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An Unpleasant Sort of Man: A Variation on Pride and Prejudice
Pressed by his friend Mr Bingley, Fitzwilliam Darcy reluctantly dances with Elizabeth Bennet during the assembly in Meryton – and then leaves her in the middle of the dance. Angry and mortified at first, Elizabeth soon realises that Mr Darcy seems to carry a dark secret and though at initially little inclined to forgive him for his slight, she soon finds herself irresistibly drawn towards him. When she discovers what the secret is and what burden he carries on his shoulders she cannot but forgive him as they grow ever so much closer.
Trigger warning: This story does contain very vague and non-graphic references to the rape of a minor!
Novel-length book with around 59.000 words.
Trigger warning: This story does contain very vague and non-graphic references to the rape of a minor!
Novel-length book with around 59.000 words.
243 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2018
57 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 18, 2018
this is a rushed P&P what if that has Darcy dancing 1/2 a dance with Lizzy, which is apparently worse than snubbing her completely. The Next day Lizzy comes upon a distraught and feverish Darcy and brings him to Longbourn to recover. The next week they are both in London, separately but having traveled together. This is definitely a story of Less Pride and Less Prejudice.
Things seem to happen at a breakneck pace. Georgiana's emotional outbursts seem much more 21st century than Regency and no one ever heard of "Not At Home To..."
There are lots of problems but for most of them a solution is right around the corner. Lady C isn't a problem, Caroline is ridiculous and HEAs are handed out like candy, even Mrs. Younge is redeemed.
There is some modern language (alright) and some endless dialogue without attribution where I would become confused as to who was speaking. There are also questionable Regency behavior like Mr & Mrs. Gardiner allowing Lizzy to go ALONE to dinner at Darcy's house. 1 - They hadn't met Darcy and 2- Georgie as a single child couldn't serve as chaperone. Also Darcy sends a carriage and rides in it, based upon conversation and behavior there wasn't a maid present but then later he sends Lizzy on a longer carriage ride unaccompanied
It is a fast read literally and figuratively
Things seem to happen at a breakneck pace. Georgiana's emotional outbursts seem much more 21st century than Regency and no one ever heard of "Not At Home To..."
There are lots of problems but for most of them a solution is right around the corner. Lady C isn't a problem, Caroline is ridiculous and HEAs are handed out like candy, even Mrs. Younge is redeemed.
There is some modern language (alright) and some endless dialogue without attribution where I would become confused as to who was speaking. There are also questionable Regency behavior like Mr & Mrs. Gardiner allowing Lizzy to go ALONE to dinner at Darcy's house. 1 - They hadn't met Darcy and 2- Georgie as a single child couldn't serve as chaperone. Also Darcy sends a carriage and rides in it, based upon conversation and behavior there wasn't a maid present but then later he sends Lizzy on a longer carriage ride unaccompanied
It is a fast read literally and figuratively
December 11, 2018
I was troubled by the sentence structure and grammar errors in this story. I read at the end that this author is from Germany so I am supposing English is not her first language.
The fact of Georgiana being pregnant by Wickham is a troubling one and presses guilt and shame on the siblings. It is also a secret.
Elizabeth does not know this when she is abandoned on the dance floor at the assembly but she does notice that Darcy walks away with a limp. The next day she learns all...by accident. This couple falls in love quickly but the path to the altar is delayed because of not only Georgiana's situation but also by Mrs. Younge showing up again and we also learn that Wickham has his hooks in Darcy. So there is much trouble to be taken care of before ODC finds their HEA.
The colonel is already married...to Anne so Lady Catherine doesn't cause ripples and Collins is barely a sentence towards the end. The inclusion of a good deed towards one down-and-out man & his family was rather an odd footnote...intended, I am assuming simply to help paint the character of Darcy as less above the lower classes than he seems at the Assembly.
The fact of Georgiana being pregnant by Wickham is a troubling one and presses guilt and shame on the siblings. It is also a secret.
Elizabeth does not know this when she is abandoned on the dance floor at the assembly but she does notice that Darcy walks away with a limp. The next day she learns all...by accident. This couple falls in love quickly but the path to the altar is delayed because of not only Georgiana's situation but also by Mrs. Younge showing up again and we also learn that Wickham has his hooks in Darcy. So there is much trouble to be taken care of before ODC finds their HEA.
The colonel is already married...to Anne so Lady Catherine doesn't cause ripples and Collins is barely a sentence towards the end. The inclusion of a good deed towards one down-and-out man & his family was rather an odd footnote...intended, I am assuming simply to help paint the character of Darcy as less above the lower classes than he seems at the Assembly.
November 6, 2018
Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. ~ Swedish Proverb
In this story, Darcy has a double sorrow which Elizabeth accidentally shares.
We begin, as usual, with Darcy reluctant to dance but unlike Canon he gives in and does request a dance with Elizabeth Bennet. He completes only a partial dance and returns her to her chair. In her embarrassment, Elizabeth notices Darcy’s pain – his physical pain, at least.
The following morning, Darcy receives word about his sister. Elizabeth happens upon him in a feverish state and brings him to Longbourn. She finds his letter and knows his secret.
After a quarrel with her Mother, Elizabeth travels to the Gardiners in London. Darcy is also in London and must deal with Wickham and the aftermath of the aborted elopement.
I liked this story of an earlier journey to love with one exception:
The Colonel finds the truth and together the three cousins must make a plan for Georgiana. The story features a very different Mr. Bennet who finally sees the truth about his youngest daughter. We also see redemption for Mrs. Younge.
To truly know someone is to know the silence that stands for the thing they never speak of. ~ Robert Brault
In this story, Darcy has a double sorrow which Elizabeth accidentally shares.
We begin, as usual, with Darcy reluctant to dance but unlike Canon he gives in and does request a dance with Elizabeth Bennet. He completes only a partial dance and returns her to her chair. In her embarrassment, Elizabeth notices Darcy’s pain – his physical pain, at least.
The following morning, Darcy receives word about his sister. Elizabeth happens upon him in a feverish state and brings him to Longbourn. She finds his letter and knows his secret.
After a quarrel with her Mother, Elizabeth travels to the Gardiners in London. Darcy is also in London and must deal with Wickham and the aftermath of the aborted elopement.
I liked this story of an earlier journey to love with one exception:
The Colonel finds the truth and together the three cousins must make a plan for Georgiana. The story features a very different Mr. Bennet who finally sees the truth about his youngest daughter. We also see redemption for Mrs. Younge.
To truly know someone is to know the silence that stands for the thing they never speak of. ~ Robert Brault
November 30, 2022
Nice interesting plot
Interesting plot. Conversations didn’t always ring true.
Wickham is much worse than he is in P&P, enough for me to hope for something else than having him marry Lydia. My hope was fulfilled.
Georgiana was revenged, she was avenged. Wickham answers to the law so was avenged.
I recommend the book.
Interesting plot. Conversations didn’t always ring true.
Wickham is much worse than he is in P&P, enough for me to hope for something else than having him marry Lydia. My hope was fulfilled.
Georgiana was revenged, she was avenged. Wickham answers to the law so was avenged.
I recommend the book.
February 18, 2020
Lovely
A rather interesting variation inspired by author Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice by Nicky Roth. Dark in tone but enjoyable
A rather interesting variation inspired by author Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice by Nicky Roth. Dark in tone but enjoyable
July 4, 2024
Georgiana's encounter with Wickham was more traumatic than canon. The Bennets have hired Mrs. Younge to be a governess and companion, and there are some surprises on the way.
January 28, 2019
One of the very worst Austenations I have ever read. Horribly edited - poor grammar, repeated or dropped words, lots of misspellings. The writing itself, even leaving the editing aside, is odd. Sentences are often structured in a way that’s nearly incomprehensible. Sometimes there are (very poor) attiempts to use Austen-appropriate language; other times the language is jarringly anachronistic. Speaking of anachronisms, there’s been almost no effort to maintain Regency appropriate social mores. And to add to all that, the thing was slow as molasses! It was a struggle to get through it and it is most definitely not recommended!
December 26, 2018
Three stars
The story was ok, but a bit lacking in tension. Instead of romantic tension building between Darcy and Elizabeth, it is provided by injuries. I was bored and it was difficult to keep myself to the task of finishing the story. Some rather obvious and ridiculous problems with grammar and misused colloquial expressions impacted my enjoyment as well. Based on what I’ve read in the genre of JAFF, however, this doesn’t seem to bother most readers.
The story was ok, but a bit lacking in tension. Instead of romantic tension building between Darcy and Elizabeth, it is provided by injuries. I was bored and it was difficult to keep myself to the task of finishing the story. Some rather obvious and ridiculous problems with grammar and misused colloquial expressions impacted my enjoyment as well. Based on what I’ve read in the genre of JAFF, however, this doesn’t seem to bother most readers.
December 7, 2018
Needs an English editor
Seems very clear that English is not the author's first language. Much misuse of pronouns and words. Usually I can guess what work was meant, but not with this book except maybe once. Many run-on sentences. Hard to make out meanings frequently. Might have enjoyed the story more had it been edited, though this Darcy was quite weak-minded.
Seems very clear that English is not the author's first language. Much misuse of pronouns and words. Usually I can guess what work was meant, but not with this book except maybe once. Many run-on sentences. Hard to make out meanings frequently. Might have enjoyed the story more had it been edited, though this Darcy was quite weak-minded.
December 28, 2018
I found the plot of this variation to be an interesting take. I did see a review where it was noted that the author lives in Germany, so I read with an open mind. There were some rather choppy sentences and sometimes the dialog was confusing, but I took language into consideration. I have definitely read muh worse. I am glad that I gave it a chance though.
November 25, 2018
Potential
A story with potential, but it really needs an editor, especially for punctuation. The over use of commas was painful.
A story with potential, but it really needs an editor, especially for punctuation. The over use of commas was painful.
April 5, 2025
4.25* reread (the first time I think I gave it a 4.75 or 5*)
I like an angsty read. Elizabeth was more observant in this one (of course there was more to observe given the backstory).
I like an angsty read. Elizabeth was more observant in this one (of course there was more to observe given the backstory).
May 15, 2019
This book could use an editor... or maybe two.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews