Elizabeth and Jane: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Regina Velarde

The story begins at Longbourn where Elizabeth, Jane and their father now live quietly after the rest of the family are killed in a carriage accident. Mr. Bennet spends his days staring vacantly out the window, while his two remaining daughters run the estate. Then one day Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley return to pay their condolences.

Elizabeth vacillates between regret at how callously she treated Darcy during his proposal, and anger over how he insulted her family even as he declared his love. Jane, on the other hand, is more realistic in her views of people but is uncertain if she can risk giving her heart away again. Darcy tries valiantly to be more amiable to everyone in the neighborhood, while Bingley attempts to show Jane his newfound strength and ability to resist his sister's machinations. Caroline Bingley also returns and attempts to turn her brother away from Jane, while Wickham comes back with the regiment and becomes angry that Elizabeth no longer believes his lies. Mr. Bennet finally starts to shed his lassitude, eventually becoming more like the father he should have been in the first place.

In the midst of all of this are two young women from Plymouth, Mrs. Long’s nieces, who feel that they now hold the hearts of the two gentlemen.

This P&P variation centers on the principal characters - their struggles to change, to overcome their weaknesses, and attempt to become the best versions of themselves.

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2024

Reviews

[Sam H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drama filled but with a major hole

The main hole being, Caroline all of a sudden run in off to be someone's mistress. First, so not Caroline. Second, just the scene before she was threatening Elizabeth and still running after Darcy. Where was the transition.

I liked how Elizabeth’s fencing and Jane's work with herbs was written into the story. And the emotional angst of the story was highly entertaining.

However, it was a bit long and the boomeranging will they, won't they, became too much. The ending slowed a bit, but everyone got a happy ever after.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promising, but not perfect

The first half of was beautifully written and quite believable. The some very incongruous plot points were introduced, which was disappointing. So I'm of two minds about adding it to my permanent collection for re-reading.

[Mariska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I love it when Jane grows a backbone, when she is allowed to shine with a strength and wisdom all her own. I also love it when we see Elizabeth and Darcy grow in a love that is organic and believable. So I very obviously loved this book very much.

[J.C. Plummer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The set up for the story was very nice, and I liked it. There were some wonderful passages describing the changed circumstances for the Bennet family and Elizabeth’s regrets about what happened at Hunsford. But then there were strange, unbelievable things that happened that ruined the story. In well-written story, an unexpected plot twist can be great, but it still needs to make sense.


Without any warning or explanation, Caroline ran away and became the mistress of a noble who promised to leave his wife for her. This was ridiculous. Elizabeth dressing as a boy to practice her fencing skills at a London club was beyond ridiculous. Mr. Gardiner takes her to the same fencing club where Darcy fences, and of course, they end up fencing each other. Of course, Lizzy’s fencing skills allow her to hold her own against Darcy. Now the story has progressed from ridiculous to the point of parody. Oh, and why would Bingley and Darcy leave Netherfield but never communicate with Mr. Bennet after befriending him? I kept reading, but nothing could really redeem the story once it descended into this type of absurdity.

[Li Xin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, nor very good.
The story started off well. Without any warning or explanation, Caroline run to be a lord's mistress. In the previous chapter, she was still pursuing Darcy. Elizabeth disguised herself as a man and went to a fencing club in London to practice fencing. With the help of Mr. Gardiner and the fencing master, she continued for several weeks. Elizabeth fenced with Darcy, and Darcy discovered her identity by smelling her hair. Bingley and Darcy left Netherfield Park after meeting Mr. Bennet and never contacted him again. Bingley had Caroline's disgrace as an excuse, but why did Darcy not give any news for a month? After showing obvious attention to Elizabeth, he suddenly disappeared without the most perfunctory excuse, leaving Elizabeth heartbroken. I can't accept that Elizabeth just accepted Darcy before he gave any explanation.
The story was beyond drama and became absurd.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This starts out strong, but I hate the way that the second time after Mr Bingley leaves his excuses are accepted. they could still have written to Mr. Bennett and said hey family issue has come up and we can’t come back. And they both accept him and Mr. Darcy so easily after that. The whiplash that both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy and the ghosting that they give them, it’s not acceptable. I also didn’t need the Mr. Darcy whole recap of the story at the end. And also the we love everyone Caroline‘s wonderful at the end. It’s also hard to believe.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually hate first person narrative but this one wasn't too bad. The story was also interesting and fairly unique. I'd recommend it.

[Terri Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous book really moving and very orginal. Don't think I have come across this plot before .
I will seeking more from this author.