Darcy's Story

September 1, 2006
For the umpteenth time, Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice" is retold, now from the perspective of her romantic hero, Fitzwilliam Darcy. But the authors employ very different approaches. Aylmer, the pen name of an Austen enthusiast who lives in Bath, England, incorporates huge sections from Austen, including entire conversations. She explains why in her introduction, which also includes an analysis of Darcy's character that she attempts to demonstrate in her reworking. Unfortunately, too many of Aylmer's additions may annoy rather than enlighten Austen fans. Such insertions as -replied Darcy - or -she asked him with surprise - impede rather than clarify their exchanges, and including information on things like Wickham's relationship with Georgiana early in the story reduces Austen's narrative complexity. Why settle for a pale imitation that includes so much of the original?

In contrast, Aidan creates plot lines scarcely hinted at in Austen. After an impressive start in "An Assembly Such as This", the first title in her -Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman - trilogy, originally self-published, she now tackles the months during which Darcy is absent in "Pride and Prejudice". Darcy is delighted to observe Georgiana's growing self-confidence after her rescue from Wickham, although he is somewhat uneasy about her intense religious devotion. Attempting to forget Elizabeth and find a suitable wife, he visits a university friend at his country estate, where he evades a love charm, interprets mysterious portents, and uncovers the true identity of an Irish -servant - scheming for revenge. Readers who enjoy Gothic romance might be intrigued by Aidan's foray into the genre, though others may see this volume as filler until Darcy and Elizabeth meet again in the trilogy's final installment. Libraries may want to wait for that book to see whether Aidan succeeds as well as she did in the first and to decide whether this bridge volume is a necessary purchase." -Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ. Lib., Mankato"

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2006
What is it about Fitzwilliam Darcy? Two hundred years after he captivated Elizabeth Bennett, readers still can't seem to get their fill of him. This title is just the latest in Darcy-inspired Jane Austen "fanfiction." Aylmer adheres more closely to the original in Darcy's Story, which retells Pride and Prejudice from Darcy's point of view. Big chunks of dialogue are lifted straight from Austen, accompanied by Darcy's own thoughts and perceptions. It's an interesting idea, but Aylmer's reverence for the text stands in the way of creating a lively story. There is no attempt to match Austen's sparkle or to flesh out the period setting, and opportunities to create more drama are missed; for example, Wickham's attempted abduction of Georgiana, which in another writer's hands might be a novel in itself, is dealt with in a few matter-of-fact sentences. As a result, this Darcy seems a dull dog. Nevertheless, the book should appeal to ardent Austen fans, especially if they object to too much tinkering. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)