Balter: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice

by Newton Priors

Elizabeth Bennet is touring Derbyshire with her Uncle and Aunt Gardiner. They stop to see Pemberley and Elizabeth encounters Mr. Darcy, a man she has never met before. She expects never to see him again, but her expectations prove mistaken. Repeatedly.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Retellings, Regency

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2020

About the author

Newton Priors writes, reads, and teaches in the southern US.

Reviews

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

I have to applaud the fact that this author in "retelling" the story of P&P did not use Jane Austen's words, he paraphrased same conversations, etc. in his own words, i.e., the proposal at Hunsford, the letter Darcy wrote to Elizabeth, etc. I also enjoyed the addition of his own little twists and/or threads which helped to make this story interesting even if I knew what was going to happen with the main characters. He does follow Jane Austen's outline closely. One character is killed off, however.

As the blurb tells us Elizabeth meets Darcy for the first time while she and the Gardiners are touring Pemberley. Here it is a scene taken from the 1995 P&P movie with Colin Firth as Darcy arises out of a pond in which he dove to wash mud off his clothing. Elizabeth is sitting by the pond and when he sees her he dunks back into the water for modesty's sake. This Darcy is tongue-tied often in new situations or with strangers. Elizabeth is the opposite; she makes some witty remarks and he is unable to find any words in reply. Darcy finds himself off-guard several more times when he again meets Elizabeth. Once he misses the carriage step as he alights at Netherfield and espies Elizabeth whom he was not expecting. He lands in the mud. Then at the Netherfield Ball he and she dance but in silence. Later both find that dance to have been one of significance. He looks back on it as a time when he first thought she might return his regard. Elizabeth cannot seem to define her exact feelings.

The Darcy in this story is much more reticent and clings to his father's expectations of duty to his inheritance, to his estate, to his family. Elizabeth admits that she often speaks without thinking and thus finds that she really needs to go back and apologize. Finding a chance to do that doesn't come easily.

There are some new characters. We have the Shotwell brothers. One seems to be Wickham's friend while the other is a new doctor for Anne de Bourgh. They were interesting additions to the story. Darcy also finds helps hunting down Wickham from a Mr. O'Brien. Mary makes some changes in her interests and has a role in this tale. Lady Catherine's behavior in one part is over the top!

This story is written in lovely prose. The chapters begin with interesting and relevant quotes from literature. This is a long story which kept my interest even though I knew what was to come, for the most part. I recommend this story to JAFF readers.

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pemberley was too much for any single walk of pleasure to comprehend. The housekeeper warned that it was too much for any first impression." (quote from the book)

As the book description states, Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr. Darcy for the first time at Pemberley while touring it with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. Their first impressions, as in canon, are not favourable. Thinking they will never see each other again proves wrong...they meet more often than either expect.

"You have a wonderful mind, child; it moves with the very speed of an arrow, but sometimes it is just as barbed." (quote from the book)

For the most part, the story follows canon, but there are different twists and turns to the story that I enjoyed. To me there is a 'tongue-in-cheek' humour deftly displayed as well...especially concerning Mr. Collins. I found Charlotte's portrayal very well done.

"He seemed to be mumbling to himself but he stopped to gaze at Lady Catherine as if she were an icon." (quote from the book)

There are some delightful new characters mixed in that added further depth to the story. Wickham is his snake charming self and Lady Catherine has a few surprises to deal with, and I loved how she is compared to a certain force of nature.

"He seemed to anticipate Elizabeth's movement, to be always ahead of her somehow but never out of time, out of step. It created a strange feeling in her, almost as if she were a music box figurine and he was winding her." (quote from the book)

Elizabeth and Darcy have a rocky road full of pride and prejudice that each much find their way along. Surprising enlightenment from certain characters help them to 'see' where the faults lie.

"I have discovered, dear sister, there are things worth falling for, even if it hurts. (quote from the book)

I do recommend this debut novel from Newton Priors. There were some proofreading/editing issues, but not enough to take away from my enjoyment.

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Prose
I loved this Pride and Prejudice retelling. I especially appreciated the prose. Every now and then, among so many such variations, a writing style stands out and I feel this one does. I highlighted so many passages and phrases. With the beginning pages, I knew this book would be special for me and it didn’t disappoint.

The story begins quite differently from canon, having Elizabeth and Darcy meet at Pemberley while she and the Gardiners are touring there, and as he comes up from the waters of the pond she is watching him. It may sound a bit corny (I was reminded of the famous Colin Firth wet shirt scene from the 1995 BBC production, which isn’t in the book as Austenites well know), but the conversation that follows will thoroughly divert you. Elizabeth’s sharp tongue gets the better of her and she walks away from that first encounter in some pique after Darcy says,

"I will not debate my manners with you, Miss Bennet, while I am freezing in my own pond, and you are in breach of yours!"

Thus begins a story where each expects never to see one another again, only to find themselves repeatedly meeting. You will find all the familiar characters, with a few favorable new ones, some with a key role to play.

I believe this is a debut novel for the writer, if I am not mistaken. I think it is an outstanding beginning, and I look forward to reading more from Newton Priors. There are some proofreading errors, however, and I hope this improves with future releases. I borrowed the book via Kindle Unlimited, but loved it so much I purchased it for my Kindle library.

Overall, very well done, and I highly recommend it.

[James S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The classic story of Elizabeth and Darcy

Some changes to canon, some new characters. The story itself is pretty much same. Lizzy meets Darcy, Darcy loves Lizzy, Lizzy hates Darcy. Lots of small changes to this and that but all recognizable. What makes a good read is the telling of the story. It is elegant. Reading the story crafted so finely is very special for the reader.

Darcy is proud, prejudiced, and arrogant. Lizzy is quick to judge, proud, and vain. It’s made clear the above personalities trait have originated in Lizzy and Darcy’s from upbringing and have drilled into them by their parents.

As each comes to realize his or her bad traits, overcoming or at least moderating them is shown well. Nice to see both lead characters having major flaws, not just Darcy. Thumbs up.

[lori huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite

There's a scene early in the book wherein Darcy, Elizabeth, Charles Bingley, and Caroline Bingley are discussing the relative merits of doing things either quickly, or doing them slowly. Darcy and Elizabeth both agree that they like to read slowly so as to grasp all the nuances and hidden meanings in a work, and another important character later echoes this opinion. I can't help but think that this author is talking about his own works, and perhaps about his own way of reading as well, since this is a book that must be read slowly, deliberately, and repeatedly. Every conversation, every description is delivered in beautiful prose that sometimes requires a second reading.

Each chapter begins with a ponderous and philosophical quotation that forces you to pause and think, not a usual thing in JAFF books. The story begins when Elizabeth is visiting Pemberly with her aunt and uncle Gardiner. However, in this version Elizabeth has not yet met Darcy, and they have their first encounter at the Pemberly pond, a strange and wonderful encounter that sets the tone for the entire story. Their first meeting is so odd, but so striking that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next, and the second encounter is just as intriguing.

I love Darcy in this version. He's stiff and arrogant, but also vulnerable and shy to a crippling degree. He's the master of Pemberly, important and successful, but also like a boy in a man's body who doesn't know how to make friends with girls. His tendency to be tongue tied and unsure of himself is both heart wrenching and heartwarming, especially when faced with the super sharp Elizabeth Bennett, who always knows what to say, and then some. Her inability to perceive Darcy's struggles just makes his problems worse.

As the cover of the book states, this is a retelling of P&P, and the changes are refreshing and original. A few new characters are introduced, and they all enrich the story. The main difference is the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy, how it evolves, and the effect on peripheral characters. The writing is masterful and lovely. It took me a long time to get through the book, but only because it needs to be savored. I wished that the book was longer, and that's always a good sign.

There are a lot of editing errors, mostly extra words or words missing, but it didn't distract from the enjoyment. I recommend it highly.

[Terri Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was simply wonderful what joy to read a book the while of a theme was quite original.
One of those books when it ends you miss it.
Look forward to more by this author.

[MichelleH H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story. Romance. Plot. Writing. Intrigue. Character.

Oh wow. I started this book months ago but couldn’t get into it. When I picked it up again I had to start from the beginning. Couldn’t remember anything. Where oh where was my head? On my second try I couldn’t get enough of it. The various romances of the couples other than Elizabeth and Darcy were really nice. Some were sweetly quiet, some were dramatic and caused quite a many tense angst-y scenes. But in a good way. Have I said I loved it?

It’s a great story, with such intelligent writing I absolutely soaked it up. The character development was fascinating. The inner voice of those characters and the comments written of their decisions and actions tells a deeper study of human behavior that I found compelling.

This is a heady book and feels long, but very satisfying and rewarding in the end. This book is one more example for me that when it’s the right time for me to read it it’s a great experience.

Highly recommended for JAFF readers.

[Sheryl Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good variation besides the point.

This was an exercise for the author. And the intention is a bit too obvious. Aside from that, the variation was pretty good; a lot of interesting plot diversions and some intriguing original characters. That said, the romantic angst felt strained, as if it was deliberately prolonged to string along the creative, original aspects of the plot. One of those books you continue to read even though you pick it up and put it down in favor of more enticing quick reads. But good.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe a 2.5. This story seemed very long winded and never ending to me. Maybe if I enjoyed it more, it wouldn’t have seemed such a chore to get to the end. I found it really difficult to engage in this story, but my biggest complaint with this book is the lack of chemistry between D&E. In this story, Elizabeth is the one that is arrogant and rude and in the greatest need of being humbled. Her first time encountering Darcy, we have the 1995 mini series “lake scene” only Elizabeth is on a tour of Pemberley. Elizabeth comes upon him in the lake and he is understandably embarrassed, but Elizabeth proceeds to pick a fight with him while he is still in the water and is very rude to him, even though they’ve never met and even though she is the stranger intruding on his privacy on his property. Not really very believable. Less believable to me still is that Darcy is immediately attracted and falls almost instantly in love. I just couldn’t buy into that. Jane Austen never expected her readers to to believe or expect Elizabeth Bennet to love the unreformed Mr. Darcy after His rude behavior. He had to earn her esteem. Austen understood that love and even attraction had to have at least some foundation. I just always have a hard time enjoying variations where Elizabeth’s playful behavior is transformed into rudeness and sometimes even being obnoxious. I also wasn’t a fan of Darcy being portrayed as so shy and awkward that he came across more like a Mr. Collins. I felt like, at least in the first half, Darcy was tripping over his words so badly that he appeared ridiculous.

The author made quite an effort to provide witty dialogue with an austenesque feel, but may have tried a little too hard. I appreciated the effort and enjoyed this dialogue somewhat, but it also felt somewhat disjointed and manufactured and sometimes didn’t even make a lot of sense. It also wasn’t very true to the period in how forward conversations were. People back then didn’t speak freely about personal feelings and issues. One example is Darcy spoke about his feelings for Elizabeth Bennet to everyone including his housekeeper as well as people he didn’t know or was just introduced to. And then you have Anne deBourgh, and the way she immerses Elizabeth in her storyline. That just crossed into the over the top ridiculous to me.

While this book did have some merits, overall I just did not enjoy it. I’m in the minority and am glad that there are many fans out there who found it enjoyable.

[Tish Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

gorgeous

The author has a rich, poetic style which suits the complexities of Elizabeth’s words, reasoning, and emotions. This is a book that requires you, not so much to read, as to intentionally inhabit for a time. There is an ebb and flow to the prose, times of introspection and times of hasty words, regretful recollections and ebullient dances. Of course, there is a happy ending for most, but there is also a swelling of joy as many of the characters discover their essential selves as they stumble forward through their own mistakes. I will eagerly read anything this author publishes, but this will always be the one I return to. I feel as though Jane Austen would read this version of her story and be completely delighted.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of the nearly 300 Pride and Prejudice variations I've read, Balter is in my top 3. Intelligently written, with a memorable style, and thought-provoking philosophical quotes throughout, which required the growth of a few new brain cells to comprehend.

There are many, many errors always distracting and interrupting the flow of reading, especially when the reader is trying to savor all the nuances of the prose. But I will read it again one day, in spite of the errors, with the hope that a proofreader will have been unleashed upon it. I enjoyed it that much!

[Abi Demina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows closely to the original Pride and Prejudice, although with the addition of Darcy's perspective.

Switching between the perspectives of Elizabeth and Darcy, would have worked better if we didn't also keep jumping back in time, which felt like stop-starting the story, over and over again. Just as we get going - screeech! - the brakes are applied, and then we're slammed into reverse to revisit the same moment from the other character's point of view.

There were a few minor alterations from the original plot, but they do not alter the overall feel of the story, except, perhaps, in making Elizabeth less likeable. She lacks some of the sweetness and archness of Austen's Elizabeth, and comes across as a little less fair and a little more mean, in her interactions with Darcy.

Some of the prose is lovely. There were some beautifully written, poetic turns of phrase.
This is our introduction to Anne de Bourgh, for example:

Anne seemed less Lady Catherine's flesh than an elaborate shadow Lady Catherine cast upon the furniture.

And here is our introduction to Mr Collins:

The thick man in black bowed with a ceremony that seemed to disjoin the action into several distinct, clownish parts, no one of which attached itself naturally to the others.

Lovely stuff.

But the author seems, too often, to get caught up in unnecessary repetitious phrasing, that weakens sentences. For example:

But Darcy had twice caused her to misstep, misjudge, misspeak. Inexact, unjust. Unjust.

But Darcy had twice caused her to misstep, would have been fine.
But Darcy had twice caused her to misspeak, also perfectly good.
The use of all three words, however, pulls the reader out of the story and to an awareness of reading words on a page. Especially when followed by further repetitious phrasing in the next two sentences.

There are also moments that pull the reader from the story, where one character tells another, information they should already know, in order to get exposition across. For example:

"Well, how is your sister, Darcy, my niece, Georgiana?"

Darcy knows his sister is called Georgiana, and he knows she is Lady Catherine's niece. Lady Catherine might ask "How is Georgiana?" Or "How is your sister?" Or "How is my niece?" But to use all three, feels unnatural.

I know, I'm very picky. It's just unfortunate that for all of the thoughtful prose, and some very lovely turns of phrase, the overall effect is spoiled by some issues that a good editor could easily have sorted out. Along with things like Mr Bennet repeatedly removing the glasses he has already removed, or the author mistakenly referring to Lady Catherine as Lady Charlotte; minor things that pull a reader out of their immersion in the story.

So, overall, this was a good vagary, spoiled a little by its need for an editor / proof reader.

[Gisele Morin-Labatut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another remarkable offering from Professor Kelly Dean Jolley, some of whose books are written under the nom-de-plume Newton Priors. Some stories are contemporary , such as "Pride, Prejudice and Pretense" and "The Swamp", a few are Austen re-tellings, others are detective, mystery tales, etc. A professor of Philosophy and Religion, the author clearly loves literature and the written word, as well as absurdity. As usual, I found a number of words I had not known previously, such as "balter", a verb which, roughly speaking, describes how Mr. Collins dances, and how Darcy so often expressses himself (with his Hessian boots in his mouth). The author writes very well, going so far as refraining from splitting infinitives, and respecting the use of the possessive with the gerund. His style varies from book to book; I do remain bemused by the deliberate repetitions in the speach of several characters in Balter. And with my limited knowledge of English literature, I am still pondering the intent, expressed in the author's Preface, to borrow not only Elizabeth and Darcy, but also "the themes and structures of the Austen novel and to discover how themes generate the structures: every force evolves a form". A source of great satisfaction is Mary Bennet's preoccupation with the assertion of Bishop Berkley's (after whom Berkley University was named) that nothing exists if it is not observed by someone. This philosophy was gently mocked by Samuel Johnson, but perhaps more famously by Ronald Knox, priest and writer of detective stories and limericks, in his delightful 'There was a young man who said God Must find it exceedingly odd ... etc.). The author weaves all this wonderfully in a book I shall joyfully read, again, and again, and again...

[Ani · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 - rushed beginning, decent payoff

I cannot confidently say I enjoyed this beginning to end, but I find myself selecting 5 stars due to the overall uniqueness and diction. My problems are mostly with the first third. I do so adore alternate first encounters and here, Darcy and Elizabeth meet clumsily at Pemberley then stumble awkwardly until fanon meets canon at Rosings. Quite funny—however, I never felt like I bore witness to what made Darcy fall in love. With the removal of Jane’s canonical week at Netherfield, Darcy and Elizabeth barely spend any time together.

After the proposal, though, I absolutely loved this variation. You can tell the author is well-educated and did their research based on the number of literary references that are, for once, actually well-integrated. While there are copious editing errors (common in this self-published genre), they did not overwhelm the author’s natural talent for using witty and philosophical prose.

There are also several side-plots that are downright amazing. Listen, I love Charlotte, but this genre tends to either have her immediately adapt to and “handle” Mr Collins, or feel trapped but get widowed and thus “freed” early. I liked how Balter avoided the easy way out, which would have been to fast-forward to either conclusion. We get to see Charlotte regret her pragmatic decision and learn to live with it.

I also really enjoyed Anne and Mary’s plotlines, which involved two brothers, the Shotwells. Honestly, I recommend this just for the original characters, especially one who is somewhat openly a pseudo Sherlock Holmes.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent.
Mr. Prior frames his retelling of Pride and Prejudice as an exercise, and it is in the best sense. It respects and somewhat alters the original in ways that incorporate the broader philosophies of the time and enrich our understanding of the main character progressions from the original. The book seems told by someone who has studied Austen intensively and in the context of her times.
Yes, you’ll need to consult a dictionary a few times reading this (preferably, Dr. Johnson’s). This isn’t ostentation on the author’s part – the significance and joy of language, new language in particular, is a major theme in this Austen variation. This is a book you want to highlight. There are sentences so brilliant you want to remember and quote if you can. Actual quotes from Pride and Prejudice are used with subtlety. Darcy and Elizabeth are marvelous in the book, of course, but so are a wonderful new character Mr. O’Brien, Ann, Charlotte and many others.
Interestingly for such a literary retelling, two key scenes from movie adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, when Darcy emerges from the pond in the Colin Firth version and the walk across a field in the Matthew Macfadyen version, are visual inspirations for major developments in this book. In describing these well-known scenes, Mr. Prior gives them far more significance and emotional weight.
To my mind, this is as brilliant a Pride and Prejudice variation as can be written (and I’ve read several hundred of them). The book takes time to read, not because it’s too long but because it’s so thoughtful. I suspect Jane Austen would be thrilled to be honored with so much wit, understanding and reverence.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This variation has an interesting premise and has Lizzie visit Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle far earlier than in the original and so her initial meeting with Darcy is quite different (and wetter!)
This has a knock on effect at times for some events - characters being absent so missing assemblies, not having been introduced and so on. On some cases it can be a bit off putting - I felt a bit jarred by Lizzy walking to Netherfield to look after Jane despite having just returned home and having never been introduced to the Bingleys! There were a few other moments that struck me as historically and socially inaccurate and the author often forgot to use proper tithes for some characters - Sir William and Lady Lucas were often referred to as Mr and Mrs Lucas. Darcy’s mother was referred to as Mrs Darcy but as the daughter of an Earl, she’d be Lady Anne Darcy.
These are minor issues though.
The plot was interesting and while I think this version if Lizzie is a bit more rude than her original character, it was an entertaining read packed with quotes and literary references.
While saw elements of our dear couple being a bit out of character, and Miss Bingley too forward, I enjoyed a lot of how the other characters were portrayed. It was a rather satisfying ending as well.

[Lisa E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literary fiction

It starts with that least-Jane-Austen cheesecake scene from the BBC miniseries (the best adaptation) and gives that scene a very different aspect. The book, trying to seem intelligent with its verbiage, battles with what I consider violations of the customs of the time. To me the violations overshadow the attempted intelligence. There are also changes to canon that makes several statements make no sense. And a lost opportunity to turn Miss Bingley's words back on herself. However, there are several gems in the text: the explanation of Berkeley's philosophy in Mary's feelings and Elizabeth's memories of Wickham, the sentences about Darcy's war with himself, and "Silence from her was a shout." And there have been more than one passage I identify with very strongly! So I am not sure what I think of this book.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly better than most -

— and yet I found it had sesquipedalian prose — rather than finding the extensive and rare lexicon uplifting and genuine, (dare I hope for witty?) I found it glaring in its arrogance. It was almost as if the author was employing some heavy-handed pedagogy to expand our vocabularies. To what end? The $3 words come across as if to say, “I’ll bet you don’t know this word! Ha!”
Perhaps I’m just speaking from my own prior experience- that when people use words not in the common parlance, they are attempting to intimidate and impress the reader rather than encouraging enjoyment.
That said, when I could get past my annoyance, I did enjoy the book. The re-arrangements of events and the addition of others kept me engaged and eager.
*I rate most books three stars. Four or five stars are reserved for those I particularly enjoy.

[Christy Bullock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think overall I did enjoy this book, but not as a Pride and Prejudice variation. The entire time I felt all of the characters were behaving and speaking wildly out of character. Elizabeth is witty, yes, but she is not improper or cruel. She is supposed to be kind. In this adaptation, I could not believe her behavior or words at her first and second meetings with Mr. Darcy. And Mrs. Reynolds seemed so odd here. I did enjoy the attention given to Mary and to Anne de Bourgh, although Elizabeth’s involvement in Anne’s love story did not make much sense. As for Darcy, he just seemed….off. There was some very beautiful writing in this book, however, and I enjoyed it for that. I think I would like this book more if I reread and put the original story out of my mind.

[edie scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

" ...much more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of the day"

A more rational and less emotionally-fraught retelling of P&P. There are many more conversations with depth and words of 3 syllables. Which is a good thing for this reader, tired of high, sometimes ridiculously contrived angst. Yes, there are still emotional scenes and drama. And the angst from "knowing" the loss of love from that one best suited for oneself.
Loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
Loved the new take on some of the futures of the more minor characters.
No plot synopsis here. Other reviewers have captured it well enough.
Recommend!

[Bello Valérie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This variation is excellent. The writing is faultless (despite a few typos and two Lady Charlotte instead of Lady Catherine). The characters study is deep. I particularly liked this Elizabeth. She rang true to canon. I liked Mr O'Brien: maybe the author should write his adventures! Highly recommended.

[Mariska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok!

What Has the potential to be a wonderful story, was constantly feeling disjointed to this reader. As a result , I was halfway through the book when I gave up and stopped reading it. The premise Is wonderful, the execution Difficult To truly Lose yourself within.

[Rajiv Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story

Both Darcy and Elizabeth, and circumstances are a different than the canon but story follows a similar arc. Darcy is awkward and Elizabeth is sharper but it made the novel delightful.

[Lori A. Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very true to the Austen style till the very end

I loved this version. I have been binge reading prod and prejudice alternative books and this one captures the style of Jane Austen very well!

[Susan Ferkany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice thoughtful read

Author has our couple more reflective about their individual missteps. Interesting to watch them learn and grow. Anne has her own small story, as does Mary, very sweet.

[Sharon D. Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and interesting

The good news is that this particular Pride & Prejudice retelling Is actually well written. It was an interesting book and I'm glad that I read it. I would suggest it to anyone who loves the original novel.

[T M S · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ll written

I enjoyed this story very much. I’ve read it twice and liked it both times. I would definitely recommend it if you love to follow the journey of Darcy and Elizabeth finding humility and each other.

[thirl a hornbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful prose like story

This is a wonderful prose like story. The author lets us peek a little deeper into the hearts of our favourite characters. I enjoyed it tremendously.

[Mrs A Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning to love

It held my interest as both Elizabeth and Darcy found themselves critical of each other, Elizabeth 's prejudice and Darcy 's pride creating discord.

[Michelle David · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting

A very wordy and intellectual variation inspired by author Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Newton Priors. I enjoyed it