Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A tale of a gentleman and an officer by Karen V. Wasylowski

Apr 02, 2012 Kate Dana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen-related

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Did someone say Colonel Fitzwilliam? YES! A minor character is getting and given some love. Did someone say bromance? Yes, A bromance between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. I’m sold. Plus the cover is divine. I came, I saw (read), I was extremely satisfied. READ THIS BOOK!

Volume I- Darcy and Elizabeth

I found myself a bit board by the first part of the book, which is no fault of Wasylowski. It has to do with my being sick of reading about Darcy and Elizabeth. They’re everywhere and af...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Beth rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a surprising little book. It's cleverly written, at times frustrating, with unexpected bits of humor throughout. There is a decidedly masculine feel to the narrative, a dramatic, soap-opera-esque plot, and a few characters are sort of turned on their heads. Caroline Bingley is a villanous tramp, Lady Catherine is more of an eccentric, amusing matriarch rather than the pompus, overbearing relation who so abused our Lizzie. I loved Darcy's loving/antagonistic relationship with his cousin...more This was a surprising little book. It's cleverly written, at times frustrating, with unexpected bits of humor throughout. There is a decidedly masculine feel to the narrative, a dramatic, soap-opera-esque plot, and a few characters are sort of turned on their heads. Caroline Bingley is a villanous tramp, Lady Catherine is more of an eccentric, amusing matriarch rather than the pompus, overbearing relation who so abused our Lizzie. I loved Darcy's loving/antagonistic relationship with his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam (a fanfic favorite of mine, I don't think I could ever read enough books about the Colonel). They are more like brothers than cousins, even to the point of calling each other childish names, "brat" by the Colonel and "Old Bastard" by Darcy. Even Lady Catherine proves to have an irreverent wit, once teasing Colonel Fitzwilliam about one of her elderly maids:

"We often speak of you, you know," Catherine continued, nodding for the wine to be poured. "Yes. When I assure her you will probably one day be hanged, well, it just seems to cheer her so."

The things I didn't like about this book is how hysterical and unbalanced our formerly level-headed Elizabeth is. Granted, being married to and (spoiler alert) impregnated by a man as pig-headed as Darcy has got to be frustrating at times, but I still don't see Elizabeth as the vase-and-trinket-smashing lunatic this book makes her out to be. Poor thing. Darcy might love her, but he's still Darcy, and damn if I would want to be married to him. At least this incarnation of him.

This book probably gave me my favorite portrayal of Colonel Fitzwilliam, painting him as a war hero and celebrity, he masks his dissatisfaction with life and painful memories with a razor-sharp humor and unapologetic sexuality. He's described as a bear, a beast, not handsome like Darcy but an object of desire nonetheless. In fact both Darcy and Fitzwilliam seem to be giving off waves of masculine sensualtiy in every page, like when Fitzwillaim comes to a hotel where he has been "hiding out" so to speak, and is surprised to find that his resourcesful cousin has managed to track him down:

"About halfway into the room, the crowd finally parted, and he beheld the tall, dark, and exceptionally handsome English gentleman, his long legs crossed, his chanpange-buffed black riding boots brilliantly reflecting the flames from the hearth. The dark green superfine coat and subded checkered waistcoat set off his brilliantly white shirt and cravat. One elbow was draped casually actoss the back of his chair while the other hand sensuously stroked the stem of a wine glass resting on the table before him. His eyes never left Fitwilliam's face. He was the very essence of stylish nonchalance.

Except for his eyes. His eyes were the very black depths of hell."

Woah. Did the room just suddenly get super warm? Yes, brace yourself. There is sex in this book, a good deal of it. Normally this puts me off in a Jane Austen spinoff, but not here. It's so well-done, not overly graphic or unplausible, and since this book is centered on men, it feels fitting. I have to take my hat off to the author on that score. If only all romance writers could write sex so well.

If you're a fan of Jane Austen fanfic, I would definitely recommend this book. Parts of it will make you incredibly angry, the epiloge will probably make you roll your eyes a lot, but otherwise it's a great, fun, well-paced read. (less)

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Sep 15, 2011 Tarrin Lupo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me first say I am not a big fan of the original Pride and Prejudice and found it mind numbing in parts. So I normally would never read a book like this, but all my friends kept talking about how good Mrs. Waslowski's book was. I caved to the peer pressure and gave it a read. To my surprised I really enjoyed it, I found it had a great deal of humor and was very clever. I assumed Darcy was just mad because he had a girls name, but instead it seems he really has some unresolved issues with his...more

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May 26, 2012 Elesha rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Poor, to say the least, don't get me wrong, the closeness between the two main protagonists was endearing but it was clearly poorly thought out & researched, the tone and humour was all wrong, witty but the tale belonged in present day America not in 19th regency Britain and as for the women in this tale the were perverted and deformed beyond belief or recognition, this author clearly has forgotten that they are writing the stories and adventures of charactes that have existed and survived f...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Mary Tillman rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Hmm, I'm not 100% sure about this one. I'd like to give it 2.5 stars, but since I can't I'll go with 3. I liked the overall concept of the story, I wasn't crazy about the way the book was laid out and the Epilogue seemed like an after thought.

I don't understand authors who wish to continue the story but need to make Elizabeth a green-eyed shrew. She never doubted herself in the original, so why, after she's married to Darcy, does she all of a sudden have self doubt? It makes no sense to me.

I enj...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Elizabeth West rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book wins points for originality in that someone finally cares about Colonel Fitzwilliam, but this book would have been better if Elizabeth and Darcy were kept out of it. I read a great deal of Pride and Prejudice fan fiction and I can go along with new imaginings. One of my favorite titles is a fantasy inspired Pride and Prejudice. But Darcy, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam just deviate too far, with no explanation, from established characterizations in Jane Austen's world.

I really needed a litt...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, jane-austen-austenesque

I rec'd this book as a prize in a give away at English Historical Fiction Authors blogsite. And I was so thrilled because I have had my eye on it for a while as a TBR.

Darcy and Fitzwilliam is a P&P sequel, but this sequel though it contains the ladies like Lizzy and Lady Catherine, it focuses on Darcy and his cousin. Darcy's story is about the first few years of his marriage. Fitzwilliam's story is about surviving the war though fragile mentally after the experience and finding his own roman...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Will rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: not-read

I couldn't make myself finish this book. I read about 1/3 of it, and just couldn't take any more. I'm a sucker for novels inspired by Pride and Prejudice, and I'm willing to try almost any of them I come across, but I'm almost always disappointed. In this case, the author makes zero attempt to recreate the classic Regency style of the original. The tone does not match at all. She has Darcy and his cousin, Fitzwilliam, using foul language to each other (out of the hearing of the ladies, of course...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Deborah Swift rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am not a particularly fanatical Austen fan, certainly not a purist, but I do like the wit of Jane Austen, and so was ready to embrace the tale of Darcy and his cousin with open arms. I was not disappointed. What impressed me most about this book was that it has the feel of Austen, but updated. It is very difficult to be funny in an Austen-esque way and still be fresh. Too often the humour doesn't properly succeed. But the impact that Austen must have had in her day is all here, in this laugh-o...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Linda Banche rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Laugh until your sides ache and then laugh some more with Karen V. Wasylowski's delicious DARCY AND FITZWILLIAM: A TALE OF A GENTLEMAN AND AN OFFICER. This absorbing, fast-moving romp of a book catalogs the often hilarious ups and downs in the enduring affectionate friendship of those brothers-in-spirit, cousins Fitzwilliam Darcy and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.

Darcy and Elizabeth have married, but nothing comes between the lifelong regard of Darcy and Fitzwilliam. Each always there to help the...more

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Jan 27, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

DARCY AND FITZWILLIAM: A Tale of a Gentleman and an Officer by Karen V. Wasylowski is a intriguing historical romance set in 1813 London. It is well written with details and depth. It has romance, love, family, friends,blood relatives,misunderstandings, witty banter, heartbreak and responsibilities. This is another Jane Austen story continued.This is the relationship between Darcy and Fitzwilliam(cousins who are like brothers) who are not only united by family,friendship and allies,but are also...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Jennifer Conrad rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-rewrites

I didn't think that this author did a very good job sticking to the personalities of the original characters. Darcy and Fitzwilliam become very controlling, and Lizzy is very angry. Also, women who are pregnant in this book are stereotypical: hormone-crazed, irrational, and eager to pick a fight.

The story of Fitzwilliam, Amanda, and Harry is an interesting twist. The way that situation comes to a resolution was my favorite scene in the book (well, the event that leads to the resolution!).

The epi...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Grace Elliot rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An engrossing read; Ms Wayslowski endows Austen’s characters with a new vitality.
It’s often struck me that in the 19th century, people must have had the same human urges as we do today and indeed, Ms Wayslowski goes behind closed doors to show the playful relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. In this clever book, two tender love stories run in parallel: Darcy for his beloved Lizzie, who he fears to lose in childbirth, and Fitzwilliam, the jaded war hero who makes sense of life through drink...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Antonia rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

...tripe...

well. that was a waste of time, frankly. so many things did not make sense. lady catherine??? never... and the characters of lizzy and darcy were a disaster, not like anything they were like in "pride and prejudice". the little story enveloping them (with caroline bingley) was irrelevant at best. useless. and so not necessary as the romance with colonel fitzwilliam was nice enough, getting close to any historical romance with huge hulking men with battle scars and being generally fit...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Shuffy2 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen

We know about Darcy and Elizabeth but what about Col. Fitzwilliam, how does he fit into a tale of happily ever after? [return][return]Karen Wasylowski, not only fills us in on Darcy and Lizzy after the big event but also tells about the relationship between the happy couple, his cousins and his famously brash aunt. Does Catherine De Bourgh and Darcy mend fences? Does Col. Fitzwilliam want to be like Darcy and live happily ever after, or is he set in his bachelor life? And the most important ques...more

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Aug 06, 2011 ayrdaomei rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Austen-ites, fans of historical fiction

Shelves: finished

I'm really not the kind of girl who reads Pride & Prejudice spin-offs, but something about the title and the cover art on this grabbed me. I told myself I was getting it for my girlfriend (who loves Austen), but she passed on it. Glad I decided to read a few pages before taking it back to library!

Darcy & Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and an Officer explores the relationship between Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pride & Prejudice fame, and his cousin, Col. Richard Fitzwilliam, who is a mi...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fitzwilliam Darcy and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam are cousins and friends in Pride and Prejudice. While Mr. Darcy is rich, proud and reserved, Colonel Fitzwilliam is the second son of an Earl, poor and lively. In Darcy and Fitzwilliam, this friendship is explored.

Volume I, Fitzwilliam Darcy: A gentleman, the story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth continues directly after their marriage. Colonel Fitzwilliam has come to visit his beloved cousin after returning home from the Napoleonic war. While Elizabe...more Fitzwilliam Darcy and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam are cousins and friends in Pride and Prejudice. While Mr. Darcy is rich, proud and reserved, Colonel Fitzwilliam is the second son of an Earl, poor and lively. In Darcy and Fitzwilliam, this friendship is explored.

Volume I, Fitzwilliam Darcy: A gentleman, the story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth continues directly after their marriage. Colonel Fitzwilliam has come to visit his beloved cousin after returning home from the Napoleonic war. While Elizabeth and Darcy are happy, Darcy is saddened at the breach between himself and his Aunt Catherine. Fitzwilliam helps Elizabeth to understand the importance of Lady Catherine to Darcy’s life, and Elizabeth learns that Lady Catherine, Mr. Darcy, and Fitzwilliam are really one big dysfunctional family. They may have more money than the Bennets, but they also have their own faults.

Elizabeth also learns about Mr. Darcy’s unsavory past with Caroline Bingley. Elizabeth grows quite enraged and smashes crockery and ruins furniture. I thought this was quite out of character for her and didn’t really like it.

Volume II is entitled Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam: An Officer. Fitzwilliam has returned from war a celebrated hero. He vows to find himself a rich heiress to wed, but instead falls in love with a lovely American widow named Amanda. Amanda cannot remarry as she will lose the custody of her young son because of the conniving of her late husband and her mother-in-law. Fitzwilliam pursues her anyway and the two try to find a way to be together.

I was annoyed throughout the text by Colonel Fitzwilliam continuously calling Mr. Darcy “brat” for a nickname. It seemed out of character for them both and rather jarring whenever it was put into the text.

I loved the cover of this novel. I thought it was quite a good looking cover, although I can’t really imagine Mr. Darcy running after Colonel Fitzwilliam like that!

Overall, I thought the novel was rather uneven. I really liked some aspects of it, such as Colonel Fitzwilliam’s love story. I also thought it did the best job of any book I’ve read of really humanizing Lady Catherine. On the other hand, other aspects of it seemed very out of character such as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s very spirited fighting and Caroline Bingley’s waywardness.
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Feb 12, 2013 Rachael McDiarmid rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There were parts I liked, some I didn't, and some whereI didn't like the character development at all. But at the of the day it kept me occupied - the romance / passion angle was fine, the story was entertaining enough, but I expected more. I love Darcy, I love Elizabeth, and I came to love Fitzwilliam, (the naughty cousin that he was!) however some story lines just didn't push the right buttons for me. For example Lizzy's behaviour during her pregnancy (surely this can't be a spoiler when it wo...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Bron rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people without Austen-like expectations

My expectations made this book extremely difficult to read. When I saw this on display in the library my thoughts went immediately back to Pride and Prejudice, and so I was expecting certain characteristics in the characters in this story. However, Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth do not remind me of their Jane Austen counterparts. In fact, Lizzie really reminded me more of her sister Lydia than of the Jane Austen Elizabeth Bennett. The more I read of this book the more I was able to get...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Heidi rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: will-not-finish, spin-off, fiction

I had such hopes. Now I have such disappointments. I couldn't make it past 70 pages. Skimmed here or there. Read the epilogue. And I just didn't want any more. I read a review that pretty much said exactly how I felt--in just those few pages! (http://austenprose.com/2011/02/06/dar...)

Others liked it for its originality and the author's own take of "realism" with the characters. But I am very particular about Austen spin-offs. And there is a reason I typically don't do P&P spin-offs! This fit...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Misty rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, jane-in-june, historical, read-in-2012, review-copy-accepted

2-2.5

I was really eager for this one: I love the dynamic between Darcy and Col. Fitz, and I wanted to see that explored, as well as get some of the Col's story. Unfortunately, the characters I found in this were practically unrecognizable. Lizzie sometimes devolved into a shrieking harpy, Darcy was sort of neurotic, Lady Catherine was actually kind of awesome (which I liked, but you know...Lady C is notawesome, so again it just furthered the idea that they characters just weren't themselves.But...more 2-2.5

I was really eager for this one: I love the dynamic between Darcy and Col. Fitz, and I wanted to see that explored, as well as get some of the Col's story. Unfortunately, the characters I found in this were practically unrecognizable. Lizzie sometimes devolved into a shrieking harpy, Darcy was sort of neurotic, Lady Catherine was actually kind of awesome (which I liked, but you know...Lady C is not awesome, so again it just furthered the idea that they characters just weren't themselves. But it was Col. Fitzwilliam who was the biggest disappointment. He was boorish, crude, had what I'd almost call a violent temper, and is just all-around not what I wanted or expected. He was an aggressive control-freak who boozed and whored his way through the world on a scale to make Wickham blush, until suddenly he finds himself mad about some woman he doesn't actually know (but who does seem to be right for him, I will give the book that).

I think it honestly would have been better if it only followed Col. F and his life, and just kept the rest of them out of it. Then, maybe I could have believed that he had gone down this really dark path as a result of his war experiences, and I wouldn't have been distracted by the failings of the other characters. I actually did put it down for awhile and tried to school myself to treat it as general historical fiction rather than an Austen adaptation; I was unsuccessful - I just couldn't separate who the characters were from who they were supposed to be. And in the end, it wouldn't have really mattered: the book struggled in tone and atmosphere, too, so I think I still would have been disappointed with it. It was like Karen couldn't decide if she wanted the book to be serious or silly, and as a result it felt sort of schizophrenic. It did have its good moments, and I enjoyed the relationship between Fitz and Amanda (when it wasn't controlling), but the good moments weren't enough to leave a good overall impression. And if I had to hear Fitzwilliam call Darcy "brat" one more time, I would have thrown the damn thing against a wall.

Verdict: Borrow it from the library, if at all.
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Jul 02, 2011 Aik Chien 인첸 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It has been a long time since I last read Jane Austen's classic, Pride and Prejudice. I think I read it when I was 12 years old. I have almost forgotten all the characters in the story, with the exception of the protagonists, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. Darcy and Fitzwilliam by Karen V. Wasylowski is a continuation of the original story, but I'd rather not compare it with the original and rate it as a stand-alone novel.

Albeit apprehensive of how things might turn out, given my lack...more It has been a long time since I last read Jane Austen's classic, Pride and Prejudice. I think I read it when I was 12 years old. I have almost forgotten all the characters in the story, with the exception of the protagonists, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. Darcy and Fitzwilliam by Karen V. Wasylowski is a continuation of the original story, but I'd rather not compare it with the original and rate it as a stand-alone novel.

Albeit apprehensive of how things might turn out, given my lack of experience in reviewing historical fiction, I decided to give it a try. After reading it, I felt that it was much better than what I'd initially expected, and I found myself tremendously enjoying every second of it.

The book is divided into three parts, #1: Fitzwilliam Darcy, #2: Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam and #3: The Family. Each one of them presents a different tale, but all of them are still related. Being cousins, friends and partners, Darcy and Fitzwilliam are two inseparable souls. However, their names confuse me sometimes because Darcy's first name is the same as Richard's last name. They call each other 'Fitz', 'William', 'Fitzwilliam' and other unpleasant names, and sometimes this makes it hard for me to distinguish their dialogues.

The stories are often funny and enjoyable. Read this dialogue between Lady Catherine and Colonel Fitzwilliam:

"... I demand that you settle down and marry immediately. Why can you not select from the daughters of the many excellent families that are within our circle? My goodness, Pamela Tyson Briggs must be nearly twenty years old and has the hips of a good breeder."

"She has the hips of a rhinoceros," he mumbled.

My favourite scene in the story is the one which involves Lady Catherine and Miss Caroline Bingley in chapter 19 in part one. I "witnessed with my own eye" the older lady's sharp-tongue and quick wits. She disliked Elizabeth previously, but after she saw how this woman brought great joy to his nephew, she willed herself to accept Elizabeth as part of family, and was even willing to come to Elizabeth's defense when Caroline visited the house with malicious intentions. Their "battle" was one worth appraising.

The second part of the story circles around Colonel Fitzwilliam and his new love interest, an American widow named Amanda. Even though their relationship was very romantic, I found it quite unconvincing. They had only known each other for 2 or 3 weeks and they had already gotten married. And before that, Amanda agreed to becoming Colonel Fitzwilliam's mistress even though she had not known him for long. Both of them believed that they were deeply in love with each other. In a way, that was true, but how much could you love someone you barely knew three days ago?

The third part, the family. This is a story about both the cousins. Elizabeth was pregnant with her first child, her due date just a month later. The wicked Caroline Bingley intentionally sent her a letter which enraged her until her temper snapped and she had a great fight with Darcy. Meanwhile, Colonel Fitzwilliam was planning to escape to America with his lover Amanda, and her son Harry. How will things turn up? You'll have to read this book to know more.

This book is not without flaw, but imperfections aside, it is really a book worth reading. The plot is well-planned and the stories are cleverly written. The author also instilled a suitable amount of humour and sarcasm in her writing that will definitely delight readers. I would recommend it to historical fiction lovers, as well as fans of Jane Austen's classic, Pride and Prejudice.
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Dec 09, 2011 Karla V rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: signed, keeper

Absolutely lovely! Very funny!
I won this title from a giveaway and I'm so glad for the opportunity to read it, because otherwise I may have never heard about it.

I've never been much of a Jane Austen fan, but I loved this 'sequel' to Pride and Prejudice. LOL

The cover is absolutely gorgeous, the writing is fluid and fun, the intimate / romantic scenes between Darcy and Elizabeth are so cute, and there are SO many great quotes!!!

The book is divided in 'two volumes', being the first about Dracy an...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult

I have to point out that the summary for this book is not at all what the actual book is about. Because you’re lead to believe that it occurs during Pride & Prejudice, when in fact it starts not long after the end of P&P, with a brief prelude that helps establish Darcy and Fitzwilliam’s brotherly/best friend relationship.

Told in three sections, the first one focuses on Darcy in his newly married state with Elizabeth. There’s a strange backstory attached to Darcy that I felt just didn’t f...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Maria Grazia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What is absolutely new in Karen Wasylowski' s spin-off story based on Pride & Prejudice is its being a modern bromance set in the Regency period. This modern term refers to a close but non-sexual relationship between two (or more) men . It is a story of special , close friends which, in ancient times already, Aristotle described as “ those who desire the good of their friends for the friends' sake that are most truly friends, because each loves the other for what he is, and not for any incid...more What is absolutely new in Karen Wasylowski' s spin-off story based on Pride & Prejudice is its being a modern bromance set in the Regency period. This modern term refers to a close but non-sexual relationship between two (or more) men . It is a story of special , close friends which, in ancient times already, Aristotle described as “ those who desire the good of their friends for the friends' sake that are most truly friends, because each loves the other for what he is, and not for any incidental quality”. This is exactly what happens between Darcy and his cousin Fitzilliam .

Reading this novel gives a new point of view, which is entirely male, on the events. It is like being admitted beyond that close door which separated the ladies from the gentlemen during Regency after-dinner private gatherings. It is like being allowed to share the men’s confidential chatting, which Jane Austen usually neglected making us rather follow her heroines’ share of the events. In her novels we are banished from the men’s room and left in the sitting room with all the ladies.

Being Darcy and Fitzwilliam the protagonists of this novel, we are, instead, allowed to make the acquaintance of the secret aspects, jokes and quirks men usually don’t share with women. This is definitely the novelty in this amusing story based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

The witty style chosen by Karen Wasylowski becomes even hilarious - if not farcical - at times , which reminds me Georgette Heyer more than Austen. Many scenes might well be part of a Feydeau’s theatrical farce : Darcy and Elizabeth vivacious and continuous arguing in their married ménage or Caroline Bingley “ambushing” her dream man, Darcy, alone in her brother’s house in order to seduce him, or the hilarious meeting of Fitzwilliam and Doctor Anthony Milagros.

The character of Lady Catherine is outstanding, rather different from the original, that is ... incredibly human and understanding - even with Elizabeth - and so patient that she accepts being called “old girl” by Colonel Fitzwilliam, decorated hero in the Napoleonic war, but free and easy even with her, his aristocratic stern aunt. Maybe she's becoming old indeed!

The novel is set into three parts; Volume 1 focuses on Darcy and the continuation of what began in Pride and Prejudice, Volume 2 focuses more on Fitzwilliam and where he is heading in life, and Volume 3 is the conclusion of the two and focuses on the family as a whole.

There are old and new characters and among the latter, two ones are rather peculiar or bizarre: Amanda , a charming widow coming from the new world with a very complicated family situation who succeeds in conquering Colonel Fitzwilliam's heart , and Doctor Anthony Milagros, her handsome close friend.

I had fun reading this book and I think it is a remarkable first attempt at fanfiction, being this a debut novel for Karen Wasylowski. Many authors try to write like Jane Austen, in this case instead , the author managed to capture the essence of Pride and Prejudice but creating a work that has her own voice.
To be totally honest , as I ususally try to be, I must admit that there are things in the book that may offend Austen purists. So if you are among them, I must warn you: you'll find sex scenes between the protagonists and a blunt, rather modern language, so you can have the impression of little attention given to the Regency etiquette or you might even find some twists in the plot improbable. However, I'm sure everybody can appreciate the enthusiasm and love with which Karen Wasylowski approaches the task of writing Austen fanfiction.

Personally, I was amused most of the time and never offended. And if a weakest link in the novel must be found, let it be ... its length to me. I would have cut it shorter, avoiding the third volume. The first one was definitely the best, there's greater control over every aspect of the narration.

Read my complete review on my Austen-dedicated blog My Jane Austen Book Club http://bit.ly/fWJPFk (less)

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Apr 05, 2011 Angela Simmons rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-keeper, a-must-read, arc, austin-spin-off, books-i-own, regency

Darcy and Fitzwilliam is highly original for a Pride & Prejudice spin off. While maintaining the core of Jane Austen’s characters, the author has in a sense liberated them from the restrictions of the era in which they were penned. Jane Austen was said that she did not write any scenes in which men were alone because she did not know what they spoke about or how they acted, in some ways that put a limit on her novel, being that we only see things from a woman’s point-of-view. Now with Darcy...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-influenced, pride-and-prejudice-influenced, historical-fiction, for-review, historical-romance

Divided into two volumes, Karen Wasylowski’s debut novel, Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and An Officer tells the story of our beloved characters after the marriage of Darcy to Ms. Elizabeth Bennet. Col. Fitzwilliam, just back from the Peninsular war, returns to rejoin his boyhood friend (and biological cousin) Darcy and his new bride. Although their reunion is lighthearted and filled with jokes from their past, some unfinished business lurks beneath the laughter as Darcy and Fitzw...more Divided into two volumes, Karen Wasylowski’s debut novel, Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and An Officer tells the story of our beloved characters after the marriage of Darcy to Ms. Elizabeth Bennet. Col. Fitzwilliam, just back from the Peninsular war, returns to rejoin his boyhood friend (and biological cousin) Darcy and his new bride. Although their reunion is lighthearted and filled with jokes from their past, some unfinished business lurks beneath the laughter as Darcy and Fitzwilliam grow apart over time. Enter volume two, where Col. Fitzwilliam enjoys pseudo-rock star status as a veteran of the war returning to his homeland. Enjoying his new-found celebrity, Fitzwilliam comes across Lady Amanda Sayles, with whom he falls head over heels in love. Sayles returns his affections, but worries that engaging in a relationship with Fitzwilliam would jeopardize her relationship with her son. What will become of Fitzwilliam in this matter? Will Fitzwilliam and Darcy ever reconcile their growing resentment?

I know from other reviews I read that reviewers either liked or hated this book. Many of the “hate” reviews seemed to be centered around their dislike of the liberties taken with the characters. Personally I’m not an Austen purist; I tend to get bored with reading the same thing over and over and over again. I really enjoy reading the new personality traits that authors come up with and give to each character. It’s this trait that helped in guiding my enjoyment in this novel. I was able to take it for what it was at face value: laugh when I was supposed to, be sad when I was supposed to, and just enjoy the overall story lines that Wasylowski came up with.

Just from following Wasylowski’s twitter, I knew I was in for lots of laughter when I decided to read Darcy and Fitzwilliam. Wasylowski’s take on Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennet were absolutely hysterical; taking the most ridiculous elements in both of them and blowing them way out of proportion. The end result are two uproarious women who were utterly ridiculous (in a good way).

For those of you Janeites out there, that can withstand liberties taken with Jane’s original masterpieces, then I’d tell you to give this novel a try. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will certainly make you joyful for deciding to revisit Darcy, Elizabeth, Fitzwilliam, and the rest of the Pride and Prejudice gang.

Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-Fi (less)

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Feb 10, 2011 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen, pride-and-prejudice

Colonel Fitzwilliam – what do we know of him? In a direct manner, Jane Austen tells us that Colonel Fitzwilliam is “not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman.” In addition, we see his charismatic and genial nature in his conversations with Elizabeth; and can assume that he is responsible and conscientious since he was selected to be Georgiana's guardian. But that is hardly enough, is it? Colonel Fitzwilliam is right up there with Captain Wentworth and Colonel Brandon as on...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen

Wonderful continuation of the story of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy into marriage. The story focuses more on the relationship of cousins Darcy and Fitzwilliam of course, as the title states, and further into the life of Fitzwilliam and his new love. I loved the relationship that is told between the two men. The characters are strong as one would expect around Lizzy and Darcy. Lady Catherine is prominent as well. Maybe we like her a little more??? Its a fun read. Lots of wonderful funny scenes.

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Sep 11, 2011 Sruts rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A quick read, it begins with the undertone of Jane Austen like writing, but quickly gives way to a rather Americanized telling of one of the most famous love stories in literature.
It is a well written book, but in my head I termed it more of a 'fan-fiction' like novel than even a 'fun sequel', because that's what it seems like! I like the focus on Darcy's and Colonel Fitzwilliam's relationship, but it seemed to me that a lot of the storyline could have been framed better because there are times...more

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Jane Austen Sequels: Darcy and Fitzwilliam, by Karen V. Wasylowski	1	5	Oct 26, 2012 07:03pm
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Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A tale of a gentleman and an officer (Darcy and Fitzwilliam #1)

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