Have you had the pleasure of reading an Austenesque novel by Enid Wilson yet?
Ms. Wilson has recently published four Pride and Prejudice inspired novels. Her most recent, Fire and Cross: Pride and Prejudice with a mysterios twist, is being released this month!
In this variation of Pride and Prejudice, the relationship between Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy is greatly altered. Today Ms. Wilson graciously visits Austenesque Reviews and elaborates the relationship between these two characters.
In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy didn’t seem to have a very high opinion of Mr. Bennet.
The situation of your mother’s family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father. – Pride and Prejudice Chapter 35
In my latest novel, Fire and Cross: Pride and Prejudice with a mysterious twist, I’ve portrayed the two gentlemen rather differently. The Hunsford proposal occurred very early in the novel. Mr. Darcy was rejected by Elizabeth Bennet for being arrogant and presumptuous. He had formed a bad impression about Mrs. Bennet and her youngest daughters after the Meryton Assembly and did not shy away from letting Elizabeth know during the proposal. However, when Mr. Darcy met Mr. Bennet the following morning, he found out the true worth of the Master of Longbourn. Below is an adapted excerpt of the scene from my novel:
“Fitzwilliam Darcy? You have grown.” The elderly gentleman said.
“I beg your pardon. Have we met before?”
“You told me your name during the fire at the Bromley Inn some twenty years ago, though not where you hailed from. When I heard my wife talking about you a few days ago, I did wonder if you were the same lad.” Extending his hand he made the introduction. “Bennet of Longbourn.”
“Mr. Bennet, I have wanted for such a long while to thank you….” His voice was trembling. “Thank you for saving my mother and myself.”
“It was nothing, my boy. I did what any gentleman would have done.”
The word “gentleman” sounded like thunder to Darcy’s ears. He was utterly ashamed of his uncharitable feelings towards Mr. Bennet’s family and his mode of declaration to his second daughter. If not for the older gentleman’s bravery, Darcy would not have grown to be the master of Pemberley. His wealth and connections could not compare to the gift of life Mr. Bennet had given him.
“I must beg your forgiveness, sir.” Darcy said with head lowered.
“Whatever for?”
“I behaved in an ungentlemanly manner towards Eliza…towards your second daughter.”
“What? What did you do to my Lizzy?” Mr. Bennet pushed Darcy away from him and glared at him.
Why did I want to explore Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s relationship in the novel? In my opinion, a very important theme of Pride and Prejudice is family. How we “live with” our family members, no matter how lacking their behaviour is. In Jane Austen’s original, it was Lady Catherine for Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet and Lydia for Elizabeth.
In Fire and Cross, Mr. Darcy had soon grown to respect Mr. Bennet:
“Well?” Mr. Bennet asked Mr. Darcy, as they entered the elderly gentleman’s study.
“Elizabeth… ah—Miss Elizabeth has done me the greatest honour and agreed to be my wife. I ask for your permission and blessing.” Darcy bowed and asked formally.
Mr. Bennet gave him a clap on the shoulders and embraced him.
“Fitzwilliam, I am very happy for you two. I am sure you will take prodigious good care of my favourite girl. You are a conscientious young man.”
“Welcome to the family!” Mr. Bennet said and fetched the whisky. “Take a drop and tell me what is troubling you.”
Darcy was surprised that Mr. Bennet had noticed his careworn demeanour. “You knew the reasons for tonight’s skirmish?”
Mr. Bennet nodded. “Lydia and Lady Susan explained it to me.”
“I am worried that Miss Elizabeth entered into the engagement without due consideration.”
GIVEAWAY TIME!
Ms. Wilson has graciously offered to giveaway a free ebook Fire and Cross in pdf format and a lovely souvenir to one lucky reader.
To be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment with your email address stating what you think the most important theme of Pride and Prejudice is. Or what other P&P variation would be interested in seeing.
To have your name entered twice, become a follower of my blog (if you are already a follower, please let me know)
**To have your name entered three times, post, sidebar, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway (please provide a link to let me know if you did this).
Contest ends December 21st and is open to worldwide readers.
Thanks Meredith, for hosting me today. Big hugs from warm sunny Sydney, Enid.
My pleasure, Enid. Best of luck with your new release!
Meredith, thanks for hosting my guest post and contest.
yay! for fire and cross. what a fun read! i enjoyed it.
Thanks Velvet for stopping by! It’s great you enjoyed the book. Big hugs. Oprah is in town…hehe…
Fire and Cross seems interesting for sure… 😉
On the top of my head, I would say restraint, in relations, would be an interesting perspective to explore in a P&P variation. Restraint is not really a theme of P&P but it is a great illustration of it.
(nehlee at hot mail)
Interesting suggestion, Lena. Mr. Darcy = restraint and control…
I can’t wait to read this book, sounds interesting to me. I think the theme is love – unconditional and unselfish love to the ones you cherish be it family or to marriage partners.
I’m a follower and I’ve blog about it here.
Thanks Luthien. I agree, although it’s difficult to achieve unconditional and unselfish love.
to me? the most important theme is the consequences of harbouring pride and prejudice in one’s character. blstef1 at mts dot net [although, as emails are connected more safely via blog contacts there shouldn’t be a need to add them to comments]
I love that you pointed out that Pride and Prejudice is about learn how and actually living with our families. As a modern day woman who lives at home with her parents and siblings I feel Jane Austen understands me. I have zany relatives and friends but at the end of the day they are still family.
Thanks Faith and Jillian, it’s great to know that we all get something out from Jane Austen’s works.
I think the importance of family is a huge part of all Jane Austen’s work and particularly in Pride and Prejudice. Also that love does conquer all. JA was a romantic!
Thank you for this giveaway
I’d have to agree that the importance of family is the overall theme of P&P. Even though she didn’t say it, I love this quote: “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.”
thanks for the giveaway!
Not taking anyone at face value is one of the most themes in Pride and Prejudice.
I’m a follower.
k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
Thanks Mystica, Lynn and Kulsuma, love the quote about family. And first impression can be misleading, I agree.
I think not jumping to conclusions was one of the most important themes of Pride and Prejudice. This sounds like a story with an interesting twist!
akaleistar (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks akaleistar for dropping by. Sorry you didn’t win this time but I hope you enjoy all the twists in the latest P&P mash up. Big hugs to all the readers who have left a comment and Merry Christmas.
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my favorite part is the first rejection or lack of rejection and how much BOTH learn from it. that really gets at the heart of relationships and social changes and social views of relationships in different time periods (when the tales are more modern).
ngrahampfannen at gmail dot com