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Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World
What if�
The last man in the world she could be prevailed upon to marry�is her husband?
In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet tells the proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy that she wouldn't marry him if he were the last man in the world.
But what if she never said the words? What if circumstances conspired to make her accept Darcy the first time he proposes?
In this installment of Abigail Reynolds's acclaimed Pride and Prejudice Variations, Elizabeth agrees to marry Darcy against her better judgment, setting off a chain of events that nearly brings disaster to them both�
What readers are saying
"A highly original story, immensely satisfying."
"Anyone who loves the story of Darcy and Elizabeth will love this variation."
"I was hooked from page one."
"A refreshing new look at what might have happened if�"
"Another good book to curl up with� I never wanted to put it down."
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2007
92 people are currently reading
1993 people want to read
About the author
Abigail Reynolds
67 books779 followersAbigail Reynolds may be a nationally bestselling author and a physician, but she can’t follow a straight line with a ruler. Originally from upstate New York, she studied Russian and theater at Bryn Mawr College and marine biology at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. After a stint in performing arts administration, she decided to attend medical school, and took up writing as a way to retain her sanity during her years as a physician in private practice.
A life-long lover of Jane Austen’s novels, Abigail began writing variations on Pride & Prejudice in 2001, then expanded her repertoire to include a series of novels set on her beloved Cape Cod.Her most recent releases are A Matter of Honor, Mr. Darcy's Enchantment, and Conceit & Concealment. Her books have been translated into six languages. A lifetime member of JASNA, she lives on Cape Cod with her husband, her son and a menagerie of animals. Her hobbies do not include sleeping or cleaning her house.
A life-long lover of Jane Austen’s novels, Abigail began writing variations on Pride & Prejudice in 2001, then expanded her repertoire to include a series of novels set on her beloved Cape Cod.Her most recent releases are A Matter of Honor, Mr. Darcy's Enchantment, and Conceit & Concealment. Her books have been translated into six languages. A lifetime member of JASNA, she lives on Cape Cod with her husband, her son and a menagerie of animals. Her hobbies do not include sleeping or cleaning her house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
January 8, 2014
This Pride and Prejudice variation asks readers “What if Elizabeth Bennet had accepted Mr. Darcy’s first proposal?” After reading this question in the book’s description my first reaction was, ACK, why would she?
Like the two other novels by this author that I have read, the story begins on familiar ground at a certain point in Austen’s novel and then quickly takes a left turn—changing the course of the plot and the characters’ lives. In this case it starts at a very critical moment, the first proposal scene when Mr. Darcy so arrogantly assumes that the less-socially-endowed Elizabeth Bennet would jump at the chance to accept his generous offer of marriage. Reynolds’ Lizzy is still repulsed by the thought of this man as her husband and frozen with disgust. Since Austen’s last sentence in Elizabeth’s refusal contains the title of this novel, I was all anticipation of reliving Elizabeth’s famous put down:
“From the very beginning — from the first moment, I may almost say — of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.”
But no—this is where the road veers and Reynolds’ twist begins. Darcy misinterprets Elizabeth’s hesitation as acceptance and kisses her, witnessed by his cousin Col. Fitzwilliam and a gamekeeper. Unaware of her true feelings, Col Fitzwilliam congratulates Darcy while a panicked Elizabeth spins the reasons in her mind why she cannot deny it: her reputation has been compromised and if she does not marry him the future happiness of her family, and her sisters prospects will be dashed. Trapped, she cannot decline and agrees to marry him.
Their one-sided marriage begins on rocky ground. Wrought with misunderstandings: his cold indignation, and her fear and depression, Elizabeth is hindered in her attempts to fit in and learn her new duties as mistress of Pemberley. She is not allowed to be very useful—in fact, anything she does seems to anger and annoy her new husband. After Mr. Darcy is involved in a life-threatening riding accident she dutifully cares for him day and night until she is past exhaustion. During his illness she comes to realize that she really does love him and tells him so when he is finally conscious. They are reconciled, until the laudanum wears off and he returns to his sour and confusing self. When she learns from a servant that he is leaving for London, even though he has not fully recovered and fit for travel, she is crushed blaming his dislike of her. While he is away she learns of her younger sister Lydia’s elopement with George Wickham and their subsequent marriage, facilitated by her husband. She is thankful to him for helping her family out of this devastating scandal, but he again misinterprets her gratitude for wifely obligation and not love. Her unhappiness continues until she reaches the point where she feels the only solution to their dilemma would be her death—relieving him of the disgrace of her inferior connections and releasing him to marry another.
One thing that readers new to variations must embrace immediately is change. The point in re-inventing the plot in a “what if” is the experience of revisiting beloved characters in new scenarios. You are not reading a sequel or a continuation of Austen’s story, but a re-imagining of what her characters might do if the action changed. Logically those characters would exhibit the same personality traits that Austen awarded them, but that can be changed too. Just think of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. You are not in Kansas anymore. If you are open to change and can accept tinkering with Austen’s creations and complete changes in her plot, then variations are for you.
In this sub-genre of Austen paraliterure Reynolds reigns supreme in her level of creativity and fluent prose. She is very skilled at crafting tension between lovers and can think up innumerable ways to keep them apart to prolong our anticipation. Her ardent love scenes were passionately rendered, reaching the blushing point for me every time. One of the major challenges I found with the premise of this story is that I did not like Reynolds’ Mr. Darcy. He was not the honorable man that Austen had crafted, nor a man that I was attracted to. He had duped Elizabeth into marrying him (albeit ignorantly) and he is pretty oblivious to his wife’s feelings, misreading her kind intentions continually. Or so it would appear on first impressions. The couple are at continual crossed purposes, going in circles of misunderstanding and rejection, to a glimmer of brief reconciliation, then back to total despair and unhappiness. After about the third time I was as depressed as the heroine. Once I got over my fixed notions of how Austen’s characters should deport themselves and accepted Reynolds’ alternate universe for Elizabeth and Darcy, I began to enjoy their twisted, tormented souls. It was like Jane Austen morphing into Charlotte Bronte, even though neither author would approve of each other’s style.
This audio edition of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World was aptly read by Rachel E. Hurley with entertaining variations in voice to character and scene. Reynolds has crafted a clever love story and applied familiar characters to suit. That dear reader is what variations are all about. If you are prepared to be taken down the yellow brick road, this is a great introduction to the genre.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Like the two other novels by this author that I have read, the story begins on familiar ground at a certain point in Austen’s novel and then quickly takes a left turn—changing the course of the plot and the characters’ lives. In this case it starts at a very critical moment, the first proposal scene when Mr. Darcy so arrogantly assumes that the less-socially-endowed Elizabeth Bennet would jump at the chance to accept his generous offer of marriage. Reynolds’ Lizzy is still repulsed by the thought of this man as her husband and frozen with disgust. Since Austen’s last sentence in Elizabeth’s refusal contains the title of this novel, I was all anticipation of reliving Elizabeth’s famous put down:
“From the very beginning — from the first moment, I may almost say — of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.”
But no—this is where the road veers and Reynolds’ twist begins. Darcy misinterprets Elizabeth’s hesitation as acceptance and kisses her, witnessed by his cousin Col. Fitzwilliam and a gamekeeper. Unaware of her true feelings, Col Fitzwilliam congratulates Darcy while a panicked Elizabeth spins the reasons in her mind why she cannot deny it: her reputation has been compromised and if she does not marry him the future happiness of her family, and her sisters prospects will be dashed. Trapped, she cannot decline and agrees to marry him.
Their one-sided marriage begins on rocky ground. Wrought with misunderstandings: his cold indignation, and her fear and depression, Elizabeth is hindered in her attempts to fit in and learn her new duties as mistress of Pemberley. She is not allowed to be very useful—in fact, anything she does seems to anger and annoy her new husband. After Mr. Darcy is involved in a life-threatening riding accident she dutifully cares for him day and night until she is past exhaustion. During his illness she comes to realize that she really does love him and tells him so when he is finally conscious. They are reconciled, until the laudanum wears off and he returns to his sour and confusing self. When she learns from a servant that he is leaving for London, even though he has not fully recovered and fit for travel, she is crushed blaming his dislike of her. While he is away she learns of her younger sister Lydia’s elopement with George Wickham and their subsequent marriage, facilitated by her husband. She is thankful to him for helping her family out of this devastating scandal, but he again misinterprets her gratitude for wifely obligation and not love. Her unhappiness continues until she reaches the point where she feels the only solution to their dilemma would be her death—relieving him of the disgrace of her inferior connections and releasing him to marry another.
One thing that readers new to variations must embrace immediately is change. The point in re-inventing the plot in a “what if” is the experience of revisiting beloved characters in new scenarios. You are not reading a sequel or a continuation of Austen’s story, but a re-imagining of what her characters might do if the action changed. Logically those characters would exhibit the same personality traits that Austen awarded them, but that can be changed too. Just think of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. You are not in Kansas anymore. If you are open to change and can accept tinkering with Austen’s creations and complete changes in her plot, then variations are for you.
In this sub-genre of Austen paraliterure Reynolds reigns supreme in her level of creativity and fluent prose. She is very skilled at crafting tension between lovers and can think up innumerable ways to keep them apart to prolong our anticipation. Her ardent love scenes were passionately rendered, reaching the blushing point for me every time. One of the major challenges I found with the premise of this story is that I did not like Reynolds’ Mr. Darcy. He was not the honorable man that Austen had crafted, nor a man that I was attracted to. He had duped Elizabeth into marrying him (albeit ignorantly) and he is pretty oblivious to his wife’s feelings, misreading her kind intentions continually. Or so it would appear on first impressions. The couple are at continual crossed purposes, going in circles of misunderstanding and rejection, to a glimmer of brief reconciliation, then back to total despair and unhappiness. After about the third time I was as depressed as the heroine. Once I got over my fixed notions of how Austen’s characters should deport themselves and accepted Reynolds’ alternate universe for Elizabeth and Darcy, I began to enjoy their twisted, tormented souls. It was like Jane Austen morphing into Charlotte Bronte, even though neither author would approve of each other’s style.
This audio edition of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World was aptly read by Rachel E. Hurley with entertaining variations in voice to character and scene. Reynolds has crafted a clever love story and applied familiar characters to suit. That dear reader is what variations are all about. If you are prepared to be taken down the yellow brick road, this is a great introduction to the genre.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
January 30, 2009
A friend lent me two of these books (the other was From Lambton to Longbourn), gushing about how incredible they were and how she couldn't put them down. I admit I was very excited about them - I love "what if" premises and thought that the ideas had really great promise... at least from what was written on the back of the book.
I was very stunned as I read to discover how out of character Elizabeth and Darcy were. Elizabeth was no longer the witty, intelligent young woman she was in Austen's novel - instead she was weak and spineless. Darcy was either frigid and almost cruel or like a puppy dog - no wonder this Elizabeth was confused. I found the storyline nearly unbelievable as well, and would have preferred anything but a "forced" marriage.
I was disappointed in the book, and the only reason I forced myself to finish it was so I could tell my friend that I had. I only hope she doesn't want me to read the rest of them as well.
I was very stunned as I read to discover how out of character Elizabeth and Darcy were. Elizabeth was no longer the witty, intelligent young woman she was in Austen's novel - instead she was weak and spineless. Darcy was either frigid and almost cruel or like a puppy dog - no wonder this Elizabeth was confused. I found the storyline nearly unbelievable as well, and would have preferred anything but a "forced" marriage.
I was disappointed in the book, and the only reason I forced myself to finish it was so I could tell my friend that I had. I only hope she doesn't want me to read the rest of them as well.
December 24, 2010
It took me two pages to realize that this is not for me. It seems every p & p sequel I have piled up to give myself for Christmas is garbage. I must be the only person on the planet who is not at all interested in Darcy and Lizzie's sex lives. You see all those classics on my booklist? There's a reason for that. Modern writing is 99% garbage. I think I 'll go pile up some Dumas and Trollope and dive in till I'm up to my neck in comfort. It's a good thing I don't drink 'cos this crappy book would drive me to it.
April 17, 2025
Agony, despair, despondent, beloved characters drudge toward their HEA
This is a “What If” by Abigail Reynolds where Darcy ardently kisses Elizabeth during his disastrous proposal. Before she could respond/refuse they were seen, thus compromising her into a hasty marriage.
This story was painful to read as misunderstanding after misunderstanding kept our characters from discovering the love we knew was somewhere locked inside them trying to fight its way to the surface only to be smashed down by anger, frustration and pride time after time.
The atmosphere was dark as we journeyed with our beloved characters to the very edge of despair. At one point, each was so despondent, they contemplated suicide. That was hard to read.
I wanted to slit my own throat before I finished the book. Their distrust, angst and jealously was so complete, no one wanted to be around them. Their unbelief and despair that true love was lost to them forever was frustrating. The conclusion, the HEA we were so desperate for did not happen until the very end…I mean the last paragraphs. It was almost not worth it. By the time you got there…nobody cared anymore.
The Wickham problem was sprinkled throughout and mostly handled off sight. The parting shot with him and Lydia was ridiculous, funny, but not realistic. He was too much of a cad to have allowed things to end so abruptly. I wanted Elizabeth to say more to Lydia.
Editing was a real problem. Whole paragraphs were left justified, right justified or centered. In dozens of locations throughout, text didn’t wrap properly thus leaving a space in the middle…mid dle…of the word. It was disconcerting to say the least. Not sure if that was limited to the ebook I checked out from my library or not.
This is a “What If” by Abigail Reynolds where Darcy ardently kisses Elizabeth during his disastrous proposal. Before she could respond/refuse they were seen, thus compromising her into a hasty marriage.
This story was painful to read as misunderstanding after misunderstanding kept our characters from discovering the love we knew was somewhere locked inside them trying to fight its way to the surface only to be smashed down by anger, frustration and pride time after time.
The atmosphere was dark as we journeyed with our beloved characters to the very edge of despair. At one point, each was so despondent, they contemplated suicide. That was hard to read.
I wanted to slit my own throat before I finished the book. Their distrust, angst and jealously was so complete, no one wanted to be around them. Their unbelief and despair that true love was lost to them forever was frustrating. The conclusion, the HEA we were so desperate for did not happen until the very end…I mean the last paragraphs. It was almost not worth it. By the time you got there…nobody cared anymore.
The Wickham problem was sprinkled throughout and mostly handled off sight. The parting shot with him and Lydia was ridiculous, funny, but not realistic. He was too much of a cad to have allowed things to end so abruptly. I wanted Elizabeth to say more to Lydia.
Editing was a real problem. Whole paragraphs were left justified, right justified or centered. In dozens of locations throughout, text didn’t wrap properly thus leaving a space in the middle…mid dle…of the word. It was disconcerting to say the least. Not sure if that was limited to the ebook I checked out from my library or not.
November 13, 2022
Darcy kiss Elizabeth after proposing, not waiting for her answer... Richard and a couple of Lady C's servants happen upon them. Elizabeth is forced to say yes or she and her sisters will be ruined.
Charlotte advice Elizabeth not to aggravate her husband or her life will be miserable.
Darcy does not recognize his Elizabeth as a cowed wife until Colonel Fitzwilliam visits and he sees some her old fiery self. Jelous he starts an argument where Elizabeth reveals her dislike of him and they live for a long time in agony. luckily there is a HEA.
Loved it! It was heartwretching, passionate and Unputdownable!
Charlotte advice Elizabeth not to aggravate her husband or her life will be miserable.
Darcy does not recognize his Elizabeth as a cowed wife until Colonel Fitzwilliam visits and he sees some her old fiery self. Jelous he starts an argument where Elizabeth reveals her dislike of him and they live for a long time in agony. luckily there is a HEA.
Loved it! It was heartwretching, passionate and Unputdownable!
December 17, 2019
I read The Last Man in the World so am assuming it has been re-released. I can't imagine with the titles so close in words that the story is very different.
December 6, 2024
Very Enjoyable
Forced marriage scenarios are a favorite and I thought this one well done. Lots of misunderstandings to overcome, but by golly, we have our HEA. I would have liked to see the story through to the birth of their child though. It ended quite abruptly in my opinion. I do recommend it.
October 18, 2020— on Audible while reading along. Excellent narrator.
January 21, 2022 - Audiobook
Narration by Rachel E. Hurley is excellent.
Forced marriage scenarios are a favorite and I thought this one well done. Lots of misunderstandings to overcome, but by golly, we have our HEA. I would have liked to see the story through to the birth of their child though. It ended quite abruptly in my opinion. I do recommend it.
October 18, 2020— on Audible while reading along. Excellent narrator.
January 21, 2022 - Audiobook
Narration by Rachel E. Hurley is excellent.
April 10, 2017
Edit: Read this for the first time in June...and then again after I wrote my review in August.
Edit #2: Just read this again. It's the beginning of November. Appears every 2 months = reread... Every time, I see these HUGE flaws, and every time I just don't give a teeny, tiny fuck.
*This review turned out super short. There are things I thought I wanted to say, warnings I wanted to give, but nope. This is it. If you like Jane Austen, romance, or butterflies-in-stomach, pick this up.*
I think it should be standard practice that, when one finishes reading all of Jane Austen's works, someone presses a copy of an Abigail Reynolds book into their hands. Or at least when one finishes P&P... She does one of my favorite things, which is to take a "what if" moment and expand it, to follow the ripple and see what would happen, what would change and what stay the same. This is something I do as a reader - and as an insomniac, telling myself stories in my head at night - and I think it's probably what a lot of writers of fanfiction do - but Reynolds does it so well.
Mostly I think this is because Reynolds understands the characters so well. Even the changes - even when I'm questioning a character and whether they actually would say or do a certain thing, I still find myself thinking, Well, maybe, given this particular 'what-if'... I almost always buy it. But even when I don't- even when I think they've stepped a little too far out of character - I still eat it up. Abigail Reynolds gives me FEELS.
Last year, I read and reviewed What Would Darcy Do? which made me really very eager to read the other Reynolds book I had sitting on my shelves (ie this one); this one made me really very eager to get my hands on everything Reynolds has written: once might be a fluke, but twice is a pattern.
Now, lest I seem fangirly, this is not an unreserved thumbs up. I did feel like Darcy and Lizzie stepped further and further out of character as the book went on. But the thing was, I didn't give a damn. There were some things that, in another book, in another author's hands, would have really bothered me. Maybe even made me put it down. But I couldn't. I could not stop reading this, much to the detriment of everyone who had to work with/speak to/look at me the next day... (Customer service, what?!) This was so much more angsty and tortured and maudlin than anything I would have expected or wanted for my D&L, and I loved every minute of it. It had its fair share of faults, and I ignored every one of them. I felt foolish and giddy and utterly like a silly girl, but man, my butterflies had butterflies.
Abigail Reynolds is a witch.
A wizard.
A sorceress.
Something.
I can't even take it. Gah! I kinda wanna read this book again.
[Oh, and further proof of what Abigail Reynolds will do to you? THIS is what I posted on Goodreads the morning (early, early morning) I finished this:
See? Wizard.]
Edit #2: Just read this again. It's the beginning of November. Appears every 2 months = reread... Every time, I see these HUGE flaws, and every time I just don't give a teeny, tiny fuck.
*This review turned out super short. There are things I thought I wanted to say, warnings I wanted to give, but nope. This is it. If you like Jane Austen, romance, or butterflies-in-stomach, pick this up.*
I think it should be standard practice that, when one finishes reading all of Jane Austen's works, someone presses a copy of an Abigail Reynolds book into their hands. Or at least when one finishes P&P... She does one of my favorite things, which is to take a "what if" moment and expand it, to follow the ripple and see what would happen, what would change and what stay the same. This is something I do as a reader - and as an insomniac, telling myself stories in my head at night - and I think it's probably what a lot of writers of fanfiction do - but Reynolds does it so well.
Mostly I think this is because Reynolds understands the characters so well. Even the changes - even when I'm questioning a character and whether they actually would say or do a certain thing, I still find myself thinking, Well, maybe, given this particular 'what-if'... I almost always buy it. But even when I don't- even when I think they've stepped a little too far out of character - I still eat it up. Abigail Reynolds gives me FEELS.
Last year, I read and reviewed What Would Darcy Do? which made me really very eager to read the other Reynolds book I had sitting on my shelves (ie this one); this one made me really very eager to get my hands on everything Reynolds has written: once might be a fluke, but twice is a pattern.
Now, lest I seem fangirly, this is not an unreserved thumbs up. I did feel like Darcy and Lizzie stepped further and further out of character as the book went on. But the thing was, I didn't give a damn. There were some things that, in another book, in another author's hands, would have really bothered me. Maybe even made me put it down. But I couldn't. I could not stop reading this, much to the detriment of everyone who had to work with/speak to/look at me the next day... (Customer service, what?!) This was so much more angsty and tortured and maudlin than anything I would have expected or wanted for my D&L, and I loved every minute of it. It had its fair share of faults, and I ignored every one of them. I felt foolish and giddy and utterly like a silly girl, but man, my butterflies had butterflies.
Abigail Reynolds is a witch.
A wizard.
A sorceress.
Something.
I can't even take it. Gah! I kinda wanna read this book again.
[Oh, and further proof of what Abigail Reynolds will do to you? THIS is what I posted on Goodreads the morning (early, early morning) I finished this:
Fucking hell. Why would I start a book I know I'm going to like at 2am? It's now 7. Why do I do this to myself.
As many issues as I had with this book - and they were big ones - I loved every minute of it.
See? Wizard.]
May 1, 2020
I enjoyed this book as a fun, what-if take on Pride and Prejudice. An easy, quick read.
July 22, 2021
4,5 Rounded Up to 5
Published at: https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
The opening scene of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World was incredibly powerful and revealed Abigail Reynolds’s talent for writing.
I have read many forced marriage scenarios before, but none like this, where Elizabeth herself felt forced to accept Mr. Darcy in order to save her reputation. After proposing, and believing Elizabeth can only accept his proposal, Mr. Darcy kisses her and that kiss is seen by Colonel Fitzwilliam and a few Rosings Park workers. Because of that, Elizabeth sees no other option to save her reputation, and the ones of her sisters, then to allow Mr. Darcy to believe she did in fact accept him. Unfortunately, her deception remains after her marriage and when Mr. Darcy discovers it, it is heart breaking.
The idea behind this variation was simple, but Elizabeth’s feelings were so powerfully presented that one cannot stop reading to know how she will act in her role as Mrs. Darcy.
Elizabeth’s deception is understandable to a point, but if this is a quibble for you, rest assured that after getting to know Mr. Darcy, and realizing he is in fact the only man in the world she could ever love, her devotion to him is endearing. Elizabeth even comes to his defense while arguing with Mr. Wickham at the end of the story, and that scene is priceless.
In this book, our characters will have to face and fight against the feelings of loneliness, betrayal and hopelessness as they grow in their marriage, but also come to learn to trust in one another and in their respective feelings.
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World has it all, the romance, the character growth and the action necessary to make the book move forward at the perfect pace. It does not have unnecessary page time filled with descriptions or repetitions of the characters feelings. It goes straight to the point and provides the reader everything a book should. If you are looking for an engaging and well written book, this may be it.
Published at: https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
The opening scene of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World was incredibly powerful and revealed Abigail Reynolds’s talent for writing.
I have read many forced marriage scenarios before, but none like this, where Elizabeth herself felt forced to accept Mr. Darcy in order to save her reputation. After proposing, and believing Elizabeth can only accept his proposal, Mr. Darcy kisses her and that kiss is seen by Colonel Fitzwilliam and a few Rosings Park workers. Because of that, Elizabeth sees no other option to save her reputation, and the ones of her sisters, then to allow Mr. Darcy to believe she did in fact accept him. Unfortunately, her deception remains after her marriage and when Mr. Darcy discovers it, it is heart breaking.
The idea behind this variation was simple, but Elizabeth’s feelings were so powerfully presented that one cannot stop reading to know how she will act in her role as Mrs. Darcy.
Elizabeth’s deception is understandable to a point, but if this is a quibble for you, rest assured that after getting to know Mr. Darcy, and realizing he is in fact the only man in the world she could ever love, her devotion to him is endearing. Elizabeth even comes to his defense while arguing with Mr. Wickham at the end of the story, and that scene is priceless.
In this book, our characters will have to face and fight against the feelings of loneliness, betrayal and hopelessness as they grow in their marriage, but also come to learn to trust in one another and in their respective feelings.
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World has it all, the romance, the character growth and the action necessary to make the book move forward at the perfect pace. It does not have unnecessary page time filled with descriptions or repetitions of the characters feelings. It goes straight to the point and provides the reader everything a book should. If you are looking for an engaging and well written book, this may be it.
August 13, 2017
Whoa! So not like the characters at the beginning of the book. If you can imagine things happening the way they did though, their lives filled with much misundersranding. I actually wept several times during reading this. When there was about to be a moment of tenderness, then it the misunderstandings happened over and over again. Will my lovers ever connect and realize the love for each other? YES!
August 4, 2018
I love reading Abigail Reynold variations for the most part. This book was no exception. My only complaint was when she opened up to Fitzwilliam in a cruel manner and the two go through this long drug fight. Darcy won't except that Lizzy has fallen in love with him and is convinced she only tells him that because she thinks that's want he wants her to say. She kept things from him early on and than blurts it out very harshly and he feels as though every time he made love to her, early on, that he had been forcing his attentions on her. That she truly hadn't wanted him at all. Let me start another way.
Lizzy believed that a woman who showed any kind of passion in bed was a wanton and so she fought between wanting to show it and being a proper wife to him. When light is shed that she truly didn't want to marry him he reflects back on those moments and tears himself up about it. Elizabeth feels awful and begins to realize that she's truly in love with him but it's too late and there are all these misunderstandings. Elizabeth contemplates suicide until she realizes she can not. So she writes a letter to Darcy and explains a lot to him and at first he's calling her Madam and such icy behavior that you can't stand it but then things start to change between them and then well, AR waves her magic wand and there's passion and love restored and it is because she showed the calm after the storm that I loved this book as much as I did. She writes so much angst sometimes that you forget why you picked up the book in the first place but this book makes up for its sins against Darcy and Elizabeth. Well worth your time.
Lizzy believed that a woman who showed any kind of passion in bed was a wanton and so she fought between wanting to show it and being a proper wife to him. When light is shed that she truly didn't want to marry him he reflects back on those moments and tears himself up about it. Elizabeth feels awful and begins to realize that she's truly in love with him but it's too late and there are all these misunderstandings. Elizabeth contemplates suicide until she realizes she can not. So she writes a letter to Darcy and explains a lot to him and at first he's calling her Madam and such icy behavior that you can't stand it but then things start to change between them and then well, AR waves her magic wand and there's passion and love restored and it is because she showed the calm after the storm that I loved this book as much as I did. She writes so much angst sometimes that you forget why you picked up the book in the first place but this book makes up for its sins against Darcy and Elizabeth. Well worth your time.
January 4, 2010
“Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy,” originally published as “The Last Man in the World” in 2007, is an engaging and clever variation of “Pride and Prejudice.” If you have not yet had the pleasure of encountering this series, “The Pemberley Variations,” by Abigail Reynolds, it is collection of “Pride and Prejudice” re-tellings that asks the question “what if?” In these variations we see how one small change in the plot can alter the course of “Pride and Prejudice.” This is one of my favorite variations by Abigail Reynolds, I love how heartbreaking and emotional the story is.
The slight change that sends “Pride and Prejudice” on its ear in this variation is Mr. Darcy kissing Elizabeth before she can refuse his offer of marriage and that kiss being observed by Colonel Fitzwilliam and Rosing Park gamekeepers. Now Elizabeth finds herself in a difficult situation as Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are under the impression that she has accepted Darcy's addresses and if she were to correct their assumption it would jeopardize not only her reputation, but also the reputations of her sisters. Even though Elizabeth never gets to proclaim to Darcy that he is “the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed on to marry," she strongly despises him for what he's done and her outlook for her a happy future is very bleak.
In “Pride and Prejudice” the flaws of “pride” and “prejudice” are played upon. In “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy” these flaws are still represented but added to them are “selfishness” and “deception.” Mr. Darcy selfishly believes that Elizabeth's answer to his proposal could only be yes, and Elizabeth decides it best to deceive her husband into believing her happily married instead of being truthful about her feelings for him. One of the reasons I love Elizabeth and Darcy is because they are flawed and they make mistakes. No one is perfect and in the literary world sometimes we tend to idolize our heroes and heroines. It is a nice change to see them feel insecure, embarrassed, or misunderstood. I believe even Elizabeth Bennet has times when she lacks confidence or jumps to the wrong conclusion.
Abigail Reynolds is a very talented and gifted author that clearly loves Jane Austen and “Pride and Prejudice” with a passion! I am delighted to own both this book and her self-published version of it “The Last Man in the World.” After reading “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy” and scanning through my copy of “The Last Man in the World,” I did not find many changes in the plot, and I would venture to say that the only changes were grammatical. So if you already own “The Last Man in the World” you might not want to buy this book, however, if you are like me, you wouldn't mind having this lovely book grace your shelves twice! In addition, I would like to warn readers who don't enjoy intimate and romantic scenes between these characters that there are a few included in this book. However, the romantic scenes are very infrequent and are not overly explicit. I highly recommend this novel for people who are interested in seeing “Pride and Prejudice” travel a different course!
Austenesque Reviews
The slight change that sends “Pride and Prejudice” on its ear in this variation is Mr. Darcy kissing Elizabeth before she can refuse his offer of marriage and that kiss being observed by Colonel Fitzwilliam and Rosing Park gamekeepers. Now Elizabeth finds herself in a difficult situation as Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are under the impression that she has accepted Darcy's addresses and if she were to correct their assumption it would jeopardize not only her reputation, but also the reputations of her sisters. Even though Elizabeth never gets to proclaim to Darcy that he is “the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed on to marry," she strongly despises him for what he's done and her outlook for her a happy future is very bleak.
In “Pride and Prejudice” the flaws of “pride” and “prejudice” are played upon. In “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy” these flaws are still represented but added to them are “selfishness” and “deception.” Mr. Darcy selfishly believes that Elizabeth's answer to his proposal could only be yes, and Elizabeth decides it best to deceive her husband into believing her happily married instead of being truthful about her feelings for him. One of the reasons I love Elizabeth and Darcy is because they are flawed and they make mistakes. No one is perfect and in the literary world sometimes we tend to idolize our heroes and heroines. It is a nice change to see them feel insecure, embarrassed, or misunderstood. I believe even Elizabeth Bennet has times when she lacks confidence or jumps to the wrong conclusion.
Abigail Reynolds is a very talented and gifted author that clearly loves Jane Austen and “Pride and Prejudice” with a passion! I am delighted to own both this book and her self-published version of it “The Last Man in the World.” After reading “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy” and scanning through my copy of “The Last Man in the World,” I did not find many changes in the plot, and I would venture to say that the only changes were grammatical. So if you already own “The Last Man in the World” you might not want to buy this book, however, if you are like me, you wouldn't mind having this lovely book grace your shelves twice! In addition, I would like to warn readers who don't enjoy intimate and romantic scenes between these characters that there are a few included in this book. However, the romantic scenes are very infrequent and are not overly explicit. I highly recommend this novel for people who are interested in seeing “Pride and Prejudice” travel a different course!
Austenesque Reviews
December 19, 2017
After reading all the other reviews I would like to point out that some of the reviews are repeats so if you are looking at the number of "stars" don't be fooled. Secondly, I read this book as The Last Man in the World, shortly after it was published, and have re-read it at least two other times. The reason for not posting a review earlier is that I only recently retired and now have time to devote to posting reviews. I wanted to re-read this one b/c in reading other reviews many claim this one is their favorites written by AR. I love Abigail Reynolds' books. One must always remember that her variations are just that. Don't read variations if you expect the characters or the events to remain true to JA. I find so fascinating how Abigail tweaks them both in her books and, yet, I find them to be totally reminiscent of our original couple. There are books which I have read which only use the names and have no connection for me. I kept reminding myself that the reason Elizabeth doesn't rebel at Darcy's various "requests" after the marriage is that Charlotte cautioned her, "What will your life be like if you make him miserable? Would you live with a husband who hates you? Please, Lizzie, do not give him that power; for your own sake, find ways you can be happy within a marriage you do not want." Yes, I was not happy that our usually forthright Lizzie did not immediately put Darcy straight on his assumption that she had accepted his marriage proposal and our original Elizabeth would have been impulsive and done so. But this Lizzie thinks it through and realizes that she and her sisters will be ruined as both Col. Fitzwilliam and two gamekeepers witnessed Darcy kissing and holding her. Even in re-reading this novel I could not put it down. I had to laugh at myself and say, "Get thee to bed - you know what happens" so I finished it before reading the morning paper the next day. I found the bedroom scenes to be handled very nicely. I would have liked more story at the end....did she have a boy or a girl? What happened with Jane and Bingley? (Even though it seems a foregone conclusion.) Did anyone explain to Georgina what had happened, as she was so disillusioned about marriage in witnessing the confusing relationship between Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth. But even with those events not addressed I have to give this all the stars it deserved. I own all of AR's books and (note the date when I wrote this) - so they are many.
March 19, 2025
Pretty sure I was rereading as this seemed extremely familiar and I could predict the outcome of some scenes but I hadn't added it to Goodreads previously.
This story is an extended angst fest with misunderstandings galore. When Darcy proposes Elizabeth fails to communicate her angry refusal in words or actions that he would understand, and when he plays the happy bridegroom and kisses her they are observed. So her fate is sealed and she has to marry him or be ruined. What follows is a strained marriage. They are at Pemberley and meet few people beyond the servants and the tenants although the Colonel, Bingley and the Wickhams make brief appearances. She is in his power and afraid of what would happen if she displeased him, so Elizabeth attempts to be a dutiful wife. And he wonders what happened to the witty, argumentative, headstrong woman he thought he was courting and is devastated when he finds out his love was unrequited. She finds out that he is not such a bad person after all but it takes the fear of losing him to make her realize that she does love him. But even so, there are more misunderstandings and miscommunications, and it takes more time until they can truly trust and feel comfortable with each other. So the extended struggling while they're both in love and have even told each other so is a bit frustrating but the fluffy romantic scenes are quite sweet and rewarding. This is mostly from Elizabeth's point of view but we do get glimpses of what Darcy and Georgiana are thinking occasionally.
The most pointless misunderstanding had to do with a conversation that they had after Lydia did what Lydia does best. Later when it comes up, Darcy claims he hadn't paid her enough attention to hear everything that she was saying, because he was reading a letter and has trouble shifting his attention when he's concentrating on reading. While I certainly know this feeling this seemed a bit off because he was plainly alert enough to understand and react to the things she told him before the misunderstood part.
As always, Abigail Reynolds's language flows nicely and the editing is perfectly polished.
Steam level: Several scenes of sexual nature.
Trigger warnings: Suicidal ideation and loss of a child (not ODC's).
Reread: i upped my rating because I saw the good parts more
This story is an extended angst fest with misunderstandings galore. When Darcy proposes Elizabeth fails to communicate her angry refusal in words or actions that he would understand, and when he plays the happy bridegroom and kisses her they are observed. So her fate is sealed and she has to marry him or be ruined. What follows is a strained marriage. They are at Pemberley and meet few people beyond the servants and the tenants although the Colonel, Bingley and the Wickhams make brief appearances. She is in his power and afraid of what would happen if she displeased him, so Elizabeth attempts to be a dutiful wife. And he wonders what happened to the witty, argumentative, headstrong woman he thought he was courting and is devastated when he finds out his love was unrequited. She finds out that he is not such a bad person after all but it takes the fear of losing him to make her realize that she does love him. But even so, there are more misunderstandings and miscommunications, and it takes more time until they can truly trust and feel comfortable with each other. So the extended struggling while they're both in love and have even told each other so is a bit frustrating but the fluffy romantic scenes are quite sweet and rewarding. This is mostly from Elizabeth's point of view but we do get glimpses of what Darcy and Georgiana are thinking occasionally.
The most pointless misunderstanding had to do with a conversation that they had after Lydia did what Lydia does best. Later when it comes up, Darcy claims he hadn't paid her enough attention to hear everything that she was saying, because he was reading a letter and has trouble shifting his attention when he's concentrating on reading. While I certainly know this feeling this seemed a bit off because he was plainly alert enough to understand and react to the things she told him before the misunderstood part.
As always, Abigail Reynolds's language flows nicely and the editing is perfectly polished.
Steam level: Several scenes of sexual nature.
Trigger warnings: Suicidal ideation and loss of a child (not ODC's).
Reread: i upped my rating because I saw the good parts more
January 1, 2012
This is the most commercially "romance novel" of the P&P variations. It shows the fallout of Darcy's first proposal as a marriage that Elizabeth has to agree to in order to save her reputation. She arrives at Pemberley on the first page, hating her new husband and feeling desperately alone.
There was quite a bit of sex, but none of it overly graphic. It was strictly fade the fireplace scenes. In the beginning, Elizabeth is determined to do her wifely duty but does not enjoy Darcy's attentions. Later, as the couple sorts out their problems with each other, they do have passion for each other.
Unfortunately, this one veers too far to melodrama. It isolates Darcy and Elizabeth from the minor characters who gave comic relief and variety to Austen's classic. It explores Darcy exhaustively, while ignoring Elizabeth as anything other than a distraught young wife. Darcy has a serious accident under stupid circumstances, and Lizzy is phobic of horses. They each spend much of the book feeling the other resents every moment of their marriage, and the resolution of that is propped on dramatic scenes rather than the momentum of a serious effort to get to know one another.
Both Darcy and Elizabeth have suicidal thoughts at dark moments, with the pretext of freeing the other from the marriage. The Wickham-Lydia situation arises and follows them home to Pemberley. Elizabeth's maid realizes she is pregnant just when it seems hopeless her husband will ever want to be near her again.
I don't mind a non-literary version of a classic, but this was over the top. I would think settling into an unsteady marriage would have been enough material, but it was skimmed over with a lot of whining. The ending didn't feel earned and Elizabeth felt weak. A clear vision was needed to make the story work either seriously or as a lark.
There was quite a bit of sex, but none of it overly graphic. It was strictly fade the fireplace scenes. In the beginning, Elizabeth is determined to do her wifely duty but does not enjoy Darcy's attentions. Later, as the couple sorts out their problems with each other, they do have passion for each other.
Unfortunately, this one veers too far to melodrama. It isolates Darcy and Elizabeth from the minor characters who gave comic relief and variety to Austen's classic. It explores Darcy exhaustively, while ignoring Elizabeth as anything other than a distraught young wife. Darcy has a serious accident under stupid circumstances, and Lizzy is phobic of horses. They each spend much of the book feeling the other resents every moment of their marriage, and the resolution of that is propped on dramatic scenes rather than the momentum of a serious effort to get to know one another.
Both Darcy and Elizabeth have suicidal thoughts at dark moments, with the pretext of freeing the other from the marriage. The Wickham-Lydia situation arises and follows them home to Pemberley. Elizabeth's maid realizes she is pregnant just when it seems hopeless her husband will ever want to be near her again.
I don't mind a non-literary version of a classic, but this was over the top. I would think settling into an unsteady marriage would have been enough material, but it was skimmed over with a lot of whining. The ending didn't feel earned and Elizabeth felt weak. A clear vision was needed to make the story work either seriously or as a lark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2016
I didn't love this book. In this version Darcy kisses Lizzy at Rosings before she can declare her loathing and since the kiss is witnessed by Col. Fitzwilliam and 2 gamekeepers she is forced to marry him.
Then misunderstandings and miscommunications pile up while they struggle to create a relationship. Darcy has no idea that Lizzy didn't love him as much as he loves her. Lizzy trying to follow Charlotte's advice not to upset Darcy isolates herself from her family.
It is one of those books that makes you grateful that you weren't born in the 18th or 19th century.
Then misunderstandings and miscommunications pile up while they struggle to create a relationship. Darcy has no idea that Lizzy didn't love him as much as he loves her. Lizzy trying to follow Charlotte's advice not to upset Darcy isolates herself from her family.
It is one of those books that makes you grateful that you weren't born in the 18th or 19th century.
November 16, 2016
I have a real problem. :))
April 18, 2016
Non mi aspettavo di essere così coinvolta da questo libro. Spesso mi sono anche commossa. È la seconda Pemberley Variation di Abigail Reynolds che ho letto, ma la prima (To Conquer Mr Darcy o Impulse and Initiative) non mi aveva fatto questo effetto.
I primi capitoli sono divertimento allo stato puro: immaginatevi cosa sarebbe successo se Mr Darcy al colmo del suo orgoglio e della sua arroganza non avesse atteso una risposta da parte di Elizabeth alla sua proposta di matrimonio, ma, sicuro che nessuna donna potesse dire di no ad una sua dichiarazione d’amore, in qualunque modo essa venisse posta (e bisogna aggiungere che la Reynolds ha un po’ attutito l’orgoglio sprezzante della dichiarazione di Jane Austen per i suoi scopi), si fosse spinto addirittura a baciarla! E supponete se non si fosse curato affatto che in quella circostanza lui ed Elizabeth avrebbero potuti essere visti…
“You know what my hopes and wishes are,” he said in a voice of tight intensity. “You have seen me struggle against it, but it will not do. None of the objections—and I know there are many—none have the power to move me any longer. My feelings will not be suppressed. I have never been so bewitched by any woman. Your low connections, the degradation which it will bring to my honoured family name, the opposition I will face from my family have long prevented me from speaking or even considering a union with someone so far my inferior.” […] He continued, unaware of her silent struggle. “But ardent love will not be denied. I can no longer imagine a future without you by my side. Your wit, your charm, your beauty hold me captive. Th e depth of my tender regard for you can be demonstrated no better than by the obstacles I have overcome to make this declaration.”
[“Sapete quali sono le mie speranze ed i miei desideri," disse con voce intensamente tesa. "Mi avete visto cercare di combatterli, ma non ci sono riuscito. Nessuna obiezione - e so che ce ne sono molte - nessuna ha il potere di allontanarmi ancora. I miei sentimenti non saranno repressi. Non sono mai stato incantato tanto da una donna. Le vostre parentele di bassa estrazione, la degradazione che ciò comporterà al nome della mia onorata famiglia, l’opposizione che dovrò affrontare da parte dei miei parenti mi hanno a lungo impedito di parlare o addirittura di considerare un’unione con una persona tanto inferiore a me.” […] Egli continuò, inconsapevole della lotta silenziosa di Elizabeth. “Ma l’amore appassionato non verrà negato. Non riesco ad immaginare un futuro senza avervi accanto. La vostra intelligenza, il vostro fascino e la vostra bellezza mi rendono schiavo. La profondità della tenera ammirazione nei vostri riguardi non può essere dimostrata in miglior modo se non attraverso gli ostacoli che ho dovuto superare per farvi questa dichiarazione.”]
La povera Elizabeth è costretta, per amore delle sue sorelle, ad annunciare il suo matrimonio, quindi dimenticate la lettera di spiegazioni su Wickham e sull’intervento di Mr Darcy che ha causato la separazione fra Jane e Bingley; non pensate ad un primo incontro affettuoso con Georgiana, che invece vedrà in Elizabeth l’ennesima cacciatrice di fortune, con la differenza che questa qui è riuscita ad accalappiare suo fratello; scordatevi la prima visita a Pemberley con gli zii Gardiner: la prima visita a Pemberley di Elizabeth sarà come Mrs Darcy, e per lei Mr Darcy in quel momento sarebbe l’Ultimo Uomo al Mondo (The Last Man in the World) a cui vorrebbe essere sposata.
Ma dal divertimento si passa all’angoscia, perché, amando i personaggi di Jane Austen ed il loro valore, e sapendo quel che avrebbe dovuto essere, ci si rende conto che se Darcy in Pride and Prejudice ha sofferto immensamente per il rifiuto di Elizabeth ad Hunsford, immaginatevi cosa avrebbe dovuto patire se, come in questa variation, il rifiuto gli fosse giunto dopo due o tre mesi di matrimonio! Inoltre, mentre nel romanzo di Jane Austen sappiamo che egli ha sofferto, perché quella sofferenza ha portato a un cambiamento, ma il suo tormento non è visibile, in The Last Man in The World soffriamo insieme a Darcy, e ci rendiamo conto che il colpo inferto al suo orgoglio da una ‘moglie’, risulta centuplicato.
E soffriamo anche con Elizabeth perché quando si rende conto del valore dell’uomo che ha sposato, si accorge anche di dover stare attenta a ogni minima espressione, intonazione della voce, parola o gesto che fa, che potrebbero allontanare per sempre da lei l’uomo che infine ha scoperto di amare.
Infine vi confesso che non amo le scene erotiche nei romanzi, specialmente quando esse risultano superflue tanto da poter essere tranquillamente sottointese. In questo libro invece, le ho trovate essenziali e catartiche, una parte integrante della storia, senza la quale tutto il romanzo perderebbe di significato.
Insomma, questo libro fa riflettere su come ogni minuscolo gesto nella nostra vita potrebbe alterare irrimediabilmente il corso degli eventi, stravolgerli in maniera insanabile, e, dato che poi non c’è necessariamente un canovaccio già imbastito da Jane Austen a cui fare ritorno per un lieto fine, è essenziale ponderare bene ogni azione e ogni parola. Per fortuna, ancora una volta Elizabeth e Darcy, nonostante il diverso corso degli eventi, non si sono smentiti!...
I primi capitoli sono divertimento allo stato puro: immaginatevi cosa sarebbe successo se Mr Darcy al colmo del suo orgoglio e della sua arroganza non avesse atteso una risposta da parte di Elizabeth alla sua proposta di matrimonio, ma, sicuro che nessuna donna potesse dire di no ad una sua dichiarazione d’amore, in qualunque modo essa venisse posta (e bisogna aggiungere che la Reynolds ha un po’ attutito l’orgoglio sprezzante della dichiarazione di Jane Austen per i suoi scopi), si fosse spinto addirittura a baciarla! E supponete se non si fosse curato affatto che in quella circostanza lui ed Elizabeth avrebbero potuti essere visti…
“You know what my hopes and wishes are,” he said in a voice of tight intensity. “You have seen me struggle against it, but it will not do. None of the objections—and I know there are many—none have the power to move me any longer. My feelings will not be suppressed. I have never been so bewitched by any woman. Your low connections, the degradation which it will bring to my honoured family name, the opposition I will face from my family have long prevented me from speaking or even considering a union with someone so far my inferior.” […] He continued, unaware of her silent struggle. “But ardent love will not be denied. I can no longer imagine a future without you by my side. Your wit, your charm, your beauty hold me captive. Th e depth of my tender regard for you can be demonstrated no better than by the obstacles I have overcome to make this declaration.”
[“Sapete quali sono le mie speranze ed i miei desideri," disse con voce intensamente tesa. "Mi avete visto cercare di combatterli, ma non ci sono riuscito. Nessuna obiezione - e so che ce ne sono molte - nessuna ha il potere di allontanarmi ancora. I miei sentimenti non saranno repressi. Non sono mai stato incantato tanto da una donna. Le vostre parentele di bassa estrazione, la degradazione che ciò comporterà al nome della mia onorata famiglia, l’opposizione che dovrò affrontare da parte dei miei parenti mi hanno a lungo impedito di parlare o addirittura di considerare un’unione con una persona tanto inferiore a me.” […] Egli continuò, inconsapevole della lotta silenziosa di Elizabeth. “Ma l’amore appassionato non verrà negato. Non riesco ad immaginare un futuro senza avervi accanto. La vostra intelligenza, il vostro fascino e la vostra bellezza mi rendono schiavo. La profondità della tenera ammirazione nei vostri riguardi non può essere dimostrata in miglior modo se non attraverso gli ostacoli che ho dovuto superare per farvi questa dichiarazione.”]
La povera Elizabeth è costretta, per amore delle sue sorelle, ad annunciare il suo matrimonio, quindi dimenticate la lettera di spiegazioni su Wickham e sull’intervento di Mr Darcy che ha causato la separazione fra Jane e Bingley; non pensate ad un primo incontro affettuoso con Georgiana, che invece vedrà in Elizabeth l’ennesima cacciatrice di fortune, con la differenza che questa qui è riuscita ad accalappiare suo fratello; scordatevi la prima visita a Pemberley con gli zii Gardiner: la prima visita a Pemberley di Elizabeth sarà come Mrs Darcy, e per lei Mr Darcy in quel momento sarebbe l’Ultimo Uomo al Mondo (The Last Man in the World) a cui vorrebbe essere sposata.
Ma dal divertimento si passa all’angoscia, perché, amando i personaggi di Jane Austen ed il loro valore, e sapendo quel che avrebbe dovuto essere, ci si rende conto che se Darcy in Pride and Prejudice ha sofferto immensamente per il rifiuto di Elizabeth ad Hunsford, immaginatevi cosa avrebbe dovuto patire se, come in questa variation, il rifiuto gli fosse giunto dopo due o tre mesi di matrimonio! Inoltre, mentre nel romanzo di Jane Austen sappiamo che egli ha sofferto, perché quella sofferenza ha portato a un cambiamento, ma il suo tormento non è visibile, in The Last Man in The World soffriamo insieme a Darcy, e ci rendiamo conto che il colpo inferto al suo orgoglio da una ‘moglie’, risulta centuplicato.
E soffriamo anche con Elizabeth perché quando si rende conto del valore dell’uomo che ha sposato, si accorge anche di dover stare attenta a ogni minima espressione, intonazione della voce, parola o gesto che fa, che potrebbero allontanare per sempre da lei l’uomo che infine ha scoperto di amare.
Infine vi confesso che non amo le scene erotiche nei romanzi, specialmente quando esse risultano superflue tanto da poter essere tranquillamente sottointese. In questo libro invece, le ho trovate essenziali e catartiche, una parte integrante della storia, senza la quale tutto il romanzo perderebbe di significato.
Insomma, questo libro fa riflettere su come ogni minuscolo gesto nella nostra vita potrebbe alterare irrimediabilmente il corso degli eventi, stravolgerli in maniera insanabile, e, dato che poi non c’è necessariamente un canovaccio già imbastito da Jane Austen a cui fare ritorno per un lieto fine, è essenziale ponderare bene ogni azione e ogni parola. Per fortuna, ancora una volta Elizabeth e Darcy, nonostante il diverso corso degli eventi, non si sono smentiti!...
February 4, 2015
What a perfectly horrid book.
Maybe I'm being unfair. It's really my fault for even picking up another Pride and Prejudice continuation/expansion novel. Out of the five or six I've picked up now, I'm only even sort of enjoyed one. No one can write Jane Austen like Jane Austen, so why do I keep trying?
I knew I was going to hate this novel, which explores the "What If?" scenario of Elizabeth "accepting" Darcy's first proposal, from the very first page. On this first page, Lizzy "dutifully" smiles at Darcy and then "obediently" answers his question. WTF? Where did our headstrong Elizabeth Bennet go and who is this wimpy doppelganger in her place? The entire book Lizzy is spineless, dull, and extremely frightened of upsetting or displeasing Darcy. She lacks all her wit and independence, the very traits that made generations of readers identify and love her. The book feebly tries to make the argument that she's acting like this because she's afraid that Darcy will use his husbandly power to ... what? hurt her? it's never explicitly stated, but it rings false all the same.
It's not just Elizabeth that gets such a character butchering. Reynolds turns Fitzwilliam Darcy into a major creep. The reason that Elizabeth "accepts" his proposal is because, after declaring his love, he starts kissing her, and someone walks in. He then proceeds to kiss her multiple more times before marriage and immediately gropes her breast just seconds after they are loaded into the carriage after the wedding. It's beyond ridiculous. In the 18th/19th century, men and women didn't shake hands before marriage, much less try and kiss each other. I can't imagine Darcy acting with such impropriety.
With such a terrible beginning, it's no wonder that the rest of this novel is so bad. Really, the faults are too long to list. You'll have a hard time remembering who thinks they're in love and who doesn't at any given time. Characters react in bizarre ways that make no logical sense and clearly only happen to introduce some new plot road block. It's an easy read, but it's not an enjoyable one.
Skip this book, and I assume any other book by Reynolds. I know I won't be picking up any of her other P&P books.
Maybe I'm being unfair. It's really my fault for even picking up another Pride and Prejudice continuation/expansion novel. Out of the five or six I've picked up now, I'm only even sort of enjoyed one. No one can write Jane Austen like Jane Austen, so why do I keep trying?
I knew I was going to hate this novel, which explores the "What If?" scenario of Elizabeth "accepting" Darcy's first proposal, from the very first page. On this first page, Lizzy "dutifully" smiles at Darcy and then "obediently" answers his question. WTF? Where did our headstrong Elizabeth Bennet go and who is this wimpy doppelganger in her place? The entire book Lizzy is spineless, dull, and extremely frightened of upsetting or displeasing Darcy. She lacks all her wit and independence, the very traits that made generations of readers identify and love her. The book feebly tries to make the argument that she's acting like this because she's afraid that Darcy will use his husbandly power to ... what? hurt her? it's never explicitly stated, but it rings false all the same.
It's not just Elizabeth that gets such a character butchering. Reynolds turns Fitzwilliam Darcy into a major creep. The reason that Elizabeth "accepts" his proposal is because, after declaring his love, he starts kissing her, and someone walks in. He then proceeds to kiss her multiple more times before marriage and immediately gropes her breast just seconds after they are loaded into the carriage after the wedding. It's beyond ridiculous. In the 18th/19th century, men and women didn't shake hands before marriage, much less try and kiss each other. I can't imagine Darcy acting with such impropriety.
With such a terrible beginning, it's no wonder that the rest of this novel is so bad. Really, the faults are too long to list. You'll have a hard time remembering who thinks they're in love and who doesn't at any given time. Characters react in bizarre ways that make no logical sense and clearly only happen to introduce some new plot road block. It's an easy read, but it's not an enjoyable one.
Skip this book, and I assume any other book by Reynolds. I know I won't be picking up any of her other P&P books.
July 22, 2011
Deliciously angsty!!!!! It literally hurt my chest to read some of the parts. It's a little Wuthering Heights/Pride and Prejudice.
Finished in ONE SITTING. Forgive me if I'm a little incoherent. Ummm....overall, predictable, because of course we know the outcome, but still very enjoyable. It is like a favorite chick flick feel good movie. U know there's gonna b a happy ending, but u still like torturing urself till the last possible moment. Maybe it's my penchant for massochism. Lol!
Anyways, totally recommend. The only big issue I had w it, was the lemons. Other reviews said it alluded to, but was not explicit. I don't know what they are reading, but this was pretty explicit. I normal have no qualms w that, but as I was trying to finish it and move the plot, i actually found my eyes glazing over and wanting to skim. Also, I'm currently president of the celibacy club, so I don't think that helps. Hahaha
Now I need sleep. Work in a few. Crud.
Finished in ONE SITTING. Forgive me if I'm a little incoherent. Ummm....overall, predictable, because of course we know the outcome, but still very enjoyable. It is like a favorite chick flick feel good movie. U know there's gonna b a happy ending, but u still like torturing urself till the last possible moment. Maybe it's my penchant for massochism. Lol!
Anyways, totally recommend. The only big issue I had w it, was the lemons. Other reviews said it alluded to, but was not explicit. I don't know what they are reading, but this was pretty explicit. I normal have no qualms w that, but as I was trying to finish it and move the plot, i actually found my eyes glazing over and wanting to skim. Also, I'm currently president of the celibacy club, so I don't think that helps. Hahaha
Now I need sleep. Work in a few. Crud.
July 24, 2008
I continue to enjoy this series of variations on Pride and Prejudice -- this one, which explores what would have happened if Elizabeth had accepted Darcy's original proposal, is predictably the saddest of the bunch, but it also offers the most in terms of emotional range. The others are a bit one note, or I suppose, two note in that Elizabeth and Darcy are either passionately ignoring the proprieties or having fights. This one does a better job of capturing the ambiguous pain of being trapped in a marriage where you love your partner, but he/she doesn't seem to love you, and all of the hurt/conflict/misunderstandings that can flow from that. In my opinion, this is the best of the bunch.
July 1, 2021
You know those commercials for crippling depression medication, featuring listless actors, and a dreary filter? Reading it felt like that.
Synopsis:
During Darcy’s proposal at Rosings, he kisses her in sight of witnesses before Lizzy can reject him. Thus compelled by a compromise Lizzy goes along with the marriage.
And as Lizzy never complains, or mentions that she would have rejected him, had she felt she had the option to, Darcy hasn't a whit she is unwilling.
Darcy, bless his besotted heart:
Thus there is no grace period to hold off on marital relations as in other FMS.
Lizzy:
As you would imagine, Lizzy sleeping with Darcy without affection is very depressing.
Darcy is super sweet and patient and he keeps attempting to provoke Lizzy into their previous give and take rapport, trying to lure out her witty banter he so loves, but for some reason she resolves to be a docile wife? This aspect was hard to swallow. I think Darcy would have realized something was off and brought it up, he isn't a sweep it under the rug guy, he is proactive & resolute.
Lizzy even in a bad situation wouldn't be impertinent? Wouldn't be witty ? Why would she decide to be a good little wife? I feel she would know or he would tell her he likes her for her banter.
One of the most gut wrenching aspects was Georgiana meeting a reluctant Lizzy, and being disheartened by the notion that her brother was trapped by fortune huntress in a loveless union.
Anyways, when colonel comes to visit, Lizzy is her vivacious self with him and Darcy is jealous. He finally confronts her about why she isn't herself, he married the other Lizzy he thought and feels gipped.
When he finds out she married him under duress their marriage becomes strained, feeling forlorn and longing ensues for all involved.
Me, most of the book:
The tide changes when Darcy falls from his horse and is badly injured. Lizzy does not leave his side for days and becomes a devoted caretaker.
Lizzy:
Due to the strong emotional response his injury evokes in her, it dawns on her that she has come to care for him. But we can't have nice things yet, so of course Darcy forgets Lizzy's ministrations and devotion and we are back to the pits of angst despair.
Darcy:
He avoids Lizzy and leaves for over a month to London, and Lizzy becomes depressed and suicidal thinking she lost his love and made him miserable.
What I enjoyed:
✰ The premise, though it could have received a more charming treatment.
✰ The allusion of Lizzy's bad first impression of horses and how her perception of horses and Darcy improved parallel.
✰ Allusion pandoras box closed before hope, Lizzy not allowing opportunity of being happy or loving Darcy she held back hope, must open box confront problems for hope to emerge.
✰ Lizzy being a gracious mistress, her kindness, visiting tenants, not written of in JAFF enough.
What Displeased Me:
➳ It’s hard to believe that Lizzy spending time with Darcy wouldn't find evidence that her formed opinion of him was ill founded, she would see him being a kind master and brother and surely she would reevaluate sooner.
➳ I don't see how Lizzy would be so despondent with her wit, or that Darcy wouldn't notice she wasn't her lively self, he could not be happy without her vivaciousness, these things obviously were done so as to make the plot come together but it was hard to suspend disbelief. Also, as we scarcely stray from Lizzy’s narrative, and her usually witty & lively persona are MIA, her POV makes for ill company as she is very much suited for melancholy in this take. There are none of Austen's trademark ridiculous characters- Mrs Bennet, Collins, Lydia- to provide comic relief, so this story is positively a depressant.
➳ The writing and dialogue weren't anything to write home about.
➳ Not exciting, a bit forgettable.
Conclusion
It was a harrowing read, I like angst but boy was this was just rough.
The payoff wasn't enough to restore once equanimity, and without Lizzy’s wit or Darcy’s narrative and no real plot, there wasn't anything to entertain or enliven.
Wouldn't reread, haven't the courage.
꙳ Spice Scale rating: Coquette Cayenne 🌶 🌶🌶/5 ꙳
In the spirit of the Scoville Scale- a system that measures the degree of spicy- I am coopting it to facilitate rating the degree of sensual content in reading material. For expanded scale ref. photos.
Synopsis:
During Darcy’s proposal at Rosings, he kisses her in sight of witnesses before Lizzy can reject him. Thus compelled by a compromise Lizzy goes along with the marriage.
And as Lizzy never complains, or mentions that she would have rejected him, had she felt she had the option to, Darcy hasn't a whit she is unwilling.
Darcy, bless his besotted heart:
Thus there is no grace period to hold off on marital relations as in other FMS.
Lizzy:
As you would imagine, Lizzy sleeping with Darcy without affection is very depressing.
Darcy is super sweet and patient and he keeps attempting to provoke Lizzy into their previous give and take rapport, trying to lure out her witty banter he so loves, but for some reason she resolves to be a docile wife? This aspect was hard to swallow. I think Darcy would have realized something was off and brought it up, he isn't a sweep it under the rug guy, he is proactive & resolute.
Lizzy even in a bad situation wouldn't be impertinent? Wouldn't be witty ? Why would she decide to be a good little wife? I feel she would know or he would tell her he likes her for her banter.
One of the most gut wrenching aspects was Georgiana meeting a reluctant Lizzy, and being disheartened by the notion that her brother was trapped by fortune huntress in a loveless union.
Anyways, when colonel comes to visit, Lizzy is her vivacious self with him and Darcy is jealous. He finally confronts her about why she isn't herself, he married the other Lizzy he thought and feels gipped.
When he finds out she married him under duress their marriage becomes strained, feeling forlorn and longing ensues for all involved.
"I want no more duty kisses, Elizabeth. Their taste is bitter.”
Me, most of the book:
The tide changes when Darcy falls from his horse and is badly injured. Lizzy does not leave his side for days and becomes a devoted caretaker.
Lizzy:
Due to the strong emotional response his injury evokes in her, it dawns on her that she has come to care for him. But we can't have nice things yet, so of course Darcy forgets Lizzy's ministrations and devotion and we are back to the pits of angst despair.
Darcy:
He avoids Lizzy and leaves for over a month to London, and Lizzy becomes depressed and suicidal thinking she lost his love and made him miserable.
What I enjoyed:
✰ The premise, though it could have received a more charming treatment.
✰ The allusion of Lizzy's bad first impression of horses and how her perception of horses and Darcy improved parallel.
✰ Allusion pandoras box closed before hope, Lizzy not allowing opportunity of being happy or loving Darcy she held back hope, must open box confront problems for hope to emerge.
✰ Lizzy being a gracious mistress, her kindness, visiting tenants, not written of in JAFF enough.
What Displeased Me:
➳ It’s hard to believe that Lizzy spending time with Darcy wouldn't find evidence that her formed opinion of him was ill founded, she would see him being a kind master and brother and surely she would reevaluate sooner.
"She could not evade him at dinner, but she chose to speak only when spoken to, playing an old game of pretending to be Jane and answering each question as Jane would "
➳ I don't see how Lizzy would be so despondent with her wit, or that Darcy wouldn't notice she wasn't her lively self, he could not be happy without her vivaciousness, these things obviously were done so as to make the plot come together but it was hard to suspend disbelief. Also, as we scarcely stray from Lizzy’s narrative, and her usually witty & lively persona are MIA, her POV makes for ill company as she is very much suited for melancholy in this take. There are none of Austen's trademark ridiculous characters- Mrs Bennet, Collins, Lydia- to provide comic relief, so this story is positively a depressant.
➳ The writing and dialogue weren't anything to write home about.
➳ Not exciting, a bit forgettable.
Conclusion
It was a harrowing read, I like angst but boy was this was just rough.
The payoff wasn't enough to restore once equanimity, and without Lizzy’s wit or Darcy’s narrative and no real plot, there wasn't anything to entertain or enliven.
Wouldn't reread, haven't the courage.
꙳ Spice Scale rating: Coquette Cayenne 🌶 🌶🌶/5 ꙳
In the spirit of the Scoville Scale- a system that measures the degree of spicy- I am coopting it to facilitate rating the degree of sensual content in reading material. For expanded scale ref. photos.
July 23, 2025
In this variation of Pride&Prejudice Elizabeth marries Darcy after his first proposal, as he kisses her before she has time to refuse him. Then they are discovered and Elizabeth does not have a choice but comply. Elizabeth is deeply unhappy and Darcy has no idea that she hates him.
I liked the parts with hate but Darcy didn’t really improve his character. That’s why I don’t understand why, in the end, Elizabeth decided to love him….
I liked the parts with hate but Darcy didn’t really improve his character. That’s why I don’t understand why, in the end, Elizabeth decided to love him….
March 8, 2024
quite a cute, quick little mr darcy fic with lots of fluff/misunderstanding/vibes
August 3, 2016
This novel is part of “The Pemberley Variations Series” and it belongs to “what if” stories. The main question of this one is: what if Elizabeth had accepted to marry Mr. Darcy against her will?
The plot begins with Elizabeth visiting Charlotte and Mr. Collins at Husford. While she walks through the gardens she comes across Darcy who, after a brief chat, asks her to marry him and kisses her without waiting for her answer. Startled by his behaviour, Elizabeth is resolved to reproach Mr. Darcy but, since Colonel Fitzwilliam and some gamekeepers have seen the whole scene, she is forced to accept his proposal. The story goes on with the description of the sadness of Elizabeth who feels trapped in a marriage without love (she has married Darcy only to save her reputation and her sisters’), and a man deeply in love with his wife unaware of her despair. Until a terrible accident happens which forces the new mistress of Pemberley to face her true feelings. But is there still hope for a happy marriage or is it too late?
Before reading this novel I checked out several reviews and I realized the most used word to describe the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy was heartbreaking. I confess I could not find another word to define it. The whole story is heartbreaking! At the beginning I felt for Elizabeth because she was unhappy and I pitied Darcy because he was really in love with her and he did not understand how desperate she was. Occasionally, I had the sensation he was unable to see that and sometimes he did not want to see that. Then, when Elizabeth tells him the truth about her feelings (because at a certain point she talks to her husband, I daresay finally!), I felt very bad for Darcy because now it was his turn to be devastated but also, I was sorry for Elizabeth because she soon realizes how terrible was her behaviour towards a man who had always been kind and loving to her. Hence, I have been upset and unsettled for a while!
Despite this pain or I should say thanks to it this novel captivated me as not many did. I read it in a few days and it is weird since English is not my mother language but I really had a hard time putting it down! I was anxious to see how it would end, what it would happen to my beloved couple. I was not disappointed because it is a beautiful novel. Mrs. Reynolds has this special power to mesmerize me!
If you want to read it, you can also find a new edition of this book called “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World”, so you can have them both or choose one. I have read that there are only a few grammar differences but I do not own the new version so I cannot tell for sure. Furthermore, I would recommend it for Mature Audiences because there are some intimate scenes included.
The plot begins with Elizabeth visiting Charlotte and Mr. Collins at Husford. While she walks through the gardens she comes across Darcy who, after a brief chat, asks her to marry him and kisses her without waiting for her answer. Startled by his behaviour, Elizabeth is resolved to reproach Mr. Darcy but, since Colonel Fitzwilliam and some gamekeepers have seen the whole scene, she is forced to accept his proposal. The story goes on with the description of the sadness of Elizabeth who feels trapped in a marriage without love (she has married Darcy only to save her reputation and her sisters’), and a man deeply in love with his wife unaware of her despair. Until a terrible accident happens which forces the new mistress of Pemberley to face her true feelings. But is there still hope for a happy marriage or is it too late?
Before reading this novel I checked out several reviews and I realized the most used word to describe the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy was heartbreaking. I confess I could not find another word to define it. The whole story is heartbreaking! At the beginning I felt for Elizabeth because she was unhappy and I pitied Darcy because he was really in love with her and he did not understand how desperate she was. Occasionally, I had the sensation he was unable to see that and sometimes he did not want to see that. Then, when Elizabeth tells him the truth about her feelings (because at a certain point she talks to her husband, I daresay finally!), I felt very bad for Darcy because now it was his turn to be devastated but also, I was sorry for Elizabeth because she soon realizes how terrible was her behaviour towards a man who had always been kind and loving to her. Hence, I have been upset and unsettled for a while!
Despite this pain or I should say thanks to it this novel captivated me as not many did. I read it in a few days and it is weird since English is not my mother language but I really had a hard time putting it down! I was anxious to see how it would end, what it would happen to my beloved couple. I was not disappointed because it is a beautiful novel. Mrs. Reynolds has this special power to mesmerize me!
If you want to read it, you can also find a new edition of this book called “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World”, so you can have them both or choose one. I have read that there are only a few grammar differences but I do not own the new version so I cannot tell for sure. Furthermore, I would recommend it for Mature Audiences because there are some intimate scenes included.
January 23, 2016
I decided to reread this title after giving it 3 stars in 2010. This was probably one of the very first JA FanFic I ever read. I loved P&P and I don't think I understood the concept of variations when I first read this. Rereading it now gives me the chance to change my rating.
In this story, Darcy has proposed to Elizabeth and then kissed her in plain sight of Colonel Fitzwilliam and a few others. She did not have a chance to answer, but must marry to prevent a scandal.
Truly, in this variation there is only one major misunderstanding. Darcy and Elizabeth both believe they understand the other and so continually avoid discussing their relationship. Because they both are afraid talking will make the situation worse, they avoid talking and actually do make it worse. They assume they understand the other when in fact they don't. This actually is true of many, many marriages, so I am not sure why I felt in 2010 that this was unrealistic.
Happily, I can now compare this story to a few hundred other P&P variations and give it the 5 star rating it deserves. It is a lovely story of allowing a spouse to be themselves and learning to love them for the person they actually are and not who we think they are. Isn't that what we all want in our marriage? If we set aside our pride and prejudices, we can genuinely love and be loved in return.
2010 review
Although I enjoyed this variation on Pride and Prejudice, I found it frustrating. The concept is that Elizabeth was compromised and thus unable to turn down Mr. Darcy's first proposal while visiting Rosings. Elizabeth had not yet learned to love Mr. Darcy and is very unhappy in her marriage. What frustrated me about this book was the HUGE number of misunderstandings the Darcys had and the incredible number of opportunities lost to set their relationship on a strong footing. Possibly my idea of Elizabeth is a bit different, but I just cannot believe her actions nor can I believe she would keep so much to herself while suffering through her circumstances. I did enjoy this different way to see the Darcys fall in love. But, I still prefer the original.
In this story, Darcy has proposed to Elizabeth and then kissed her in plain sight of Colonel Fitzwilliam and a few others. She did not have a chance to answer, but must marry to prevent a scandal.
Truly, in this variation there is only one major misunderstanding. Darcy and Elizabeth both believe they understand the other and so continually avoid discussing their relationship. Because they both are afraid talking will make the situation worse, they avoid talking and actually do make it worse. They assume they understand the other when in fact they don't. This actually is true of many, many marriages, so I am not sure why I felt in 2010 that this was unrealistic.
Happily, I can now compare this story to a few hundred other P&P variations and give it the 5 star rating it deserves. It is a lovely story of allowing a spouse to be themselves and learning to love them for the person they actually are and not who we think they are. Isn't that what we all want in our marriage? If we set aside our pride and prejudices, we can genuinely love and be loved in return.
2010 review
Although I enjoyed this variation on Pride and Prejudice, I found it frustrating. The concept is that Elizabeth was compromised and thus unable to turn down Mr. Darcy's first proposal while visiting Rosings. Elizabeth had not yet learned to love Mr. Darcy and is very unhappy in her marriage. What frustrated me about this book was the HUGE number of misunderstandings the Darcys had and the incredible number of opportunities lost to set their relationship on a strong footing. Possibly my idea of Elizabeth is a bit different, but I just cannot believe her actions nor can I believe she would keep so much to herself while suffering through her circumstances. I did enjoy this different way to see the Darcys fall in love. But, I still prefer the original.
August 18, 2010
This book, as with most of Renyolds' books, fills a very specific niche in the literature industry. It a Pride & Prejudice related book, specifically a sequel. Elizabeth Bennett has often been called one of the most delightful creatures in prose, and certainly it is true that people want to read all about her. An entire sub-genre of Austen related books has sprung up. Whether you call it trash, fan-fiction or love it to death, it is important to look at Renyolds' book in context of this sub-genre. Its not trying to be deep, ground-breaking literature. Its the bibliophile's version of candy. But out of this sub genre of P&P inspired stories, Renyold's books could be considered the cream of the crop. They're a little racy, but with good writing; accurate history, politics and Regency views; and fresh yet canon-compliant characters. I especailly enjoy the "what-if" stories that take a fun look at different events in the original book. I', always curious wht interpretation Renyolds has on the characters and events.
In "The Last Man in the World" Elizabeth is "comprimised" with a kiss and forced, in her mind, to accept Mr. Darcy's fist proposal. But in a world where the two have not worked beyond each others pride and prejudices, can their famous love bloom?
In "The Last Man in the World" Elizabeth is "comprimised" with a kiss and forced, in her mind, to accept Mr. Darcy's fist proposal. But in a world where the two have not worked beyond each others pride and prejudices, can their famous love bloom?
December 31, 2013
This Pemberley Variation was $8.99, but I just bought it for $1.99, which is about the most that I would spend on a work of P&P fan fiction and only because Laurel at austenprose.com liked it. We shall see . . . .
Thoughts after reading
I enjoyed this book. The author has a very deft feel for the language of the times, and this is a clever 'what if' variation on P&P. I will probably read other titles by Abigail Reynolds.
Thoughts after reading
I enjoyed this book. The author has a very deft feel for the language of the times, and this is a clever 'what if' variation on P&P. I will probably read other titles by Abigail Reynolds.
May 26, 2017
I just spent the afternoon reading. At first I wasn't convinced, but then I was so taken by Darcy and Lizzie, and all that when wrong, and all the feelings. A really lovely and engaging read!
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