What Really Happened Before Mr Darcy's Wedding

by S.M. Klassen

In Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice, there is a span of time between Mr. Darcy's second proposal to Elizabeth Bennet of 6 October 1812 and the marriage service, 16 December 1812, about which nothing was written and has long been a mystery. In this book, we finally learn what really happened in those ten and a half weeks: who said what to whom, and what they chose not to express aloud...

248 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2019

Reviews

[wosedwew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worries go down better with soup. ~ Jewish Proverb

What Really Happened Before Mr. Darcy’s Wedding? According to this – not much! Everyone writes letters. Everyone waits. Engaged couples try to get time alone together. Wickham and Lydia get up to something.

We read letters between every canon character imaginable. By far, my favorite letters were from Mrs. Hill who is well-known for her recipes and shares them with one and all.

Fish, to taste right, must swim three times — in water, in butter, and in wine. ~ Polish Proverb

We learn the ingredients and directions for:
Syllabub
Carp Pie
Eel Pie
Onion Soup
French Bread
Tarts of all sorts
White Soup – several varieties
And my personal favorite:
Aromatic Bath Water – quote from the book: This is an excellent bath to strengthen the limbs; it removes pains proceeding from cold, and promotes perspiration.

Other than the recipes the kindest thing to say: a bit of a yawn.

What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow. ~ A.A. Milne
(yes, I know, this quote is more appropriate for Mr. Collins but I liked it anyway)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told in part through letters, this was a charming story in which nothing really happens. Since we know the general story arc of the Pride and Prejudice cast already, this was part author's fancy and part summarizing. It was a bit boring in parts, but true P&P fans might very well delight in this.


On a side note (or should I just say n.b.?) I really do hope that this author continues to publish more Mary stories!

[James S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than average

Bumped to 4 stars. I found the story well written but not terribly interesting. Found the Wickham plot confusing and I’m not sure what the plot was, whether it was stopped or if anyone was punished. I know that’s an odd trifecta but true.

If you miss this story or if you don’t, not much happened here.

[Madenna U · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story adds a "missing scene" type function after the accepted proposal and the actual wedding. It is divided by week and written in letter style. It outlines not only the principle characters, but also those below stairs.

[PJ Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Reading

I read this volume after reading the first vo!ume of Mary Mary series. This one was great after being introduced to the characters in Volume 1. This was indeed a presequel. I am having a great time reading these with characters I thought I knew and the new ones introduced by S.M. Klassen.

[Barbara Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great prequel book also read the three Oh’ Mary books plus the Downstairs Upstairs books brilliant stories keep them coming.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled on this book after reading the author's four Pride & Prejudice sequels (which revolve around Mary Bennet and Georgiana Darcy). It book reads more like an author's notes about backstory than an actual novel; it flits among characters and there is not much in the way of plot. But it's still a charming and pleasant read, and when I finished it I was disappointed that there was nothing else by the author to read next.

[CharlotteReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, a reference of cookbooks starting with Hannah Glass-- how could a book start any better (I mean beside the P&P quote “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”)

It is useful to actually read this title, with so many Hannah Glass recipes, before reading Mary, Mary --as reading it before puts it out of sequence.

I Love Klassen's writings and find them to be very well researched. More comments as I read. <3

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Klassen’s writing style is so elegant and witty. This is a charming book.