What do you think?
Rate this book
Yours Truly, Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
You've Got Mail - Regency Style! Elizabeth's head is full of Wickham and she blames Darcy for keeping them apart. He must come up with a way to change her mind about him if he's ever going to win her! Clean content!
123 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2015
10 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 15, 2018
This is described as "You've Got Mail" Regency style. As I never saw "You've got Mail" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/?... I didn't know what that meant. Now I do.
This short P&P What if goes off canon by having Mr. Collins never considering Miss Elizabeth; as Mrs. Bennet believes Lizzy is Mr. Wickham's favorite. The day after the ball at Netherfield; which Wickham; as per canon, fails to attend, he calls on Longbourn and tells Lizzy a steaming pile of crap about why he wasn't there and how he can never marry without a fortune and tries to get her to kiss him, but she refuses. When the next day brings news that Mr. Wickham is engaged to Mary King, Lizzy flees to a clearing in the Longbourn woods. There Mr. Darcy, for he and Bingley haven't gone to London, overhears her sadness and desperation and her blaming him for Wickham's lot in life and decides to write her a letter and leave it in a hollow tree. It isn't addressed to her so, nor signed, so there is no possibility of compromise. Through the letters Darcy & Lizzy discover each others secrets, fears, etc. but Lizzy doesn't know which who she is writing.
Darcy also realizes that his unwillingness to reveal Wickham's perfidy has put other young ladies at risk and visits Mary King's uncle. This enables Wickham to try to weasel his way back into Lizzy's good graces; but her anonymous correspondent has raised enough general questions to make her wary. The day she confirms the identity of her pen pal Lydia elopes with Wickham but her trip ends long before London and Wickham escapes.
What I didn't like. Much of the book is written in epistle, which is similar to one sided dialogue. So when the rest of the book is mostly dialogue it becomes less of a book and more of a play. This is a short book, 123 pages, so the plot feels rushed and at times frantic. Regency Manners (new category) after Wickham is injured Mrs. Bennet and Lizzy pay him a visit. During the visit he addresses Elizabeth as Elizabeth and Lizzy; and she doesn't object. When he recovers at Longbourn, thanks Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth attends him in his bedroom and he again is over familiar without her objection. She already has serious doubts about his truthfulness yet she never stops him.
In order to speed the plot the Gardiner's visit is moved to early December. Darcy plans a picnic. The weather in December in Hertfordshire isn't really picnic weather. And it isn't fishing weather.
This short P&P What if goes off canon by having Mr. Collins never considering Miss Elizabeth; as Mrs. Bennet believes Lizzy is Mr. Wickham's favorite. The day after the ball at Netherfield; which Wickham; as per canon, fails to attend, he calls on Longbourn and tells Lizzy a steaming pile of crap about why he wasn't there and how he can never marry without a fortune and tries to get her to kiss him, but she refuses. When the next day brings news that Mr. Wickham is engaged to Mary King, Lizzy flees to a clearing in the Longbourn woods. There Mr. Darcy, for he and Bingley haven't gone to London, overhears her sadness and desperation and her blaming him for Wickham's lot in life and decides to write her a letter and leave it in a hollow tree. It isn't addressed to her so, nor signed, so there is no possibility of compromise. Through the letters Darcy & Lizzy discover each others secrets, fears, etc. but Lizzy doesn't know which who she is writing.
Darcy also realizes that his unwillingness to reveal Wickham's perfidy has put other young ladies at risk and visits Mary King's uncle. This enables Wickham to try to weasel his way back into Lizzy's good graces; but her anonymous correspondent has raised enough general questions to make her wary. The day she confirms the identity of her pen pal Lydia elopes with Wickham but her trip ends long before London and Wickham escapes.
What I didn't like. Much of the book is written in epistle, which is similar to one sided dialogue. So when the rest of the book is mostly dialogue it becomes less of a book and more of a play. This is a short book, 123 pages, so the plot feels rushed and at times frantic. Regency Manners (new category) after Wickham is injured Mrs. Bennet and Lizzy pay him a visit. During the visit he addresses Elizabeth as Elizabeth and Lizzy; and she doesn't object. When he recovers at Longbourn, thanks Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth attends him in his bedroom and he again is over familiar without her objection. She already has serious doubts about his truthfulness yet she never stops him.
In order to speed the plot the Gardiner's visit is moved to early December. Darcy plans a picnic. The weather in December in Hertfordshire isn't really picnic weather. And it isn't fishing weather.
September 18, 2015
What if Elizabeth was deeply in love with Wickham and blamed Darcy for her unhappiness? What if Darcy decided to let Elizabeth know his true character through some anonymous letters? An interesting premise for a cute novella by Denise O’Hara.
After a brief part where some scenes from “Pride and Prejudice” are described (which I found necessary to understand what happens next), the author starts to tell us her story by describing the protagonists’ emotions after the Netherfield ball. Elizabeth is angry with Darcy because she thinks he is responsible for her misery, and Darcy is frustrated because he cannot confess his true feelings to Elizabeth. I found that his idea of writing her some anonymous letters to secretly let her know his true character was a cute one, and I loved that those letters were included! It was lovely to read them.
While I appreciated that some characters were slightly different from the original ones (I liked that Mary was less pedantic than the Mary in “Pride and Prejudice”, and that Mrs. Bennet was one of the first persons to acknowledge Darcy’s change), I thought that Elizabeth was too sad and melancholic at the beginning. She suffered because she could not be happy with Wickham and she cried a lot, and I was OK with that. But in my opinion, her pain was exaggerated. She shed too many tears and I thought that an attitude like that was not believable for a girl like Elizabeth Bennet who is described by Jane Austen as “...not formed for ill-humour”, and that “It was not in her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on them… and to fret over unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her disposition.”
Though I liked this variation and I liked that it soon got to the point, which was good given that it was not a full length novel, I had the impression it was sometimes too rushed. I know that it was a novella and as such it was normal for it to be short and sudden, but nonetheless I would have loved more details especially when it came to describe some scenes. I felt that sometimes there was something more that could have been added to let readers know more about the characters and why they acted in a certain way.
Despite my quibbles, I enjoyed reading this cute variation novella by Ms. O’Hara. I especially loved the proposal scene, such a romantic moment! And I would recommend it to those readers in need of a quick, sweet read!
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
After a brief part where some scenes from “Pride and Prejudice” are described (which I found necessary to understand what happens next), the author starts to tell us her story by describing the protagonists’ emotions after the Netherfield ball. Elizabeth is angry with Darcy because she thinks he is responsible for her misery, and Darcy is frustrated because he cannot confess his true feelings to Elizabeth. I found that his idea of writing her some anonymous letters to secretly let her know his true character was a cute one, and I loved that those letters were included! It was lovely to read them.
While I appreciated that some characters were slightly different from the original ones (I liked that Mary was less pedantic than the Mary in “Pride and Prejudice”, and that Mrs. Bennet was one of the first persons to acknowledge Darcy’s change), I thought that Elizabeth was too sad and melancholic at the beginning. She suffered because she could not be happy with Wickham and she cried a lot, and I was OK with that. But in my opinion, her pain was exaggerated. She shed too many tears and I thought that an attitude like that was not believable for a girl like Elizabeth Bennet who is described by Jane Austen as “...not formed for ill-humour”, and that “It was not in her nature, however, to increase her vexations by dwelling on them… and to fret over unavoidable evils, or augment them by anxiety, was no part of her disposition.”
Though I liked this variation and I liked that it soon got to the point, which was good given that it was not a full length novel, I had the impression it was sometimes too rushed. I know that it was a novella and as such it was normal for it to be short and sudden, but nonetheless I would have loved more details especially when it came to describe some scenes. I felt that sometimes there was something more that could have been added to let readers know more about the characters and why they acted in a certain way.
Despite my quibbles, I enjoyed reading this cute variation novella by Ms. O’Hara. I especially loved the proposal scene, such a romantic moment! And I would recommend it to those readers in need of a quick, sweet read!
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
January 29, 2016
3.5 stars
We have in this short variation an author who seems to take up the wager as to whether an author can bring a story based on P&P to a successful conclusion without leaving Meryton. And she uses the device several other authors have used within the last year...that of letter writing.
In this story Wickham has gone to even further efforts to make sure he alienates Elizabeth (and through her anyone she wants to share his remarks with) from any favorable opinions about Darcy...even to professing to an attachment. Elizabeth is all too ready to believe Wickham, as we know from canon.
But in this version Darcy does not have to wait until a proposal at Hunsford to learn of her opinion concerning him. No, he just happens to overhear a conversation between Jane and Elizabeth while they (and he) are enjoying some moments while out in nature. (I found the fact that he was undetected in his approach close enough to eavesdrop a bit of a stretch but just roll with it.) So Darcy has to think long and hard to come up with a method to communicate how mistaken Elizabeth’s information is. So instead of leaving letters in a book in the local bookstore, Darcy decides to use a knothole in a tree in the line of sight for Elizabeth in her favorite copse of trees. And he determines to do it anonymously. (Frankly, I didn't think the letters were all that mysterious as to the sender as there are few in Meryton who enjoy reading or who have a sister, etc.)
Mary adds some words of wisdom, Bingley stays in Meryton after his ball and Mary King is saved...again. Lady C. is never a force to be dealt with. But do read to find out just how first impressions may again be changed.
This was a short sweet read which was what I was looking for on a day when I have many chores to perform.
We have in this short variation an author who seems to take up the wager as to whether an author can bring a story based on P&P to a successful conclusion without leaving Meryton. And she uses the device several other authors have used within the last year...that of letter writing.
In this story Wickham has gone to even further efforts to make sure he alienates Elizabeth (and through her anyone she wants to share his remarks with) from any favorable opinions about Darcy...even to professing to an attachment. Elizabeth is all too ready to believe Wickham, as we know from canon.
But in this version Darcy does not have to wait until a proposal at Hunsford to learn of her opinion concerning him. No, he just happens to overhear a conversation between Jane and Elizabeth while they (and he) are enjoying some moments while out in nature. (I found the fact that he was undetected in his approach close enough to eavesdrop a bit of a stretch but just roll with it.) So Darcy has to think long and hard to come up with a method to communicate how mistaken Elizabeth’s information is. So instead of leaving letters in a book in the local bookstore, Darcy decides to use a knothole in a tree in the line of sight for Elizabeth in her favorite copse of trees. And he determines to do it anonymously. (Frankly, I didn't think the letters were all that mysterious as to the sender as there are few in Meryton who enjoy reading or who have a sister, etc.)
Mary adds some words of wisdom, Bingley stays in Meryton after his ball and Mary King is saved...again. Lady C. is never a force to be dealt with. But do read to find out just how first impressions may again be changed.
This was a short sweet read which was what I was looking for on a day when I have many chores to perform.
August 21, 2019
So romantic!
One of the best variations I've read! I loved the way the characters were developed, how, through writing to each other, each got to know the other in a different way than what the proper way would have allowed at the time.
Read it, you will love it!
One of the best variations I've read! I loved the way the characters were developed, how, through writing to each other, each got to know the other in a different way than what the proper way would have allowed at the time.
Read it, you will love it!
September 10, 2015
What a wonderful variation on P&P. In this variation it starts around the time of the Netherfield Ball and continues through the first of the year. This author uses the you've got mail scenario quite well. Darcy over hears Lizzy and Jane talking and realises that Elizabeth despises him and that she has a tender for Mr Wickham! What is he to do? That is when he comes up with the letter skeem. He is quite inventive on how to accomplish this task. The story was a little short and condensed but it worked.
So in the end I Loved the story, it is very diverting and I highly recommend reading it.
So in the end I Loved the story, it is very diverting and I highly recommend reading it.
October 24, 2015
Unfortunately lacking.
The story is a great idea but it seemed rushed and lacking substance. More of a detailed outline really. Plus the characters didn't ring true. I wish there was more to it.
The story is a great idea but it seemed rushed and lacking substance. More of a detailed outline really. Plus the characters didn't ring true. I wish there was more to it.
October 24, 2016
In this variation, Elizabeth and Darcy grow to understand each other through anonymous letters left in a tree. Wickham is revealed as being even more devious in this story. Overall, it is a fun read. Parts are a little choppy, but the main character interaction is well done in my opinion.
October 3, 2020
Yours Truly, Mr. Darcy
It is the first thing I read about this author, I liked it, this Wickham is one of the most hateful I have read, it is so false and liar, I liked Darcy's intelligent way of opening Elizabeth's eyes to the truth, I will look for more than Mrs. O'hara.
It is the first thing I read about this author, I liked it, this Wickham is one of the most hateful I have read, it is so false and liar, I liked Darcy's intelligent way of opening Elizabeth's eyes to the truth, I will look for more than Mrs. O'hara.
March 10, 2022
Sweet!
Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2019
A happy ending once Lizzy can see beyond Wickham’s lies. Nicely written short story. I love reading letters. This story isn’t a very romantic tale but it’s still pretty good.
Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2019
A happy ending once Lizzy can see beyond Wickham’s lies. Nicely written short story. I love reading letters. This story isn’t a very romantic tale but it’s still pretty good.
September 15, 2015
This book is a short read and has some angst, but not a great deal. It is a nice snack. I do like books with a lot of angst, but a novella sometimes fits the bill. I loved how Lizzie gets to know Darcy, without even realizing it is him she is learning about, after Wickham has poisoned her mind against Darcy.
I was given a copy by the author to review.
I was given a copy by the author to review.
September 8, 2015
Perfect read for an afternoon. I found the pace was better than most short stories. I liked that it showed another side of Darcy. It was a feel good read. Refreshing change from the many sensual stories coming out lately.
October 13, 2015
Another Believably Good Story
This is a well paced, short story that has a fun ending. Great reading in an afternoon with a cup of tea.
This is a well paced, short story that has a fun ending. Great reading in an afternoon with a cup of tea.
December 21, 2015
You've Got Mail, Darcy & Elizabeth style :D
February 11, 2016
Quick and fun. A definite feel good book!
February 19, 2016
Love the way Denise O'hara writes. I've enjoyed all of her books and short stories. I recommend this to anyone who is a Jane Austen fan. She has brought these characters to life.
February 19, 2016
I look forward to each and everyone of her books.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews