Alone: A Pride And Prejudice Variation and Continuation

by B J Rumph

Little Charles is the new heir of Longbourne. The Bennets sisters find love and happiness. Georgianna finds love and leaves Pemberley. Richard returns from the war a changed man, many question his sanity. In the continuation, a homeless soldier is helped and two of the Bennets grandsons are dead.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2016

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extension of the book Alone: a pride and Prejudice variation. I had read the original many times and been somewhat frustrated by its rather abrupt ending. I only realised this continuation existed at the end of last year and I purchased it immediately. It greatly extends the story, introducing new characters and new situations.

The beginning of the story is obviously much the same as the original; it is mainly the story of Mary Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam. This is my favourite pairing and it is rarely done well; in my opinion, despite the issues noted by others, it is done well here. The Colonel clearly suffers from PTSD and Mary is highly reluctant to marry even though the departure of her sisters means she has opportunities to do so. The story is fairly simple and I don't think it is a spoiler to say they fall in love and start a family and basically have a satisfactory HEA. This continuation picks up where the original ends and we read more of the couples happy marriage. The Colonel has recovered from his PTSD (and yes, I know it probably doesn't work like that but this is basically a romance) and is his old self. He rescues a man who has been badly beaten and this starts a new part of the story, mainly concerning this man and another of the Bennet sisters.

I enjoyed the original novel but I enjoyed this more. It has more substance and the HEA seems even happier :)

I cannot deny the issues noted by others. But over the years this and the authors' other titles have become my most read titles; they are comfort reads. I have got into the rhythm of the books and lots of the oddities I now ignore. If I had to say one thing that does grate a little it would be the repetition but I tend to just read past that now.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Pride and Prejudice variation Colonel Fitzwilliam is peruaded to marry Anne de Bourgh but the marriage is a failure and he returns to duty. But after Anne and Lady Catherine have died the Colonel returns from the wars to run Rosings, a broken man. Can he find his happiness like his friends who have married Bennet sisters.
Although the story need a lot of editing and proofreading and formatting, I enjoyed the story and of course the pairing of the Colonel. Another enjoyable re-read. Again.