Unequal Affections: A Pride and Prejudice Retelling

"Why did he have to be so charming in some ways and so insufferable in others? She was sure she had hurt far more than just his pride. Would it always be so hard?"I admired and enjoyed this alternative imagining of Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance very much. Very. What if Elizabeth took the more practical approach of her friend Charlotte and accepted Darcy’s proposal at Hunsford?"She had been proposed to by a stranger. A very rich, very handsome stranger who was very much in love with her. She could not possibly accept him—but, suddenly, she could not possibly refuse him either, not now. This was, she knew clearly, a chance unlike any other she would ever receive. She could not turn him down for the satisfaction of it. She had to think.""You will need fear nothing as my wife, neither poverty nor loneliness, dishonor, or disloyalty, unkindness, neglect . . . you will be the most cherished wife in all of England.”Who could resist such a declaration? After a week of soul-searching, she accepts Darcy. Not only for the good she can do her family, especially Jane, but because she starts to see Darcy in a new light. She thought he despised her. She was so wrong. How else has she misjudged him? Before she can truly come to love Darcy as he ardently wishes, he has to change. And changing the habits and attitudes of a lifetime is by necessity slow going. But I never found it tedious. It really felt like this is how it would have gone. In the book, Elizabeth's words in summarily rejecting Darcy’s proposal shake him to the core, and he starts to change. Just as ”the letter” starts Elizabeth on her path. In this book, it is a much different process. How Elizabeth finally gets through to him is a great scene."As for Darcy, he had been completely unable to speak. Elizabeth’s words had cut through him like knives, shaming him deeply, and shame was not an emotion he was accustomed to experiencing…Was it possible that he, who had studied throughout his life to improve his mind and character, had overlooked such an essential flaw?…He had not understood her then, but he did now. His refusal to talk was an active unkindness, a deliberate slight on the value of those he had thought beneath him. He had not thought their feelings even worth the effort of a few polite remarks and a smile or two. He certainly had not been willing to consider lowering his own dignity to promote theirs. Nor . . . his brows furrowed deeply in pain . . . nor to promote Elizabeth’s happiness either."This book includes many high points of Austen’s novel. Particularly delicious is this version of Lady Catherine de Burgh and Elizabeth’s confrontation in the garden. And in this one, we have Darcy’s reaction to his aunt's unmitigated gall and ill manners “which rather threw anything anyone in the Bennet family had ever done in the shade” when he walks into the middle of the fray. All of the characters remain true to Austen’s creations. And the more time we spend with Mr. Bennet and Lydia the more contemptible they are revealed to be. I liked how Lizzie started seeing her father more clearly and lost a lot of her respect for him. At one point, she even intervenes and protects her mother from Mr. Bennet’s mockery. There is even a dramatic rescue of Lydia and an exciting confrontation with Wickham as well.I also found the dialogue, vocabulary, and narrative very authentic to Jane Austen’s style. The book is too long and repetitive but it rarely got tiresome. I admit that I found Elizabeth’s change from confusion to liking, to loving Darcy way too gradual to be believable or sympathetic. But Ormiston’s treatment of Darcy, I thought, was brilliant. His admiration, love, and passion for Elizabeth remains steadfast throughout. In this, he proves, again and again, the ardent words of his proposal in the original. Even when Elizabeth's fearful secret is revealed to him: that not only did she not love him, but how much she actively and publicly disliked him, he doesn’t blame Elizabeth but himself. Elizabeth has to accept the fact that her actions and manners were not above reproach either and have caused great pain.This is easily the best reimagining of or sequel to Pride and Prejudice, I have ever read. I hate to call it Fan Fiction, although it is, because it doesn’t do it justice. When I looked for more of Lara Ormiston’s books, I was so disappointed to learn she hasn’t written anything else.

This is an enjoyable read, and one which keeps the general spirit (in writing style and language) of the original Jane Austen classic. (Some spoilers ahead for those not familiar with the original story). In this retelling, Elizabeth accepts Darcy after some soul searching, because she realizes that such a marriage will substantially help her family, even though she does not love him. The reader spends more time with the two main characters and their differing views on social interactions and family status. I did have some issues with the story. I felt it was very long ... it picks up the original story after Elizabeth's visit to Charlotte in Kent, and continues to their wedding. In the book this was a month, during which Darcy spent most time at Netherfield close to Longbourn, so he visited regularly. Also, Darcy seemed very controlling in his early interactions with Elizabeth which I found unsettling, and lastly, the concerns both characters had about each other kept cropping up, leading to misunderstandings and uncertainty just when it looked like everything was settled. I did like the personal anecdotes Elizabeth used to show a different side to people he was contemptuous of, and I found it amusing when Darcy was forced to acknowledge that social standing alone did not excuse questionable behaviour. Mr Wickham, too, was portrayed with all the charming shallowness of the original but his comeuppance was so much sweeter. All in all I liked the different slant with its careful portrayal of all the beloved characters but I would be unlikely to read it again.

I am delighted in this adaptation of the beloved Pride & Prejudice… I found it almost as delightful as the original. A more modern feel but true to our Jane’s creation. Wickham’s come due is priceless. I find myself as hungry for more… as with the original… I found myself rereading immediately after finishing it. I’ll give it a break before 3rd time. Loved it… Bravos!

A nice P&P variant that has Elizabeth reining in her temper at Hunsford, realizing how Mr. Darcy's proposal would benefit her family. She accepts, telling him honestly she had never realized how he felt about her. Darcy is certain Elizabeth will learn to love him; he loves her to distraction so surely she will respond to that.But Elizabeth is not so certain she can love this man. She likes him - certainly she respects him. But....love? A man who made her sister unhappy but refuses to apologize for doing so? A man who despises the good but lesser-born people she calls family and knows as her friends?P&P fans who are frustrated by JAFFs where Elizabeth and Darcy hardly seem to talk to one another, will enjoy this story. It focuses on the differences in how each protagonist views the same scene, and details their individual struggles to overcome both pride and prejudice in order to make this relationship work.It's a slow-paced, steady advance as Darcy finds his love was not quite the gift he thought it was, and Elizabeth discovers that love and romance are not always the same thing.I would normally have rated this a 4.5, as it was a little too slow at times. But the story was well-crafted and well-edited, so I rounded it up to a full five. I would recommend this for all P&P fans.

I've read a lot of additions to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This is my all time favourite. It is in fact a love story but the author has crafted it so well that is had me desperate to read on to the end. We meet all the usual P&P characters, all so true to their Austen descriptions. Wickham is as treacherous as ever, Lydia is as flighty as she can be and all the Bennets are well on form.I think the main reason this is so appealing is that I have always been a little in love with Darcy myself, as so many of us are, and the author has used this knowledge to delve deeper into his character and confirm for us that yes he is a good guy and definitely worthy of Lizzy. But is she worthy of him???

I am a long term, unapologetic Austen fan. Not only of Austen's original works (Sense and Sensibility vies for my "favourite book of all time" position) but also of every spin off and re-imagining possible - Jane Austen Book Club, Austenland, Lost in Austen...you name it, I've probably seen it / read it. However I have to admit - I have never read a Pride and Prejudice re-imagining quite like this.Usually (and I use this term with only personal experience to hold to) people seem to re-imagine so that they can write Pride and Prejudice with steamy stuff thrown in. I'm not saying this is a BAD thing, simply an oft attempted one. However to see a piece of fiction which takes that fateful day at the Parsonage and turns the proposal scene on its head, for me, could only have gone one of two ways. Fortunately this book took the best possible road and created something which I found enjoyable, heart warming and interesting - yes, that's right. Someone has written an interesting Austen re-telling. Break out the brass band!!On a serious note; Ormiston is quite obviously a great fan of Austen and P&P. She treats the characters with respect and love, honouring their original characterisation without losing sight of her re-invented plot. Obviously there are a few moments in which modern sensibilities shine through (and a couple of phrases which broke me from an otherwise near-perfect glaze of Austen-esque reading) but, without doubt, this is the best P&P retelling I've encountered thus far. This fulfilled my need for more Elizabeth / Darcy interaction without falling into the "after the wedding" pit which is often used to do so.There's a little Mr Bennett bashing - but really, who are we kidding, he is NOT a good Father - and Lydia is twenty times as silly as she has ever been. Wickham is more overt in his dastardly ways and Jane seems to be meeker and milder than ever. However enhancing character traits which already existed didn't offend me in any way - rather, Ormiston seemed to take strength from the material as opposed to cast it aside in favour of new. This trait, perhaps more than any other, made me fall a little in love. I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.A thoroughly enjoyable read which is sweet, respectful and real.

I am an avid reader of Jane Austen fan fiction. And while some have been truly dreadful, I found this one a real gem. A good long read, focusing on the 2 main characters misunderstandings, it left me content and happy by the end! A brilliant take on the original story with just one slight change of opinion at the start that changes everything. No unnecessary smut either, which made the story authentic and heartwarming in the right way.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written and for once NO Americanisms (which I hate), though it does have American spelling, (which I don't mind). When I read the preview I was uneasy as I didn't like the idea of Elizabeth agreeing to marry Darcy when she didn't love him but the story is so beautifully told I found myself reluctant to put it down. We get to know both D and E's thoughts and at times wanted to give them both a good shake! I would have liked a little more story around their HEA ie. to me their problems were resolved and they were honeymooning all too quickly but hey- ho just my little niggle ... it was still a really good story and I would thoroughly recommend.

I was prepared to dislike this book as Pride and Predjudice is one of my all time favourite books. I tried this on a whim on a wet January afternoon. I was soon engrossed in the alternative universe of a P&P where Elizabeth says yes to Mr Darcy the first time he proposes. It was an almost flawless performance by the author of Jane Austin, there were just one or two occasions when a phrase jarred or a word seemed a little modern. I was very impressed that the author could transport me back to Elizabeth and Darcy and allow me to lose myself in her re telling. A very satisfying read, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and was rather upset when I read the last page.