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What's Past Is Prologue: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Elizabeth Darcy has her eye on the future. Before her marriage, she saw herself making the best possible choice. Her husband saved her family from ruin. All he asked in return was her hand. Secure in his good opinion, Elizabeth married him. Only with hindsight and his cryptic warnings that passion is not immutable does Elizabeth question her decision. Her solution? Give him a son as soon as possible. Once his lust for her has been slaked, this service she has rendered him will ensure her value. The newlyweds are summoned to Rosings Park almost the moment they are married. Though the estate can boast of beautiful grounds, Elizabeth and Darcy arrive to find devastation. A flood has swept away Lady Catherine’s last hopes of hiding debt and years of mismanagement. She expects Darcy to shoulder the recovery efforts. The effort to save Rosings strains the already tense relationship between Elizabeth and her husband. To make matters worse, her presence is met with disdain and disinterest from the family. As the days in the besieged estate drag on, Elizabeth slowly untangles the histories and secrets of her new relations. Like Elizabeth’s marriage, the crisis at Rosings is the culmination of past events. Disaster need not be the result of only bad choices; good principles have led them astray as well. As for Elizabeth, she barely knows her husband, and loving him might be impossible. Yet, she is determined to save all she can—her marriage and the estate—and somehow create the future she longs for.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2018
63 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Ann Galvia
3 books27 followersAnn started writing sometime before she knew how letters functioned. Her first books were drawings of circus poodles heavily annotated with scribbles meant to tell a story. Upon learning how letters were combined to represent words, she started doing that instead. This has proven to be much more successful.
Sometime after that, she decided she wanted to study Anthropology and sometime after that, she decided she liked cats more than dogs. And sometime after that, she decided to become an educator and teach a new generation of kids how to combine letters to represent words, and use those words to express ideas.
And sometime after that, she realized all she really wanted to do was write, which probably should have been evident from the beginning.
Sometime after that, she decided she wanted to study Anthropology and sometime after that, she decided she liked cats more than dogs. And sometime after that, she decided to become an educator and teach a new generation of kids how to combine letters to represent words, and use those words to express ideas.
And sometime after that, she realized all she really wanted to do was write, which probably should have been evident from the beginning.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 22, 2018
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
This is a tough one to review. The writing is elegant, beautiful, and about as authentic-sounding Regency as you can find in a modern novel, and I really wanted to love the book. But I didn't.
Parts of the plot are intriguing and well-executed. This is especially true of the backstory. We have Elizabeth, who spurned Darcy's marriage proposal at Hunsford but did NOT accompany the Gardiners when they toured Pemberley. Instead, that was Jane, and Mr. Darcy took the opportunity to correct his mistake by making sure that she and Mr. Bingley were reunited. This meant it was Elizabeth who wrote to Jane informing her of Lydia's elopement with Mr. Wickham. Darcy found the couple and paid off Wickham to marry Lydia, as in canon. But Mr. Bingley felt it necessary to inform Mr. Bennet, who confronted Darcy to find out why he would go to such trouble on their behalf. Darcy was forced to confess his love for Elizabeth. Having done that, Darcy felt honor-bound to ask for Elizabeth's hand (not expecting her to agree). Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet was determined to repay the debt...unless Elizabeth agreed to marry Darcy, which she felt she must.
So they have married, but Elizabeth (without the opportunity to fall in love with him in Derbyshire) does not love Darcy and he knows it.
We join them, much too soon after their wedding day, having come to Rosings directly from Longbourn. Darcy's assistance is required for an emergency: the surrounding area has experienced devastating flooding and the estate is in crisis. Lady Catherine has been overspending for decades and never set money aside to deal with such a problem, expecting that Anne's marriage to Darcy would make the Pemberley coffers available to bail her out if necessary. Her disappointment that it didn't turn out that way is extreme, especially since Darcy's resources are currently limited after paying to get the Wickhams married. Unfortunately, his involvement in the matter is not a well-kept secret, and Lady Catherine is not hesitant to take out her displeasure on Elizabeth. She's also maneuvering to get rid of Mr. Collins, who has the misfortune of being Elizabeth's cousin. Georgiana and Kitty are with the newlywed Darcys, as both will be living with them (if they all ever manage to get away from Rosings).
Elizabeth displays wit and good manners despite Lady Catherine's distemper and the appearance of Lord Wortley's annoying second son, Thomas Fitzwilliam. Colonel Albert Fitzwilliam, the third son in the family, thankfully does make an appearance and serves as an affable buffer. Elizabeth does her best to make friends with Anne de Bourgh, who is curiously resistant despite asserting that she never wanted to marry Darcy. Georgiana is terrified of Lady Catherine but also surprisingly submissive of her brother, while Elizabeth sees the young lady has decided opinions of her own that she doesn't express.
We learn that Sir Lewis de Bourgh had very progressive ideas about the education of women but, sadly, died too young to educate either his wife or his daughter to effectively manage Rosings on their own. The senior Mr. Darcy was of the same mind as Sir Lewis, and Mrs. Anne Darcy was Lady Catherine's OLDER sister, so Lady C. deferred to her sister and brother regarding management of Rosings until they died. The intellect and education of women is an admirable theme that recurs throughout the book.
All of the above is good stuff. You can feel Elizabeth's claustrophobia within those ostentatious surroundings and her need to be out, either walking the grounds or visiting with Mrs. Collins and cooing over baby Fanny Collins. You can understand her difficulty trying to understand her husband, who seems like two different people-- one way in company and another in their bed.
Their bedchamber is where I think we get into some TMI territory and some surprising lack of logic on Elizabeth's part. A central theme is her conviction that "a son would remind Darcy of his wife's worth when his passion for her began its inevitable decline." I can believe her struggles and embarrassment regarding their marital relations, considering her innocence and lack of understanding of her husband. Due to Darcy's behavior, she thinks he only loves her because he lusts after her. (Rating is definitely MA.) Although Elizabeth is a willing and responsive partner, she thinks she sees a significant parallel to her parents' unhappy pairing: a gentleman marries a pretty girl to whom he's attracted. Could Darcy grow to view her with disdain over time as the disparity of their union pulls them apart, as she saw with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet?
I can buy this idea to a point, but come on! The intellectual difference between Elizabeth and her mother is too obvious to miss. Mrs. Bennet probably DID "catch" Mr. Bennet with "arts and allurements," since she encourages her daughters to employ them. Elizabeth never did that, so why does she believe the only way she can keep his interest is in bed? She respects and admires Darcy's intellect; it doesn't ring true to me that she doesn't recognize his admiration for her own.
I wish the author had explained Elizabeth's insecurity as due to Darcy's apparent aloofness and their inability to have a "normal" honeymoon period. While the bedchamber scenes are not overly graphic, there are a lot of them. The author starts most chapters with a "morning after" scene. And the bride's discomfort with her husband's presence when she needs to use the water closet or deal with her courses is so strong that the reader becomes uncomfortable about it, too.
And the big "I love you" moment? Totally anticlimactic. I wasn't even positive it WAS a declaration of love but could be interpreted as "I'll grow to love you." Disappointing.
The rest of the book is wonderful and, as I said, I wanted to love it. But Elizabeth just is too intelligent for all the nonsense attributed to her thinking throughout the story.
This is a tough one to review. The writing is elegant, beautiful, and about as authentic-sounding Regency as you can find in a modern novel, and I really wanted to love the book. But I didn't.
Parts of the plot are intriguing and well-executed. This is especially true of the backstory. We have Elizabeth, who spurned Darcy's marriage proposal at Hunsford but did NOT accompany the Gardiners when they toured Pemberley. Instead, that was Jane, and Mr. Darcy took the opportunity to correct his mistake by making sure that she and Mr. Bingley were reunited. This meant it was Elizabeth who wrote to Jane informing her of Lydia's elopement with Mr. Wickham. Darcy found the couple and paid off Wickham to marry Lydia, as in canon. But Mr. Bingley felt it necessary to inform Mr. Bennet, who confronted Darcy to find out why he would go to such trouble on their behalf. Darcy was forced to confess his love for Elizabeth. Having done that, Darcy felt honor-bound to ask for Elizabeth's hand (not expecting her to agree). Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet was determined to repay the debt...unless Elizabeth agreed to marry Darcy, which she felt she must.
So they have married, but Elizabeth (without the opportunity to fall in love with him in Derbyshire) does not love Darcy and he knows it.
We join them, much too soon after their wedding day, having come to Rosings directly from Longbourn. Darcy's assistance is required for an emergency: the surrounding area has experienced devastating flooding and the estate is in crisis. Lady Catherine has been overspending for decades and never set money aside to deal with such a problem, expecting that Anne's marriage to Darcy would make the Pemberley coffers available to bail her out if necessary. Her disappointment that it didn't turn out that way is extreme, especially since Darcy's resources are currently limited after paying to get the Wickhams married. Unfortunately, his involvement in the matter is not a well-kept secret, and Lady Catherine is not hesitant to take out her displeasure on Elizabeth. She's also maneuvering to get rid of Mr. Collins, who has the misfortune of being Elizabeth's cousin. Georgiana and Kitty are with the newlywed Darcys, as both will be living with them (if they all ever manage to get away from Rosings).
Elizabeth displays wit and good manners despite Lady Catherine's distemper and the appearance of Lord Wortley's annoying second son, Thomas Fitzwilliam. Colonel Albert Fitzwilliam, the third son in the family, thankfully does make an appearance and serves as an affable buffer. Elizabeth does her best to make friends with Anne de Bourgh, who is curiously resistant despite asserting that she never wanted to marry Darcy. Georgiana is terrified of Lady Catherine but also surprisingly submissive of her brother, while Elizabeth sees the young lady has decided opinions of her own that she doesn't express.
We learn that Sir Lewis de Bourgh had very progressive ideas about the education of women but, sadly, died too young to educate either his wife or his daughter to effectively manage Rosings on their own. The senior Mr. Darcy was of the same mind as Sir Lewis, and Mrs. Anne Darcy was Lady Catherine's OLDER sister, so Lady C. deferred to her sister and brother regarding management of Rosings until they died. The intellect and education of women is an admirable theme that recurs throughout the book.
All of the above is good stuff. You can feel Elizabeth's claustrophobia within those ostentatious surroundings and her need to be out, either walking the grounds or visiting with Mrs. Collins and cooing over baby Fanny Collins. You can understand her difficulty trying to understand her husband, who seems like two different people-- one way in company and another in their bed.
Their bedchamber is where I think we get into some TMI territory and some surprising lack of logic on Elizabeth's part. A central theme is her conviction that "a son would remind Darcy of his wife's worth when his passion for her began its inevitable decline." I can believe her struggles and embarrassment regarding their marital relations, considering her innocence and lack of understanding of her husband. Due to Darcy's behavior, she thinks he only loves her because he lusts after her. (Rating is definitely MA.) Although Elizabeth is a willing and responsive partner, she thinks she sees a significant parallel to her parents' unhappy pairing: a gentleman marries a pretty girl to whom he's attracted. Could Darcy grow to view her with disdain over time as the disparity of their union pulls them apart, as she saw with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet?
I can buy this idea to a point, but come on! The intellectual difference between Elizabeth and her mother is too obvious to miss. Mrs. Bennet probably DID "catch" Mr. Bennet with "arts and allurements," since she encourages her daughters to employ them. Elizabeth never did that, so why does she believe the only way she can keep his interest is in bed? She respects and admires Darcy's intellect; it doesn't ring true to me that she doesn't recognize his admiration for her own.
I wish the author had explained Elizabeth's insecurity as due to Darcy's apparent aloofness and their inability to have a "normal" honeymoon period. While the bedchamber scenes are not overly graphic, there are a lot of them. The author starts most chapters with a "morning after" scene. And the bride's discomfort with her husband's presence when she needs to use the water closet or deal with her courses is so strong that the reader becomes uncomfortable about it, too.
And the big "I love you" moment? Totally anticlimactic. I wasn't even positive it WAS a declaration of love but could be interpreted as "I'll grow to love you." Disappointing.
The rest of the book is wonderful and, as I said, I wanted to love it. But Elizabeth just is too intelligent for all the nonsense attributed to her thinking throughout the story.
April 6, 2021
A breathtaking honest tableau of a marriage and truly coming to know one another.
Synopsis:
Jane went on the trip to Derbyshire instead of Lizzy to recuperate from low spirits. There she runs into Darcy and is reunited with Bingley. Thus Jane is the one to receive the letter of Lydia's elopement, it get's solved just the same, and Jane & Bingley marry soon after. Months pass and Lizzy is still unaware Darcy played a role in saving Lydia. Bingley eventually confesses and Mr Bennet is not one to feel at ease in debt to any man, so he goes to London to see if he can set up a payment schedule.
He first hounds Darcy as to why he would do that for his family, and eventually Darcy admits to being in love with Lizzy. Darcy then writes to propose to a grateful, in awe, Lizzy who feel she has no choice but to accept.
We open a week from ODC's wedding, they had to curtail their honeymoon plans as they are summoned to Rosings due to a major flooding of crops emergency.
The setting of Rosings for newly wed ODC is pure brilliance: The slightly cold & foreboding atmosphere that accompanies it pairs well with the uncertain fledgling marriage stage, coupled with the antagonism of Lady C, it make for a delicious concoction and contrast to where they were a year prior. You feel how ill at ease Lizzy is, trying to succeed in her role, yet Darcy is everything galant that will restore your equanimity and bring warmth to the chill of her uncertainty.
Darcy is incredibly tender with Lizzy, while she is giving it the good ole' college try to reciprocate in affection, she has all the respect and believes him the best of men but she doesn't understand his love; she interprets it as lust that is finite, and thus lives in fear of causing him to tire and regret her. Lizzy acts the part of a seductress to postpone the day she will be subjected to a marriage as unequal as her parents. She also worries about providing him an heir. The scenes of intimacy aren't explicit, though they flirt with it.
This novel has some of the most authentic & beautiful portrayals of the small intimacies: talking of the estate, their day, pillow talk, etc. Lizzy discusses sketching character with the subject openly. I adored that! FMS often rely of limited conversation or hostility as ways of a plot device, but here Ms Galvia steps up and writes two eager, rational creatures, trying to work at it!
That Which Sparked Joy:
♡ Prose, flow, symbolism, imagery, atmosphere, the motif of - overall she writes beautifully! So moving & emotive.
♡ Darcy & Lizzy and their relationship; Darcy is besotted, yet on character, just perfect! I was swooning! Lizzy is witty, charming and I felt for her; you really get where Lizzy’s motives & fears are coming from- they are valid and logical. Their forthright conversations pierced me!
♡ Kitty is hilarious, much needed levity. Love to see her traveling with them and her friendship with Georgiana and interacting with Lady C.
♡ I loved the attention to detail with the Rosings tenants and the flood issues, the conversations on the subject between Darcy and Lizzy added a depth to their marriage and were interesting.
♡ Really funny in an organic, subtle manner.
♡Amusing how Lizzy and Lady C are trying to poach from each other: Lady C wants Georgie at rosings; Lizzy wants Anne in town.
♡
That Which Courted Disdain:
Save maybe the epilogue- but I notoriously detest epilogues regardless.
The Decree:
This is one of those excellent JAFFs that allows for fresh admiration of the different facets of P&P characters. There were many observations that added to my appreciation of them, and elicited epiphanies.
There is no type of JAFF more engaging than that which makes you feel as if you've met them all over again and gifts you a new, deeper understanding and love of P&P.
I will note I read some of the other reviews and agree the ending may feel a bit underwhelming, but IMO it is the perfect close going with the theme of portraying a new marriage, this whole story takes place during a few weeks, and if you are paying attention Lizzy's love is growing and there, they practically re-met at the alter, her feelings are smarting. I however found it beautiful, and much more compelling than JAFFs where there is a lot of love yous and with very little effort or emotion. You feel it all sharply here!
Synopsis:
Jane went on the trip to Derbyshire instead of Lizzy to recuperate from low spirits. There she runs into Darcy and is reunited with Bingley. Thus Jane is the one to receive the letter of Lydia's elopement, it get's solved just the same, and Jane & Bingley marry soon after. Months pass and Lizzy is still unaware Darcy played a role in saving Lydia. Bingley eventually confesses and Mr Bennet is not one to feel at ease in debt to any man, so he goes to London to see if he can set up a payment schedule.
He first hounds Darcy as to why he would do that for his family, and eventually Darcy admits to being in love with Lizzy. Darcy then writes to propose to a grateful, in awe, Lizzy who feel she has no choice but to accept.
We open a week from ODC's wedding, they had to curtail their honeymoon plans as they are summoned to Rosings due to a major flooding of crops emergency.
The setting of Rosings for newly wed ODC is pure brilliance: The slightly cold & foreboding atmosphere that accompanies it pairs well with the uncertain fledgling marriage stage, coupled with the antagonism of Lady C, it make for a delicious concoction and contrast to where they were a year prior. You feel how ill at ease Lizzy is, trying to succeed in her role, yet Darcy is everything galant that will restore your equanimity and bring warmth to the chill of her uncertainty.
Darcy is incredibly tender with Lizzy, while she is giving it the good ole' college try to reciprocate in affection, she has all the respect and believes him the best of men but she doesn't understand his love; she interprets it as lust that is finite, and thus lives in fear of causing him to tire and regret her. Lizzy acts the part of a seductress to postpone the day she will be subjected to a marriage as unequal as her parents. She also worries about providing him an heir. The scenes of intimacy aren't explicit, though they flirt with it.
This novel has some of the most authentic & beautiful portrayals of the small intimacies: talking of the estate, their day, pillow talk, etc. Lizzy discusses sketching character with the subject openly. I adored that! FMS often rely of limited conversation or hostility as ways of a plot device, but here Ms Galvia steps up and writes two eager, rational creatures, trying to work at it!
That Which Sparked Joy:
♡ Prose, flow, symbolism, imagery, atmosphere, the motif of - overall she writes beautifully! So moving & emotive.
♡ Darcy & Lizzy and their relationship; Darcy is besotted, yet on character, just perfect! I was swooning! Lizzy is witty, charming and I felt for her; you really get where Lizzy’s motives & fears are coming from- they are valid and logical. Their forthright conversations pierced me!
♡ Kitty is hilarious, much needed levity. Love to see her traveling with them and her friendship with Georgiana and interacting with Lady C.
♡ I loved the attention to detail with the Rosings tenants and the flood issues, the conversations on the subject between Darcy and Lizzy added a depth to their marriage and were interesting.
♡ Really funny in an organic, subtle manner.
♡Amusing how Lizzy and Lady C are trying to poach from each other: Lady C wants Georgie at rosings; Lizzy wants Anne in town.
♡
That Which Courted Disdain:
Save maybe the epilogue- but I notoriously detest epilogues regardless.
The Decree:
This is one of those excellent JAFFs that allows for fresh admiration of the different facets of P&P characters. There were many observations that added to my appreciation of them, and elicited epiphanies.
There is no type of JAFF more engaging than that which makes you feel as if you've met them all over again and gifts you a new, deeper understanding and love of P&P.
I will note I read some of the other reviews and agree the ending may feel a bit underwhelming, but IMO it is the perfect close going with the theme of portraying a new marriage, this whole story takes place during a few weeks, and if you are paying attention Lizzy's love is growing and there, they practically re-met at the alter, her feelings are smarting. I however found it beautiful, and much more compelling than JAFFs where there is a lot of love yous and with very little effort or emotion. You feel it all sharply here!
July 23, 2018
I so wanted to LOVE this book as I did this author's first book, which I read as a WIP and then as a published version. Debbie B. gives a long and detailed review which reflects much of my own opinions.
Darcy secures Elizabeth's hand in marriage according to his later analogy, "I put down the money to forward your sister’s marriage, and you repaid that debt with yourself."
I was late in the story disappointed with the "aha" moment when Elizabeth finally realizes and shares that she loves her husband, Fitzwilliam. Having married more or less out of gratitude for Darcy's having saved the Bennet family from shame and shorn, she now thinks that the only way to insure her worth to Darcy is to give him a son. Thus it is with mixed feelings and reactions that she accepts him into her bed. And that situation for a newly wed man is made even more difficult when within the first two weeks of their marriage they go to Rosings to attempt to save it. Lady Catherine gives them bedrooms in different wings.
That estate has been hit with flooding on top of much mismanagement. Darcy works tirelessly to balance the various difficulties and to convince his uncle to help shore up the estate's empty coffers. While Elizabeth comes to appreciate all his efforts I was rather appalled that her admiration never came to a point of loving him. She is even wary about what his sexual appetites mean when they are not always at the same level of intensity. (Imagine that he must advice that she talk to Mrs. Collins about the attentions of a husband.)
Some of the language is unique in that a chapter might begin talking about "the girl...." and then we hear that it is Elizabeth. The plight of Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana come into discussion. Marriages made for political clout and arranged by the families are explained. And then there is Mr. Collins having to be counseled about where his first loyalties lie.
This was an interesting variation. It did keep my interest, mainly because I kept wanting to hear Elizabeth say, "I love you" loudly and clearly and to then read of Darcy's reaction. Even the epilogue does not give us that moment between ODC that I would appreciate.
Darcy secures Elizabeth's hand in marriage according to his later analogy, "I put down the money to forward your sister’s marriage, and you repaid that debt with yourself."
I was late in the story disappointed with the "aha" moment when Elizabeth finally realizes and shares that she loves her husband, Fitzwilliam. Having married more or less out of gratitude for Darcy's having saved the Bennet family from shame and shorn, she now thinks that the only way to insure her worth to Darcy is to give him a son. Thus it is with mixed feelings and reactions that she accepts him into her bed. And that situation for a newly wed man is made even more difficult when within the first two weeks of their marriage they go to Rosings to attempt to save it. Lady Catherine gives them bedrooms in different wings.
That estate has been hit with flooding on top of much mismanagement. Darcy works tirelessly to balance the various difficulties and to convince his uncle to help shore up the estate's empty coffers. While Elizabeth comes to appreciate all his efforts I was rather appalled that her admiration never came to a point of loving him. She is even wary about what his sexual appetites mean when they are not always at the same level of intensity. (Imagine that he must advice that she talk to Mrs. Collins about the attentions of a husband.)
Some of the language is unique in that a chapter might begin talking about "the girl...." and then we hear that it is Elizabeth. The plight of Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana come into discussion. Marriages made for political clout and arranged by the families are explained. And then there is Mr. Collins having to be counseled about where his first loyalties lie.
This was an interesting variation. It did keep my interest, mainly because I kept wanting to hear Elizabeth say, "I love you" loudly and clearly and to then read of Darcy's reaction. Even the epilogue does not give us that moment between ODC that I would appreciate.
July 25, 2018
Unfortunately, I really struggled with this. I didn't really like it and had to force myself to finish it.
It took me a while to understand and catch up with what was going on at the beginning - Elizabeth never went to Derbyshire (so did not fall in love with Darcy), Jane went instead. The reader learns that he put things right between Jane and Bingley and still paid Wickham to marry Lydia.... so the story starts where Elizabeth has a choice - marry Darcy or her father faces a difficult 15 years trying to repay all the money Darcy had to pay to bring about Lydia's wedding. She adopts a very sensible approach to this - if he has loved her all this time, he can't be half bad... so the rest of the book makes no real sense to me as this sensibility seems to elude her for the remainder of the book...
Soon after the wedding, the Darcy's relocate to Rosings due to a flood and the need for Darcy to assist his aunt. All of the book is set there. Elizabeth is constantly worried, not that she tells Darcy or anyone else, that he doesn't love her but lusts after and as soon as he gets fed up, she'll be in the hedgerows... she has sex with him, she doesn't want sex with him, she wants him in her bed, she doesn't want him in her bed, she wants to be attractive to him then she doesn't. She is an amateur psychologist, sketching the character of everyone she meets making long and convoluted links between family members. Frankly it was irritating and made no sense to me.
We meet a whole range of characters, and just hear about others but it was too long and complicated for me to make the effort to keep up. The Epilogue just finished it off for me... some years down the line with future generations all having the same names as those we've spent a whole book with. I had no idea who was who or why an Epilogue was even needed.
So many issues were just left... predominantly Lady Catherine's insistence on an annulment and calling Elizabeth Miss Bennet... Why does Kitty call Mr Darcy Fitzwilliam when Elizabeth calls him Mr Darcy?! What the hell is up with Anne De Bourgh and her her multiple personalities, what happened to the Colonel, and what happened with Collins and the Bishop? (Sounds like a rude joke... it's not!)
I should have given up with this one... there is a lot of repetition too, the same sentences or expressions. It's a real shame. There are so many really good and original ideas contained in here but I wonder whether there aren't too many strands... one idea at a time might have been better.
It took me a while to understand and catch up with what was going on at the beginning - Elizabeth never went to Derbyshire (so did not fall in love with Darcy), Jane went instead. The reader learns that he put things right between Jane and Bingley and still paid Wickham to marry Lydia.... so the story starts where Elizabeth has a choice - marry Darcy or her father faces a difficult 15 years trying to repay all the money Darcy had to pay to bring about Lydia's wedding. She adopts a very sensible approach to this - if he has loved her all this time, he can't be half bad... so the rest of the book makes no real sense to me as this sensibility seems to elude her for the remainder of the book...
Soon after the wedding, the Darcy's relocate to Rosings due to a flood and the need for Darcy to assist his aunt. All of the book is set there. Elizabeth is constantly worried, not that she tells Darcy or anyone else, that he doesn't love her but lusts after and as soon as he gets fed up, she'll be in the hedgerows... she has sex with him, she doesn't want sex with him, she wants him in her bed, she doesn't want him in her bed, she wants to be attractive to him then she doesn't. She is an amateur psychologist, sketching the character of everyone she meets making long and convoluted links between family members. Frankly it was irritating and made no sense to me.
We meet a whole range of characters, and just hear about others but it was too long and complicated for me to make the effort to keep up. The Epilogue just finished it off for me... some years down the line with future generations all having the same names as those we've spent a whole book with. I had no idea who was who or why an Epilogue was even needed.
So many issues were just left... predominantly Lady Catherine's insistence on an annulment and calling Elizabeth Miss Bennet... Why does Kitty call Mr Darcy Fitzwilliam when Elizabeth calls him Mr Darcy?! What the hell is up with Anne De Bourgh and her her multiple personalities, what happened to the Colonel, and what happened with Collins and the Bishop? (Sounds like a rude joke... it's not!)
I should have given up with this one... there is a lot of repetition too, the same sentences or expressions. It's a real shame. There are so many really good and original ideas contained in here but I wonder whether there aren't too many strands... one idea at a time might have been better.
August 6, 2018
Review published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
Having read so many wonderful reviews of Side By Side Apart I was very expectant about Ann Galvia's second book, What's Past is Prologue. In this sequel Galvia approaches Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship in a very realistic manner by bringing into the narrative topics that are not always present in this type of literature, but which could also be a little controversial, and not to everyone's tastes, due to the detail with which they are explored.
It wasn't easy for me to get into the story in the initial chapters, and I believe it will be beneficial for readers to either read the blurb or reviews explaining the premise before starting to read this book. In What's Past is Prologue it is Jane who goes on the trip to Derbyshire where she meets Darcy and reunites with Bingley. While there, she receives a letter from Elizabeth telling her about Lydia's elopement and Darcy still saves her, but when Mr. Bennet discovers his involvement he goes to London to ask for explanations, and Darcy confesses he has intervened only because of Elizabeth. Due to this confession, he feels obliged to propose and Elizabeth feels obliged to accept. Of course she knows Darcy loves her still, but she accepts mainly because of gratitude and is not yet in love with him. We don't see any of these events taking place because the book starts right after their marriage when they travel to Kent to help Lady Catherine with estate matters, so it's important to know this before reading the book in order to get some context when the narrative begins.
The story starts at Rosings where the couple is accompanied by Kitty and Georgiana. Elizabeth is still adapting to her married life, struggling with her own insecurities, feelings and society's expectations as well as Lady Catherine's disrespect and Anne de Bourgh's cold manner. Surprisingly we don't see Darcy come to the rescue of his wife as I would have expect and he has little intervention in the treatment his wife is receiving from his family.
The story is told from Elizabeth's point of view and her misapprehensions and insecurities made the narrative dispassionate, cold and dry in my opinion. There is a lot of focus in physical aspects, though not in a sexual way, and not much in the love that Darcy may feel for her. He is seen as an insatiable man and this could have been interesting if we could see it as a demonstration of love, instead we see Elizabeth looking at this as an obligation to provide an heir to Pemberley. We know that Darcy loves her, and she even welcomes his caresses, but it is always too mechanical for my taste.
Readers who like a lot of Darcy and Elizabeth time will be happy to know that there are a lot of scenes between them and several long dialogues. This is something I always like to see on a book, but I confess that their dialogues felt too cold and distant, and I only started to feel a true connection between them towards the end of the book.
I enjoyed the characterisation of Sir Lewis the Bourgh and his opinions on the education of women, this along with the literary mentions were a good addition to the narrative and kept my interest every time it was brough up. Lord Wortley's second son, Thomas Fitzwilliam, was also an addition I enjoyed in this book. It is hard to read him at first, but I ended up liking the character and would even like to see more of him in this story.
My main quibble with this book was the lack of passion and story developments in the sense that I kept expecting something to happen, but never did. I thought that some character behaviours would lead to some interesting revelations or for something to be uncovered, but that never happened. This book was not intended to be an action driven book, I believe Galvia's main interest was to have a character driven novel, but I didn't feel any connection to either Elizabeth or Darcy and for that reason some action would have helped me to keep invested in the book.
I believe What's Past is Prologue is a book that may appeal to readers interested in feminist stories not only because of Sir Lewis de Bourgh's views of women's education and role in society, but also because of the trust that Darcy places in Elizabeth. Their dialogues show that Darcy sees Elizabeth as an equal with whom he can discuss serious matters regarding the estate and daily issues that may arise. This was what captivated me the most about this book and I believe readers with feminist sensibilities will appreciate it too.
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
Having read so many wonderful reviews of Side By Side Apart I was very expectant about Ann Galvia's second book, What's Past is Prologue. In this sequel Galvia approaches Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship in a very realistic manner by bringing into the narrative topics that are not always present in this type of literature, but which could also be a little controversial, and not to everyone's tastes, due to the detail with which they are explored.
It wasn't easy for me to get into the story in the initial chapters, and I believe it will be beneficial for readers to either read the blurb or reviews explaining the premise before starting to read this book. In What's Past is Prologue it is Jane who goes on the trip to Derbyshire where she meets Darcy and reunites with Bingley. While there, she receives a letter from Elizabeth telling her about Lydia's elopement and Darcy still saves her, but when Mr. Bennet discovers his involvement he goes to London to ask for explanations, and Darcy confesses he has intervened only because of Elizabeth. Due to this confession, he feels obliged to propose and Elizabeth feels obliged to accept. Of course she knows Darcy loves her still, but she accepts mainly because of gratitude and is not yet in love with him. We don't see any of these events taking place because the book starts right after their marriage when they travel to Kent to help Lady Catherine with estate matters, so it's important to know this before reading the book in order to get some context when the narrative begins.
The story starts at Rosings where the couple is accompanied by Kitty and Georgiana. Elizabeth is still adapting to her married life, struggling with her own insecurities, feelings and society's expectations as well as Lady Catherine's disrespect and Anne de Bourgh's cold manner. Surprisingly we don't see Darcy come to the rescue of his wife as I would have expect and he has little intervention in the treatment his wife is receiving from his family.
The story is told from Elizabeth's point of view and her misapprehensions and insecurities made the narrative dispassionate, cold and dry in my opinion. There is a lot of focus in physical aspects, though not in a sexual way, and not much in the love that Darcy may feel for her. He is seen as an insatiable man and this could have been interesting if we could see it as a demonstration of love, instead we see Elizabeth looking at this as an obligation to provide an heir to Pemberley. We know that Darcy loves her, and she even welcomes his caresses, but it is always too mechanical for my taste.
Readers who like a lot of Darcy and Elizabeth time will be happy to know that there are a lot of scenes between them and several long dialogues. This is something I always like to see on a book, but I confess that their dialogues felt too cold and distant, and I only started to feel a true connection between them towards the end of the book.
I enjoyed the characterisation of Sir Lewis the Bourgh and his opinions on the education of women, this along with the literary mentions were a good addition to the narrative and kept my interest every time it was brough up. Lord Wortley's second son, Thomas Fitzwilliam, was also an addition I enjoyed in this book. It is hard to read him at first, but I ended up liking the character and would even like to see more of him in this story.
My main quibble with this book was the lack of passion and story developments in the sense that I kept expecting something to happen, but never did. I thought that some character behaviours would lead to some interesting revelations or for something to be uncovered, but that never happened. This book was not intended to be an action driven book, I believe Galvia's main interest was to have a character driven novel, but I didn't feel any connection to either Elizabeth or Darcy and for that reason some action would have helped me to keep invested in the book.
I believe What's Past is Prologue is a book that may appeal to readers interested in feminist stories not only because of Sir Lewis de Bourgh's views of women's education and role in society, but also because of the trust that Darcy places in Elizabeth. Their dialogues show that Darcy sees Elizabeth as an equal with whom he can discuss serious matters regarding the estate and daily issues that may arise. This was what captivated me the most about this book and I believe readers with feminist sensibilities will appreciate it too.
October 4, 2018
One small change in a story, sets Elizabeth Bennet on a path she did not want to follow but compassion and gratitude did.
"He would someday forget the force of passion that propelled him into this unfavourable alliance. Someday, it would all be gone. What would become of her then?" (quote from the book)
Elizabeth and Darcy have only been married for a se'nnight when they travel to Rosings Park to deal with a crisis. Kitty and Georgiana accompany them. Elizabeth's fears are magnified under Lady Catherine's disdain. Her greatest fear is having her marriage turn out like her parents.
"Like any new bride, Elizabeth could not forget the watchful eyes of family and society. They would wait until she had produced a son before declaring her a truly legitimate wife." (quote from the book)
This variation, like Ms. Galvia's debut novel (which I loved), captures a true sense of realism for the time period. It is more serious and to some degree rather psychological. It provides the unfiltered thoughts of Elizabeth as she works to understand not only herself but Darcy.
"Every morning, she watched him transform from another man into the staid and fastidious Darcy she knew, blink by sluggish blink." (quote from the book)
It is a well written novel that kept me wanting to know how Elizabeth comes to slowly and truly appreciate Darcy and her gradual love and need for him. Throughout it all, you know he loves her. There are some mature scenes that I could have done without though and some points were just belaboured. Through it all, is the crisis that Darcy handles, and the thread of the consequences poor education of women had during that time.
I was fortunate to win a copy of this book without expectation of a review.
"He would someday forget the force of passion that propelled him into this unfavourable alliance. Someday, it would all be gone. What would become of her then?" (quote from the book)
Elizabeth and Darcy have only been married for a se'nnight when they travel to Rosings Park to deal with a crisis. Kitty and Georgiana accompany them. Elizabeth's fears are magnified under Lady Catherine's disdain. Her greatest fear is having her marriage turn out like her parents.
"Like any new bride, Elizabeth could not forget the watchful eyes of family and society. They would wait until she had produced a son before declaring her a truly legitimate wife." (quote from the book)
This variation, like Ms. Galvia's debut novel (which I loved), captures a true sense of realism for the time period. It is more serious and to some degree rather psychological. It provides the unfiltered thoughts of Elizabeth as she works to understand not only herself but Darcy.
"Every morning, she watched him transform from another man into the staid and fastidious Darcy she knew, blink by sluggish blink." (quote from the book)
It is a well written novel that kept me wanting to know how Elizabeth comes to slowly and truly appreciate Darcy and her gradual love and need for him. Throughout it all, you know he loves her. There are some mature scenes that I could have done without though and some points were just belaboured. Through it all, is the crisis that Darcy handles, and the thread of the consequences poor education of women had during that time.
I was fortunate to win a copy of this book without expectation of a review.
August 3, 2018
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, from the reviews. I found Elizabeth's inner struggles and fears very realistic, considering that she didn't know much about Darcy, that she was very young and that the story happens just a few days after their wedding.
The moment of their confrontation was very satisfying to me. If I have some complains those would be that the book dragged a bit in my opinion (too many internal thoughts, too much analyzing, etc.) and the [boring] epilogue.
The moment of their confrontation was very satisfying to me. If I have some complains those would be that the book dragged a bit in my opinion (too many internal thoughts, too much analyzing, etc.) and the [boring] epilogue.
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September 19, 2018Ann Galvia’s latest Pride and Prejudice variation, What’s Past Is Prologue, is based on an interesting forced marriage scenario between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. The circumstances of their marriage are tied to Darcy’s orchestration of Lydia Bennet’s marriage to Mr. Wickham. But in this variation, it was Jane who went to Pemberley on holiday with the Gardiners, leading to her reunion with Mr. Bingley and their marriage thereafter. Elizabeth’s reunion with Darcy is more of a rocky road to happily ever after.
The Darcys have been married for just a week when they, accompanied by their sisters Kitty Bennet and Georgiana Darcy, are called to Rosings Park by Lady Catherine de Bourgh to deal with the aftermath of a devastating flood. Readers see an Elizabeth unsure of her new position as Mrs. Darcy, an Elizabeth who expects Mr. Darcy to question his decision to marry her against his family’s wishes and to eventually lose interest in her. She is focused on providing Darcy with an heir to solidify her position as his legitimate wife in the eyes of society.
While Elizabeth navigates the newness of married life, she faces a bombardment of criticism from Lady Catherine, a formal reception from her once dearest friend Charlotte Collins, and worries that Miss de Bourgh has been hurt by their marriage, as Darcy was supposedly engaged to her. As Darcy faces the burdens of his aunt’s financial troubles, Elizabeth works to sketch his character, check Kitty’s behavior, and figure out how to encourage Georgiana to assert herself.
What’s Past Is Prologue is a character-driven novel that is slow to develop. There are long conversations between the Darcys, most of them taking place in the bedroom and many of them awkward. There are plenty of steamy bedroom scenes as well. I wish there had been more action associated with the problems at Rosings than these slow scenes of dialogue and Elizabeth contemplating sleeping and bathroom arrangements after their intimacies.
The writing was lovely, though, so I continued reading through all the slow parts, and I was satisfied with the ending. I must admit that I enjoyed Galvia’s first novel, Side by Side, Apart more, but I do look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric
The Darcys have been married for just a week when they, accompanied by their sisters Kitty Bennet and Georgiana Darcy, are called to Rosings Park by Lady Catherine de Bourgh to deal with the aftermath of a devastating flood. Readers see an Elizabeth unsure of her new position as Mrs. Darcy, an Elizabeth who expects Mr. Darcy to question his decision to marry her against his family’s wishes and to eventually lose interest in her. She is focused on providing Darcy with an heir to solidify her position as his legitimate wife in the eyes of society.
While Elizabeth navigates the newness of married life, she faces a bombardment of criticism from Lady Catherine, a formal reception from her once dearest friend Charlotte Collins, and worries that Miss de Bourgh has been hurt by their marriage, as Darcy was supposedly engaged to her. As Darcy faces the burdens of his aunt’s financial troubles, Elizabeth works to sketch his character, check Kitty’s behavior, and figure out how to encourage Georgiana to assert herself.
What’s Past Is Prologue is a character-driven novel that is slow to develop. There are long conversations between the Darcys, most of them taking place in the bedroom and many of them awkward. There are plenty of steamy bedroom scenes as well. I wish there had been more action associated with the problems at Rosings than these slow scenes of dialogue and Elizabeth contemplating sleeping and bathroom arrangements after their intimacies.
The writing was lovely, though, so I continued reading through all the slow parts, and I was satisfied with the ending. I must admit that I enjoyed Galvia’s first novel, Side by Side, Apart more, but I do look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric
August 9, 2018
I read this as a completed story at a JAFF site. Ann Galvia's unvarnished style suits me very well, and I'm a huge fangirl. I don't care for fluffy, insipid JAFF, and "What's Past is Prologue" is clearly not that.
The romance takes a while to gel because normal angst interferes, and that's the joy of reading her books. Like me, Galvia has strong feelings about not just interpreting the best of Darcy's and Elizabeth's character traits, but all of them that Austen displayed for us in canon, and these characterizations are realistic.
Not as good as "Side by Side, Apart," but an enjoyable novel, with the benefit of Gail Warner as editor, so the technical aspects will be seamless.
Disclaimer: Conflict of interest exists because Ann Galvia and I use the same publisher.
The romance takes a while to gel because normal angst interferes, and that's the joy of reading her books. Like me, Galvia has strong feelings about not just interpreting the best of Darcy's and Elizabeth's character traits, but all of them that Austen displayed for us in canon, and these characterizations are realistic.
Not as good as "Side by Side, Apart," but an enjoyable novel, with the benefit of Gail Warner as editor, so the technical aspects will be seamless.
Disclaimer: Conflict of interest exists because Ann Galvia and I use the same publisher.
April 2, 2022
Definitely not a speed read
Reviewed in Canada on January 25, 2019
This book had me reading and rereading passages to appreciate their meaning. At times, it was hard to follow. The language is complicated, yet beautiful. This wasn’t a fun read, but I can’t give it a bad rating because it is so well written.
Reviewed in Canada on January 25, 2019
This book had me reading and rereading passages to appreciate their meaning. At times, it was hard to follow. The language is complicated, yet beautiful. This wasn’t a fun read, but I can’t give it a bad rating because it is so well written.
December 21, 2021
Where is the love?
I never felt that Lizzy loved Darcy. She seems at the end of the book to be embarrassed that she is causing him pain and “chooses” to love him. The way it was written I couldn’t believe she felt love, she felt that she should feel love.
The author is to skilled a writer to have not written it that way intentionally. I can’t enjoy a book where ODC aren’t both in love. Seems to be that her parents lack of love for each other and for their children had taught Lizzy not to give way to love.
I was sad at the end.
I never felt that Lizzy loved Darcy. She seems at the end of the book to be embarrassed that she is causing him pain and “chooses” to love him. The way it was written I couldn’t believe she felt love, she felt that she should feel love.
The author is to skilled a writer to have not written it that way intentionally. I can’t enjoy a book where ODC aren’t both in love. Seems to be that her parents lack of love for each other and for their children had taught Lizzy not to give way to love.
I was sad at the end.
August 4, 2018
In this Pride and Prejudice inspired story, Elizabeth and Darcy are called to Rosings to take care of an emergency just as they should be heading to Pemberly for their honeymoon. Aunt Catherine is doing everything that she can to separate the couple - including putting them in rooms in separate wings of the house! Our dear couple must learn of each other and how to be a supportive couple to make it through the family emergency while most everyone is trying to tear them apart.
Elizabeth accepted Darcy after he paid to save Lydia so she is not really in love with Darcy (to start). She is obnoxiously obsessed with how to keep his attention and have an heir as soon as possible. He just wants to love her. They do eventually find themselves mutually in love, and the over the top Elizabeth does calm down. However, I really wanted to hurt her for most of the book.
Elizabeth accepted Darcy after he paid to save Lydia so she is not really in love with Darcy (to start). She is obnoxiously obsessed with how to keep his attention and have an heir as soon as possible. He just wants to love her. They do eventually find themselves mutually in love, and the over the top Elizabeth does calm down. However, I really wanted to hurt her for most of the book.
August 8, 2018
3,5 stars out of 5
Review published on: https://myvicesandweaknesses.wordpres...
Elizabeth and Darcy never met in Pemberley. It was Jane who met Mr Darcy as it was her who went with the Gardiners. Then a lovely reunion with Mr Bingley and then… Lydia’s elopement that can ruin everything!
However, as we know, Darcy made everything right.
Lizzy gets a marriage proposal, again, in a letter, from Darcy because Mr Bennet is too pushy when he asks him why he did what he did for Lydia.
Lizzy accepts but not because she is in love, but because she feels it is the honourable thing to do after all his struggle. (Not a good beginning)
Newly married, they are summoned to Rosings. Elizabeth is treated poorly by Lady Catherine (as you can imagine). However, Elizabeth is always loyal to her husband and supports him.
Darcy faces a big problem in Rosings: the floods have destroyed harvests, houses, etc. and there is no money to be used. Darcy is trying to help Lady Catherine but she keeps being insolent, pedantic and mean… to the point of wanting to kick Mr Collins from the parish because he is the cousin of Mrs Darcy.
Moreover, the cost to help all the farmers, villagers and so on after the flood is too high and Darcy right now cannot help directly as he has lately had some “unexpected payments” to make. Therefore, Darcy’s uncle sends one of his sons, the brother of Colonel Fitzwilliam, to “check” on what Darcy is doing and to confirm the need for such an amount of money. Let’s say that he is not as nice as his brother although he pretends to be. (I hate one of his comments, the one about getting a wife.)
Anne de Bourgh eventually speaks to Elizabeth, not because she hated her before, because she had not much to say. They become cousins and maybe friends eventually…
Georgiana and Kitty, who is to live with the Darcys, are fast friends and they are very good to each other. This will be helpful for everyone.
From my point of view, Lizzy is a bit annoying, she is only worried about not being attractive enough to Darcy for a long time because right now he is “super-in-love” and wants her a lot, but this may not last, as Darcy told her. (I suppose it was jokingly). Elizabeth is worried because she does not want Darcy to tire of her, to realise that he made “a mistake”. She wants to have his heir and spare because then she may not be seen as “a mistake”. However, SPOILER ALERT…
.
.
.
she may change her mind as we have a happy ending.
I like Ann’s beginning of the chapters with “the girl”, it is a relevant feature to use and it has a meaning later on.
Review published on: https://myvicesandweaknesses.wordpres...
Elizabeth and Darcy never met in Pemberley. It was Jane who met Mr Darcy as it was her who went with the Gardiners. Then a lovely reunion with Mr Bingley and then… Lydia’s elopement that can ruin everything!
However, as we know, Darcy made everything right.
Lizzy gets a marriage proposal, again, in a letter, from Darcy because Mr Bennet is too pushy when he asks him why he did what he did for Lydia.
Lizzy accepts but not because she is in love, but because she feels it is the honourable thing to do after all his struggle. (Not a good beginning)
Newly married, they are summoned to Rosings. Elizabeth is treated poorly by Lady Catherine (as you can imagine). However, Elizabeth is always loyal to her husband and supports him.
Darcy faces a big problem in Rosings: the floods have destroyed harvests, houses, etc. and there is no money to be used. Darcy is trying to help Lady Catherine but she keeps being insolent, pedantic and mean… to the point of wanting to kick Mr Collins from the parish because he is the cousin of Mrs Darcy.
Moreover, the cost to help all the farmers, villagers and so on after the flood is too high and Darcy right now cannot help directly as he has lately had some “unexpected payments” to make. Therefore, Darcy’s uncle sends one of his sons, the brother of Colonel Fitzwilliam, to “check” on what Darcy is doing and to confirm the need for such an amount of money. Let’s say that he is not as nice as his brother although he pretends to be. (I hate one of his comments, the one about getting a wife.)
Anne de Bourgh eventually speaks to Elizabeth, not because she hated her before, because she had not much to say. They become cousins and maybe friends eventually…
Georgiana and Kitty, who is to live with the Darcys, are fast friends and they are very good to each other. This will be helpful for everyone.
From my point of view, Lizzy is a bit annoying, she is only worried about not being attractive enough to Darcy for a long time because right now he is “super-in-love” and wants her a lot, but this may not last, as Darcy told her. (I suppose it was jokingly). Elizabeth is worried because she does not want Darcy to tire of her, to realise that he made “a mistake”. She wants to have his heir and spare because then she may not be seen as “a mistake”. However, SPOILER ALERT…
.
.
.
she may change her mind as we have a happy ending.
I like Ann’s beginning of the chapters with “the girl”, it is a relevant feature to use and it has a meaning later on.
July 23, 2018
An excellent variation
This is a very interesting, quite different variation. It starts just after Lizzy marries Darcy, but instead of a honeymoon trip or anything like that, they get called to Rosings Park so Darcy can help his Aunt through a natural disaster. Kitty and Georgiana are with them and add to the mix of characters at Rosings. The increase in Lizzy's understanding of Darcy is what makes the book move along. It is well worth reading.
This is a very interesting, quite different variation. It starts just after Lizzy marries Darcy, but instead of a honeymoon trip or anything like that, they get called to Rosings Park so Darcy can help his Aunt through a natural disaster. Kitty and Georgiana are with them and add to the mix of characters at Rosings. The increase in Lizzy's understanding of Darcy is what makes the book move along. It is well worth reading.
July 20, 2018
I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I was going to and it dragged for me.
September 21, 2018
A variation of Pride and Prejudice, where it was Jane that has already been to Derbyshire with the Gardiners, and Darcy has saved the Bennets from ruin because of Lydia. So what is a lady to do when Darcy offers again. She does not love him, and feels insecure in Darcys' feeling towards her. To make their lives worse they are summoned, with Georgiana and Kitty, to Rosings to save Lady Catherine and her estate from financial ruin.
An interesting and well-written story but didn't quite catch my total imagination.
An interesting and well-written story but didn't quite catch my total imagination.
August 16, 2019
An Unusual Story
In this Pride and Prejudice variation Elizabeth Bennet does not travel to Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle Gardener. Instead, Jane Bennet travels with the Gardeners and it is her who accidentally runs into Mr Darcy at his home, Pemberly. Mr Bingley is visiting Pemberly at this time and Darcy uses this opportunity to reunite Jane and Bingley. Jane tells Mr. Darcy about Lydia’s elopement and he then pays Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia Bennet. The result of all of this is that Elizabeth never has her epiphany/ eureka moment when she realizes not only does she love Mr. Darcy but that he is perfect for her in every way. The result is a marriage where Darcy loves Elizabeth but she marries him out of gratitude for saving Lydia and to prevent him from having further heartache. She is under the mistaken impression that what he feels for her is lust and this will one day pass and he will then regret his marriage.
The book does give some realistic situations of early marriage and the behavior of Lady Catherine De Bourgh is somewhat interesting and comical. Overall I find it is not much of a love story and I don’t really like this Elizabeth Bennet who is insecure about her marriage. She fixates on her concerns about him losing interest in having sex with her and then regretting the marriage. She was clearly honest with him about her lack of love for him because they discuss this issue several times in the book. He is hopeful that one day she will grow to love him.
My other concern in this story is her treatment by his family. Lady Catherine disrespected Elizabeth repeatedly and then his cousin Tom basically calls her a prostitute. Fitzwilliam witnesses his aunt’s treatment of his wife and Elizabeth tells him what was said by his cousin. Fitzwilliam does nothing. He thinks what his cousin said was okay because it had some truth in it. Really! Who are these people. Why would any man allow his cousin to speak to his wife like this and why would his wife accept it. This is a very strange love story.
The epilogue does not adequately end the story. First of all it is told from the point of view of one of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth’s daughters. Most of the story is told from Elizabeth’s point of view. We learn what happens to that daughter. We learn very little about the relationship of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy. We don’t see him at all in the last chapter. Elizabeth’s feelings for Fitzwilliam is sort of hinted in the next to last chapter. What we do see is Elizabeth’s optimism about the future, and her intention to love Fitzwilliam. The whole point of the story is their relationship and it is not mentioned in the last chapter. The strangeness of this story continues to the end. I can’t make sense of this book and the most I can say is that it ends on a positive note.
In this Pride and Prejudice variation Elizabeth Bennet does not travel to Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle Gardener. Instead, Jane Bennet travels with the Gardeners and it is her who accidentally runs into Mr Darcy at his home, Pemberly. Mr Bingley is visiting Pemberly at this time and Darcy uses this opportunity to reunite Jane and Bingley. Jane tells Mr. Darcy about Lydia’s elopement and he then pays Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia Bennet. The result of all of this is that Elizabeth never has her epiphany/ eureka moment when she realizes not only does she love Mr. Darcy but that he is perfect for her in every way. The result is a marriage where Darcy loves Elizabeth but she marries him out of gratitude for saving Lydia and to prevent him from having further heartache. She is under the mistaken impression that what he feels for her is lust and this will one day pass and he will then regret his marriage.
The book does give some realistic situations of early marriage and the behavior of Lady Catherine De Bourgh is somewhat interesting and comical. Overall I find it is not much of a love story and I don’t really like this Elizabeth Bennet who is insecure about her marriage. She fixates on her concerns about him losing interest in having sex with her and then regretting the marriage. She was clearly honest with him about her lack of love for him because they discuss this issue several times in the book. He is hopeful that one day she will grow to love him.
My other concern in this story is her treatment by his family. Lady Catherine disrespected Elizabeth repeatedly and then his cousin Tom basically calls her a prostitute. Fitzwilliam witnesses his aunt’s treatment of his wife and Elizabeth tells him what was said by his cousin. Fitzwilliam does nothing. He thinks what his cousin said was okay because it had some truth in it. Really! Who are these people. Why would any man allow his cousin to speak to his wife like this and why would his wife accept it. This is a very strange love story.
The epilogue does not adequately end the story. First of all it is told from the point of view of one of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth’s daughters. Most of the story is told from Elizabeth’s point of view. We learn what happens to that daughter. We learn very little about the relationship of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy. We don’t see him at all in the last chapter. Elizabeth’s feelings for Fitzwilliam is sort of hinted in the next to last chapter. What we do see is Elizabeth’s optimism about the future, and her intention to love Fitzwilliam. The whole point of the story is their relationship and it is not mentioned in the last chapter. The strangeness of this story continues to the end. I can’t make sense of this book and the most I can say is that it ends on a positive note.
October 28, 2018
Strange title, but great book
After finishing this book, I still don't know what the title means. Is it a quote?
Anyway, another great read from this author. It took a while to get going because of the melancholy tone at the beginning. As in her other book, there is such a sense of heavy sadness in the beginning due to the inequity of affection between Darcy and Elizabeth, with all the unrequited love on Darcy's side. But don't give up, perseverance pays off here. The progression to happiness is pleasingly gradual and satisfying.
I particularly loved the conversations about sex and bodily functions that take place between Darcy and Elizabeth. They are charming and humorous, as are many of their other conversations. Darcy is witty in this story, and Elizabeth is clever and impertinent as we like her to be. They both need to call on their resources of courage and inner strength because of dire family circumstances, even while they are desperately trying to figure out their own feelings for each other because of the unusual circumstances of their marriage. Neither one disappoints in fulfilling our expectations.
The writing is superb and the editing is above average. Very few mistakes. Loved it!
After finishing this book, I still don't know what the title means. Is it a quote?
Anyway, another great read from this author. It took a while to get going because of the melancholy tone at the beginning. As in her other book, there is such a sense of heavy sadness in the beginning due to the inequity of affection between Darcy and Elizabeth, with all the unrequited love on Darcy's side. But don't give up, perseverance pays off here. The progression to happiness is pleasingly gradual and satisfying.
I particularly loved the conversations about sex and bodily functions that take place between Darcy and Elizabeth. They are charming and humorous, as are many of their other conversations. Darcy is witty in this story, and Elizabeth is clever and impertinent as we like her to be. They both need to call on their resources of courage and inner strength because of dire family circumstances, even while they are desperately trying to figure out their own feelings for each other because of the unusual circumstances of their marriage. Neither one disappoints in fulfilling our expectations.
The writing is superb and the editing is above average. Very few mistakes. Loved it!
September 4, 2023
This takes place after Lydia's elopement. The backstory is that Jane went to Derbyshire with the Gardiners, instead of Elizabeth. Now Jangley are married and Bingley told Mr. Bennet about Darcy's involvement in Lydia's recovery. Mr. Bennet went to confront Darcy and and his desire to marry Elizabeth came up somehow that confrontation. Because the family owed a huge debt to him, Elizabeth didn't feel like she could refuse again.
The actual plot begins at Rosings, shortly after their wedding. There was a flood and Darcy is expected to fix things but he can't throw his own money around because he spent quite a lot bribing Wickham. Elizabeth worries about Darcy's relatives, her own ability to be a good wife who bears heirs, and the possibility that the physical attraction he feels might wane and it would leave only contempt.
I read the other reviews and I could see where they were coming from. Elizabeth waffles about the same insecurities quite a bit and what counts as the romantic climax seemed a bit rushed and flat. But I enjoyed this story a lot regardless and wish the author would write more.
Steam level: their sexual intimacy or lack thereof is a significant plot element.
The actual plot begins at Rosings, shortly after their wedding. There was a flood and Darcy is expected to fix things but he can't throw his own money around because he spent quite a lot bribing Wickham. Elizabeth worries about Darcy's relatives, her own ability to be a good wife who bears heirs, and the possibility that the physical attraction he feels might wane and it would leave only contempt.
I read the other reviews and I could see where they were coming from. Elizabeth waffles about the same insecurities quite a bit and what counts as the romantic climax seemed a bit rushed and flat. But I enjoyed this story a lot regardless and wish the author would write more.
Steam level: their sexual intimacy or lack thereof is a significant plot element.
June 12, 2025
Well written but i felt like the book had no ending. Elizabeth was still not in love with Darcy at the end. What even is the point of reading all their misunderstandings and struggles if we don't get to read the rewards? Wish author had taken few more chapters and actually developed the love also. I also found the resolution to Elizabeth's fear about Darcy losing interest in her as lacking. There were lots of issues that were developed but its like the author suddenly had to hurry and finish the novel so the author just added an epilogue from Elizabeth's daughters pov where we know atleast Elizabeth had sons. We don't even see Darcy in the epilogue, so we had no scenes of them being mutually in love. The more i write this review the more frustrated I'm feeling with book and I'm tempted to lower the stars from 3 to 1
September 14, 2022
One of my Least favorite Elizabeth
This book was a bit difficult for me. I found Elizabeth selfish. She wanted Darcy to love her always but did not feel that she needed to return that love. She wanted him to desire her but suppresed her desire for him. The dialogs between Lizzy and Darcy were a bit too complex for me. They spoke in riddles that I found myself rereading several times.
But I did like this Darcy. He was constant like Darcy is. The storyline was unique and I liked that.
This would have been great if I could enjoy Lizzy more. This author took Lizzy propensity to Sketch characters a little too extreme. She over analyzed everything.
This book was a bit difficult for me. I found Elizabeth selfish. She wanted Darcy to love her always but did not feel that she needed to return that love. She wanted him to desire her but suppresed her desire for him. The dialogs between Lizzy and Darcy were a bit too complex for me. They spoke in riddles that I found myself rereading several times.
But I did like this Darcy. He was constant like Darcy is. The storyline was unique and I liked that.
This would have been great if I could enjoy Lizzy more. This author took Lizzy propensity to Sketch characters a little too extreme. She over analyzed everything.
September 9, 2018
Wow, so different
A part of me chafed at Elizabeth deciding to marry without professing to be in love. But this book comes across as being very believable, as I was never convinced in the original that Lizzy was truly "in love" with Mr. Darcy. In this book, though she holds herself back, truly she does love him, giving freely of herself. It is very well written. Not sloppy and no over dependence on copying the words direct from Austen. I am remembering at this time only one familiar turn of phrase.
A part of me chafed at Elizabeth deciding to marry without professing to be in love. But this book comes across as being very believable, as I was never convinced in the original that Lizzy was truly "in love" with Mr. Darcy. In this book, though she holds herself back, truly she does love him, giving freely of herself. It is very well written. Not sloppy and no over dependence on copying the words direct from Austen. I am remembering at this time only one familiar turn of phrase.
January 26, 2023
A fresh voice
The books I have enjoyed from this author are challenging and not formulaic. I have been devouring P&P variations for years. I am hoping to read more works by Ms Galvia.
This author explores feelings and relationships in a way that takes one on a journey through someone’s emotional development and understanding.
I don’t normally write reviews, but the freshness of this voice is compelling.
The books I have enjoyed from this author are challenging and not formulaic. I have been devouring P&P variations for years. I am hoping to read more works by Ms Galvia.
This author explores feelings and relationships in a way that takes one on a journey through someone’s emotional development and understanding.
I don’t normally write reviews, but the freshness of this voice is compelling.
August 11, 2018
Avid Reader
Darcy and Elizabeth have married for convenience before, and as usual, Darcy loves her. This Elizabeth truly shows her youth. She doesn't seem to understand that Darcy is not her father. While her fears are genuine, they are misguided and misplaced. Elizabeth spends too much time fighting her true feelings for Darcy
Darcy and Elizabeth have married for convenience before, and as usual, Darcy loves her. This Elizabeth truly shows her youth. She doesn't seem to understand that Darcy is not her father. While her fears are genuine, they are misguided and misplaced. Elizabeth spends too much time fighting her true feelings for Darcy
April 30, 2021
Well, it’s a question of interest I suppose. I wasn’t ready to read so many pages about lady Catherine, Darcy’ cousins and Kitty. Too many pages for my taste. It’s always nice to have second roles who support the main characters, but in this story everyone is a protagonist. That was the authors choice.
August 2, 2018
I read this twice and enjoyed it even more the second time
This story features a very introspective Lizzy, a very "irrational" Darcy, and a great deal of familial tension. I enjoyed it even more the second time.
This story features a very introspective Lizzy, a very "irrational" Darcy, and a great deal of familial tension. I enjoyed it even more the second time.
August 8, 2018
I'm not sure how to review this one. It's very well written and I enjoyed the private conversations between Elizabeth and Darcy, but overall it was boring. I had trouble even finishing it. If not for the quality of writing, I would have given this book two stars.
August 12, 2018
3.5 Stars
This is an interesting and well-written book, but the pace is somewhat slow and it’s hard to follow in some places. I liked it, but the lack of love from Elizabeth for Darcy (through most of the story) was hard to accept.
This is an interesting and well-written book, but the pace is somewhat slow and it’s hard to follow in some places. I liked it, but the lack of love from Elizabeth for Darcy (through most of the story) was hard to accept.
December 19, 2021
Great intellectual read
I love how detailed this book was about the inner workings of D and E. Very realistic about what motivated them. Great to set at Rosings to give great context to their thoughts and actions. Will read again.
I love how detailed this book was about the inner workings of D and E. Very realistic about what motivated them. Great to set at Rosings to give great context to their thoughts and actions. Will read again.
July 15, 2021
It was probably the most tiresome Elizabeth Bennet I've ever read... Poor Darcy.
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