From Another Perspective: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by M.J. Stratton

The events of Pride and Prejudice are well known by those familiar with Jane Austen’s work, but what would we see if the minor characters told the story? What were Mrs. Hill’s thoughts on the heir to Longbourn? How did Anne de Bourgh feel about her cousin’s fascination with the guests at the parsonage? Did Mrs. Younge willingly help Mr. Darcy find Wickham? From Another Perspective follows the events of Pride and Prejudice as seen through the eyes of some of the lesser players found in the novel, along with some others of the author’s own creation.

Genres: Fan Fiction, Romance

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2023

Reviews

[Sam H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever way to retell a classic canon story.

The perspective of the servants was for the most part so much fun. The humorous side of the beloved P&P has a primed canvas when seen through the eyes of those who witness everything but don’t usually get a voice. I was completely charmed and had some definite LOL moments at those recitations!

To contrast, some of the side character’s stories had a heavier tone to them. Louisa Hurst in particular was quite confronting. I couldn’t decide if I felt bad for her or disgusted at what motivated her decisions, especially in regards to Bingley. Anne’s and Mary Bennet’s loneliness were also a bit sad.

It is a quick read, with time leaps that make the story seem to fly by.

While there was an over use of dialog taken verbatim from the 1995 production, it was inserted quite creatively. However, I would have appreciated more original writing or at least less use of the well known mini-series.

All in all, a solid sophomore offering and I look forward to reading her future releases.

3.5*

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read
3.5* rounded up

This novella is comprised of a collection of impressions and observations by some of the secondary and servant-class characters surrounding the events that took place in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The book provides the reader an opportunity to see what these individuals might have overheard or seen—some characters are from the author’s imagination.

I especially enjoyed the chapter featuring Darcy’s valet’s observations as Darcy dealt with Wickham. Because it closely follows canon for the most part, there aren’t really any surprises.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not the first time I've read a behind the scenes look at a favorite story, this was definitely a clever and fun way to go about it. MJ Stratton chooses to tell the Pride & Prejudice story from the eyes of the characters who usually have no voice or little voice in the story. Each character got a chapter beginning with Mr. Phillips, the Meryton solicitor who was married to Mrs. Bennet's gossipy sister, being the actual first person to know that "Netherfield Park is let at last!" and right on through to a tender scene that extends past the P&P original story with Elizabeth and her ladies' maid.

From Another Perspective felt like a series of tightly connected vignettes. The story didn't feel clunky, but its is one of those parallel plot reads that will only work for those who are familiar with the original P&P story so will catch the significance and timeline place of what the observer is sharing about.

While it narrates familiar scenes, MJ Stratton made a wonderful effort of developing each of these characters and give several their own backstory and side plot going on. I think Darcy's valet's portion of the tale was a good high point with good tension to the plot. After reading another book by Stratton telling Louisa Hurst's story, A Far Better Prospect (a must read by the way), I could see the kernel of that story right here in her portion of this current tale and tugged at my heartstrings a bit.

All in all, this was an engaging, fascinating take on a familiar tale.

[Gill M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also posted on my blog

https://myjaffobsession.blogspot.com/...


This book follows the events of the much-loved Jane Austen classic, Pride and Prejudice.

The story is told from the points of view of various observers. Each of the seventeen chapters offers a unique perspective, from acquaintances like Mrs. Long and Lady Lucas, to family members such as Mr. Philips, Anne de Bourgh, and Mary Bennet, as well as an array of domestic staff including housekeepers, maids, and even Mr. Darcy’s valet.

This fresh approach to the classic story is a delight to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa Halcomb · Rating 2 out of 5]

How to summarize this book? Well, just like that, I think. This book is nothing more or less than a summary of the 1995 mini-series. Except, it's a summary as told by characters who were either not present at the main events of P&P or only on the periphery. If you are not familiar w P&P, it would be very difficult to know what's going on. The main events of P&P are mostly glossed over or not even included in some cases.

Here's what I mean; the Meryton assembly is seen through Mrs Long's eyes. From her perspective, we're told of Darcy's infamous insult...except we aren't. She witnesses, from across the room, Bingley approaching his friend, having some conversation she doesn't hear, then Elizabeth getting up and walking away. If you don't know P&P (which, I grant you, if you're reading JAFF, you probably know it well enough) you have no idea that an insult has taken place. Only that two people held a conversation and a lady decided to go talk to her friend.

Mrs Hurst gives an account of the Netherfield ball. Except, again, we don't really read anything about the ball. It's actually the day after and we get a brief overview that the Bennet's behaved badly. I don't even recall her mentioning that D&E danced. Then we move on to Caroline and MrsH trying to convince D to help keep B in Town.

Lady Catherine's visit to Longbourn? One of Longbourn's maids comes to Netherfield to gossip that a great big carriage arrived, LCdB took E for a walk and E has been withdrawn ever since. But nothing about what actually took place. And this happens with every main event of the story.

The only original content came from the events of P&P that JA did not cover. We learn that MrsH had given up a great love in sacrifice for her family's social status. We get a better description of the attack on B in London to keep him away from Jane. A maid gives her account of D's attitude after leaving Netherfield. But, this was vague and had very little meat becuz the maid has no idea why he's so upset, and neither does the reader becuz it's not given in the book. She just describes how the master's been in a foul mood lately. D's valet gives a more in depth account of tracking down Lydia and bringing about the marriage.

Darcy says "The fault is mine, so must the remedy be" at least four times. That just annoyed me.

There is very little dialogue, which I hate. A story should be told by the characters, not the narrator. What little dialogue there was, was mostly lifted straight from the 1995 mini-series, word for word. E playing the pianoforte at Rosings whilst teasing D to practice socializing? Word for word from the 95 mini-series. E and Georgiana playing the pianoforte together at Pemberley? Word for word from the 95 mini-series. Lydia crowing over her sister about her wonderful husband and his excellent seat? Word for word from the 95 mini-series. You get the point.

I enjoyed the original parts of this book, those parts that JA didn't cover and the author had to fill in, becuz there was material I haven't read a thousand times. MrsH's heartbreaking back story was an interesting take (even if it paints her as a selfish shrew who doesn't want her brother to be happily married if she can't). But most of this book I skimmed over. I almost quit reading during Anne de Bourgh's chapter. She added absolutely nothing to the story. (we're not even told D ever proposed until chapters later when they're looking for Lydia and Wickham becuz he mentions it to his valet.)

I liked the idea; was very disappointed in the execution.

[abmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and sometimes amusing book with POVs of many minor characters and made up characters of the events of the original Pride and Prejudice.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this look at how minor characters thought and acted during P&P.

Well written and edited.

[PH · Rating 4 out of 5]

A revisit of pride and prejudice – Light and Merry

First of all, one needs to be familiar with P&P, not the adaptations but he real book, to enjoy this book. Secondly, it is very hard not to include some spoilers in the comment. However, since it’s a P&P revisit, not variation, I should think the spoilers ‘tolerable’. Do NOT go on if you wish no spoilers at all.

***

Almost everyone is talking as in hindsight. Everyone is so clever and observant, and even more perceptive than any of the main character in P&P, which is the first problem when I read the first half. That being said, the whole story is delightful to someone who has read P&P and can recall every incident in the story. As the proverb said, maybe, the spectators see the chess game better than the players. And actually later on I did not mind it anymore and was enjoying the book just the same.

Things I adore –
- The parallel between Lydia with Kitty and Miss Bingley with Mrs. Hurst is quite interesting. The interactions can be compared in such a way is very entertaining.
- The coverage of the missing part in P&P, naming the recovery of Lydia is very entertaining. Love it!
- Not sure if Darcy would reveal so much of himself to others, even a close one as his valet, seems to me a more reserved person in P&P, yet I like the interactions between the master and the valet.
- Ending concluded by a new character, HEA, yeah~~

Things I have doubt -
- I am though not convinced that Mr. Bennet would reveal so much of his ‘family concerns’ to Mrs. Hill when she was mere a candidate of the housekeeper. It’s not in his nature and it’s actually appalling to do that, not as decent as a gentleman should, I would say.
- If you read the whole book in one shot, some minor sentences might be inconsistent with others. At one time it confused me a bit. However, as the book is written from the perspective of different people, I convinced myself that everyone should have different memories regarding the same event.

Suitable for a read on weekend / a read on rail / a read on plane!!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy, low-angst story that tells the story of the original Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of multiple background characters. Each character had their own story and own point of view which gave a new depth and interest to the original story. The author used people rather far removed from story line, not ones who were major players in the original book. One thing I didn't really like is that you never revisited a character once you finished their section. I particularly liked reading about Louisa Hurst because it gave her character more depth and Darcy's valet was interesting and you learned about Darcy's interactions with Wickham and Lydia.

The only reason the book is rated four stars instead of five is it had a somewhat choppy feel and it's not one I'd reach for to re-read. It was good. The writing was clean with minimal errors and had an easy cadence. The choppiness was because when you switched between characters you either jumped ahead or went back over things. I did enjoy that you got a lot of the background information that you didn't read in the original story. What did Darcy and Bingley's sisters say to Bingley when they joined him in London? What did Darcy do upon his arrival in London after his failed proposal? What did Darcy say to Georgiana before she met Elizabeth in Lambton? It's questions like these that are answered with these snippets.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and likes to read it written from different perspectives. If you want to follow the emotions and storyline of one character, this is probably not the story for you. While it does follow the storyline of Elizabeth and Darcy, you hear them described in passing and the impressions of what they were like from other people. Overall, a good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

But What Did Mrs. Long Think?

I've read a lot of Jane Austen fanfiction. In fact, that's what brought me back to reading voraciously again as an adult, way back when I was in nursing school in the mid-2010s. This book is definitely a unique spin on the classic, which is rare for me to say. Instead of being told from either Elizabeth or Darcy's perspective or from their alternating perspectives, each chapter is told by a different secondary character, sometimes ones that we know exist but rarely (or never) saw—like Aunt Phillips’ husband or Mrs. Long—or ones that the author has created to move her story forward. As someone who knows the original Pride and Prejudice backward and forward—as well as many contemporarily written variations—I found it fun to read the classic story from, as the title says, another perspective. The book starts with Mr. Phillips hearing from Bingley’s London solicitor about his interest in leasing Netherfield Park…and the country lawyer finds a certain pleasure in concealing this juicy tidbit from his gossipy wife. At times, though, I did wish we could hear from Darcy or Elizabeth directly instead of just from people watching them. This concept necessarily puts distance between the reader and ODC. And, of course, these peripheral characters seem to have incredible prescience, their musings about possible future events they would unlikely ever to see often matching what actually did happen in canon. If you've read a lot of Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice fanfiction and want something a little different, you might find this one as enjoyable as I did.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story consists of Pride and Prejudice missing scenes, seen from the perspectives of various minor characters as well as a few original characters, mostly servants from Longbourn, Netherfield and the Darcy households. It will not be easy to follow unless you know Austen's original story because the story headhops between a lot of people who know only snippets of things. It is nicely written and a quick, easy read. But the thing is, many of these scenes are missing from the canon because nobody really misses them. It's a pretty straight-forward re-telling that brings little new information. We learn what the Longbourn servants think of Mrs. Bennet, Collins and Lydia (nervous, annoying, should not go to Brighton, respectively), that people were worried about Jane being sad, and that the same Darcy who was so inscrutable to Lizzy wore his heart on his sleeve to several more perceptive people. We learn that Mrs. Hurst had a sad Persuasion style back story in which well meaning family members got her to dump her one true love and that Darcy's valet was involved in the search for Wickham. It's nice but rather inconsequential because you already know the outcome of everything and nothing that happens here changes anything. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Craftyhj · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* An interesting read

This story explores the Pride and Prejudice timeline from the point of view of the "silent" characters, both those included in the original by Jane Austen and some which have been created by the author for this book. These characters are an interesting mix of staff, family and friends.

I appreciated that the author had decided to stick with Austen's timeline as this made it straightforward to follow. I also enjoyed the variety of characters from housekeepers and valets to Lady Lucas and Anne de Bourgh.

I did find the story a little too dry however and the insights would have benefited from being a little more interesting or amusing; perhaps the valet might have commented on the state of Darcy's gloves after he had worried them in the carriage after Rosings or maybe Caroline Bingley's deplorable taste in gowns. A little more human interest in these perspectives would have lifted the book.

The book is well edited although there are a small number of examples of language which is too modern for the period.

All in all this is an interesting book which will be enjoyed by fans of the genre.

[Bethany Tomerlin Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multi POV for the Win!

Each of the POV's was fantastic. The story was also incredibly cohesive which is very impressive considering that each cahpter is from a different POV. Each POV also filled in some of the nooks and cranies of cannon.

My favorite was Lady Lucas whose inner monlouge during Elizabeth & Jane's wedding breakfast was hilarious. Lady Lucas grumbling about how she couldn't believe how lucky Mrs. Bennet was and how insufferable Mrs. Bennet was going to be now that 2 of her daughters had married very rich men seemed very true to cannon.

I also liked the dimensions given to Louisa Hurst. Her slight resentment about Charles pregaps being able to marry for love when Louisa was stuck with the less than spectacular Mr. Hurst was a great nuance of her character.

[Rusty Bullerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Innovative Plot

Telling the story from a variety of viewpoints is a new idea. It has great potential. This was overall a good approach some chapters were good and some chapters were just ok. Most of the chapter "sources" were not closely associated with the primary cast and could not give real insight into the happenings. Mary's narration concerning the married Lydia's trip to Longbourn was a good example of insight and substance. Most of the chapters were surface observations. I think Colonel Fitzwilliam would have been a better choice for the Rosings visit than Ann de Bourgh. Additionally, much of the plot and dialog followed the original author or the 1995 A&E script with Colin Firth. Overall a good read, but could have been better.
T

[Julie Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great concept including what the lesser characters were thinking. My favorite person in the book was Bess. I will not spoil it by saying why but loved her part of the story. I read in one sitting and enjoyed it. Well done and highly recommend!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how the author told about what was going on in the background with the characters from Pride and Prejudice. It helped create a picture of the challenges faced and the misconceptions that happened because of their perspective. Some of the cultural etiquette for the time period was interesting to learn.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great use of Jane Austin's characters. It does a great job in giving the minor characters a voice and still be true to the original story. I enjoyed the way it was written and enjoyed the journey.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marla Mercier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite entertaining

It was a joy to read other people’s perspectives on different events with which we are all too familiar. It is a quick and light reading but enjoyable. Well done and a novel variation.

[loriinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this!

What a fun way to look at the events of Pride and Prejudice from not just one other perspective, but many! And not just a view from the downstairs staff alone, but also from any number of minor characters, too.

[Adelle Stavis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

A new and novel way of experiencing P&P by seeing how the siblings, servants, and other peripherals of the primary characters experience the occurrences of P&P. Well written and paced with pleasant array of characters.

[Liz H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to reread this book in order to leave a more thorough review.

This is an interesting look at the events and characters in P&P from those characters in the background.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[RoseyLovesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice and really enjoyed this variation of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's journey to love as seen through the eyes of others! Highly recommend!

[Alena (Ally) Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting variation

Unique perspective -- all the different characters giving opinions and thoughts as to their little world of Elizabeth and Darcy. Enjoyable read.

[Dawn Timan · Rating 5 out of 5]

different view

I enjoyed this book. It was nice to hear from other characters like Mr. Phillips and Mrs. Hill. This was a quick read and well written.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed!

[Lisa E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great perspective

This is a really good way to make telling the same old story new again. Thre author was very imaginative in her choices. Good job!

[Michelle David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual

Not super angsty but an unusual look at our dear couple’s story through the eyes of minor players who surround them.

[PJ Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Job

Amazing way to retell this story. I have been taken to new levels with this story through views of others. Great writing

[Charlene S. Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

I enjoyed the story. It ended rather abruptly, like "I have to finish this. The mailman is here!,,". Work on that, if you pkeasr.

[Terri Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting twist on the story