A Peculiar Engagement in Austen Variations

Oct 07, 2016 Sheila Majczan rated it really liked it

Although this is a sweet and imaginative story, one in which each chapter begins in a “present day” (1810 to 1812) but then reflects to younger days beginning in the Spring of 1788 when she is only 4 years old, it is not as much a romance, IMO, as it is a tale which fills in the life of and life as viewed from Anne’s POV.

We know from the author’s previous book, Mr. Darcy’s Rival, that Anne is the author of a novel and in this book we read of her relationship with her dear father, their visits to Although this is a sweet and imaginative story, one in which each chapter begins in a “present day” (1810 to 1812) but then reflects to younger days beginning in the Spring of 1788 when she is only 4 years old, it is not as much a romance, IMO, as it is a tale which fills in the life of and life as viewed from Anne’s POV.

We know from the author’s previous book, Mr. Darcy’s Rival, that Anne is the author of a novel and in this book we read of her relationship with her dear father, their visits to the turret where they use a telescope to view the estate and, in one childhood episode, help to rescue lost boys. Furthermore, Anne journalizes visits from her two cousins, Richard and Fitzwilliam, and her relationship with both.

She also paints herself as a girl and/or a young woman who is persuaded by her mother that she WILL marry Fitzwilliam Darcy. From her viewpoint we read of the Darcy family coming to visit and then the loss of Anne Fitzwilliam Darcy and the letter her namesake sends to her cousin to console him and then when she, in turn, loses her dear father, the letter, Fitzwilliam Darcy sends her.

Looming as a major part of this story is the treatment Anne suffers at the hands of her own mother: the elderberry tea…then wine forced upon her to calm her coughs, the lessons from Masters for dance, for playing the pianoforte, for singing and for art, which result in relentless browbeating when no progress, no success, is gained.

Time after time we read how Anne observes the man “she is to marry”, wondering if he looks upon her with favor. Indeed, sadly as she sees him gain in stature and looks and “falls in love” with him we read of the reticence and disdainful behavior that Darcy has learned in his interactions with society and marriage minded mamas and which he carries into Lady Catherine’s drawing room.

There are small parts concerning one George Wickham and his place in their younger days and then additionally we read the death of Mr. Darcy and of the appointed guardianship of Georgiana and Lady Catherine’s reflections and words about that niece.

Mrs. Jenkinson and then her son, John, come to the rescue, so to speak, as the lady encourages Anne’s adventures into authorship and 2 novels and he publishes both. Anne’s meeting this man leads to a positive step on her part and even to a very surprising solution to her desires.

The story seems to wind down but suddenly we learn that we have not read the real story as our author, Kara Louise, gives us the final word. This is Anne’s story and it takes some turns in adulthood which may just surprise the reader. It can be read as a standalone but Mr. Darcy’s Rival gives it more substance in the picture as a whole. ...more

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Oct 06, 2016 Don Jacobson rated it it was amazing

Top Drawer Continuation

Ms Louise has once again brought her "A Game" in this delightful P&P variation. An adjunct to her equally strong "Mr Darcy's Rival", "Peculiar Engagement" deepens the back story of all of the characters' lives. Strong work and an enjoyable well-written read. ...more

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Nov 23, 2016 Barb rated it really liked it

Shelves: austen-fan-fiction-read, borrowed-e-book

Sometimes you have a hard time getting into a good book. You ask yourself, what is making it hard for me to read this book? For me, A Peculiar Engagement was a really well done story, but I felt sad reading it right from the beginning, so found myself putting it down and leaving it for days at a time.

A Peculiar Engagement is Ann De Bourgh's perspective on her lifelong relationship with the man she has always loved - Fitzwilliam Darcy. And, of course, from all our years of reading P&P and variati ...more

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