The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

by Caitlin Williams

Librarian Note: Alternate/new cover edition for ISBN-10: 1530229235 / ISBN-13: 978-1530229239.

The very worst has happened.

Mr Bennet has died, leaving his wife and five young daughters bereft. The family estate, Longbourn, is now lost, entailed away and fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Bennet is to go two hundred miles away to live with strangers.

George Darcy, repaying a debt of gratitude, has offered to take her to Pemberley, to live under the mantle of his care and be raised alongside his own daughter, Georgiana.

But on the day she is to leave Longbourn forever, young Elizabeth, grieving and confused, runs off into the Hertfordshire countryside. Fitzwilliam Darcy gives chase, telling his father he will have her back in an hour or two. Luck and fate, however, are not on his side and capturing Elizabeth Bennet turns out not only to be more difficult than he could ever have imagined, but events will conspire to turn her little adventure into his worst nightmare.

The prideful man and the girl prejudiced against him, meet much earlier in this rethinking of Jane Austen’s masterpiece. Elizabeth grows up under the ever-watchful eye of Mr Darcy, from fifteen to twenty one. She errs and falters, there are stumbles and trips, but could this ‘disobedient little hellion’ one day become mistress of Pemberley and the keeper of his heart?

Genres: Romance, Regency, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, Fiction, British Literature

502 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2016

About the author

Caitlin Williams lives in Kent, England, with her family.

She fell in love with all things Regency as a teenager, but particularly admires the work of Jane Austen and the way she masterfully combines humour and romance, while weaving them through such wonderful stories and characters.

Her debut novel, Ardently, was written as a hobby, usually with her laptop balanced on the kitchen worktop, typing with one hand, a glass of wine in the other, while she also attempted to cook dinner and keep her children from killing each other.

She has since written the award-wining The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet and When We Are Married. Her latest novel is The Events at Branxbourne. They are all Austenesque novels set in the Pride and Prejudice universe.

Reviews

[Nissa | Of Pens and Pages Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book marks my 100th read in 2016! Yay! Once I started reading this, I just couldn't stop. I finished this book at 5 am, feeling fuzzy, lighthearted, and incredibly satisfied.

In The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Bennet passes on when Elizabeth was only fifteen. In preparation for his imminent death, Mr. Bennet comes into agreement with his good friend Mr. Darcy of Derbyshire to take Elizabeth under his care. This information leaves Elizabeth confused and a little resentful, as her mother and three sisters are to remain in a cottage in Meryton, and Jane is to live with the Gardiners. She's always believed her father considered her his favorite daughter; why did he choose to have her taken so far away with people so wholly unconnected to her?

On the day the Darcy's are to take Elizabeth, she runs away wearing outdated and baggy men's clothes and four pounds to her name. Mr. Darcy's son, Fitzwilliam, runs after Elizabeth, and this leads to a wild goose chase. After a few days, the young Mr. Darcy saves Elizabeth from danger, brings her to his room to giver her a few moments to regain her composure and to make herself more presentable. Prior to this, the young Mr. Darcy bumps into an acquaintance, and asks for her help to provide Elizabeth with female clothing.

As we know, in the Regency era, propriety precedes everything. People must observe the most proper decorum. Two unmarried people of the opposite sex must not be left alone to their own devices to avoid scandal and compromise. Unfortunately for Elizabeth and Darcy, a resentful former flame discovers them and believes it her duty to spread the scandal all over town. Long story short, Elizabeth and Darcy must marry to avoid disgrace.

The story is divided into five parts--Elizabeth's fifteenth year, sixteenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twenty first. We are shown how Elizabeth changes from the tomboy, impertinent and 'disobedient little hellion' to the refined, beautiful Mistress of Pemberley.

Elizabeth at fifteen was very much still a child. She had little regard for consequences, as seen when she ran away from home. When Mr. Darcy proposed to her, she stamped and whined, and there were times when I wanted to drag her by the ear and give her a talking to. Darcy wasn't any better. He was too serious for his age, and looked slightly ridiculous with the thin mustache, long hair, and the gaudy cravats. It was very entertaining to imagine him as such.

Their marriage was indeed a bumpy one. Elizabeth would never have thought that upon marrying the same man she ran away from, the very same man would run away from her. Within the first year of marriage, Darcy goes to Scotland to tend to their estate. He again leaves for the continent when the Fitzwilliams' finances were invested under a questionable business. Thankfully, Elizabeth had Colonel Fitzwilliam, Lady Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, and Georgiana's governess, Miss Temple.

Despite the company of the Fitzwilliams and Georgiana, my heart still ached for Elizabeth. She lost her father at such a young age, married a man who holds no tender feelings for her a few months later, and lost another father figure a while later. She was then thrust into the role of mistress without so much as a by your leave, and her husband was absent. She had no choice but to grow up.

By the time Darcy finally comes back, Elizabeth is no longer the impertinent fifteen year old he remembered her to be. She's beautiful, refined, accomplished, and is very much the Mistress of Pemberley. The staff respects her, and he could see how amazing she is at her role. It leaves him awed and a little confused.

I love how this story was weaved. It was different from Pride and Prejudice, but the same elements were still there. There were a few nods to Austen's other works, too.

Wickham was a rake of the highest order. Caroline was more persistent than ever. She knew Darcy was married yet she still tried to woo him. Charles was the usual affable and kind man.

The ending was satisfying and relieving. After everything Elizabeth's been through, she deserves the best of endings.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooray for Caitlin, she's done it again! This story was so captivating, amusing and in the end, sweetly romantic. Watching "the ugly duckling" change over the course of five years from a skinny tomboy (who frolics with a neighboring farm boy and chops off her hair due to the plans her dear father has arranged for her) to a beautiful, "accomplished" and captivating woman kept me turning pages. The author sure does a swell job! LOL

Being Mr. Bennet's favorite does not mean Elizabeth gets everything to go her way. And when Mr. Bennet arranges with an old friend, George Darcy, to take over guardianship of 15-year-old Elizabeth upon his death...well, she is just not going to take that lying down. Why should she? Jane is going to live with the Gardiners and the other sisters are to stay with her mother in Meryton. So Elizabeth bolts in panic. But Fitzwilliam Darcy is not about to let her scamper about the country side. Eventually he finds her and then rescues her from a robbery and worse. But in doing so and in attempting to get them back on the road to Pemberley they are observed by...yes, a lady who has been scorned. And I don't have to tell you how that lady might take the opportunity to wreak her revenge on the man who is responsible. So a word dropped here or there and with gossip columnists having an ear to the ground, Darcy is forced to act with honor.

Darcy finally gets Elizabeth back to Pemberley where his father has returned with Georgiana and her governess. But as the story unfolds Darcy "finds" business to conveniently keep him away, first in Scotland for a year. Then he's back for a short time due to his father's death. Subsequently he is off to the (West) Indies and so asks the Colonel, who is now retired due to an injury, to stay and guard both his sister and Elizabeth. This time he is gone for years. You can imagine how Elizabeth changes during that amount of time.

There is no correspondence between the two; they barely speak when they are in each other's presence. Elizabeth does write her family. But she continues to have her moments of rancor towards him: he has refused to allow her to visit her sister in London. She also overhears remarks (again) by Darcy to Richard about her. Then there was this incident before his departure with some handkerchiefs she had embroidered for him.

While he is away Elizabeth does form friendships with the governess, Miss Temple, and with Richard and becomes a dear sister to Georgiana. Meanwhile Darcy has met and befriended Charles Bingley in the Indies.

It broke my heart to read of the maidservants gossiping about her wardrobe. Darcy had no thought about that and it is not until her mourning clothes are too short that anyone thinks to procure new clothes. Richard makes his own decision to remedy some of this situation but when he allows a visit to Meryton he didn't expect Wickham to be in the neighborhood.

And then there are all those birthdays to which Darcy pays no attention. Could it get any sadder? You may be surprised.

Darcy invites Charles Bingley and his family to Pemberley. There his relationship to Elizabeth has many an arched eyebrow. He just keeps bumbling in his thoughts and remarks as to her acts & her place in his home. He learns from a maid that Elizabeth is not abed but busy with estate affairs early in the morning. When did she take up the reins of household management?

In this story there are some other happenings with secondary characters: Richard is smitten, Miss Temple tells of her lost love, Charlotte offers advice and Elizabeth solicits Lady Catherine for some help.

Yes, Mr. Darcy was going to place our Elizabeth at Pemberley and she was going to be forgotten basically like an annoying gnat. Funny how all that changed with her "coming of age".

I want to reread this and soon. I did so enjoy it.

“Good God, Elizabeth, let me into your world, just a little. I know I do not deserve it, I have done you a thousand wrongs, but be generous, please.” Oh, Darcy, what have you done?....sigh!

February 14th, 2017: although I have only read from page 349 to the end @ page 501, I am marking this as a partial reread...being that some novellas or short stories of shorter length are counted as books read. Such a delightful story...loving it all over again.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was well pleased when this one was chosen for me during one of our reading group challenges. I have truly wanted to read it since I heard of it, but... distractions. Lots of them.

Anyhoo, there was a lot of talk for this one and I started to get high expectations as a result. Let me end the suspense, this book more than lived up to the talk and expectations.

First of all, this truly is a coming of age story. No little mild awkwardness and barely any flaws pretending to be coming of age stuff. It was painful to read because it was the real, conflicted, unstable stuff of a teenage girl who just lost her beloved father and her world is coming apart when she gets caught up in the repercussions of a scandal. It is also painful because a young man who a little older, is no less troubled must face unrequited love and betrayal by two people close to him only to be saddled by a wild, unbridled petulant mess of a young female. One. hot. mess.

And then, it doesn't just poof and vanish. Early mistakes and trauma stay with this pair for a long time to come. Ohhhh, the angst. My heart was breaking and I had to take breaks with other fluffy rabbits and rainbows stories between. But I kept coming back because of the masterful handling of the story and characters the author wrote.

All that was worth it because, sa-woon, oh so swoon on the finish which still had outbursts of conflict and angst. I enjoyed the long denouement that was a good counter-balance for all that came before.

I'm just going to toss this in. I'm not one for high-angst these days. Used to be. But then authors started abusing it with the manipulative stuff and the undo angst that was not organic in the story- just there as filler. The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet gave me new hope that an angsty story can still appeal to me.

In summation, I ran the gamut of emotions and was wrung dry in the end, but this was a lush and satisfying Pride & Prejudice vagary that was transportive, fresh, and innovative while still paying tribute to the original Austen story.

[Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's another one of my favorite posts of the year! Caitlin Williams​​ joins Just Jane 1813 to share an exclusive epilogue for her story, "The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet." I think readers will LOVE this sought after epilogue titled, "Fifteen Again."

https://justjane1813.com/2016/12/11/f...

Thank you to all of my Goodreads friends who have already visited to share your comments. I love reading your comments!

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche

Let me just say that I love the book cover. It was so perfect in conveying a younger version of ODG [our dear girl] Elizabeth.

To readers of this story…you cannot speed read this. I tried to speed read through a scene I assumed would be tedious and missed several important facts and had to go back and reread the scene again. I thought I knew what was going to happen and I didn’t. You can’t always second guess an author… Ms. Williams, my apologies. Besides, in the very last chapter Darcy reflects back on these early scenes.

When our story opens, ODG is a mere child [small for her age] of 15 years grieving over the loss her father, her rock, foundation, source of comfort and companion. She, being the least favorite of her mother’s daughters, often sought refuge in her father’s study. Though she was not the son they longed for, he delighted in her abilities, willingness to learn, her quick mind and wit and she soon became his favorite. All that changed with his death.

His beloved study and estate was now the province of their odious cousin the elder Mr. Collins and his [I can’t even begin to describe her] wife. He had the entail and all the Bennet ladies has to remove themselves from his house as soon as they could. Mrs. Bennet and the three youngest girls moved to a cottage in Meryton, Jane to the Gardner’s house in London and Elizabeth [per her father’s request] to the guardianship of the senior Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire.

To a child with Elizabeth’s nature, all the changes thrust upon her were not to be borne. It was too much for her sensibilities and in her youthfulness she made foolish and rash decisions that would change her life forever. Most children [myself included] at some time or another have contemplated or attempted to run away. That is a child’s default against something uncomfortable in their little lives. They simply run as fast and as far away from the problem as they can. There is no reasoning, rationale or awareness of consequences, their basic gut instinct is to simply run…and that is what she did.

I’ll not detail the mad and crazy antics Elizabeth [dressed as a boy] demonstrated in her flight; however, she soon found that she was ill prepared for the rigors and dangers of the real world and received a reality check that was nearly disastrous. By her actions and refusal to follow young Darcy’s directions and orders, she set in motion an opportunity for a bitter ex-amour to exact revenge with a scandal so severe/monumental that it would take the Darcy family years to recover from its spread within the ton.

As many know who work with or have teenagers, you can’t live with them and you can’t send them to another planet until they grow out of it. Elizabeth was no different. Thrust into a world that she didn’t know or understand, grieving for the loss of her father, family scattered to the four winds, home entailed away from the female line, friends and her old way of life gone, she was now thrust into the Darcy family in a way she didn’t want or desire.

This work was the coming of age of Elizabeth Bennet. Williams allowed us to walk with her as she traveled through the crucial periods of her life. I liked how Ms. Williams took us through those stages in chunks. We were there when Elizabeth finally realized that if she wanted things to be different, then she had to be different. When she became Mistress of Pemberley, she did not have Mrs. Reynolds and the servants welcoming her with open arms, she had to earn their respect and loyalty.

I loved the nods to other Austen works. Those little nuggets were a delightful surprise when I would come across them interspersed throughout this work. Williams was creative in how she used Austen dialogue and scenes from canon and moved and adjusted them to fit in this adaption. Such surprises were thrilling whenever I would encounter them. The transitions were smooth and seamless.

Characters: We have the Fitzwilliam family at Matlock. I loved the Countess Matlock. Our dear Colonel Fitzwilliam and his mother were a hoot. She was a powerhouse to be reckoned with and was a big help to Elizabeth throughout her life. After the eldest son and heir to Matlock made disastrous financial decisions that could have ruined the Fitzwilliam family, Darcy had to go to the Indies in order to sort it out and redistribute the family fortunes into safer ventures. Our dear Colonel stayed at Pemberley and looked after Georgiana and Elizabeth.

The Bingley connection occurred while Darcy was the Indies. Upon their return to England, Darcy made the acquaintance of the rest of the Bingley family, Caroline Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. It didn’t take long for Caroline to set her cap on acquiring Darcy at all costs. How delicious she was in her attempts to garner his favor. There was a riding incident, when they were at Pemberley [which Caroline desired], that was reminiscent of Fanny Price waiting for the return of her horse [Caroline had insisted on riding Elizabeth’s horse]. The dialogue was different but still funny.

The younger Collins was nearing taking his orders into the clergy and had turned his eye toward taking Jane as wife. Williams was so creative in getting him out of Hertfordshire and into the benevolence and condescension of Lady Catherine de Bourgh who needed to fill the living in her gift. The rest, as they say…was canon.

Wickham was a rake and scoundrel of the highest order. Everything he thought Darcy owned or coveted he attempted to taint or destroy. It was his goal in life to make Darcy’s life a living hell and his financial gain. He was awful, nothing was sacred to him…profligate, gamester, seducer, and the list goes on. The reveal to the depths of his seduction was a shocker and a…not too graphic sex scene…but close enough that will raise eyebrows and an OMG moment. This was why I cautioned readers to not speed read. Those early encounters, that set things in motion, were due in part to what happened right here.

This is long enough. If the other reviewers and I have not convinced you to read this, nothing will. Just take it slow as it is worth it.

I would have liked an epilogue to know what happened to everyone and there were those pesky editing problems.

[wosedwew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discretion is being able to raise your eyebrows instead of your voice.--author unknown

The adult Elizabeth we usually see has learned the art of discretion -- her eyebrows are her artful communication.

Here is the child Elizabeth who has yet to learn. It's also the child (OK, young adult) Darcy who is presented as a bit of a fop with his pencil moustache and questionable taste in waistcoats. Both immediately prejudiced against the other and yet pushed into a long-term relationship.

Loved this unusual story. Read about 1/4 of this with my Kindle Unlimited and decided to buy a copy before I finished -- I was convinced I would read it multiple times!

This author's 1st JAFF "Ardently" is one of my very favorites and "Coming of Age" is my latest love!

[Joana Starnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the novels that, for the last 3 days, kept me reading till 3-5 am during which time I only cooked one dinner, barely spoke to my husband and didn’t let the kindle out of my hand for more than a few hours of blissfully exhausted sleep. I knew that I would love anything Caitlin Williams wrote because I loved her first novel, I knew from chats to friends that her second was brilliant, but ‘brilliant’ barely does it justice. An amazing, gripping story, so poignant, so full of deep, human, wrenchingly real emotion! It simply breaks your heart to read of a teenage Elizabeth Bennet battling heartache and struggling to come to terms with her beloved father’s death and with the threat of being separated from everything familiar and dear to her. She feels lost in a suddenly alien world and, in her overwhelming hurt that comes at the most vulnerable and unsettling age, she naively makes a decision that would alter her entire life. She runs away from home, only to be rescued quite dramatically from very dangerous circumstances by a 23-year-old Fitzwilliam Darcy, and thanks to a spiteful acquaintance this sparks a scandal that leads to their early marriage.

How I loved the portrayal of young Mr Darcy before he became the master of Pemberley, while he was still a very young man still finding himself and the way he presented himself to the world (I loved how Elizabeth took him to task as regards his fashion choices, by the way, and how he actually paid heed to them, little as he initially thought of the ‘impudent hellion’). I loved how he was still more or less under his father’s guidance and control. I loved how he vacillated between wanting to throttle the fiery 15-year-old Elizabeth and showing his true nature with thoughtful gestures of kindness (the Haddon and Pemberley dinner scenes were so adorable!) I loved the relationship Elizabeth established with the matriarch of Haddon Hall and especially that the Countess was not glossed into a picture of perfection and, while extremely kind to Elizabeth, she still maintained some very realistic and very strong class prejudices. I loved the relationship Elizabeth built with old Mr Darcy, Georgiana, Miss Temple and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Especially with Colonel Fitzwilliam, during young Mr Darcy’s extremely long absences. How he became the brother she never had, and the unwavering support that Darcy was not there to give her, particularly in a dreadful circumstance that could have ruined them all. I dreaded Wickham’s appearance in the story, I hate the man and what he gets away with, and it was such a relief that my fears were largely unfounded. It was also a huge relief to see Elizabeth and Darcy reacting so sensibly to angst-y moments that could have caused a great deal of pain if misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. They were hurt, but had the good sense to explore the hidden meanings and talk to each other, rather than fly into temper tantrums and jump to conclusions.

Teenage Elizabeth’s temper tantrums were a delight by the way, a couple of them in particular. The first, during the wedding visits, when she returned measure for measure to incivility and slights (how wise of old Mr Darcy to appreciate her for that, rather more than his less worldly son did), and no less the second, in the altercation with Colonel Fitzwilliam’s sister-in-law, which led to the first realisation of unconquerable attraction between our favourite couple, despite their odd circumstances – married but not quite.

I could have honestly strangled young Mr Darcy for his domineering manner and especially for deserting his young wife for such a length of time – 3 years?? What was he thinking? But I can see that he had to be absent for very long, otherwise Elizabeth would not have had the chance to grow into the poised and capable mistress of Pemberley he found on his return. From his return, it was unstoppable delight. Mr Darcy was faced with the startling revelation that the hellion had matured into a perfectly behaved young woman who could deliver an impeccable set-down quite as smoothly and effectively as he. A poised lady of the house who takes no nonsense from anyone, least of all himself. And moreover, shockingly attractive. Their gradual opening towards each other was wonderful to read and deeply moving. Equally moving was Colonel Fitzwilliam’s journey into love, and his fate was eminently satisfying. I deeply enjoyed the portrayal of the Bingley-Jane relationship and the role Darcy played there, and Georgiana’s growing-up process and the bond she established with Elizabeth were so beautifully presented. Every character was treated sympathetically (when they deserved it, that is), with a profound understanding of human nature and of Jane Austen’s original characters. To all this, add exquisite Regency language and beautifully crafted prose and you have an absolute must-read. I could keep listing so many scenes and nuances I loved, but I really should let you discover them for yourself. I’ll just say I really enjoyed this book and I hope it’s coming out in paperback too.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 2:55 am,I've got a big fat grin on my face and I've just finished this book!!!!! It kinda says it all. Review later today!

Dear reader,

Imagine,if you will,a fifteen year old Elizabeth Bennet,favourite child of her most beloved father,happily ensconced in a loving, boisterous family of seven, suddenly about to be wrenched from all she holds dear,placed within the confines of a large, stately manor,under the guardianship of a total stranger,far removed from her remaining family,and suffering from the grievous effects of losing the parent she held most dear,a parent who arranged these set of incomprehensible consequences shortly before his death.

Imagine the inner turmoil, anger and indeed rebellious spirit that would be roused in such circumstances and you understand immediately why she chose to flee, to run away from everything that was now occurring in this new unreality of hers,to....a life unknown,to a place she cared not where, just away.

Imagine also,if you will,a young twenty three old,arrogant,spoilt Mr F Darcy,heir to Pemberley,a man who still heeds the advice of his father,still needs guidance and yet, seeks to prove that he can stand on his own two feet and act independently,waiting patiently for a chance to prove such.

When said Mr D is offered this chance,and sets off to find E,what unfolds changes forever the lives of these independent characters and weaves and unites their destiny into one. Forced to marry for honour's sake,E now finds herself residing in P,not as Mr George Darcy's ward,but as Mr F.Darcy's wife!

You can imagine then,dear reader,the histrionics,the teenage and early adulthood tantrums that seem an all too daily occurrence within the hallowed walls of P.
You will understand too,why,when given the opportunity,F Darcy in turn flees,to Scotland initially,and then to the West Indies.

When he returns from his sojourn,after a period of some three years,what he encounters amazes and intrigues him.
The source of such feelings? Why Mrs Darcy,nee Bennet of course,who has now thrown off the mantel of rebellious teen to envelop herself in the title,appearance and role of Mistress of Pemberley.

The tendrils of new love and tender understanding that slowly begin to grow between these two fiery,spirited strangers,is so touching to read.

The fear of being cast aside,of not being accepted,of not being allowed entry into the
other's heart,of there being another who holds a prominent position in said heart was so understandable given the circumstances that these two virtual strangers,married in name only,find themselves.

The love story that unfolds is so beautifully
scripted,so enthralling,so utterly compelling,that you could very happily find yourself sleep deprived,hungry and isolated from the outside world, while reading this tale.

There were so many aspects of this story that I loved,too numerous to mention here,but I will add that the scene where E is asked to dance by Mr Burton,stands out.

While she refused his offer,she accepted the reality that were she Elizabeth Bennet,and not Mrs Darcy,she had probably,just then, met her future husband.
She could envision their dance,their shared smiles, conversations,walks and utter enjoyment of being in each other's company, the inevitable courtship request and marriage proposal,the enviable position of being loved by another,of being held in the arms of a friend,lover and helpmate...for life.

All this she had never experienced,and sadly,slowly,she realised,she never would. The way this was portrayed by Caitlin almost made me cry. The fact that Elizabeth denounced the name Mrs Elizabeth Darcy,as a non entity made her situation all the more tragic,for what she said,in reality was true.



Words cannot do justice to the overall merits of this book,you must simply read it for yourself,to fully understand why other reviewers have waxed so lyrically about it!


I loved it and urge all readers to spend time with these wonderful characters.
You will laugh,you may cry,but you will not regret choosing this tale and whiling away the hours wondering what will befall Elizabeth,Darcy,Col Fitz,Ms Temple and Georgiana. Enjoy!!!

I received this book from a friend of mine ,whom I met on GR.Thank you for this wonderful gift!!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this. I was hooked from the opening pages, which quickly establish that this is a very, very unique variation of Pride and Prejudice. Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are 5 years younger. Mr. Darcy is still alive; unfortunately, Mr. Bennet is not. The surviving Bennet family is splitting up, with Jane to live with the Gardiners in London, and Mrs. Bennet to live in a cottage in Meryton along with Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Mr. Bennet made specific arrangements with his good friend, the senior Mr. Darcy, for Elizabeth to be taken to Pemberley and raised as his ward alongside his children, Georgiana and Fitzwilliam.

As the book begins, Elizabeth is reeling from the grief of her father's death and the betrayal she feels in being forced to separate from the rest of her family and live 200 miles from them with people she's never met. Since she is an immature 15-year-old tomboy, she runs off rather than peacefully acceding to her father's last wishes for her. Fitzwilliam, who is 24, quickly volunteers to go after her and unwisely pursues her on his own. A succession of events leads to him being observed at an inn alone in a room with Elizabeth. Rumors immediately start flying, and in order to avoid a scandal attached to the revered Darcy name, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam reluctantly marry each other. Rather than receiving lessons from Miss Temple, the governess originally hired to teach both her and Georgiana, Elizabeth's first entrance to Pemberley is as the newly wed Mrs. Darcy even though she isn't much more than a child herself.

The story that follows is heartbreaking and believable. Both characters start out as stubborn, argumentative, unreasonable, impulsive, unseasoned versions of the admirable adults they eventually become. While there are plenty of plot developments, this is essentially a character study of the two, and it's fascinating to read how these mismatched individuals evolve over time, especially with the long periods of separation that Darcy orchestrates. Sadly, this wouldn't be out of character for a wealthy gentleman unhappy with his wife during the Regency era. He and Elizabeth both have opportunities to break their wedding vows, and her innocent error in judgement causes her to reflect and adjust her behavior. As good as the entire book is, the payoff really comes in Volume Four when Elizabeth is 19, soon to turn 20. Darcy returns from his extended trip to India behaving more like a bachelor than a married man, and he has the Bingleys and Hursts in tow. Elizabeth has him on his heels immediately, and the dynamics in the turnaround of their relationship are a lot of fun to read.

Ms. Williams is a very gifted writer. I spotted a handful of editing errors, but they are easily overlooked and don't interfere with enjoyment of the story or her flowing prose. Colonel Fitzwilliam has a pivotal role, and I loved having him so involved in the story. I noted how well-rounded all the supporting characters are, both those that are familiar- who behave very much in character with the original Pride and Prejudice- and those that are new additions.

I'm so grateful to Claudine for gifting this exceptional story to me! It's one I'm sure I will reread.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author's inaugural book; Ardently, took P&P and turned it on it's ear by setting in four years after canon; and hit it out of the park! In her newest book she starts it 5 years earlier than JA wrote it and again creates a masterpiece that keeps you glued to the page.

Starting when Elizabeth Bennet is a mere spoiled (indulged by her Papa) child of 15 he father passes away having made arrangements for his favorite daughter to go to his old friend; Mr. Darcy of Pemberley. With his usual explanation (recall Mr. Collins coming to stay); he has sprung this solution on Lizzy after his death and rather than seeming like an honor it seems like a punishment.

When she escapes the grasp of the Darcy family, Fitzwilliam is left behind in Hertfordshire to get her to Pemberley. But Lizzy isn't ready to go and she flees him again... He ends up recovering her but in the meantime she is seen by his biggest FRENEMY and jealous female.

Now it is 15 year old Lizzy and 23 year old fop, Darcy, who are married by special license from Gracechurch street. And they are off to Pemberley. Where they will live with his father and sister. Darcy wants nothing to do with his wild, hoydenish, child bride and his bride wants nothing to do with him ... so he is off to Scotland, then the West Indies and anyplace he can hide from his wife; in name only. Until returning a few days before her 20th birthday.

This book is simply marvelous. The author's inventiveness knows no bounds. The new characters are a gift and the weaving of canonical characters and lines is absolutely brilliant. She lets you fall in love with the characters while they fall in love with one another.

I rarely say this but I would love a sequel.

[Talia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new all-time-favorite JAFF book. I just loved it. Elizabeth was everything I always want her to be and more. The author got everything exactly right. I loved her first book so much but this one blew me away. There is nothing I would change except that she only has two books. I need more. Thank you so much for sharing your talent. Fantastic!

Reread: If I could give it all the stars, I would.

Reread: I would love a sequel to this book.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Age, Grief, and Forced Circumstances

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation

TIME FRAME: Several Years prior to Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth is 15, Mr. Darcy is 23.

SYNOPSIS: Before Mr. Bennet passed away he made arrangements for Elizabeth to live at Pemberley with his good friend George Darcy and be raised alongside the eleven-year-old Georgiana. But Elizabeth wants none of it! She goes to Pemberley most unwillingly, and in a desperate attempt to avoid this preordained fate she runs away…repeatedly. And who is sent to capture and return her but George’s son, Fitzwilliam! Elizabeth’s brash and precipitate actions lead to a bit of a trouble. Malicious rumors start to spread and both Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam are forced into an unlikely situation to protect both their reputations. A situation that brings to both “misery of the acutest kind!”

WHAT I LOVED:

Premise: Wow! What a surprising and inventive premise! Such an early meeting for our hero and heroine. And what a unique twist for Elizabeth to lose her father at such a young age. And if that scenario doesn’t contain enough twists for you, wait until you see how Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s relationship changes drastically after only two days of acquaintance…

- Forming Their Characters: I absolutely adore how Ms. Williams portrayed Darcy and Elizabeth at these younger ages. At fifteen, Elizabeth is a spiky, rough-around-the-edges firebrand with unchecked impudence and unpolished manners. Meanwhile, Darcy is a young buck newly entered into society – finding his identity, getting into some small scrapes, and experiencing his first feelings of infatuation. I thought these youthful portrayals were well-crafted and believable. They are different from the Darcy and Elizabeth we know in Pride and Prejudice. They have flaws and sometimes act negatively because of their of pain, loneliness and insecurities. It was interesting to observe how both Mr. Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s characters and personalities developed throughout these formative young adult years and how they matured into the admirable hero and heroine we know and love. I especially enjoyed Elizabeth’s inspiring evolution from a “disobedient little hellion” to a respected, industrious, and beloved mistress.

- An Unpredictable Dynamic: The dynamic between Darcy and Elizabeth is very distinctive in this variation. Not only does Elizabeth detest Mr. Darcy, but he very much feels the same way. I don’t think I’ve read of scenario where neither Darcy or Elizabeth has any attraction or interest in the other. Tempers flaring, heated blowouts, indifferent coldness, and silent treatments – you begin to wonder if Darcy and Elizabeth will ever become friends, understand each other, and overcome their past discords! It was thrilling to be in suspense about how their relationship would evolve and if and when they would finally come together. You really couldn’t predict when and where everything would fall into place.

- Masterfully Composed: Ms. Williams deserves much praise for her skillful construction and brilliant execution throughout this novel. I thought she represented Darcy and Elizabeth respectfully and tapped into their emotions and experiences very perceptively and sympathetically. I loved the unexpected series of events, the heart-wrenching scenes of conflict, the fragile instances of softening, and the achingly beautiful moments where love is realized and sought. This is definitely a story to become completely emotionally wrapped up in and consumed with!

- Supporting Characters: I loved how Ms. Williams portrayed other characters in this earlier timeline and premise. It was interesting to see how characters like Mr. Collins, George Wickham, and Caroline Bingley came into play! Both George Wickham and Caroline Bingley provided a good deal more conflict than I anticipated! I also adored Ms. Williams’s character additions of Miss Temple, Henry Jones, and Rose Kiddy (especially Rose Kiddy!)

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF: I don’t have anything to say here, but poor Mr. Bingley (my husband) might complain about feeling neglected while this book consumed my every thought!!

CONCLUSION:

With over 150 reviews on amazon and more than 70% of them 5 stars, I don’t think you need me to tell you this is one remarkable and praiseworthy Austenesque work! But I’ll add my accolades anyway! The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet is a sensitive, unconventional, and deeply emotional tale that is incredibly captivating and exquisitely designed! It is most definitely not one to be missed!

Austenesque Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book so much I've read it twice. Especially love the last lines (though i think the events may have needed to be slightly altered, but I digress).

This is a beautiful story that is masterfulyl written. It does drag a bit but i feel like it is meant to so that we feel what Elizabeth is feeling as she is sequesterd from nearly everybody while Darcy is away and uncommunicative. I highly recommend reading fellow reviewers, Debbie, Sheila, Rose and leslie.

Due to their excellent reviews I don't re-cap the plot. I will only say that I really enjoyed this book and loved the refreshing take on a much beloved love story. This is the kind of book that sticks with you. Even though it had been enarly 2 years since my last read i still vaguely remembered parts becuase it was "novel" and so amazing that it stuck with me.

please read this if you love happy endings, romance and P&P.

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Variation
Reviewed in Canada on December 23, 2018
This read captured me immediately and held me throughout. At times very moving. I sobbed through Chapter 19, but I’m soft hearted. I will call this my favorite variation so far. I did not mind the long read whatsoever. Highly recommend. There are some proofreading errors.

Second Read - April 4, 2020
Having only discovered JAFF in December 2018, as noted above, this book became a favorite back then. In Spring of this year, I undertook a week or so of rereading some favorites, so included this one. I enjoyed it as much the second time around, so I purchased it to add to my Kindle library, which I first read via KU.

[Nicole Barton Sasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Sam H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, and there's so much to learn of EB as we see her grow up. From a teenager, who basically nursed her father in his final years to the mature, confident young woman we recognize from P&P. She starts at 15, but her behavior is more like 13 and it doesn't really get better until she sees she will never be happy with herself, if she doesn't make better life choices and do all she can to fulfill her own potential (within social means).
All this time - years- she is ignored by a haughty young man who must become her husband and 4 out 5 years he stays away from his own home. We find E surrounded by people compassionate enough and willing to see her grow to her best self and ready to support her when she finally wants to make the change.
Meanwhile D is who he is, we don't really get to see any growth from him until he gets back to England, becomes in Lust with his "wife", behaves so poorly his cousins calls him on it and for some very strange reason E actually falls in love with him.
This left me scratching my head going - huh? why? There was no wooing...!! He didn't deserve her love.
Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. I just would have appreciated less expansion on E's temper tantrums in the first 3 years and more to the story when D ultimately returns.
I personally do not like the variations that basically have them fall in love in 48 hours based on lust and attraction. (Oh, and her love for Pemberley ;)

[Sarah Ingerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short Version: This is one of my all-time favorite P&P variations. It is an expertly crafted romance that successfully balances each character's individual coming of age story with their complicated, collective love story.

Long Version: I purchased this book in August 2019, skimmed through it, and never read it. I kept shuffling it to the bottom of my TBR pile. Not because my preliminary skim had found it wanting, but because I already knew I would love it. I wanted to savor it. I preemptively mourned never being able to read it again for the first time. Finally, I picked it up this year and it exceeded even my overwrought expectations.

Caitlin Williams is an undeniably brilliant writer. She has written some of the most beloved P&P variations out there (Ardently, The Events at Branxbourne, etc.) but this was my first introduction to her work. She perfectly captured these younger versions of Austen's beloved characters, building a story rife with youthful impudence and misunderstandings. I adored her versions of Elizabeth and Darcy. They seemed so realistically flawed - blundering their way through their relationship, often assuming the worst of each other and miscommunicating with abandon. The only tweak I would make would be to further delve into Darcy's time abroad. It is barely mentioned in the book (most of this time period focuses on Lizzy), and I would have loved to watch Darcy's journey that led to his returning home.

But, this small critique is not enough to pull this book down from five stars for me. In fact, I loved this book so much I purchased a paper copy for my bookshelf as well. This is a top ten JAFF for me, and I will definitely be re-reading portions of it for years to come.

[Melissa Halcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the first JAFF I ever read and it's still my absolute favorite! I read this book at least once a year if not more.

Knowing he hasn't much time left, Mr Bennet arranges for the future of his family...well, for his second daughter, at least. He calls upon his old school friend, Mr Darcy to take in his favorite child. Having just lost her beloved father, 15yo Elizabeth Bennet does not appreciate being sent off to the wilds of Derbyshire where she doesn't know anyone while her family remains behind. So, she runs off.

Stiff and arrogant, 23 yo Darcy has to chase down their recalcitrant new ward. When he finds her, he gets far more than he bargains for when a former love interest sees them together and spreads terrible rumors. Now, having just met under very inauspicious circumstances, D&E must wed or face scandal.

This is the story of a young, headstrong girl learning and growing into a capable and strong young woman. Darcy is absent for a large portion of this book as he uses the foibles of his hapless cousin as an excuse to avoid his unwanted wife. For a while, you really don't like D. Or E, for that matter. They both have a lot to learn about life and love.

I adore this book and will read it over and over and I recommend it to everyone!

[Tandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice Pride and Prejudice variation. I was a little impatient with young Elizabeth and Darcy. Finally, they grew up.

[Barbara K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: This review contains some minor spoilers. 3.5 stars.

The story begins with Mr. Bennet's death, at which time his old friend George Darcy agrees to take in Bennet's second-oldest daughter, 15-year-old Elizabeth, to be educated by a governess alongside his daughter Georgiana at Pemberley. The elder Mr. Darcy travels to Longbourn in the company of his son Fitzwilliam, who is 23, and the governess, Miss Temple. But Elizabeth doesn't like that she's to be sent away to live with strangers, and in her grief she rebels, dressing in boy's clothing and taking off on her own before they arrive. On her way out of Meryton she is nearly run over by the Darcy coach on its way to collect her.

When the Darcys arrive and learn that Elizabeth has run off, young Mr. Darcy realizes why the boy they almost ran over seemed unusual. It must be because that was no boy, but a girl dressed as a boy, and he informs his father of his suspicion and then volunteers to go find her. He rides off, thinking it will take him no more than an hour or two to retrieve her, for he believes he knows which direction she went and that she couldn't get far on foot.

But in fact she leads him on a wild chase, is caught once, but escapes and eludes him again. She spends a night in a farmer's barn, and the following day has to be rescued from two terrible men who mean her harm. That's when Darcy has just spotted two society women he knows, sisters who are traveling together and stopped in the town for a change of horses. Their departure is delayed, and Darcy asks one of them for aid. Constance is very kind and helpful and finds some feminine clothing for Elizabeth. But her sister Emily happens to be the woman who feels scorned by Darcy (we learn more about why later in the story), and once she realizes he's been alone with Elizabeth Bennet, she decides to get her revenge on Darcy by spreading rumors about him, resulting in a scandal that could spell the ruination of Elizabeth, as well as a bad reputation for Darcy. The only way Darcy can see out of the scandal is for him to marry this misbehaving girl, Elizabeth Bennet, who is but 15 to his 23 years.

That may sound a little creepy to people today, though it is known that girls, especially in high society, sometimes married quite young in those days. Even today we know of instances, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility. But add to her immaturity Darcy's opinion of her as a disrespectful, misbehaving hoyden with whom he can't hold a conversation without it degrading into a shouting match, and one can understand why he's not very happy with his marriage. But his own behavior seems a bit over the top, and I wound up sympathizing quite a lot more with Elizabeth and at times thinking if I'd been a man in the story I would have wanted to call Darcy out for his behavior toward her and, along with her, his own sister, who winds up nearly as neglected by her brother.

There were some flaws that threw me out of the story, especially comma splices all over the place, as if this didn't get much editing. A few other errors in research and typos threw me out as well. But for the most part it is a compelling read, and it kept me turning pages to the end.

I was angry with this Mr. Darcy almost all the way through the book, to the point that I have trouble reconciling his much improved behavior at the delightfully romantic, humorous end of the story with his bitter, uncommunicative - even cryptic - and autocratic behavior throughout most of the story. I think the author overreached Darcy's canon character, in that regard, which I've always seen as simply intensely introverted and reserved, with a lot of class-conscious influence from his family and his loyalty to them thrown in, but not outright cruel, and still possessing the ability to love and to show affection once his reserve is dropped - as he does even in this story at times for his sister. He does go through a dramatic improvement late in this story, but only once he realizes he's in love, which I also have trouble understanding. Being in love doesn't make a person change the essence of who they are, and the Darcy in love in this story is a completely different person.

So be warned, this is not your canon Darcy, and his character arc seems to have a disconnect. Lizzy doesn't feel that close to canon either, being in the beginning more of a Lydia character, spoiled, selfish, and way too impulsive, unable to see the consequences of her actions beyond the end of her nose. I'd expect more of a girl of 15, even in that era, or perhaps especially in that era, and especially of the girl who grows up to be Elizabeth Bennet, and later Mrs. Darcy.

In this story Darcy finds himself forced by an unwarranted scandal into a marriage with, basically, a spoiled brat. If he wasn't willing to consummate the marriage just yet because of her age - which I can't blame him for at all, in fact that was the one thing I admired about him here - he could have at least seen her for the child she was and allowed her the chance to grow up, with his positive influence available to help her along. Instead he behaves with as much immaturity and tantrum-like behavior as she does. He seems every bit as spoiled and childish as his child bride, in addition to being mentally cruel and neglectful. Worst of all, he runs away. For. Years. The first time for one year, the second time for three! With no communication with his young wife whatsoever. I found this rather appalling.

So much for the characters. But the pacing of the story was good. Again, it's a story that, although long and having its flaws and outrageous behavior, moves along at an incredible pace. I did enjoy the banter and the humor and romance once Elizabeth grew up and Darcy returned home determined to make his marriage work, and Miss Bingley entered the picture. If you don't mind being outrageously unhappy with a major character through the better part of a story, and you love JAFF, you'll like this one.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very minor spoilers but hid just in case....

WOW. Just WOW! I seriously can't wait to see what this author does next! Her first book Ardently is in my top five all time favorite JAFF books, so I was excited to get started on this one and I was not at all disappointed. This book too now holds a spot in my top 5, quite possibly my number 1! I started this book while my kids were napping, picked it back up when they went to bed, and read until three in the morning until I had finished, knowing I had to be up at 5:30. I literally devoured this book. I think I might have actually hugged my phone to my chest when I finished (in replacement of hugging an actual book) and it was one of those books that sticks with you long afterwards.

I will talk only of what I love about the book because quite honestly there was nothing I didn't love. In this version a 15-year-old Lizzy is sent to live with the Darcy family after her father dies. The arrangements Mr. Bennett made prior to his death actually made total sense to me. The loving benevolent Jane is to live with the Gardiners to help them with their children; the younger girls and their mother in Meryton close to their family, where they can continue to be their silly selves, and Elizabeth to Pemberley. I can easily see why the favorite child of her father and the most inquisitive and free spirited child would be sent to live in a situation that would allow her to continue to flourish intellectually speaking all while being able to spirit about the wilds of pemberley. A previous association and eventual close friendship between Mr. Bennett and the elder Mr. Darcy has been added to make this possible. In an act of grief, wondering why she must be sent away from the rest of her family Lizzy cuts her hair and puts on boys clothing to appear as a boy and runs away. A young Darcy goes after what he sees as a petulant child in need of a strict governess and in details I won't spoil and for propriety sake, returns with her to pemberley as husband and wife. Lizzy's time on the run was truly entertaining. The writing was so beautifully descriptive that It was like watching a movie as it played out. In fact, I would love if they made this book into a movie. I could perfectly see the events unfold in my head.

From the point of descending on Pemberley with his child bride, the young master of pemberley is quite absent both in feeling and presence. For all sense and purposes Darcy appears to be a tyrannical husband, although we know the new Master of Pemberley means well and thinks solely of the protection and care of others but he is still a very prideful young man who assumes he should rightfully make decisions for all those in his charge. Most detrimental to his relationship with Lizzy, was his refusal to allow her to see her family, for his belief that they were unfit and would be an embarrassment to he and his relations. Some reviews stated that in these interactions they felt like Lizzie often acted as a spoiled child way younger than her 15 to 18 years. I personally felt like she acted perfectly reasonable considering the circumstances she was in. She was sent away from her family while grieving her father and basically imprisoned on the grounds of Pemberley not allowed to even see her beloved sister. I can't imagine being all of 15 and forced to live in a house with strangers and no longer allowed to see my family, no matter how fabulous the house or how prestigious the family. No, I think Lizzie acted quite appropriately to the circumstances, especially considering I myself wanted to stomp my feet and yell at Darcy.

Darcy and Elizabeth fight quite often when in each other's company, but there is still that feeling of underlying desire that literally burns through the pages. It takes Darcy three long years to return from his final journey. In this time there are interactions and events that change Elizabeth into a beautiful and confident woman, never losing her wild spirited side of course. Lots of the angst of the story plays out here in that you feel the overwhelming sense of abandonment Elizabeth feels although you are proud of her when she finally decides to stop feeling sorry for herself and becomes quite a formidable but loving mistress of Pemberley. During this time she also forges strong bonds with Georgianna, Georgianna's governess, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. The Colonel is a huge presence in this book and very enjoyably so. I loved their relationship in this book. It was one of pure love in a platonic form. I did honestly think that it was Elizabeth Fitzwilliam had been harboring feelings for the whole time, not the woman we eventually find out he holds regard for. The four of them become a small, loving, and beautiful family.

Darcy comes home at last as a 28 year old man, and finds a very grown up and matured 20 year old Elizabeth, that he instantly becomes quite smitten with. From here their interactions are pure guilty pleasure to read. The dialogue between the two is some of the most enjoyable I have read with Elizabeth at her most clever and really the author as the most clever. The scene with the dressing gong was hysterical. Elizabeth is not about to let Darcy off so easily, their demons from years past most undoubtedly surface, and the fire between them is intense.

I loved, loved, loved this book! An absolute 5 stars and a must read!

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreakingly beautiful..."Death, however, can have an even greater influence over us than love..." words that captured my imagination at the start of this book and to some degree are very true. Elizabeth is angry, hurt and feeling completely abandoned, not only by the loss of her beloved father, but by his decision for her to become the ward of Mr. George Darcy.

My heart ached for Elizabeth throughout this story. It ached for the loss of her father. It ached for her separation from her mother and sisters, especially Jane. And it ached for her innocence, immaturity and the unfairness of life. There are definitely lighthearted and amusing moments that leave you chuckling. I especially loved Elizabeth's first impression of Fitzwilliam Darcy's looks!

For me, this book needs to be read to completely understand the depth of emotion it elicits. I found moments interspersed when Elizabeth was feeling the loss of her father, family or loneliness that brought a sharp intake of breath and tears from me.

Thank you Ms. Williams for such an evocative and poignant tale of love, loss and redemption. Powerful to say the least. The cover for this book is a perfect rendition of the story. When I was 80% through this book, the song by the Beatles, 'The Long and Winding Road' came into my head and wont leave.

This story wont leave me for a long time...thank you Claudine.

[Suzan Lauder · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1 Fave JAFF Regency EVAH!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many readers may agree reading about unlikable characters is not agreeable to either party. However, in recent years very famous examples have crept up, such as Gone Girl and Girl on a Train, where the story so thoroughly involves the reader this fact is all but forgotten. Such it is for large portions of The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet.

In essence, I found this title to be divided into three sections: Elizabeth and Darcy both disagreeable and immature, Elizabeth maturing and Darcy still disagreeable and immature, and finally both characters maturing into admirable and likable characters. However, when you know the author has intended this to be true, and the writing of the plot itself is so fine, this can be forgiven. This story has the ability to capture the reader's attention immediately and to keep it throughout the long story to follow.

Not to say that this is some major adventure story. It is, still, in essentials, a character study, and a discussion of the society of the Regency period. Class, position and money are still the qualities admired, and those without are barely noticed, and are considered to be inferior in essentials.

In the original Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth is 20 years of age and Darcy is 28 with some background and experience that have made them a bit more aware of the world around them and the intrinsic value of individuals, despite their personal misunderstandings. However, in this tale, Elizabeth is a quite child-like 15 and Darcy a still swaggering, superior 23 years of age when they meet. This sets the stage for even more volatility as neither has learned any of the real lessons of self-restraint and compassion. Both are very self-centered; Elizabeth due to youth and Darcy due to being a spoiled arse.

Mr. Bennet has died and left his family destitute. However, as a last moment bid to ensure a good life for his favorite daughter, he reaches out to request a favor of a great friend from his youth, George Darcy. Mr. Darcy agrees to accept Elizabeth as his ward and take her to Pemberley to be raised side by side with his daughter Georgiana. Father and son Darcy arrive with a new governess to collect Elizabeth and bring her to Pemberley.

Fearing the restrictions of this new life, Elizabeth bolts and, dressed as a young boy, makes her escape. Young Mr. Darcy, Fitzwilliam, takes after her with the thrill of the hunt, his father's warning to not be alone with her ringing in his ears. However, chaos and scandal ensue and the honorable son takes the child Elizabeth as his bride. Both parties are very bitter about the sacrifice they are making to avoid scandal and a very acrimonious forced marriage scenario begins. The story then takes us over several years as both attempt to avoid the marriage and the marriage partner. We slowly - ever slowly - see the young couple work through their differences, as they each mature and begin to make better choices, however, at different paces.

Although the story sounds simple, it contains the complexity of the two main characters as its center piece. I found I did not like either of them at the beginning and wondered how the author would bring them together. But, the arguments were realistic, the back story for each character's pain very understandable, and the building of the relationship was slow but logical in its growth. The author allows the reader to feel for the characters what they feel for each other; first bitterness and dislike, and eventually understanding and affection.

As in many other forced marriage variations, Elizabeth builds support around her from the minor characters, such as Colonel Fitzwilliam and his mother, the Countess of Matlock. We also see the influence of Mrs. Gardner and Mr. Bingley in softening the hearts of the main characters. Occasionally we see both on the verge of making possibly disastrous choices, but then feel the pull of family and duty to bring them back to the right path. It is not until later they realize they feel this obligation to each other with a stronger feeling than simply duty.

Of course, we have those who are mean spirited - Miss Bingley and her ilk. We have those intent on destroying the couple - Mr. Wickham. But, we also have the cast of characters we have loved from the original, and, occasionally, some of the original writings of Austen used to great effect, although often in different circumstances. There are some minor storylines that add additional spice.

Although a long book, I found myself starting to wish it would not end. The characters grow on you and become friends and family. The author creates very three dimensional characters with warts and all, but Elizabeth's thoughts on loving others despite their flaws is a beautiful passage and the reader begins to feel the same. I guess I loved this book because of the flawed characters, and added in the flaws of the text as just another piece of the whole to be loved. This is quite a satisfying variation and a talented author. Highly recommended.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overwhelmingly one of the best variations out there...

The amazing story of Elizabeth Bennet growing up from the age of 15, the typical rebellious teen, to her becoming a charming secure and well centered woman of 19 going on 20. Her marriage at the age of 15, to the Fitzwilliam Darcy son and heir of Pemberley partly because of her stubbornly ways and partly from his assumptions and errors, make for an incredible but entertaining story of one girl becoming an amazing woman and one man becoming the man he truly can be.
The story captures and allows us to delve into Elizabeth's character in a depth that no other writer of variations has gone before. It is written with such credibility and thoroughly believable. Darcy's character is similarly brilliantly written, making it truly engrossing and fascinating to read. I am thoroughly pleased to have read this book written by a talented writer to be sure!

[Sheryl Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A True Variation - Well Done and Absorbing

I didn't want it to end, but when it did, I was very satisfied. The author writes well though a fastidious beta/editor would have improved this enjoyable read to near perfection for me. The transformation of the relationship could have been expanded, for both of them and I would have liked to have more of the reasoning and relationship between the fathers. The passion, though far from explicit, was sufficient and illuminating enough but the path to it felt quick and a bit of a mystery. The author's take on the old Earl and Countess was unusual and handled well. There were many areas that easily could have been elaborated rather than mentioned after the fact such as Elizabeth's olive branch to Lady C. but all in all, I enjoyed what was offered and await this author's next work.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly unique variation in that it starts 5 years before our beloved classic. As the title implies, this is very much centered around Elizabeth, ages 15-20, as she makes her way to becoming the Mrs. Darcy we all know she should be. I stayed up late reading for a few nights waiting for Darcy to appear, like in the original, he is absent from parts of this book and I think I most looked forward to the times they were together and the sparks that would fly. I enjoyed Col. Fitzwilliam's expanded role and the well drawn and new supporting characters. I am sure I will read this one again and again.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stayed up two nights in a row! Great story--not for angst weenies but just my kind of delicious tension. Thank you Just Jane 1813 for the recommendation! I'm going to see what else this promising author has read and "feed my kindle!"

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is this an incredible Pride and Prejudice retelling, it's just an incredibly wonderful book all around.
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At first I struggled with Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam being so unlikable in their youth, but watching them grow and change and mature as the story progressed was just so enjoyable.
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Caitlin Williams loves Pride and Prejudice and I love that she's so good at sharing that love through her writing.
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Definitely one to read again soon.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept the household, friends, family, home cooked meals at a distance for two days while I read this story. When I was finished I re-read it again. This author is such a wonderful writer. I am very drawn to this writer from her previous books I have read. This writer allows me to visualize this story and I can vividly imagine her story and things she describes. While entering a contest I had a moment to really, really ponder the cover. I was intrigued by the cover of a young portrait of Elizabeth at 15 years of age. The beauty that you see there and to imagine how it evolves as she becomes a woman. "Love can grow" is a statement in the book that has a very powerful meaning to me while reading this book.
The story begins with the death of Mr. Bennet and the family is to be separated. Elizabeth is to go live with old Mr. Darcy and to live at Pemberley. Elizabeth decides to run off as Mr. Darcy and his son comes and get her from Meryton. As Mr. Darcy comes to rescue Elizabeth there is a situation that leads to a marriage between Elizabeth and Darcy. Darcy brings an immature Elizabeth to Pemberley as his wife. They find out that they are both stubborn and strong willed people. Old Mr. Darcy offers to sent Darcy off to Scotland to manage a family estate to give them a break and time. Darcy goes to Scotland to visit his estate and decides to stay away for 1 year. During that time Elizabeth develops a relationship with old Mr. Darcy, Georgianna, Miss Temple, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. We also see a relationship with the Countess of Matlock Lady Fitzwilliam at Haddon Hall. When Elizabeth is 16 years old Mr. Darcy dies and Darcy returns from Scotland. Months later Darcy leaves for the West Indies for 3 years. Colonel Fitzwilliam is asked to stay at Pemberley to watch over Elizabeth and Georgianna. Colonel Fitzwilliam is also recovering from a war injury. During this time Georgianna and Elizabeth's relationship is beautifully shown from sister to friendship to role model. We also see a love that develops for the Colonel Fitzwilliam. At age 18 Colonel Fitzwilliam take Elizabeth to London to buy clothes, visit her family -the Gardniers and Jane. They also travel to Meryton to see her sisters and mother. She also meets Wickham while in Meryton. Soon they are back to Pemberley where Elizabeth start to take charge. Where are the letters???? That's right there are none between Darcy and Elizabeth!!!!! While in the West Indies Darcy meets Bingley. After 3 years Darcy returns to London with Bingley. He invites Bingley and his family back to Pemberley. Will Carioline every learn? Darcy now sees Elizabeth at age 20. She is a woman of beauty and a true mistress of Pemberley. The gradual communication and situations that occur leads them into a true marriage that is great. A beautiful evolution.
I would love to read a sequel.