Mr. Darcy's Obsession: A Pride and Prejudice Variation in Austen Variations

May 07, 2014 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing

I have read this book several times in the paperback version. I have all Abigail's books and have read every one of them more than once in whole or part. She is my favorite JAFF author to date. I read all the other reviews before now posting my own. I am doing this at such a late date due to having no time while working but now having time in my retired life.

I will not go over the story line in detail. The other reviewers did a good job of that. I will say that what I saw as the premise was Darc I have read this book several times in the paperback version. I have all Abigail's books and have read every one of them more than once in whole or part. She is my favorite JAFF author to date. I read all the other reviews before now posting my own. I am doing this at such a late date due to having no time while working but now having time in my retired life.

I will not go over the story line in detail. The other reviewers did a good job of that. I will say that what I saw as the premise was Darcy, two years after Hunsford and Rosings and a missed chance to propose, looking at "the ton" and all their moral decay and pettiness vs the life situation of his true love and her family. Elizabeth's status is lowered not once but twice in this story...below what it was in our original P&P. First, her father dies, the family loses Longbourn, she becomes a Nanny/governess, etc., etc. Then Lydia becomes pregnant and moves in with the Gardiners to try to hide her disgrace from the Meryton denizens. So we have economical humbling and then moral standing disgrace. The ton is shown through Bingley's statements, through Darcy's uncle's and cousin's actions, through what he sees in Charlie and the use of the Mews, with Georgina and Aunt Augusta, etc., etc. And Abigail Reynolds lets us see Darcy's thought processes in sorting all of this out. It is not just Elizabeth telling him he is not a gentleman and that his disdain of others formed her opinion to not to want to marry him even if he were the last man in the world but these other observations, which make him think about whether he can actually marry her. Do Society's opinions matter? What will make him happy?

As an aside: I loved the angst and, as mentioned by others, the scenes of sexual tension as with him drawing the glove slowly, oh so slowly, off each finger and kissing her hand, etc.

This book has enough material to expand into several sequences, i.e., Georgina's story, Mary's story, the Colonel's story,etc.

I have read parts many times but now in February of 2016 I again read it through in its entirety. ...more

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Jul 20, 2013 Sophie rated it really liked it

Shelves: favourites, jane-austen-related

This was one of the more serious and at times distressing Pride and Prejudice variations I have read. This is due to the story line and the dramatically reduced circumstances the Bennet's find themselves in after the death of their father.

The social divide between Darcy and Lizzy now seems so unsurpassable and yet Darcy still cannot imagine his life without Lizzy. I enjoyed seeing this side to Darcy. He was very sweet and caring towards Lizzy and all her family and in the second half the book h This was one of the more serious and at times distressing Pride and Prejudice variations I have read. This is due to the story line and the dramatically reduced circumstances the Bennet's find themselves in after the death of their father.

The social divide between Darcy and Lizzy now seems so unsurpassable and yet Darcy still cannot imagine his life without Lizzy. I enjoyed seeing this side to Darcy. He was very sweet and caring towards Lizzy and all her family and in the second half the book he was truly the knight in shinning armour! Seeing the struggles the couple face and the misunderstandings and problems they must overcome before they can be together is heart-wrenching. There are times when it seems it really will be impossible to end with the happy ending we all know, expect and love (it does of course, don't fret!)

Bingley had an interesting role and turn of character in this story. The situation and emotional state he ends up in because of Jane's marriage to another is very sad to see in the normally happy, cheerful and upbeat Mr Bingley. His journey through the story is an interesting one. Georgiana too faces many problems to overcome after the incident with Wickham (to which there is an extra aspect in this tale) before she can mature into the young woman she truly is.

There is a major theme through this book linked to what the supposed 'gentleman' of society and the 'ton' really get up to. I found all the talk of mistresses through this book and incidents revolving around the issue quite distressing (the main distress coming from Colonel Fitzwilliam's horrid father and brother) although it was an interesting and brave topic to expand on. I understand, however, how very relevant and true the issue of mistresses and maltreatment of servants is and it is clear the authoress has put a considerable amount of time into researching it properly for historical accuracy, to which she is to be commended.

Although as I said at times I found the book distressing this is not a bad thing. I believe it actually made the book more compelling as I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen and how it would resolve all the issues. I am very pleased to say that all the problems and difficulties faced for so many of the characters all sort themselves out eventually, resulting in some very happy (and some very surprising (VERY surprising!)) endings. And also, although I talk of a more serious atmosphere to this variation, there are still many, many moments throughout which had me laughing, a lot!

If you are interesting in a variation which strays dramatically from the original plot as well as a wonderful romantic tension between Darcy and Lizzy, some intruding new characters and a more serious spin on the classic then this is the book to read. ...more

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Jun 07, 2010 Anna added it

Shelves: austenesque

Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

In Mr. Darcy’s Obsession, Abigail Reynolds really shakes up Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. In Reynold’s retelling, Mr. Darcy doesn’t propose to Elizabeth Bennet at Rosings, as she is called back to Longbourn when her father falls ill. When Mr. Darcy’s Obsession opens, Mr. Bennet has died, Elizabeth is living with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in London, and Jane is married to an old milliner. Mr. Bingley is upset because Jane is out of his reach Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

In Mr. Darcy’s Obsession, Abigail Reynolds really shakes up Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. In Reynold’s retelling, Mr. Darcy doesn’t propose to Elizabeth Bennet at Rosings, as she is called back to Longbourn when her father falls ill. When Mr. Darcy’s Obsession opens, Mr. Bennet has died, Elizabeth is living with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in London, and Jane is married to an old milliner. Mr. Bingley is upset because Jane is out of his reach, and Darcy can’t stop thinking about Elizabeth even though she is even less suitable a match for him than she was before her father’s death. Still, Darcy can’t let Elizabeth go.

Mr. Darcy’s Obsession is pretty predictable when it comes to Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane and Bingley, but that doesn’t matter. Reynolds livens things up by changing Lydia Bennet’s and Georgiana Darcy’s stories, but Lydia is still foolish and Georgiana still charming. She also adds a host of new and entertaining characters, from the street urchin, Charlie, and the innocent maid, Mary, to Darcy’s eccentric Aunt Augusta and horrible uncle, Lord Derby. The way women are treated in the book — which isn’t a far cry from reality back then, I’m sure — will turn your stomach, but thankfully Mr. Darcy is a true gentleman.

Reynolds has another winner with Mr. Darcy’s Obsession, drawing me in from the start with a unique take on Pride and Prejudice. Unlike her previous novels, there is passion but no sex, but of course there are misunderstandings and obstacles that threaten to keep Darcy and Elizabeth apart. Reynolds’ new characters are just as entertaining as the characters we know and love. I knew how things should turn out for Elizabeth and Jane, but I had no idea what would happen to Charlie, Mary, Aunt Augusta, or Darcy’s cousin, Henry, which added a layer of excitement and anticipation. Reynolds’ love for Pride and Prejudice is obvious in the care she takes to stay true to Austen’s characters, and I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes them next. ...more

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