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Pride and Prejudice Continues #3
Mr. Darcy's Great Escape: A Tale of the Darcys & the Bingleys
Hilarious and action-packed, this installment brings the Darcy and Bingley families to the year 1812 and the intrigues of the Napoleonic Wars. Darcy and Dr. Maddox go in search of Darcy's missing half-brother and land in a medieval prison cell. Much to his dismay, Charles Bingley is left to hold the fort at Pemberley while his sister Caroline, Elizabeth, and Col. Fitzwilliam traverse Europe on a daring rescue. Meanwhile, Lady Catherine de Bourgh kicks up a truly shocking scandal. One never knows what might happen next between the estates of Rosings and Pemberley.
484 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
23 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
Marsha Altman
18 books135 followersMarsha Altman is an author and historian specializing in Rabbinic literature in late antiquity. She is also an expert on Jane Austen sequels, having read nearly all of them. She works in publishing and is writing a series continuing the story of the Darcys and Bingleys. She lives in New York City. She does not own any cats.
The order of the "Darcys and the Bingleys" series is:
1. The Darcys and the Bingleys
2. The plight of the Darcy Brothers
3. Mr. Darcy's Great Escape
4. The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy
(4b. Other Tales eBook)
5. The Knights of Derbyshire
6. Georgiana and the Wolf
7. Young Mr. Darcy in Love
8. The Chrysanthemum and the Rose
9. The Trials of George Wickham the Younger
10. The Last of the Wine
The order of the "Darcys and the Bingleys" series is:
1. The Darcys and the Bingleys
2. The plight of the Darcy Brothers
3. Mr. Darcy's Great Escape
4. The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy
(4b. Other Tales eBook)
5. The Knights of Derbyshire
6. Georgiana and the Wolf
7. Young Mr. Darcy in Love
8. The Chrysanthemum and the Rose
9. The Trials of George Wickham the Younger
10. The Last of the Wine
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 29, 2015
Another wonderful story in this series...
This book is a page turner, as once again, the Darcys travel across foreign lands in some wild adventure due to the love of their family. My only critique is that I wish there was a bit more Darcy/Elizabeth storyline... But otherwise, I love all the plot lines and new characters...
This book is a page turner, as once again, the Darcys travel across foreign lands in some wild adventure due to the love of their family. My only critique is that I wish there was a bit more Darcy/Elizabeth storyline... But otherwise, I love all the plot lines and new characters...
May 24, 2020
Terrific though I realize now at this reading the there is a lack of feeling. Great story.
July 26, 2016
Okay I liked this book but it is really a rollicking adventure across Europe and not so much a P & P sequel.
And I have to wonder with the amount of time Darcy spends away from Pemberley does anything get done?
In this segment Darcy & Caroline's husband set off for Europe searching for their brothers. At the time of Napoleon's invasion of Russia they have to make careful passage. Upon their arrival in Transylvania they are imprisoned to force Dr. Maddox's brother's return.
Lizzy, Caroline and Col. Fitzwilliam set off to find them. Meanwhile the Maddox brother and his wife, the Princess, are schlepping across Russia and Japan to escape her father.
While this is an enjoyable and exciting read it really isn't a P & P sequel as much as a re-imagining.
And I have to wonder with the amount of time Darcy spends away from Pemberley does anything get done?
In this segment Darcy & Caroline's husband set off for Europe searching for their brothers. At the time of Napoleon's invasion of Russia they have to make careful passage. Upon their arrival in Transylvania they are imprisoned to force Dr. Maddox's brother's return.
Lizzy, Caroline and Col. Fitzwilliam set off to find them. Meanwhile the Maddox brother and his wife, the Princess, are schlepping across Russia and Japan to escape her father.
While this is an enjoyable and exciting read it really isn't a P & P sequel as much as a re-imagining.
November 12, 2019
It took me awhile to get into this story because I hadn't read the previous two books in the series and was missing quite a bit of the backstory (Darcy's illegitimate monk half-brother, Mary Bennet(!) having a child out of wedlock, etc). Also, whoever read the book prior to me made notations above every grammar and word choice error which made them stand out way too much to ignore (and there were many). Once I got past the odd idea of Darcy being imprisoned by a mad Transylvanian count, I warmed up to the story and enjoyed myself- even so far as to really like Mugin the quasi samurai as a character in a P&P spin-off.
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November 4, 2017Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is the latest book in Marsha Altman’s series about the Darcys and the Bingleys, the third sequel she’s written to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. At this point in the series, Altman has made Austen’s characters her own and thrown in several new faces without compromising the original story. (**Please note that there may be some spoilers in this review simply because it is the third book in the series. I’m not going to divulge too much of the plot of this book, but I might make mention to events brought to light in the first two books.**)
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape opens with Kitty Bennet’s wedding and quickly moves to the Darcy’s trip to Rosings to visit Mr. Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, for the first time since they married eight years prior. Shortly after the visit, which is both amusing and infuriating, Mr. Darcy determines that he must leave the country to find his half-brother, as the war being waged by Napoleon has threatened his safety as a monk and cut off all communications with his family. He decides to travel with Caroline Bingley’s husband, Dr. Maddox, who is making his way to Transylvania to visit his brother and royal sister-in-law. Things do not go as planned, and the two find themselves held captive, leaving their wives and Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, to help them escape from a long imprisonment that takes a toll on their bodies and minds.
While the first two books in the series, The Darcys & the Bingleys and The Plight of the Darcy Brothers, are mostly light and funny, Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is a darker tale. It has its humorous moments, but much of it focuses on Darcy’s state of mind after his escape from Transylvania. Prior to meeting Elizabeth, Darcy was very reserved, and after months in a dark dungeon with little food or drink and only Dr. Maddox for companionship, he is withdrawn. Anyone in Darcy’s situation probably would be messed up, and Altman shows this without going overboard.
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is a far cry from Pride and Prejudice, but that’s to be expected in a series in which part one is really the Austen sequel. Altman has taken some liberties with Austen’s characters, but I think she’s stayed true to them, and any differences in their personalities can be attributed to the changes we all undergo as we get older and (hopefully) wiser. She also devotes a good chunk of the book to the story of Brian Maddox, the rogue brother of Dr. Maddox who flees Transylvania with his wife and encounters numerous dangers while journeying through Russia and Japan on the way back to England. While the Bennet family does not make much of an appearance, readers get a glimpse of Mr. Darcy’s father and troubled uncle.
Overall, I enjoyed Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape, but it dragged a little after Darcy and Dr. Maddox’s rescue. I thought the inclusion of Brian Maddox’s adventures and the scenes with Mr. Darcy’s father and uncle were interesting, but they seemed out of place and detracted from the story that was occurring in the present. Although the darker story of Darcy’s imprisonment and recovery was well executed, Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is missing the humorous banter that made The Darcy & the Bingleys and The Plight of the Darcy Brothers shine. Even so, fans of Altman’s previous books should enjoy following her characters (both original and re-imagined) on yet another adventure. I hope Altman has more books planned for the series, and if so, I can’t wait to see where she takes them next.
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is the latest book in Marsha Altman’s series about the Darcys and the Bingleys, the third sequel she’s written to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. At this point in the series, Altman has made Austen’s characters her own and thrown in several new faces without compromising the original story. (**Please note that there may be some spoilers in this review simply because it is the third book in the series. I’m not going to divulge too much of the plot of this book, but I might make mention to events brought to light in the first two books.**)
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape opens with Kitty Bennet’s wedding and quickly moves to the Darcy’s trip to Rosings to visit Mr. Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, for the first time since they married eight years prior. Shortly after the visit, which is both amusing and infuriating, Mr. Darcy determines that he must leave the country to find his half-brother, as the war being waged by Napoleon has threatened his safety as a monk and cut off all communications with his family. He decides to travel with Caroline Bingley’s husband, Dr. Maddox, who is making his way to Transylvania to visit his brother and royal sister-in-law. Things do not go as planned, and the two find themselves held captive, leaving their wives and Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, to help them escape from a long imprisonment that takes a toll on their bodies and minds.
While the first two books in the series, The Darcys & the Bingleys and The Plight of the Darcy Brothers, are mostly light and funny, Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is a darker tale. It has its humorous moments, but much of it focuses on Darcy’s state of mind after his escape from Transylvania. Prior to meeting Elizabeth, Darcy was very reserved, and after months in a dark dungeon with little food or drink and only Dr. Maddox for companionship, he is withdrawn. Anyone in Darcy’s situation probably would be messed up, and Altman shows this without going overboard.
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is a far cry from Pride and Prejudice, but that’s to be expected in a series in which part one is really the Austen sequel. Altman has taken some liberties with Austen’s characters, but I think she’s stayed true to them, and any differences in their personalities can be attributed to the changes we all undergo as we get older and (hopefully) wiser. She also devotes a good chunk of the book to the story of Brian Maddox, the rogue brother of Dr. Maddox who flees Transylvania with his wife and encounters numerous dangers while journeying through Russia and Japan on the way back to England. While the Bennet family does not make much of an appearance, readers get a glimpse of Mr. Darcy’s father and troubled uncle.
Overall, I enjoyed Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape, but it dragged a little after Darcy and Dr. Maddox’s rescue. I thought the inclusion of Brian Maddox’s adventures and the scenes with Mr. Darcy’s father and uncle were interesting, but they seemed out of place and detracted from the story that was occurring in the present. Although the darker story of Darcy’s imprisonment and recovery was well executed, Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is missing the humorous banter that made The Darcy & the Bingleys and The Plight of the Darcy Brothers shine. Even so, fans of Altman’s previous books should enjoy following her characters (both original and re-imagined) on yet another adventure. I hope Altman has more books planned for the series, and if so, I can’t wait to see where she takes them next.
July 13, 2010
At least when I started this book, I knew it was part of a triology (unlike my experience with Altman's previous two books in the series), so I wasn't surprised there. What surprised me was the way Altman's style and content changed so abruptly from the other two books in the triology; this book was much darker than the first two, a revelation I was unprepared for.
Again, I was happy Altman brought back her new characters whom, by now, I was quite familiar with, but I thought the additional characters brought forth in this story were her weakest yet. Brian Maddox is not necessarily a "new" character, but he was only a periphery person in the previous stories and I feel Altman doesn't do his story justice. He gets married to a princess, his wife can't conceive a child, his father-in-law plans to kill him, he and his wife escape from Eastern Europe through Asia and back to England; when reading the basics of his story, it sounds much more enthralling than Altman makes it out to be. Altman does focus on Brian's travels, but mainly to discuss his traveling companions without much focus on him. Since Brian is the reason for Darcy and Dr. Maddox's imprisonment, you would think his story would have more of a central focus.
Her juxtaposition of the imprisonment of Darcy and Dr. Maddox with the happenings at Pemberley and Rosings was too jarring for me to accept easily. Especially because of the dark style of her writing at this point. I understand that prisonment of any kind is a dark time in someone's life, and Altman outlines very harsh conditions for Darcy and Maddox but I feel that she extended this depression too far into the dialogue for me to take it seriously.
Altman does provide the happy ending her readers expected; however, this was definitely my least favorite book of the triology.
Again, I was happy Altman brought back her new characters whom, by now, I was quite familiar with, but I thought the additional characters brought forth in this story were her weakest yet. Brian Maddox is not necessarily a "new" character, but he was only a periphery person in the previous stories and I feel Altman doesn't do his story justice. He gets married to a princess, his wife can't conceive a child, his father-in-law plans to kill him, he and his wife escape from Eastern Europe through Asia and back to England; when reading the basics of his story, it sounds much more enthralling than Altman makes it out to be. Altman does focus on Brian's travels, but mainly to discuss his traveling companions without much focus on him. Since Brian is the reason for Darcy and Dr. Maddox's imprisonment, you would think his story would have more of a central focus.
Her juxtaposition of the imprisonment of Darcy and Dr. Maddox with the happenings at Pemberley and Rosings was too jarring for me to accept easily. Especially because of the dark style of her writing at this point. I understand that prisonment of any kind is a dark time in someone's life, and Altman outlines very harsh conditions for Darcy and Maddox but I feel that she extended this depression too far into the dialogue for me to take it seriously.
Altman does provide the happy ending her readers expected; however, this was definitely my least favorite book of the triology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2010
Book #3 in Ms. Altman’s series, Pride and Prejudice Continues.
I LOVED this book! For me the only bad part is that it ended! I love that all the original Pride & Prejudice characters feel the same, just an extension of Jane Austen’s original creations, and that holds true throughout this whole series, including this book. Especially how Darcy would react from his time in Austria (I don’t want to give it away, just read it!). I am a little afraid that this is the final installment in the series. I really hope not, but everything wraps up so nicely at the end that it worries me.
Purists of Jane Austen may not appreciate this heavily action packed (and often humorous) romp. Now, I think Jane Austen was a literary genius, of course, but I really appreciate this continuing story being “adapted” for modern audiences. If you have been following this series from the beginning, as I have, you will notice that this one (so far) is the darkest of the three. However, I was very pleased that Ms. Altman still kept all of her humor. At places you want to cry and others you want to laugh out loud (like I did- at work- I had to cover my mouth!).
There is so much going on in this book, and I don’t want to give anything away. So, for a summary that will not give anything away either read the back of the book, or the summary here on GoodReads (or Amazon) that has the back of the book typed out for you.
I LOVED this book! For me the only bad part is that it ended! I love that all the original Pride & Prejudice characters feel the same, just an extension of Jane Austen’s original creations, and that holds true throughout this whole series, including this book. Especially how Darcy would react from his time in Austria (I don’t want to give it away, just read it!). I am a little afraid that this is the final installment in the series. I really hope not, but everything wraps up so nicely at the end that it worries me.
Purists of Jane Austen may not appreciate this heavily action packed (and often humorous) romp. Now, I think Jane Austen was a literary genius, of course, but I really appreciate this continuing story being “adapted” for modern audiences. If you have been following this series from the beginning, as I have, you will notice that this one (so far) is the darkest of the three. However, I was very pleased that Ms. Altman still kept all of her humor. At places you want to cry and others you want to laugh out loud (like I did- at work- I had to cover my mouth!).
There is so much going on in this book, and I don’t want to give anything away. So, for a summary that will not give anything away either read the back of the book, or the summary here on GoodReads (or Amazon) that has the back of the book typed out for you.
February 8, 2010
I'm slightly on the fence with this one. There were many events in this story that I enjoyed:
*Lady Catherine's shocking ideas regarding Rosings and the bits of family history regarding the situation
*Caroline and Elizabeth's trek through Europe searching for their husbands
*Brother Gregoire's story of adventure
*Even some of Dr. Maddox and Darcy's imprisonment was bearable.
The one aspect I couldn't buy into was how Darcy dealt with his time in an Austrian prison. It just didn't make sense to me. It doesn't mesh with what I think about Darcy. Maybe it's Austen burn out, I don't know, but those parts of the story I did kind of skim through. Everything else was delightful.
One aspect I really enjoyed was the love story of Brian Maddox and his wife, an Austrian Princess. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I think Altman's adventurous story for this couple was fun and inventive. This is what made this book a good read for me. That and the relationship between Caroline Bingley and her husband Dr. Maddox. I just love what Altman has done with these two and their children.
My Rating: 90/100 Overall it was a fun read, however I did not enjoy Darcy and Elizabeth as much this time around. Oh well. It can't always be perfect.
*Lady Catherine's shocking ideas regarding Rosings and the bits of family history regarding the situation
*Caroline and Elizabeth's trek through Europe searching for their husbands
*Brother Gregoire's story of adventure
*Even some of Dr. Maddox and Darcy's imprisonment was bearable.
The one aspect I couldn't buy into was how Darcy dealt with his time in an Austrian prison. It just didn't make sense to me. It doesn't mesh with what I think about Darcy. Maybe it's Austen burn out, I don't know, but those parts of the story I did kind of skim through. Everything else was delightful.
One aspect I really enjoyed was the love story of Brian Maddox and his wife, an Austrian Princess. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I think Altman's adventurous story for this couple was fun and inventive. This is what made this book a good read for me. That and the relationship between Caroline Bingley and her husband Dr. Maddox. I just love what Altman has done with these two and their children.
My Rating: 90/100 Overall it was a fun read, however I did not enjoy Darcy and Elizabeth as much this time around. Oh well. It can't always be perfect.
January 13, 2015
Mr.Darcy's Great Escape: A Tale of the Darcys and the Bingleys
Enjoyed this variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice even though it was a little far fetched. Dr. David Maddox's brother Brian gets the Doctor and Darcy into trouble again. Because letters from Brian were not getter through from Transylvania to England, they walk into the count's evil plan. Brian married the count's daughter, and they have fled the Castle traveling east through Russia and beyond. Many adventures later including escaping on a ship that the crew has typhoid fever, they reach Japan and are taken care by friendly people. When finally well, a disgraced ninja takes them to Nagasaki to catch a ship home. Amazingly, Elizabeth and Caroline become to accept one another while rescuing Darcy and the Doctor with Grégoire and Earl of Matlock (Richard). Brian redeems himself somewhat by showing up with a fast ship to take the weary travelers home. While recuperating Darcy goes through depression and worrying that he has the same madness as his Uncle Gregory. Lizzy's continued love finally breaks through the depression and as Lizzy goes into her confinement, Darcy seems his own self. Good ending for all.
Enjoyed this variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice even though it was a little far fetched. Dr. David Maddox's brother Brian gets the Doctor and Darcy into trouble again. Because letters from Brian were not getter through from Transylvania to England, they walk into the count's evil plan. Brian married the count's daughter, and they have fled the Castle traveling east through Russia and beyond. Many adventures later including escaping on a ship that the crew has typhoid fever, they reach Japan and are taken care by friendly people. When finally well, a disgraced ninja takes them to Nagasaki to catch a ship home. Amazingly, Elizabeth and Caroline become to accept one another while rescuing Darcy and the Doctor with Grégoire and Earl of Matlock (Richard). Brian redeems himself somewhat by showing up with a fast ship to take the weary travelers home. While recuperating Darcy goes through depression and worrying that he has the same madness as his Uncle Gregory. Lizzy's continued love finally breaks through the depression and as Lizzy goes into her confinement, Darcy seems his own self. Good ending for all.
February 20, 2010
Mr. Darcy's Great Escape is a continuation of the beloved classic Pride and Prejudice. Marsha's third book in the Darcys and Bingleys series is as enticing as the previous books, even though some of the events were so far fetched.
It is the year 1812 and Darcy sets out to search for a missing family member. With Dr. Maddox in tow they set off on their mission. Little did they know, they were going to be abducted and held prisoner in Transylvania. When word reaches Pemberley, a search and rescue team is determined to rescue Darcy and Maddox.
Parts of this book were laugh out loud funny. If you like to see where different authors can build a sequel to a classic, then this is probably up your alley.
It is the year 1812 and Darcy sets out to search for a missing family member. With Dr. Maddox in tow they set off on their mission. Little did they know, they were going to be abducted and held prisoner in Transylvania. When word reaches Pemberley, a search and rescue team is determined to rescue Darcy and Maddox.
Parts of this book were laugh out loud funny. If you like to see where different authors can build a sequel to a classic, then this is probably up your alley.
June 29, 2010
Where the previous 2 novels in the series flirted with adventure along with romance and humor, this installment plunges head first into a saga that takes the characters all over the world and puts them into all sorts of danger. An interesting story, but be prepared for it not being as light hearted as the first 2 books...
July 11, 2010
With every addition to her Darcys and Bingleys series, Marsha Altman gets a bit farther from Jane Austen. I really do find locking Darcy and Maddox up in a cell for months a bit much. However, the characters are as lovable as ever, and it was still a laugh-out-loud read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2010
Saw it at the library and thought I might give it a try. Too many new characters to track. The old ones seem a little different than the original. It's an ok book if you liked more on the history side.
October 26, 2013
This is a fun series. Darcy is really beginning to open up for me. Bingley is a great comic character. The addition of the Maddoxes to the story is a welcome one. This is just good fun with some favourite classic characters.
March 19, 2010
A pretty good adventure novel.
One must note however that Jane Austen did not write adventure novels.
'Nuff said.
One must note however that Jane Austen did not write adventure novels.
'Nuff said.
April 19, 2010
Still enjoying this series. She's kind of hard on Mr. Darcy though. Poor guy goes through a lot in this series.
March 9, 2011
LOVED this, although I am a little nervous to read some of her earlier books in this series (I get the impression that there is some innuendo that is a little more that innuendo).
February 29, 2016
While the characters are kept pretty true to the original "Pride and Prejudice" characters, this book takes a rather dark turn.
February 9, 2019
I happened on this novel in the library, literally passing by it when it caught my eye. It is not the first in the series (that was not available) but looked good, so I checked it out. It was good, in fact.
I'm an Austen lover, not quite a fanatic, and enjoy books like this that resemble or follow up on Austen novels. As I enjoyed this book, I recommend it, though I have some cautions.
It has a mixture of tones that I didn't love. Some of the scenes with the children are too precious for me, and are unlike anything in any Austen novel--but they don't last long or take up too much of the novel. Other sections are, in fact, very Austenesque, and that's cool. And most of the novel is an action adventure, nicely done, well researched--but again, completely different from any Austen novel. (Much of the story is in Romania and Russia and Japan, and those parts are very entertaining.)
I'm not saying that I didn't like those parts. I did. I like action adventure novels that resemble Regency literature, or Georgian, or Victorian literature. It's just that it's so different from Pride and Prejudice that it feels like fan fiction more than a sequel (that's fine--I also like fan fiction), but not everyone will respond to it the same way I did. If you want more Pride and Prejudice, you won't find much of it here. You will find the novel's characters, but in a totally different genre. (IMO!)
Anyway, I liked the book, despite my caveats, and liked many of the new characters. I'll keep an eye out for the other books.
I'm an Austen lover, not quite a fanatic, and enjoy books like this that resemble or follow up on Austen novels. As I enjoyed this book, I recommend it, though I have some cautions.
It has a mixture of tones that I didn't love. Some of the scenes with the children are too precious for me, and are unlike anything in any Austen novel--but they don't last long or take up too much of the novel. Other sections are, in fact, very Austenesque, and that's cool. And most of the novel is an action adventure, nicely done, well researched--but again, completely different from any Austen novel. (Much of the story is in Romania and Russia and Japan, and those parts are very entertaining.)
I'm not saying that I didn't like those parts. I did. I like action adventure novels that resemble Regency literature, or Georgian, or Victorian literature. It's just that it's so different from Pride and Prejudice that it feels like fan fiction more than a sequel (that's fine--I also like fan fiction), but not everyone will respond to it the same way I did. If you want more Pride and Prejudice, you won't find much of it here. You will find the novel's characters, but in a totally different genre. (IMO!)
Anyway, I liked the book, despite my caveats, and liked many of the new characters. I'll keep an eye out for the other books.
August 27, 2017
A fantastic book. I love that we're seeing the development of Jane Austen's characters. Complete with Lady Catherine's meltdown.
I loved Brian and Nadezhda's story - Marsha Altman must have done a house load of research about ... well that would give too much away.
Loved the scene in the Abbey - it's nice to see Grégoire evolve. And I'm curious to see where life's taking Georgie.
Not so curious to see how Darcy is going to evolve - I have impending dread on that horizon.
I loved Brian and Nadezhda's story - Marsha Altman must have done a house load of research about ... well that would give too much away.
Loved the scene in the Abbey - it's nice to see Grégoire evolve. And I'm curious to see where life's taking Georgie.
Not so curious to see how Darcy is going to evolve - I have impending dread on that horizon.
May 4, 2017
When I started reading this book, I hadn't realized it's part of a series. All I knew is that it had Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth and it was enough. Little did I know that I would travel the world, discover exciting characters and be thoroughly entertained!
I'll grab the other books of the series and trust they will be as good as this one.
My heartfelt thanks to the author.
I'll grab the other books of the series and trust they will be as good as this one.
My heartfelt thanks to the author.
December 14, 2023
Mr. Darcy goes to Transylvania to rescue his illigitimate half-brother who is a monk, is taken prisoner and held in a dungeon, only to be rescued by a witch, a vampire, and a werewolf!!! Well written and imaginative. One of the few authors in the P&P fan fiction canon that I have enjoyed.
March 29, 2018
Actually abandoned book 1/3 way through. Got tedious, and slow. Liked beginning!
May 12, 2020
This book was much better than I thought it would be. Good characters and good story. She captured the essence of my much loved Darcy’s and Bingleys!
January 10, 2021
Holiday beach read - three stars - enough said! Thanks secondhand book shop Ulladulla!
January 3, 2024
Gave this one a good 200 pages, but could not get into the story. Too many characters, places, complicated plot lines, and silliness.
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March 10, 2017Fiction A4686pc 2010
February 28, 2014
A campy, madcap adventure story, Mr. Darcy's Great Escape is Marsha Altman's third book, in her Pride and Prejudice Continues series. The year is 1812, seven years after Elizabeth Bennet and her devoted sister Jane married Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley respectively, and the families are all returning to Longbourn for the wedding of Kitty Bennet, daughter number four. Within the first 100 pages, Elizabeth Darcy finds herself immersed in the intrigues of the Napoleonic War as she races across the continent to the rescue of Mr. Darcy, who has become imprisoned in a medieval cell in Transylvania! Unbelievable? Quite, but hang on . . . there's more.
Licentiously diverting is Altman's treatment of her own original character's as well as Jane Austen's canon characters. Altman's Mr. Darcy was half brother to George Wickham who he apparently killed in a duel in Book 2, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers: A Tale of the Darcy's and the Bingley's. And, Darcy's other illegitimate brother Gregoire, by his father's dalliance with his mother's French maid, is now a monk in Austria and favors prominently in this bold undertaking. Mary Bennet is now the mistress of Longbourn, although having been compromised while on tour of the Continent. (also in Book 2) Oh, and there is also an utterly convoluted entail of Rosings that deems Darcy as heir apparent, regardless of the fact that Anne is now married to Colonel Fitzwilliam. And, if that is not enough action there is also an insane Oriental assassin en route to Pemberley. This is all cleverly forged to create an eyebrow raising, humorous, 486 page saga.
Wild? Far-fetched? Contrived? Yes, to all. But Marsha Altman bravely undertakes this continuation of Pride and Prejudice and makes it entirely her own. Although inspired by Jane Austen's masterpiece, little if any of Austen's original is obvious in this series. However, that's not to say that readers won't enjoy this fun romp. In the same vein as the British ITV series "Lost in Austen," those that want more of the Darcy's and the Bingley's might find this wicked tale a satisfying joke. "I can hardly write for laughing."
Licentiously diverting is Altman's treatment of her own original character's as well as Jane Austen's canon characters. Altman's Mr. Darcy was half brother to George Wickham who he apparently killed in a duel in Book 2, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers: A Tale of the Darcy's and the Bingley's. And, Darcy's other illegitimate brother Gregoire, by his father's dalliance with his mother's French maid, is now a monk in Austria and favors prominently in this bold undertaking. Mary Bennet is now the mistress of Longbourn, although having been compromised while on tour of the Continent. (also in Book 2) Oh, and there is also an utterly convoluted entail of Rosings that deems Darcy as heir apparent, regardless of the fact that Anne is now married to Colonel Fitzwilliam. And, if that is not enough action there is also an insane Oriental assassin en route to Pemberley. This is all cleverly forged to create an eyebrow raising, humorous, 486 page saga.
Wild? Far-fetched? Contrived? Yes, to all. But Marsha Altman bravely undertakes this continuation of Pride and Prejudice and makes it entirely her own. Although inspired by Jane Austen's masterpiece, little if any of Austen's original is obvious in this series. However, that's not to say that readers won't enjoy this fun romp. In the same vein as the British ITV series "Lost in Austen," those that want more of the Darcy's and the Bingley's might find this wicked tale a satisfying joke. "I can hardly write for laughing."
December 5, 2016
In case you missed my gushing in my reviews of the first two books of this series, I'll recap here:
With her series of Pride and Prejudice continuations, Ms. Altman expands the storyline outside of the usual “Darcy loves Elizabeth, Jane loves Bingley, they have kids and all is wonderful” plot so often seen in Austen sequels and added adventure, tragedy, intrigue and anything else you can imagine—including Samurai, Transylvanian Princesses and Bavarian Saints. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of your classic Elizabeth and Darcy love story, but the fact that Ms. Altman was able to move outside of this cliché and onto a whole new level is what makes this series truly wonderful. Ms. Altman has created her own universe in these tales that, while complementing the original text, have embraced the characters of Pride and Prejudice and taken them to a places Austen probably couldn’t even imagine.
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is the darkest of the books and involves Darcy and Dr. Maddox being imprisoned by a very angry Transylvanian Count and needing to be rescued by their wives. At the same time, Dr. Maddox’s brother and his wife have quite an adventure taking the long way home from Europe (by way of Japan). This installment also introduces another one of my favorite characters, Mugin the Japanese convict/martial arts expert who befriends the Maddoxes in Japan and follows them to England. Oh and did I mention Gregiore? Our sweet and pious little monk gets himself a little bit of life experience too.
If you've read Ms. Altman's other books, you won't want to miss this one. If you haven't, I'd suggest you got back and start at the beginning with "The Darcys and the Bingleys," I think it would be pretty confusing to jump in at this point.
With her series of Pride and Prejudice continuations, Ms. Altman expands the storyline outside of the usual “Darcy loves Elizabeth, Jane loves Bingley, they have kids and all is wonderful” plot so often seen in Austen sequels and added adventure, tragedy, intrigue and anything else you can imagine—including Samurai, Transylvanian Princesses and Bavarian Saints. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of your classic Elizabeth and Darcy love story, but the fact that Ms. Altman was able to move outside of this cliché and onto a whole new level is what makes this series truly wonderful. Ms. Altman has created her own universe in these tales that, while complementing the original text, have embraced the characters of Pride and Prejudice and taken them to a places Austen probably couldn’t even imagine.
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape is the darkest of the books and involves Darcy and Dr. Maddox being imprisoned by a very angry Transylvanian Count and needing to be rescued by their wives. At the same time, Dr. Maddox’s brother and his wife have quite an adventure taking the long way home from Europe (by way of Japan). This installment also introduces another one of my favorite characters, Mugin the Japanese convict/martial arts expert who befriends the Maddoxes in Japan and follows them to England. Oh and did I mention Gregiore? Our sweet and pious little monk gets himself a little bit of life experience too.
If you've read Ms. Altman's other books, you won't want to miss this one. If you haven't, I'd suggest you got back and start at the beginning with "The Darcys and the Bingleys," I think it would be pretty confusing to jump in at this point.
April 22, 2016
2.5 stars. Admittedly, part of my problem with this was that I haven't read the two books in the series that come before it, so there were a bunch of characters and relationships that I didn't understand. But even aside from that, this was FAR longer than was necessary. First of all, if you're going to have a story that involves all the Bennet sisters, the Collinses, AND Caroline Bingley and her husband, and all the couples have multiple children, many of whom have the same names as adult characters (Anne, Georgiana, George, Charles) and you're THEN going to add in original characters, such as Darcy's half-brother and flashbacks to a mysterious and mentally ill uncle, THEN YOU NEED TO PROVIDE A FREAKING FAMILY TREE AT THE START OF THE BOOK.
Honestly? Any time any of the children turned up, I was struggling to work out who was who (at least half their names seemed to start with G) and which children belonged to which adults, and the kids didn't really add a whole lot to the story anyway, and uuuuuuuuuugh. It was struggle-bus worthy.
As far as the actual plot goes, it was kind of all over the place. I mean, I kind of liked it. I definitely wasn't expecting a bonkers Darcy-gets-imprisoned-by-a-Transylvanian-count plot when I picked this up. But that part of the story is probably less than half the book. The rest is taken up with side plots that go nowhere or years worth of back story for original characters that I didn't really care about.
So it was sort of enjoyable. But it wasn't really what I wanted from a P&P sequel, and I'm not sure I'd bother to pick up the other books in the series.
Honestly? Any time any of the children turned up, I was struggling to work out who was who (at least half their names seemed to start with G) and which children belonged to which adults, and the kids didn't really add a whole lot to the story anyway, and uuuuuuuuuugh. It was struggle-bus worthy.
As far as the actual plot goes, it was kind of all over the place. I mean, I kind of liked it. I definitely wasn't expecting a bonkers Darcy-gets-imprisoned-by-a-Transylvanian-count plot when I picked this up. But that part of the story is probably less than half the book. The rest is taken up with side plots that go nowhere or years worth of back story for original characters that I didn't really care about.
So it was sort of enjoyable. But it wasn't really what I wanted from a P&P sequel, and I'm not sure I'd bother to pick up the other books in the series.
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