The Future Mrs. Darcy (Given Good Principles, #2) in Austen Variations

May 31, 2013 Ceri rated it really liked it

Shelves: austen-inspired, austen-variation, austen-prequel

This is book two in the Given Good Principles series, but it could be read without having read book one, since book one deals with Darcy in Derbyshire, and this deals with the Bennet sisters in Hertfordshire, prior to the Netherfield party arriving in the area. I found this book much easier to get into than book one. We begin our tale with a vile neighbour of the Bennets who is paying attentions to Jane. He leaves the area, citing the reasons as his sisters being led astray by the savage society This is book two in the Given Good Principles series, but it could be read without having read book one, since book one deals with Darcy in Derbyshire, and this deals with the Bennet sisters in Hertfordshire, prior to the Netherfield party arriving in the area. I found this book much easier to get into than book one. We begin our tale with a vile neighbour of the Bennets who is paying attentions to Jane. He leaves the area, citing the reasons as his sisters being led astray by the savage society of Meryton, and in particular the unrestrained behaviour of the younger Bennet sisters. It has come to the attention to a few of the sisters that their neighbours are beginning to avoid them and not receive their social calls etc, and this neighbour's comments are being widely circulated which can only be harmful to their reputations and respectability.

The elder Bennets behave as we would expect - Mr Bennet refuses to do anything, and Mrs Bennet takes other room, but their motives are not apathy and ignorance as you may have imagined. The upshot is that the elder girls will have to manage the household and they resolve to improve their reputation (with the exception of Lydia, who is selfish and generally awful). One of the things I particularly liked about this book is how the sisters pulled together in their family's time of need to help each other and how much closer they became as a result.

The characters of the Bennet family are dawn slightly differently than P&P; Mr and Mrs Bennet had more sense of responsibility, Mary and Kitty were less silly and quite starved for attention, Jane was a bit less nice, but in a good way and Lizzy had some lessons to learn (just as she does in P&P). Lydia is not portrayed flatteringly - she is selfish, spiteful and spoiled and arrogantly unconcerned with the repercussions of her behaviour for her sisters.

In Pride and Prejudice, Lizzy tries to take steps to improve her sisters' behaviour once she has had time to digest her anger at Darcy's criticisms of her family and is able to deal constructively with the deficiencies he raised. This is a glimpse of how things may have been different if she'd learned those lessons sooner.

I suppose this could be categorised as both a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and a variation. Do not be expecting romance, Mr Darcy appears in this book but only at the very end, newly arrived in Hertfordshire. Off to book three! ...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Anna added it · review of another edition

Shelves: austenesque

The Future Mrs. Darcy is Volume 2 in the Given Good Principles series by Maria Grace, a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. In the first book, Darcy’s Decision, Grace introduces readers to a young Fitzwilliam Darcy struggling to come to terms with his responsibilities as the new master of Pemberley. This time around, Grace follows the Bennet sisters as they struggle to keep the youngest, Lydia, under control.

Mrs. Bennet hopes her eldest, Jane, will marry Mr. Carver of Netherfield, bu The Future Mrs. Darcy is Volume 2 in the Given Good Principles series by Maria Grace, a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. In the first book, Darcy’s Decision, Grace introduces readers to a young Fitzwilliam Darcy struggling to come to terms with his responsibilities as the new master of Pemberley. This time around, Grace follows the Bennet sisters as they struggle to keep the youngest, Lydia, under control.

Mrs. Bennet hopes her eldest, Jane, will marry Mr. Carver of Netherfield, but when Lydia, Kitty, and Maria Lucas do a bit too much flirting with the officers during an evening at Lucas Lodge, Mr. Carver decides they are a bad influence on his sisters and quits Netherfield. All eyes are on the Bennets as a result, and some families no longer wish to associate with them. Mrs. Bennet is confined to bed because of her nerves, just as Mr. Bennet must leave on estate business.

Elizabeth is put in charge of the household books, and she realizes she underestimated her mother. She also realizes she’s been neglecting her sisters, and she begins taking the time to listen to and really get to know Jane, Mary, and Kitty. Not only do they have to divide and conquer all the household tasks, but they need to keep an eye on Lydia as tongues begin wagging about some officers planning to elope with some local girls.

The Future Mrs. Darcy follows the Bennets, particularly Elizabeth, before Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Wickham enter the picture. It’s short, well written, and a good way to spend an afternoon. Lydia was even more annoying than in the original novel, and readers will wish they could reach into the book and throttle her, especially during the hastily planned dinner party she helps Mrs. Forster throw. Grace introduces some interesting original characters as well, from the creepy Major Sloane to Mr. Pierce, the local curate whom Mary likes.

I think Grace was wise to introduce Elizabeth and Darcy in separate books so readers can see how they really do come from different worlds. It should be exciting to watch them navigate the path to happily ever after in future volumes. I can’t wait to see where she goes with this series, and I highly recommend it for readers like me for whom these Austenesque novels are a guilty pleasure.

Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric

I received a free copy of this book for review. ...more

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May 07, 2014 Sheila Majczan rated it liked it

Again - having read the third in this trilogy by mistake first, I went back and read the first two before posting a review on either one. I agree with some of the other reviewers in that: 1.) There were just too many footnotes, which, as a new Kindle user I could not figure out how to access and 2.) Yes, she did use many of JA's quotes but, then, so do many of the authors of the 88 other JAFF books I have read. I was not comfortable with the relationship between Elizabeth and her father in this ...more

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Feb 10, 2014 Erika rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jane-austen

Please refer to my review on Darcy's Decision. To summarize, a must read for all JAFF fanatics. I read read all 3 books in the series in one day!!!! Couldn't put it down for long!! ...more

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May 29, 2020 Michelle David rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Lovely

A rather interesting and entertaining series of books inspired by Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice by talented Maria Grace ...more

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