Pirates and Prejudice in Austen Variations

Apr 20, 2016 Nissa | Of Pens and Pages Book Blog rated it it was amazing

Shelves: pride-and-prejudice, favorite, 2016-austenesque-lovers-challenge, regency-era

5 stars!

I LOVE this book! I can't believe I missed out on this for so long! I'll be honest, I avoided this book because I couldn't see how Darcy as a pirate—or at least Darcy as someone who's impersonating a pirate—would work out. I'm so glad I finally took a chance on this.

Pirates and Prejudice starts after Elizabeth turned down Mr. Darcy's proposal. The rejection leaves Darcy despondent, a little intimate with liquor, and uncaring of his physical appearance. Because of his unruly appearance a ...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Sophie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites, jane-austen-related, favourite-favourites

When I first read the blurb for this story I thought it sounded very... improbable. The idea of Darcy being brought so low by Lizzy’s rejection and abandoning all care for his personal appearance and to sprawl around London, rather drunk, and then to be mistaken for a pirate all seemed a little... far-fetched. However, once I got past that and thought ‘why not’, I really rather enjoyed this story, much more than I was expecting to. It was a story full of fast-paced adventure, amusing comedy and When I first read the blurb for this story I thought it sounded very... improbable. The idea of Darcy being brought so low by Lizzy’s rejection and abandoning all care for his personal appearance and to sprawl around London, rather drunk, and then to be mistaken for a pirate all seemed a little... far-fetched. However, once I got past that and thought ‘why not’, I really rather enjoyed this story, much more than I was expecting to. It was a story full of fast-paced adventure, amusing comedy and passionate romance.

Having Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley mistaken as the infamous pirate Lockerley, with his long beard and curly hair, and consequently thrown into jail was funny in itself, but then to have Darcy agree to impersonate this pirate in the hopes to catch the real Lockerley was even funnier! Imagining Mr Darcy agreeing to something like that is difficult, I grant you (especially given that disguise of every sort is his abhorrence), but it soon seemed like a perfectly normal adventure for Darcy to get involved with! It was a lot of fun, once he had agreed to this impersonation, to see Darcy trying to ‘forget’ how to be a gentleman (and his “gentleman-like manner”!), walk with a much less graceful posture and learn to talk like a commoner!

Once Darcy was able to drop the Lockerley act, he still couldn’t reveal his true identity (well, didn’t want to – it would be a little embarrassing wouldn’t it?) he adopted the character of a rather heroic and dashing Captain Smith. And it falls to this Captain Smith to rescue a certain Miss Elizabeth Bennet who has been taken hostage by pirates (three guesses which pirate!) who very quickly falls for this mysterious captain, whom she seems to recognise (I wonder why?). I can easily see why Lizzy would fall for Captain Smith; Darcy makes a rather magnificent pirate and there are some rather impressive sword fights (where Darcy's fencing skills finally come in useful!)

There were many clever quotes and scenes which are recognisable from the original story but put into a completely different context (such as Lady Catherine’s disapproval of Darcy’s actions (and not because of his choice of bride this time!)). As Lizzy does not recognise Darcy straightway (understandably!) there are a few scenes where previous meetings and conversations are referred to (such as the conversations at Netherfield and their dance at the ball) which was rather amusing to read and very clever at times.

And never fear Wickham was still in the story but the way in which Darcy comes to the rescue of Lydia is in a completely different way to the original and was a clever way to bring Wickham into the story I thought. Georgiana also makes an appearance and her relationship with Lizzy was sweet, if little seen and explored in this variation.

Something which always annoyed me when I read Pride and Prejudice in my English class at school was the number of cynics among my class who said the only reason (and I emphasise only) Lizzy changed her mind and married Darcy was because of Pemberley, which is nonsense. (Yes she says ‘And of this place I might have been mistress’ and yes she jokes that she first in love with Darcy after ‘my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley’ but no, she was not being serious!) Anyway, in most other variations I have read (if not all other) Lizzy does see Pemberley before they marry. However, (I am finally coming to my point now!) Lizzy never actually sees Pemberley till after the marriage; so there, cynics in my class! It was quite nice to have a story where she fell for Darcy without seeing him in his own environment contributing at all, as it does play an important part in many variations as well as, of course, the original story.

As for the romance, you will not be disappointed. It was, without giving anything away, a perfect ending. For the story, the set up for the ending was ... well, perfect. It cleverly linked back to important scenes earlier in the story when Darcy was disguised as Captain Smith. In fact, throughout the final few chapters when Darcy was once again the clean-shaven, well dressed gentleman we all know, there were many links and references back to the pirating adventure. The ending was also not abrupt, as it sometimes can be, as we see some sweet little scenes of the wedding day and there is a short epilogue where we see what became of some of the characters we met earlier in the story, which is always a nice touch.

Although this is the most far-fetched variation I have read, it has easily been one of the most enjoyable Pride and Prejudice variations, without a doubt! It is such a lot of fun, full of adventure and breathtaking romance! I stayed up rather late into the night to finish this one, which has to be a good sign. Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy now has some stiff competition from Captain Fitzwilliam Darcy!
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Jun 18, 2013 Ceri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-inspired, austen-variation

This was such a fun variation on Pride and Prejudice! We pick up with Darcy after his failed proposal at Hunsford. He has let himself go and is wallowing in his misery; he's rented a room near the docks so nobody of his acquaintance sees him in this state because his hair is a mess, he hasn't shaved in ages, and he spends his days boozing to forget. He is almost unrecognisable, and he gets mistaken for the pirate Lockerly. Luckily, due to the fact that Lockerly has a scar that Darcy doesn't, Dar ...more

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May 07, 2014 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing

Although I have other of Kara's books, when I read this title I was skeptical that it could be true to our P&P characters. (I had that exact same thought about Pemberley's Promise aka Darcy's Voyage.) And now I find myself having read it more than once and enjoying it ever so much as the first time with this the most recent re-reading. It drew me in, it caused me to stay up late, it caused angst and sexual tension (although no bedroom scenes), brought tears to my eyes and sighs from my soul. Wel ...more

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Sep 15, 2013 Nicole Barton Sasser rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: jaff, p-and-p, kindle, review-on-amazon

I have to admit, I was not expecting much from this book. I thought the whole concept would be hard to do well. I am more than happy to have been wrong. I have not been on such an exciting adventure with my favourite characters since Jan Hahn's The Journey. Who would have thought… Mr. Darcy as a pirate…? ...more

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Oct 11, 2013 Erika rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jane-austen

I absolutely loved this book, seeing Darcy in a new light and the dynamics behind Darcy and Elizabeth'a budding relationship. A must read!! I could not put the book down until I finished reading it! I have read most of Kara Louise's other books so I knew the excellence I should expect, but she totally threw me off with having Darcy as a Pirate. But I fell so in love with Darcy as a pirate, and that he was able to she'd he well-ingrained 'polite society skin' to interact with Elizabeth and other ...more

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Nov 29, 2014 Deborah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ja-read

I loved Darcy as a pirate. Swinging with Elizabeth in his arms from ship to ship was so romantic. Lizzie got to know Darcy a little better before she finds out his true identity. Can Darcy rescue her from the notorious pirate, Lockerly? I also love a great sword fight and Lizzie is as feisty as ever. I couldn't put the book down and lost a lot of sleep finishing it. Definitely worth reading. ...more

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Mar 08, 2014 Victoria Kincaid rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austen-variation

So much fun! True to the characters despite the farfetched situation.

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Apr 02, 2014 Staciel rated it liked it

Shelves: jane-austen-inspired

3.5 stars

If you enjoy reading P&P variations and if you can buy into Mr. Darcy 'becoming' a pirate, this is an enjoyable read.. although I liked the other books that I've read by this author slightly more, perhaps because this one's a bit more...far-fetched? ...more

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