Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire is Intending to Marry

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy’s POV

THE PREMISE: Paying close attention to the counsel and criteria his father imparted, Fitzwilliam Darcy is ready to do his duty and find a suitable bride to become the next mistress of Pemberley. He is determined to choose a wife with his head and not his heart. But what happens when he finds himself torn between an eminently suitable match and a bewitching miss whom he inexplicably regards…

MY THOUGHTS:

I’ve been a long-time admirer of Pride and Prejudice recountings from Mr. Darcy’s point-of-view, and through the years I’ve read my fair share. I love these types of stories because they depict Mr. Darcy’s thoughts and feelings firsthand, allow readers to spend more time in his head, flesh out the important relationships in his life, and often illustrate what he was doing when he was off page in P&P. In her Mr. Darcy POV tale, Fizwilliam Darcy in His Own Words, Shannon Winslow does all the above and also introduces some new developments and new characters.

These new developments and characters were some of my favorite parts of this Pride and Prejudice tale. I greatly appreciated the groundwork Ms. Winslow laid with Mr. Darcy’s childhood and relationship with his father. More so than I do in Pride and Prejudice, I understood and sympathized with our Mr. Darcy wanting to adhere so strongly to his father’s expectations and the pressures of family duty. In addition, I enjoyed the added tension of Mr. Darcy pursuing another woman (gasp!), Amelia Lambright and his misguided notions about marrying without affection (silly Mr. Darcy, just wait and see how that plays out!). In addition, I thought these new original characters – Amelia, her father, and her brother were all well-drawn and likable. I enjoyed the skillful way Ms. Winslow wove this new storyline into the background of Pride and Prejudice, and how it progressed and impacted Mr. Darcy’s actions throughout the course of his journey.

However, as much as I loved these new elements, there were some aspects of which I wasn’t as fond. In general it felt like the writing was heavier with narration than with sequences of dialogue or action. And since it is a retelling of P&P the narration was often comprised of familiar plot points of the story which most Austenesque/JAFF readers are already acquainted with. In addition, with some of the pivotal scenes – when Mr. Darcy recognizes his true feelings, his first proposal to Elizabeth, and when he finally achieves his happiness – it seemed like some of the action – instead of taking place on the page – was reduced to a half summarized account. I found Mr. Darcy’s style of chronicling the events of his life to be very controlled and stoic. There was more telling than showing at times. I think I would have felt more engaged in this story and Mr. Darcy’s quandaries if some of his firsthand emotions of irrepressible affection, turmoil, and staggering disappointment were conveyed in a more tangible way. But perhaps it was the author’s intent that Mr. Darcy always remain under good regulation and easy resolve.

While I enjoyed the new twists and characters Ms. Winslow introduced to Mr. Darcy’s life, Fitzwilliam Darcy in His Own Words is not one of my mosts favorite story from his perspective. Regardless, I am happy to have read it and I am so thankful to Shannon Winslow for penning so many fantastic Austenesque novels! Readers who love spending time with Mr. Darcy and want to see events from his point-of-view will find a lot to enjoy in this thoughtful and creative tale!

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