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Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy
'Pride and Prejudice' meets 'A Christmas Carol'
A Jane Austen/Charles Dickens crossover story, 'Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy', takes the best of both classics and spins them into a delightful Holiday treat!
F.E. Darcy has fallen into pitiful self-loathing and sorrowful angst-ridden despair, all of this due to his belief that he has lost, forever, the chance to marry the only woman he has ever loved—Elizabeth Bennet. Seeing her son in such a state, the Ghost of Anne Darcy reaches out to him, informing him that three ghosts would visit him, and give him hope. Will these Spirits provide him with the courage to try again, to win the esteem of his one true soul mate?
Barbara Tiller Cole, an Atlanta native and the writer of the popular book 'White Lies and Other Half Truths', presents this family friendly classic—a delightful combination of the best of her two favorite authors, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.
Barbara credits her parents with fostering a love for both of these authors. Each Christmas, Barbara’s father would sit and read Dicken’s classic, 'A Christmas Carol', to the family. Her mother consistently challenged her to improve her mind by extensive reading, Jane Austen style. This book is dedicated to the memory of Cliff and Jeanne and the season they loved the best.
A Jane Austen/Charles Dickens crossover story, 'Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy', takes the best of both classics and spins them into a delightful Holiday treat!
F.E. Darcy has fallen into pitiful self-loathing and sorrowful angst-ridden despair, all of this due to his belief that he has lost, forever, the chance to marry the only woman he has ever loved—Elizabeth Bennet. Seeing her son in such a state, the Ghost of Anne Darcy reaches out to him, informing him that three ghosts would visit him, and give him hope. Will these Spirits provide him with the courage to try again, to win the esteem of his one true soul mate?
Barbara Tiller Cole, an Atlanta native and the writer of the popular book 'White Lies and Other Half Truths', presents this family friendly classic—a delightful combination of the best of her two favorite authors, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.
Barbara credits her parents with fostering a love for both of these authors. Each Christmas, Barbara’s father would sit and read Dicken’s classic, 'A Christmas Carol', to the family. Her mother consistently challenged her to improve her mind by extensive reading, Jane Austen style. This book is dedicated to the memory of Cliff and Jeanne and the season they loved the best.
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 27, 2017
If given a chance to change, would we?
Quick read, clean, poignant, decidedly revealing and downright nerve jarring at times. Fitzwilliam Darcy was not exactly his canon self. This was a low point in his life and he was slowly drinking himself to death. He was prompted that he would be visited by three ghosts. During the night, he saw the ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Man, this ripped my heart out. It was gut wrenching as we saw Darcy and Elizabeth at their lowest. I teared up as we were presented with the suffering of loved ones as Darcy and Elizabeth imagined a life without each other. Their belief that all was lost, going forward was not worth the effort and nothing would bring about forgiveness and redemption, was horrible.
This story was funny, made me cry, caused me to gasp at the surprises, and left me with hope that the future could change if we had hope and believed. It was so cute as the story progressed and several of the ghosts were people important to Darcy. As the story continued, we were not finished with the ghosts and a delightful revelation regarding them was so funny and I just kept thinking, what a lovely story.
Oh and… I loved the cover for the book.
Quick read, clean, poignant, decidedly revealing and downright nerve jarring at times. Fitzwilliam Darcy was not exactly his canon self. This was a low point in his life and he was slowly drinking himself to death. He was prompted that he would be visited by three ghosts. During the night, he saw the ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Man, this ripped my heart out. It was gut wrenching as we saw Darcy and Elizabeth at their lowest. I teared up as we were presented with the suffering of loved ones as Darcy and Elizabeth imagined a life without each other. Their belief that all was lost, going forward was not worth the effort and nothing would bring about forgiveness and redemption, was horrible.
This story was funny, made me cry, caused me to gasp at the surprises, and left me with hope that the future could change if we had hope and believed. It was so cute as the story progressed and several of the ghosts were people important to Darcy. As the story continued, we were not finished with the ghosts and a delightful revelation regarding them was so funny and I just kept thinking, what a lovely story.
Oh and… I loved the cover for the book.
December 14, 2017
Another P&P / A Christmas Carol mash up this time set at the Christmas following Lydia's elopement. Here Darcy based his entire theory of Lizzy's opinion of him on their brief meeting at Longbourn when he and Bingley visit for the first time. He retreats to Pemberley to lick his wounds and drink himself into oblivion.
Instead of Marley the first ghost is his mother who criticizes his hygiene and prepares him for the other ghosts. The second ghost is Mr. Darcy who has an emotional reunion with his son and shows him Christmas past. Then he is visited by Elizabeth Bennet (Aka Mrs. Pat) who is the Ghost of Christmas Present and the typical death the Ghost of Christmas yet to come. This ghost is accompanied by two children.
Some how Darcy manages to arrive at Longbourn from Pemberley in less than a day and he and Lizzy are engaged. The End 4.5 stars.
Except it doesn't end. There is a terrible, awful, not so good, bad epilogue. Now I will admit I hate epilogues because they rarely accomplish what they set out to do but this one is just ridiculous. It is also heavily infused with Christianity; which is fine but unnecessary. In the epilogue it is 8 years since Darcy's visitations and he and Lizzy are married and he is telling his story to the children. And it just spirals into absurdity with Lizzy and Darcy fighting about the truthiness [my word not the author] of his story and his insistence that it is true. Then Darcy's kids reveal that they were in ghost kids in the story and they were angels who chose to come to earth and then the ghosts come back and it just goes on and on and who the hell cares. By the time I was finished I felt like Scrooge
Instead of Marley the first ghost is his mother who criticizes his hygiene and prepares him for the other ghosts. The second ghost is Mr. Darcy who has an emotional reunion with his son and shows him Christmas past. Then he is visited by Elizabeth Bennet (Aka Mrs. Pat) who is the Ghost of Christmas Present and the typical death the Ghost of Christmas yet to come. This ghost is accompanied by two children.
Some how Darcy manages to arrive at Longbourn from Pemberley in less than a day and he and Lizzy are engaged. The End 4.5 stars.
Except it doesn't end. There is a terrible, awful, not so good, bad epilogue. Now I will admit I hate epilogues because they rarely accomplish what they set out to do but this one is just ridiculous. It is also heavily infused with Christianity; which is fine but unnecessary. In the epilogue it is 8 years since Darcy's visitations and he and Lizzy are married and he is telling his story to the children. And it just spirals into absurdity with Lizzy and Darcy fighting about the truthiness [my word not the author] of his story and his insistence that it is true. Then Darcy's kids reveal that they were in ghost kids in the story and they were angels who chose to come to earth and then the ghosts come back and it just goes on and on and who the hell cares. By the time I was finished I felt like Scrooge
December 18, 2016
A mash-up between Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Austen's Pride & Prejudice? Yes, please!
The story takes the P&P characters and varies from a point near the end of that novel while blending in some timely ghostly aid and a new Tiny Tim sighting. There is an assumption that the reader is familiar with both stories.
Darcy is dejected and has given up hope for happiness during the holidays. He is convinced that though he has changed his thinking and even his arrogant ways that Elizabeth Bennet is forever lost to him. With the advent of several ghostly visitors, he is taken on a journey back into his past, to the present where others are gather, and then gets a chilling look at a bleak future if things continue along the same path.
This was a quick and light story that offers a moderately entertaining story. This Darcy is perhaps more prone to sensibilities than other variations and the original, but he is balanced out by the ghosts who arrive to assist him. I did find the little 'angels' an odd addition and the choice to do a reveal of the truth to Elizabeth a distraction. However, this was overall a nice distraction for a winter holiday season afternoon.
The story takes the P&P characters and varies from a point near the end of that novel while blending in some timely ghostly aid and a new Tiny Tim sighting. There is an assumption that the reader is familiar with both stories.
Darcy is dejected and has given up hope for happiness during the holidays. He is convinced that though he has changed his thinking and even his arrogant ways that Elizabeth Bennet is forever lost to him. With the advent of several ghostly visitors, he is taken on a journey back into his past, to the present where others are gather, and then gets a chilling look at a bleak future if things continue along the same path.
This was a quick and light story that offers a moderately entertaining story. This Darcy is perhaps more prone to sensibilities than other variations and the original, but he is balanced out by the ghosts who arrive to assist him. I did find the little 'angels' an odd addition and the choice to do a reveal of the truth to Elizabeth a distraction. However, this was overall a nice distraction for a winter holiday season afternoon.
December 17, 2016
Having read another story with the exact same premise immediately before reading this one it cannot be a surprise that I was making comparisons in my mind as the story progressed. It takes no imagination at all as you read the title to know that this story will is a mash-up of Dickens' Christmas Carol and Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
While both Scrooge and Darcy have no intention of celebrating the Christmas holidays the big difference here is that Darcy is drinking himself to death having sent Georgiana off to relatives and having given his staff the holiday off. He is not sleeping, eating nor bathing. (His body odor is remarked upon by the visiting spirits over and over again but as they visit in quick succession he has no opportunity to take care of that grooming need.)
Of course, you know that we look back to the past, view present events and look ahead to possibilities. HIs mother, his father (who calls him "Ebenezer" when he is reprimanding him), Elizabeth's grandmother (after whom she is named), and a ghostly figure are the spirits which take him on his journey.
HIs father admits to errors in his care of Wickham and Darcy but avers he wants his son to be happy. In the present Darcy views the state of the Wickham marriage as well as Elizabeth's forlorn longings as she stands on Mount Oakham. But then Darcy “Nezer” also witnesses what happens if/when he abandons both women closest to his heart, Georgiana and Elizabeth, as a ghostly/skeletal figure takes him ahead in time.
I did not care for the “children” from the future and then the "angel" explanation...just not to my taste. But this was the author’s way of tying it all up in a very happy way.
In this Christmas season I am attempting to read some books with the holiday theme so this was one more which met that requirement. You may find it to your tastes. Happy reading.
While both Scrooge and Darcy have no intention of celebrating the Christmas holidays the big difference here is that Darcy is drinking himself to death having sent Georgiana off to relatives and having given his staff the holiday off. He is not sleeping, eating nor bathing. (His body odor is remarked upon by the visiting spirits over and over again but as they visit in quick succession he has no opportunity to take care of that grooming need.)
Of course, you know that we look back to the past, view present events and look ahead to possibilities. HIs mother, his father (who calls him "Ebenezer" when he is reprimanding him), Elizabeth's grandmother (after whom she is named), and a ghostly figure are the spirits which take him on his journey.
HIs father admits to errors in his care of Wickham and Darcy but avers he wants his son to be happy. In the present Darcy views the state of the Wickham marriage as well as Elizabeth's forlorn longings as she stands on Mount Oakham. But then Darcy “Nezer” also witnesses what happens if/when he abandons both women closest to his heart, Georgiana and Elizabeth, as a ghostly/skeletal figure takes him ahead in time.
I did not care for the “children” from the future and then the "angel" explanation...just not to my taste. But this was the author’s way of tying it all up in a very happy way.
In this Christmas season I am attempting to read some books with the holiday theme so this was one more which met that requirement. You may find it to your tastes. Happy reading.
December 6, 2011
Because of Elizabeth's silence upon his return to Meryton, Fitzwilliam Darcy does not tarry or renew his addresses. Assuming Elizabeth was avoiding him and unable to forgive him, Darcy keeps his silence. Instead, full of despair and self-loathing, Darcy retreats to Pemberley where he nurses his broken heart with strong drink and solitude. Refusing Bingley's invitations, sending Georgiana to Matlock, and giving the servants a holiday, Darcy intends to spend Christmas with his failures, his agony, and his dashed dreams. Fortunately for Darcy, three Christmas Spirits set out to alter the desolate and destructive path he is on by visiting him one strange and profound December night...
Uniting the supernatural spirits and Christmas message of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with the characters and humor of Jane Austen, Barbara Tiller Cole presents a Christmas novella that is the perfect companion for a chilly night in front of the fire! Darcy made an excellent, albeit more brooding and romantic Scrooge, and I greatly enjoyed seeing everything from his perspective. It was heartrending to see Darcy tortured by the visions of his past and terrified of how bleak the future could be for his loved ones.
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November 3, 2017Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is an enjoyable mash-up of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Barbara Tiller Cole’s novel imagines a brokenhearted Fitzwilliam Darcy who has abandoned all hope of winning Elizabeth Bennet’s love and plans to spend Christmas alone at Pemberley where he can drown his sorrows in drink. Although he orchestrated the wedding of George Wickham and Lydia Bennet, thereby rescuing Elizabeth’s family from ruin, Darcy thinks Elizabeth will never forgive him for failing to prevent the scandal in the first place. As a result, he does not return to Hertfordshire for his best friend Bingley’s wedding to Elizabeth’s sister Jane.
Seeing her son devoid of hope and on a steadily downward path, the ghost of Anne Darcy visits Fitzwilliam in hopes of helping him emerge from this misery. She explains that the ghosts of the past, present, and future will visit him that night to reveal some harsh truths and the choices that lay before him. Soon Darcy is forced to revisit his insult to Elizabeth at the Meryton Assembly, her despair at his absence from Hertfordshire, and the lives that await her and his sister Georgiana if he doesn’t realize soon that all hope is not lost.
I enjoyed Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy for its lesson about hope, the idea of a Christmas miracle, and the bits of humor from the ghosts in the midst of Darcy’s pain. The ghosts of Darcy’s parents and Mrs. Pat were delightfully funny and more than a tad impertinent. The only thing I didn’t care for was the epilogue, in which details about the angels and what transpired that night long ago are revisted in a more heavy-handed way that lessens the impact of Darcy’s experience. However, there were plenty of laughs in the final pages to make up for it.
As a novella, Darcy’s journeys with the ghosts pass quickly, and his troubles are resolved in short order, but this brevity makes for a sweet read during the busy Christmas season. Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is another Austen-inspired Christmas tale I could see myself re-reading during the holiday season.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
Seeing her son devoid of hope and on a steadily downward path, the ghost of Anne Darcy visits Fitzwilliam in hopes of helping him emerge from this misery. She explains that the ghosts of the past, present, and future will visit him that night to reveal some harsh truths and the choices that lay before him. Soon Darcy is forced to revisit his insult to Elizabeth at the Meryton Assembly, her despair at his absence from Hertfordshire, and the lives that await her and his sister Georgiana if he doesn’t realize soon that all hope is not lost.
I enjoyed Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy for its lesson about hope, the idea of a Christmas miracle, and the bits of humor from the ghosts in the midst of Darcy’s pain. The ghosts of Darcy’s parents and Mrs. Pat were delightfully funny and more than a tad impertinent. The only thing I didn’t care for was the epilogue, in which details about the angels and what transpired that night long ago are revisted in a more heavy-handed way that lessens the impact of Darcy’s experience. However, there were plenty of laughs in the final pages to make up for it.
As a novella, Darcy’s journeys with the ghosts pass quickly, and his troubles are resolved in short order, but this brevity makes for a sweet read during the busy Christmas season. Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is another Austen-inspired Christmas tale I could see myself re-reading during the holiday season.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
January 5, 2012
I was rather intrigued by the concept of an A Christmas Carol and Pride & Prejudice mash-up, and the author does a great job of combining these two stories. Barbara Tiller-Cole sets up the story well in her exposition. I like that she quickly gives the back story to how Darcy got into his current predicament.
In this story, Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy takes on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge (minus the scrooge part). While I like the thought of Darcy being tormented by the thought of Elizabeth and her rejection, there were times when I found it a little difficult to suspend my disbelief. Here, Darcy is willing to cut himself off not only from his servants, but also his family and friends, especially Bingley, who has recently married Jane Bennet. Some of Darcy’s thoughts were a bit over the top for me, “To see her again would likely kill him” (6). I guess I just prefer my Darcy, even while tormented, strong and willing to win Elizabeth back at all costs. With that said, I did enjoy the struggles Darcy faces as he looks at his past, present, and future.
The ghosts that visit Darcy cracked me up! Between Darcy’s mother, and the ghosts of Christmas past and present, I was laughing out loud at times. The wit and humor Cole incorporates make for a diverting Christmas read.
As the ghosts are taking Darcy around to see what was, what is, and what could be, I felt though some of the conversations Darcy was hearing were staged. It just didn’t seem that Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Wickham would truly vocalize the thoughts Darcy heard. It would be more believable if the thoughts were just that, thoughts. Although, through Wickham’s conversation, the reader is given a unique glimpse of what his and Lydia’s lives could be.
I rather enjoyed the ending to this tale. I love the little Christmas miracle that takes place as well as the way Cole incorporates the Darcy children into her epilogue. That part, I feel, makes the story come full circle.
With the story being just over 140 pages, it makes for a quick holiday read.
In this story, Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy takes on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge (minus the scrooge part). While I like the thought of Darcy being tormented by the thought of Elizabeth and her rejection, there were times when I found it a little difficult to suspend my disbelief. Here, Darcy is willing to cut himself off not only from his servants, but also his family and friends, especially Bingley, who has recently married Jane Bennet. Some of Darcy’s thoughts were a bit over the top for me, “To see her again would likely kill him” (6). I guess I just prefer my Darcy, even while tormented, strong and willing to win Elizabeth back at all costs. With that said, I did enjoy the struggles Darcy faces as he looks at his past, present, and future.
The ghosts that visit Darcy cracked me up! Between Darcy’s mother, and the ghosts of Christmas past and present, I was laughing out loud at times. The wit and humor Cole incorporates make for a diverting Christmas read.
As the ghosts are taking Darcy around to see what was, what is, and what could be, I felt though some of the conversations Darcy was hearing were staged. It just didn’t seem that Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Wickham would truly vocalize the thoughts Darcy heard. It would be more believable if the thoughts were just that, thoughts. Although, through Wickham’s conversation, the reader is given a unique glimpse of what his and Lydia’s lives could be.
I rather enjoyed the ending to this tale. I love the little Christmas miracle that takes place as well as the way Cole incorporates the Darcy children into her epilogue. That part, I feel, makes the story come full circle.
With the story being just over 140 pages, it makes for a quick holiday read.
November 16, 2012
Am I and my fellow reviewers here reading the same novelette? I temporarily suspended my reading at page 11 and wanted to put it down right there. However, I mercifully figured this offering deserved its "day in court" so I struggled to finish it and it almost finished me. How many times and ways did I have to read Mr. Darcy needed a bath? Once is humor; a dozen times is over-kill. I found the writing style confusing and awkward. The language seemed to lack polish and creative originality. In the dialogues, I often couldn't figure out who was talking to whom. I'm pleased that others found it to their liking and I appreciate the effort that goes into creating a piece of fiction, AND I like to give the benefit of the doubt, but it simply wasn't up to my peculiar set of standards.
September 8, 2016
Loved this jewel of a book. See 5 star Amazon review until I can cut and paste it.
August 26, 2024
3 or 3.5* if you are in the xmas spirit I suppose it was a little cheesy, but sweet.
December 5, 2011
Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a fast-moving and entertaining novella by Barbara Tiller Cole. The novella is a mashup of Pride and Prejudice and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The book takes place after the dinner parter at Longbourn during which Darcy and Elizabeth have no real opportunity to speak with the other and each is left wondering about the other’s feelings. Darcy, as we know, leaves a few days later for London and later returns (after Lady Catherine’s interfering visit) and re-proposes. Lizzy accepts, “dearest, loveliest Elizabeth” is uttered, women across the world swoon in unison, and all is well in Pride and Prejudice Land. But what if Darcy hadn’t returned? What if he had been so convinced that Elizabeth could never love him that he continued onto Pemberley and proceeded to drink himself into a state of oblivion (or into a state of Scrooge-dom)?
This isn’t a mashup that would naturally occur to me, but I was more than pleasantly surprised at how well it worked (I will take this opportunity to admit that, much to my mother’s despair, I am not a Dickens fan at all). Darcy is heartbroken and wallowing in “pitiful self-loathing and sorrowful angst-ridden despair,” which is a believable result of feeling he’s lost the love of his life. He isn’t quite to Scrooge’s level, but it is the concern that it could reach that level that sends the ghost of his mother Anne to him. After this visitation things follow the basic outline of A Christmas Carol with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future visiting Darcy.
Cole’s story-telling is, for the most part, tight and well put together. I do wish that she would have laid off of the “Darcy needs a bath” jokes a bit. While at first funny and descriptive, toward the end they were a bit repetitive. I also felt that the story wandered a bit toward the end before getting back on track.
Overall, I think that Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a quick fun read, a clever concept, and makes for enjoyable holiday (or any time) reading for fans of both Austen and Dickens.
Four Stars.
This isn’t a mashup that would naturally occur to me, but I was more than pleasantly surprised at how well it worked (I will take this opportunity to admit that, much to my mother’s despair, I am not a Dickens fan at all). Darcy is heartbroken and wallowing in “pitiful self-loathing and sorrowful angst-ridden despair,” which is a believable result of feeling he’s lost the love of his life. He isn’t quite to Scrooge’s level, but it is the concern that it could reach that level that sends the ghost of his mother Anne to him. After this visitation things follow the basic outline of A Christmas Carol with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future visiting Darcy.
Cole’s story-telling is, for the most part, tight and well put together. I do wish that she would have laid off of the “Darcy needs a bath” jokes a bit. While at first funny and descriptive, toward the end they were a bit repetitive. I also felt that the story wandered a bit toward the end before getting back on track.
Overall, I think that Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a quick fun read, a clever concept, and makes for enjoyable holiday (or any time) reading for fans of both Austen and Dickens.
Four Stars.
November 13, 2013
While Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley are the happiest couple in the world, Mr. Darcy is utterly wretched. He thinks that Elizabeth is too embarrassed by his knowledge of Lydia's elopement that she will never speak to him again. Mr. Darcy has turned to drinking to drown out his sorrows and some heavenly spirits are terribly worried so they pay a call to show Mr. Darcy his choices and the outcomes of the choices he has made or could make. I could not resist this mash-up of two of my favorite books. I was sadly disappointed that this novella (141 pages of large print) did not live up to my expectations. The Christmas Carol story doesn't work very well. Mr. Darcy is shown how his actions affect himself and the people closest to him but it lacks the overall big picture that makes the original so compelling. Mr. Darcy realizes his mistakes early on, making the rest tedious. There's lots of crying and melodrama and none of it seems like Mr. Darcy. I do not think he's the type of man to drown his sorrows. Also the dialogue sounds too modern and casual for the19th century. This story is supposed to be family friendly but there's some veiled comments about certain feelings and activities that may cause curious young readers to ask questions or turn off other readers. I like the idea of this story and think that it would have worked better as It's a Wonderful Life.
November 11, 2011
Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a mash up of Pride and Prejudice and A Christmas Carol. I loved this! When I first saw this book I thought it was a great idea and it didn’t let me down!
Darcy is a miserable man. He has lost the woman that he loves. He fears Elizabeth can never forgive him for Lydia’s marriage to Wickham. He feels, if he had just told the truth about Wickham this never could have happened!
It is nearly Christmas and Darcy sits in his study, drinking himself into oblivion. After falling asleep he is visited by the ghost of his mother, Anne Darcy. Who has come to tell him he needs to change his ways or suffer the consequences. She tells him that he will be visited by three other ghosts before the night is through. The ghosts of the past, present and future. One of the ghosts is Darcy’s father, I really liked how he was able to address some of the issues between them.
I loved when Darcy witnesses Elizabeth’s reaction to his comment about her not being tolerable. I also like how we learn a little bit about how things are going for Lydia and Wickham. We find out what life could be like for both Elizabeth and Georgiana.
Although, this is a short story (on my kindle only 1122 locations) it is a very fun read!
Darcy is a miserable man. He has lost the woman that he loves. He fears Elizabeth can never forgive him for Lydia’s marriage to Wickham. He feels, if he had just told the truth about Wickham this never could have happened!
It is nearly Christmas and Darcy sits in his study, drinking himself into oblivion. After falling asleep he is visited by the ghost of his mother, Anne Darcy. Who has come to tell him he needs to change his ways or suffer the consequences. She tells him that he will be visited by three other ghosts before the night is through. The ghosts of the past, present and future. One of the ghosts is Darcy’s father, I really liked how he was able to address some of the issues between them.
I loved when Darcy witnesses Elizabeth’s reaction to his comment about her not being tolerable. I also like how we learn a little bit about how things are going for Lydia and Wickham. We find out what life could be like for both Elizabeth and Georgiana.
Although, this is a short story (on my kindle only 1122 locations) it is a very fun read!
January 21, 2012
The premise of this book is wonderful. Mr. Darcy who fears he has lost the love of his life, is taken in by the three ghosts of Christmas, to show him that all is not lost. Then the story starts…
Mr. Darcy, as we all know, is a rather proud individual who came from a long line of noble personages. Why then, do we find Mr. Darcy sitting in his library, having been there for days on end, without leaving, on a bender over Elizabeth Bennet? This is a rather farcical notion and it didn’t stop there. The three ghosts commented, rather profusely, on the stench that was emanating from the very proud Mr. Darcy – who was far from being proud in this novel.
I did enjoy the different ghosts and how they showed Elizabeth Bennet, allowing Darcy to see that he has not lost his lady love. There was much humour in the story, but at times it was a bit over-the-top. Elizabeth and Jane Bennet were true to form, but none of the other characters seemed to have been, to include Lydia and Wickham.
It was a quick read, and had humorous points. Those that also love Dickens’ A Christmas Carol may also enjoy this quick tale of thoughts gone awry, and how they were set back on point.
Mr. Darcy, as we all know, is a rather proud individual who came from a long line of noble personages. Why then, do we find Mr. Darcy sitting in his library, having been there for days on end, without leaving, on a bender over Elizabeth Bennet? This is a rather farcical notion and it didn’t stop there. The three ghosts commented, rather profusely, on the stench that was emanating from the very proud Mr. Darcy – who was far from being proud in this novel.
I did enjoy the different ghosts and how they showed Elizabeth Bennet, allowing Darcy to see that he has not lost his lady love. There was much humour in the story, but at times it was a bit over-the-top. Elizabeth and Jane Bennet were true to form, but none of the other characters seemed to have been, to include Lydia and Wickham.
It was a quick read, and had humorous points. Those that also love Dickens’ A Christmas Carol may also enjoy this quick tale of thoughts gone awry, and how they were set back on point.
November 15, 2011
Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy was quite diverting. It was definitely in the Dickens Christmas spirit. I loved the new take on Ebenezer scrooge. Darcy may not be a scrooge with his money but his heart and it takes the visits from the 3 ghost to bring him to his senses. This is definitely worth reading for the Christmas spirit.
December 21, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author.
This was a really fun and quick read for around the holidays that combines "Pride and Prejudice" with "A Christmas Carol". I really enjoyed this and seeing Darcy's mother as the first ghost to visit him (in place of Marley from in A Christmas Carol) and then having his father as the Ghost of Christmas Past. It was also entertaining to have Elizabeth's grandmother as the Ghost of Christmas Present and seeing how her and Darcy interacted and the way she would pick on him similar to how Elizabeth might. I loved how the story wrapped up and the epilogue at the end was really fun.
This was a really fun and quick read for around the holidays that combines "Pride and Prejudice" with "A Christmas Carol". I really enjoyed this and seeing Darcy's mother as the first ghost to visit him (in place of Marley from in A Christmas Carol) and then having his father as the Ghost of Christmas Past. It was also entertaining to have Elizabeth's grandmother as the Ghost of Christmas Present and seeing how her and Darcy interacted and the way she would pick on him similar to how Elizabeth might. I loved how the story wrapped up and the epilogue at the end was really fun.
December 14, 2025
Cute, quick, and simple. The simplicity makes it hard to rate well. Aside from the awkwardness of overhearing characters talking to themselves, it wasn't bad. Just don't expect much and you'll have a nice time.
January 10, 2025
Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy
Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a delightful rendition of the beloved Christmas story.
Totally enjoyed!
Love the visits, but loved the children the best.
Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy is a delightful rendition of the beloved Christmas story.
Totally enjoyed!
Love the visits, but loved the children the best.
December 22, 2019
Who cannot love Christmas Carol and P&P mash up.
Very moving in places I really enjoyed it.
Very moving in places I really enjoyed it.
February 28, 2015
Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy
What a literary combination: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Variation plus Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. Darcy returns to Netherfield with Charles to reunite the lovers as well as seeing whether Elizabeth Bennet can love him. Both are embarrassed: he thinking she will not want him for forcing her youngest sister to marry Wickham; she thinking he won't have her because Wickham is her brother. Broken, he returns to Pemberley to wallow in despair and self pity. He stops caring for himself, doesn't eat, and drinks himself to oblivion. He has stopped wanting to live without Elizabeth. The ghost of Anne Darcy appears first, tells him that he needs to pull himself together, and get to Longbourn because Lizzy loves him. Not believing, she tells him there will three ghosts appearing. One, his father, showing him things in the past, second, Grandmother Bennet, showing him things in the present, and the last ghost, Death, showing him the future. The future throws him a much needed kick in the rear and rushes out of his study to bathe, dress, and return to Longbourn. Eight years later, Darcy is telling his story about the visiting ghosts, and Lizzy tells him to stop telling the children that his story is real. Both children remember being with the third ghost telling him he needs to for their mother so they may be born and to take a bath. Lizzy still argues that it can't be so until the three ghosts visit them that night. They take a ribbing for their lack of clothing in bed, after seeing her Grandmother and meeting George and Anne Darcy, she's now a believer.
What a literary combination: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Variation plus Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. Darcy returns to Netherfield with Charles to reunite the lovers as well as seeing whether Elizabeth Bennet can love him. Both are embarrassed: he thinking she will not want him for forcing her youngest sister to marry Wickham; she thinking he won't have her because Wickham is her brother. Broken, he returns to Pemberley to wallow in despair and self pity. He stops caring for himself, doesn't eat, and drinks himself to oblivion. He has stopped wanting to live without Elizabeth. The ghost of Anne Darcy appears first, tells him that he needs to pull himself together, and get to Longbourn because Lizzy loves him. Not believing, she tells him there will three ghosts appearing. One, his father, showing him things in the past, second, Grandmother Bennet, showing him things in the present, and the last ghost, Death, showing him the future. The future throws him a much needed kick in the rear and rushes out of his study to bathe, dress, and return to Longbourn. Eight years later, Darcy is telling his story about the visiting ghosts, and Lizzy tells him to stop telling the children that his story is real. Both children remember being with the third ghost telling him he needs to for their mother so they may be born and to take a bath. Lizzy still argues that it can't be so until the three ghosts visit them that night. They take a ribbing for their lack of clothing in bed, after seeing her Grandmother and meeting George and Anne Darcy, she's now a believer.
March 25, 2012
Ms. Cole needs to learn how to finish a story line. Her epilogue goes on and on and on and on.
She takes too many liberties with the JAFF (Jane Austen fan fiction) she has read. (For example, she had adopted the same names for her characters as many in the JAFF community rather than take a more original slant.)
This is supposed to be a mesh of "A Christmas Carol" and "Pride and Prejudice," but it is simply a MESS.
Ms. Cole's knowledge of Regency terms and phrases is lacking. She uses words such as "honeymoon,"which would not be used in the early 1800s. She used more modern Christmas traditions, which would not have been in operation in the Regency Period. Yes, Queen Charlotte had a Christmas tree, but few people knew of it. Christmas trees came about with Victoria and Albert's reign.
Ms. Cole uses scenes from the 1995 Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth version of P&P in her book (the wet shirt scene with Firth, for example).
The books needs a good editor. Tense changes abound.
She takes too many liberties with the JAFF (Jane Austen fan fiction) she has read. (For example, she had adopted the same names for her characters as many in the JAFF community rather than take a more original slant.)
This is supposed to be a mesh of "A Christmas Carol" and "Pride and Prejudice," but it is simply a MESS.
Ms. Cole's knowledge of Regency terms and phrases is lacking. She uses words such as "honeymoon,"which would not be used in the early 1800s. She used more modern Christmas traditions, which would not have been in operation in the Regency Period. Yes, Queen Charlotte had a Christmas tree, but few people knew of it. Christmas trees came about with Victoria and Albert's reign.
Ms. Cole uses scenes from the 1995 Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth version of P&P in her book (the wet shirt scene with Firth, for example).
The books needs a good editor. Tense changes abound.
January 9, 2012
It is another take on "A Christmas Carol" seen from Barbara Tiller Cole's point of view!
I thought it deligthful and full of surprises, with a meeting with Elizabeth Bennet's grandmother and a story full of love, longing, dispair and a miracle!
Everybody can learn something from this miracle story, both from Barbara Tiller Cole and Charles Dickens, we can learn to be better people, and to help others when we see the need to help another human-being in need.
Fantastic story, sweet and romantic to a degree and a Christmas Miracle!
I thought it deligthful and full of surprises, with a meeting with Elizabeth Bennet's grandmother and a story full of love, longing, dispair and a miracle!
Everybody can learn something from this miracle story, both from Barbara Tiller Cole and Charles Dickens, we can learn to be better people, and to help others when we see the need to help another human-being in need.
Fantastic story, sweet and romantic to a degree and a Christmas Miracle!
October 3, 2015
This is an interesting exploration of how Darcy might have experienced his turn around to seek a second chance with Elizabeth with a fun Dickenesque twist. Light holiday reading, which is just the thing.
September 3, 2016
Very cute retelling of a Christmas Carol using Darcy as the Scrooge character and his situation after refused by Elizabeth. Very enjoyable.
December 30, 2011
Very disappointing....far too trite?..I did not want to read repeatedly how much Darcy smelt! Just too coy and silly....shame, such a good premise.
January 31, 2012
thank you , Barbara, for your interesting Austenesque/Dickens tale of love lost and won...
I appreciate your personalizing the book for me <3! thank you :) well done ~
I appreciate your personalizing the book for me <3! thank you :) well done ~
August 24, 2015
it's like the story is on speed then it sllooowwws then it speeds ahead again. I felt I was reading some fan fiction because something was missing.
August 9, 2012
Cute......
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