's daughter, who after 3 seasons in London still hasn't found a man who interests her. In the house is also Mr Drummond, the man who is redesigning Mr Darcy's gardens, he is a close friend of Mr Stanhope who in turn comes to Derbyshire ostensibly to visit his sister but in fact to speak to Phoebe. Stanhope pursues Phoebe who tries to avoid him and Miss Bingley and Mr Drummond develop a fondness for each other while talking about plants and plotting to bring their friends together.
While I felt there was great potential in the book I think most of the tension is nonexistent due to the fact that there is never a confrontation between Phoebe and Stanhope about their feelings. Phoebe never explains to him that it is the fact that she saw him with another woman that disappointed her and not just her father’s orders. Since there was no real conflict it is just the story of his pursuit of her. I would have liked to see a bit more of Louisa Bingley's romance too as she was such a nice secondary character. The same goes for Stanhope's sister, I was glad that her problems were at an end but I would have liked to see a bit more of her and her thoughts.
Grade: 4/5
December 22, 2009
Admittedly, I’ll read pretty much any Austen related book. I love them. I derive a lot of pleasure in reading how inspired authors share their imagination in what happens after the “story” has ended. Of course, the most often “sequeled” Austen story is, with little surprise, doubt, Pride & Prejudice. There is something about Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy’s relationship that is timeless. After all, Miss Jane captured its perfection to start with….and it remains up to all modern day fans to carry on the legacy.
Elizabeth Aston is once such fan worthy of reading. She has written a series of books based on Pride & Prejudice, the first one of which I read years ago was Mr. Darcy’s Daughters (written in 2003, I believe). For some unknown reason, I failed to read Aston’s subsequent books…that is until a couple of months ago.
On a corner of a bookshelf in a bookstore, I saw the cover for Mr. Darcy’s Dream. It looked very interesting and I bought it on the spot. I then promptly set it on my own bookshelf and passed it over for a while until I was in the “proper mood” to read it. I’d been reading Darcy’s Passions by Regina Jeffers, with little luck, so wasn’t sure if I could do Mr. Darcy’s Dream justice. Needless to say, I was happily surprised!
The story is a typical regency style romance, with strong willed young women who find themselves in a variety of situations with dashing hero-like men. There are no great plot surprises. You see most of the story coming; however, I don’t feel like that detracted from the book at all. It was an easy storyline that kept me interested and entertained.
What I enjoyed most was the idea of the Bingley & Darcy cousins maintaining a close relationship--keeping the family a strong, close-knit group. I also liked that a Warren is kept around to…well, to keep things interesting. To know that one of the main characters, Phoebe, is Georgiana’s daughter was a special treat--a small branch in the family tree that is now fleshed out in my imagination!
I look forward to catching up on other Aston novels that I previously neglected, as well anticipate future stories that she may conjure up to keep the fire for Pride & Prejudice fueled.
Elizabeth Aston is once such fan worthy of reading. She has written a series of books based on Pride & Prejudice, the first one of which I read years ago was Mr. Darcy’s Daughters (written in 2003, I believe). For some unknown reason, I failed to read Aston’s subsequent books…that is until a couple of months ago.
On a corner of a bookshelf in a bookstore, I saw the cover for Mr. Darcy’s Dream. It looked very interesting and I bought it on the spot. I then promptly set it on my own bookshelf and passed it over for a while until I was in the “proper mood” to read it. I’d been reading Darcy’s Passions by Regina Jeffers, with little luck, so wasn’t sure if I could do Mr. Darcy’s Dream justice. Needless to say, I was happily surprised!
The story is a typical regency style romance, with strong willed young women who find themselves in a variety of situations with dashing hero-like men. There are no great plot surprises. You see most of the story coming; however, I don’t feel like that detracted from the book at all. It was an easy storyline that kept me interested and entertained.
What I enjoyed most was the idea of the Bingley & Darcy cousins maintaining a close relationship--keeping the family a strong, close-knit group. I also liked that a Warren is kept around to…well, to keep things interesting. To know that one of the main characters, Phoebe, is Georgiana’s daughter was a special treat--a small branch in the family tree that is now fleshed out in my imagination!
I look forward to catching up on other Aston novels that I previously neglected, as well anticipate future stories that she may conjure up to keep the fire for Pride & Prejudice fueled.
July 4, 2015
Nouveau tome mais toujours les mêmes recettes avec ce roman où l'auteure utilise une fois de plus le nom de Darcy pour booster les ventes (parce que soyons clairs, ça n'a qu'un rappel lointain avec les Darcy, exception faite de Pemberley). Nous avons donc la fille de Georgiana, Phoebe, une gentille fille qui se meurt d'amour pour un homme refusé par son père sous le prétexte que c'est un libertin et la fille de Jane et Bingley : Louisa, ravissante mais exigeante, dont le coeur est à prendre... Bien entendu toutes deux se retrouvent à Pemberley en l'absence des Darcy mais en compagnie de la progéniture de deux des cinq pintades ( voir ma chronique des Filles de Mr Darcy pour comprendre l'appellation...) dont l'auteure nous inflige quelques nouvelles au passage ( rassurez vous, elles sont toutes parfaitement heureuses !). Donc dès les deux premiers chapitres, on devine ce qui va se produire dans la suite, (vu que c'est toujours la même chose)... du coup c'est vraiment lassant. Les usages sont toujours aussi peu respectés ( quand on voit la conversation entre Phoebe et le maitre d'écurie...). Les méchants sont toujours les mêmes et il y a toujours un personnage de vieille dame acariâtre à la Lady Catherine, sauf que ce n'est pas Lady Catherine... L'histoire d'Arthur & Phoebe est un peu entachée par les préjugés, mais bien sûr ça s'arrange...
Ce que j'aime : le fait que le mariage de Georgiana ne soit pas idyllique (pour une fois)
Ce que j'aime moins : le manque d'originalité du scénario, des personnages, des méchants (toujours le même : le beau fils de Caroline...)
En bref : Une histoire au scénario dépourvu de toute imagination qui, en inventant une nièce à Mr Darcy, utilise le nom du personnage pour vendre tout en faisant un copié collé dépourvu d'intensité de Pride & Prejudice. Je reconnais que c'est bien écrit et que ça se lit sans difficulté, mais que c'est fade !
Ma note
5/10
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