The Companion of His Future Life in Austen Variations

Mar 24, 2015 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If one loves JA's P&P, one knows the lines very well. Mr. Caldwell uses many of them with no attempt to disguise such. Does that offend me? NO. My thoughts are that Mr. Caldwell was very clever and had to have given a lot of thought as to how to use those lines and in whose mouth. But, honestly, I did skim through many of those sections as I knew the words so well. Many of his changes are changes which I, frankly, have opined about for the original. Don't we all think Mary should have married Mr If one loves JA's P&P, one knows the lines very well. Mr. Caldwell uses many of them with no attempt to disguise such. Does that offend me? NO. My thoughts are that Mr. Caldwell was very clever and had to have given a lot of thought as to how to use those lines and in whose mouth. But, honestly, I did skim through many of those sections as I knew the words so well. Many of his changes are changes which I, frankly, have opined about for the original. Don't we all think Mary should have married Mr. Collins, what with her reading of Fordyce's Sermons and her holier-than-thou attitude? However, in marrying Mary to Mr. Collins our author gives her the wisdom (and body) to be able to handle her husband. Him "begging" to be allowed to visit her bedroom - I think I will be ill also if not die from laughing so hard first! I enjoyed reading that Mary and Anne de Bourgh became best of friends. What a nice surprise! Many authors have married Col. Fitzwilliam off to Anne in JAFF stories, but in this version, Col. Fitzwilliam doesn't seem to have a clue that this is to be his fate. Is he in denial? The scene in which he is entering Rosings and 3 females have his destiny all tied up is priceless.

I did NOT like when Elizabeth, at Lambton, after having received the letters about Lydia's elopement with Wickham, said, "Find them and I am yours." It just doesn't sound right...sorry. Yes, we know Darcy is honorable and would only have Elizabeth in marriage but I just don't think our Lizzy would have said it quite that way. It opens up too many negative connotations. He has not proposed for a second time, She has just realized that, yes, she can love him. But she also thinks that this disgrace because of Lydia's actions would now totally justify his views of her family, even though he takes the blame in not exposing Wickham. And there is that whole thing about him not wanting her out of gratitude, which her words imply. Doesn't she know that he is not going to want her for that reason by now. She has been learning so much about his honor and how loyal he is to those he loves and how he takes care of them and protects them.

In creating a different Anne I found it very interesting that Mr. Caldwell now gives her an accomplishment which her mother was bragging about in the original story (and which she didn't have) and additional accomplishments, which would draw attention from a man looking for an "ideal woman"...learning to play the piano, learning to shot billiards, drawing, handling her dog cart and wanting to learn to ride are sure to please.

We have a new Jane who suddenly has the discernment to realize that Bingley can't stand on his own two feet and that a couple cannot live on love alone. This is not JA's Jane. We do see Bingley's character being more developed in this version and, for me, that was pleasing. (Even if the steward he hires and works with was sent his way via Darcy and Matlock.)

All in all a very interesting twist to the original story. The author kept very close to the original story line making changes more in characters' personalities and then their actions without changes in the final outcome for the most part. ...more

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Jan 21, 2019 Elin Eriksen rated it really liked it

Shelves: hilarious, well-written, elin-s-jaff-2019

This book had a farce-like quality to it. By that I mean that it was funny and begs not to be taken too seriously.
The sparkling gems of dry wit was fabulous and plenty to be had, loved it!

The book explored the possible outcome of what would happen if Mr Collins, in a moment of enlightenment, had proposed to a different Bennet sister.
Keeping close to the timeline of canon but with alterations due to Mr Collins' choice of bride, it was an entertaining read with a little saucyness. We even got to ...more

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Feb 17, 2014 Erika rated it really liked it

Shelves: jane-austen

A lovable yet pious Mary

How would P&P differ if Mary married Mr Collins versus Charlotte?

This story starts with Mr Collins changing his focus again from Elizabeth to Mary after having spied her in the garden. Jane misses the opportunity to go to London with the Gardiners, therefore missing rekindling her friendship with Miss Bingley. Elizabeth and Jane both travel to Hunsford to visit with the Collins', how does the change things. Mary befriends Anne de Bourgh, though keeps their activities in s ...more

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May 14, 2016 JMarcy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff-regency

Highly entertaining story. The first change to canon wherein Collins woos and marries Mary instead of Charlotte sets off a bit of a chain reaction of differing circumstances during major plot events. One of the biggest is Jane and Elizabeth both going to first Hunsford, then Lambton. This leads to some highly original and entertaining twists to canon.

There is also a fair bit of humour sprinkled in, and not really much heartwrenching angst. My favorite is the recurring thought "I think I will bec ...more

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Jan 19, 2016 Patricia rated it really liked it

Shelves: regency-era, jane-austen, 2016-books, austen-only-2016, 2016-100-books, 2016

I have always liked variations/what if stories. I have also felt that, if Mrs. Bennet had looked more at her other daughters, in particularly Mary, Mary was the Bennet sister that should have married Mr. Collins. I have been searching for one of these kind of variations for a long time with her being Mrs. Collins.

Also the cover really drew me in. I have to remember to find out who the artist is, I love the painting.

SPOILERS BELOW
(view spoiler) ...more

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Jun 03, 2018 Kirk rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jane-austen, 2018-austenesque-tbr-published, 2018

Oh what a Jane!!

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Mar 20, 2017 Dung rated it liked it

Shelves: austen-inspried

I enjoyed the character development of Mary/Mr. Collins , Jane/Bingley, and Anne de Bourgh under the guidance of her new friend Mary.

The storyline with Darcy/Elizabeth were similar to cannon and did not deviate much.

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Nov 04, 2015 Erika added it · review of another edition

A lovable yet pious Miss Mary

How would P&P differ if Mary married Mr Collins versus Charlotte?

This story starts with Mr Collins changing his focus again from Elizabeth to Mary after having spied her in the garden. Jane misses the opportunity to go to London with the Gardiners, therefore missing rekindling her friendship with Miss Bingley. Elizabeth and Jane both travel to Hunsford to visit with the Collins', how does the change things. Mary befriends Anne de Bourgh, though keeps their activitie ...more

1 like · Like · see review