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The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh: And Other Pride and Prejudice Stories
When Mr. Collins leaves his living at Rosings for a higher (or at least more lucrative) calling, a lascivious new rector takes his place. Mr. Darcy fears this handsome man of the cloth may have designs on his sickly cousin Anne, and he races to rescue her from a fate worse than death: marriage. In addition to the title novelette, this collection also includes three Pride and Prejudice inspired short stories that offer playful glimpses into the future life of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.
106 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Skylar Hamilton Burris
20 books279 followersSkylar Hamilton Burris is the author of five novels, including three sequels to Pride and Prejudice, a collection of poetry, and numerous essays and short stories. Driven by a love of traditional, meaningful poetry, Skylar founded Ancient Paths Literary Magazine in 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 31, 2017
I read and enjoyed this author's Conviction: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice a few years ago. In fact, I've reread it several times. I hadn't noted any other contributions from her to the Kindle JAFF world until this. I picked it up, curious to see if this was as good. I'm happy to report that this is similarly high quality writing.
There are three short stories in this collection. The first is actually a novella and gives this collection its title. It's a delightfully unusual take on the happenings at Rosings when a new parson, Mr. Jonson, replaces Mr. Collins. He is very different from the previous cleric and has quite the effect on the women at Rosings. I really enjoyed the surprise ending here.
The other two focus more on everyone's favorite couple, Elizabeth and Darcy. (All 3 stories, including the opening novella, occurs after they're wed, so these are sequels.)
My favorite is The Battle To Win, where the married couple exchanges letters while Darcy is away from Pemberley. It certainly satisfies our craving for insights into their relationship as a couple, and the wit flows long and deep here.
Mr. Darcy's Homecoming, the shortest of the 3 short stories, gives a sweet glimpse into the romantic, playful side of their relationship without getting objectionably graphic.
Great happy meal combo of well written tales!
There are three short stories in this collection. The first is actually a novella and gives this collection its title. It's a delightfully unusual take on the happenings at Rosings when a new parson, Mr. Jonson, replaces Mr. Collins. He is very different from the previous cleric and has quite the effect on the women at Rosings. I really enjoyed the surprise ending here.
The other two focus more on everyone's favorite couple, Elizabeth and Darcy. (All 3 stories, including the opening novella, occurs after they're wed, so these are sequels.)
My favorite is The Battle To Win, where the married couple exchanges letters while Darcy is away from Pemberley. It certainly satisfies our craving for insights into their relationship as a couple, and the wit flows long and deep here.
Mr. Darcy's Homecoming, the shortest of the 3 short stories, gives a sweet glimpse into the romantic, playful side of their relationship without getting objectionably graphic.
Great happy meal combo of well written tales!
September 19, 2017
This small collection of novella and two short stories that are sequels to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was a fantastic introduction to the author's work. I will definitely be going back for the two novels that precede this.
The opening story, The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh was a novella and follows the plot thread of the Darcy's now estranged relations with the de Bourghs. Lady Catherine's olive branch letter brings the Darcys for a visit and the opportunity to meet the latest of of Aunt Catherine's 'less than' charming vicars.
Then the next two short pieces- A Battle to Win and Mr. Darcy's Homecoming underscore the ongoing love affair of the Darcys in their marriage.
The playfulness and wryness of the writing, the engaging characters, and cleverness of the plotting left me smiling and even laughing. I loved that 'A Battle to Win' was an epistolary style story and was probably my favorite of the three inviting the reader to enjoy a glimpse into this husband and wife.
All in all, a fun and lovely collection that I heartily recommend to the Austen lover. The stories are obviously connected to her earlier work, but I had no trouble diving in and enjoying these as standalone pieces.
The opening story, The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh was a novella and follows the plot thread of the Darcy's now estranged relations with the de Bourghs. Lady Catherine's olive branch letter brings the Darcys for a visit and the opportunity to meet the latest of of Aunt Catherine's 'less than' charming vicars.
Then the next two short pieces- A Battle to Win and Mr. Darcy's Homecoming underscore the ongoing love affair of the Darcys in their marriage.
The playfulness and wryness of the writing, the engaging characters, and cleverness of the plotting left me smiling and even laughing. I loved that 'A Battle to Win' was an epistolary style story and was probably my favorite of the three inviting the reader to enjoy a glimpse into this husband and wife.
All in all, a fun and lovely collection that I heartily recommend to the Austen lover. The stories are obviously connected to her earlier work, but I had no trouble diving in and enjoying these as standalone pieces.
January 11, 2011
The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh is an anthology encompassing three Pride and Prejudice related scenes that were once apart of Skylar Burris's novel An Unlikely Missionary. In the Introduction, Ms. Burris explains that while revising An Unlikely Missionary, it became necessary for these scenes to be cut. But because they were some of her favorite scenes, she opted to tweak them a little and publish them in this compilation. These three scenes are scrumptious little morsels that will be sure to stave off your hunger for some Jane Austen!
THE STRANGE MARRIAGE OF ANNE DE BOURGH:
In this forty page novelette, the Darcys meet Mr. Jonson, Mr. Collin's successor and Lady Catherine's new parson. Even though the attractive and charming Mr. Jonson makes every effort to be agreeable to the Darcys, they cannot help but feel uneasy and apprehensive about his presence at Rosings Park. Especially when they catch Lady Catherine frequently gazing upon Mr. Jonson with considerable pleasure! But who is the duplicitous and grasping Mr. Jonson really trying to seduce, Lady Catherine or her daughter, Anne de Bourgh?
To keep reading go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
THE STRANGE MARRIAGE OF ANNE DE BOURGH:
In this forty page novelette, the Darcys meet Mr. Jonson, Mr. Collin's successor and Lady Catherine's new parson. Even though the attractive and charming Mr. Jonson makes every effort to be agreeable to the Darcys, they cannot help but feel uneasy and apprehensive about his presence at Rosings Park. Especially when they catch Lady Catherine frequently gazing upon Mr. Jonson with considerable pleasure! But who is the duplicitous and grasping Mr. Jonson really trying to seduce, Lady Catherine or her daughter, Anne de Bourgh?
To keep reading go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
April 6, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. I found it exceedingly helpful to have read both of Burris' other novels before reading this collection of short stories.
The main story, which the title refers to, was very intriguing right away. I could feel myself scowling at the appropriate times, and was very content with the ending. I liked how Anne de Bourgh wasn't a comrade of Darcy's in this novel. It was rather refreshing.
The other two shorter stories made me chuckle and were lots of fun to read!
The main story, which the title refers to, was very intriguing right away. I could feel myself scowling at the appropriate times, and was very content with the ending. I liked how Anne de Bourgh wasn't a comrade of Darcy's in this novel. It was rather refreshing.
The other two shorter stories made me chuckle and were lots of fun to read!
March 8, 2023
I will stay neutral in this review. I am all for a surprise ending, the third act twist, so to speak, but an 'out of nowhere and from nothing' makes it difficult to enjoy. I allow that there was amusement, likely the writer wished to share a laugh, but there was little enjoyment found in the resolution. The tid-bits that followed? Single scenes that were not connected to anything else? There was one which was a bit more developed, the one with the letters, and that proved a little amusing, and while it the whole of it was unique, making it 3 stars for me, I did not get enjoy some of the parts with the author who so obviously enjoyed writing them. I am determined, however, to purchase another of her books and try something else, for unique is a great treat!
December 20, 2017
5 Stars because...
The main story was a solid 3 stars, but the short stories were collectively worth 5 stars on their own.
The main story was a solid 3 stars, but the short stories were collectively worth 5 stars on their own.
September 24, 2014
I read P&P about once a year. I love the characters, and always wanted to know what happened to poor Anne after Mr. Darcy chose Elizabeth. When Skylar Burris appeared on my blog to pitch The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh to me, I snapped up the sample right away, and I enjoyed it so much I bought the book. Without further dawdling...
From a Reader's Perspective:
What I love most about Pride and Prejudice is the language. I get caught up in the flow and rhythm of Austin's words on the page. While this is a collection of short stories based on the P&P characters, it doesn't have the same cadence (which I firmly believe is one of the major reasons so many of us love the root story). Even so, I enjoyed the easy banter between Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, further rooting their odd relationship as one that works. Both were overly witty in P&P, and that was both a blessing and a curse. My favorite short was the letters the couple exchanged, as it displayed a lot of their nature and gift with words. There was no backstory, so if you aren't familiar with the original, you probably won't enjoy these short tales. Writing was well done and flowed smoothly, but was missing that je ne sais quoi I was looking forward to.
From an Editor's Perspective:
There was one instance where the author lost her character's name (Jonson became Johsnon), but there were only three or four other errors.
Rating:
1 Star for giving me laughs with some of my favorite P&P characters
1 Star for the letters short (which was very well done)
1 Star for giving Anne a happily ever after
1 Star for writing that had few errors
- 1 Star for not capturing me with prose that had cadence
Overall 4 out of 5 stars. Enjoyable read with fun shorts that'll keep you entertained.
From a Reader's Perspective:
What I love most about Pride and Prejudice is the language. I get caught up in the flow and rhythm of Austin's words on the page. While this is a collection of short stories based on the P&P characters, it doesn't have the same cadence (which I firmly believe is one of the major reasons so many of us love the root story). Even so, I enjoyed the easy banter between Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, further rooting their odd relationship as one that works. Both were overly witty in P&P, and that was both a blessing and a curse. My favorite short was the letters the couple exchanged, as it displayed a lot of their nature and gift with words. There was no backstory, so if you aren't familiar with the original, you probably won't enjoy these short tales. Writing was well done and flowed smoothly, but was missing that je ne sais quoi I was looking forward to.
From an Editor's Perspective:
There was one instance where the author lost her character's name (Jonson became Johsnon), but there were only three or four other errors.
Rating:
1 Star for giving me laughs with some of my favorite P&P characters
1 Star for the letters short (which was very well done)
1 Star for giving Anne a happily ever after
1 Star for writing that had few errors
- 1 Star for not capturing me with prose that had cadence
Overall 4 out of 5 stars. Enjoyable read with fun shorts that'll keep you entertained.
April 2, 2015
The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh and Other Pride and Prejudice Stories
Enjoyable short stories about the Darcy family including the de Bourgh branch. The Collins family moves on to a better offer, and the new Rector seems to have designs on Anne for all the wrong reasons. Darcy to the rescue. The Battle of Wits was particularly impressive. While Darcy was in London on business, the first letter was to Elizabeth was just that - business. Elizabeth response letter informed he husband that was not that interested in business, but would be expecting a love letter. The verbal sparring is always great, but the exchange of sparring letters was well written. Very short quick read book.
Enjoyable short stories about the Darcy family including the de Bourgh branch. The Collins family moves on to a better offer, and the new Rector seems to have designs on Anne for all the wrong reasons. Darcy to the rescue. The Battle of Wits was particularly impressive. While Darcy was in London on business, the first letter was to Elizabeth was just that - business. Elizabeth response letter informed he husband that was not that interested in business, but would be expecting a love letter. The verbal sparring is always great, but the exchange of sparring letters was well written. Very short quick read book.
Want to read
February 15, 2016When Mr. Collins leaves his living at Rosings for a higher (or at least more lucrative) calling, a lascivious new rector takes his place. Mr. Darcy fears this handsome man of the cloth may have designs on his sickly cousin Anne, and he races to rescue her from a fate worse than death: marriage. In addition to the title novelette, this collection also includes three Pride and Prejudice inspired short stories that offer playful glimpses into the future life of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. These short Regency romance selections will provide you with an enjoyable introduction to the writing style of Skylar Hamilton Burris, who has also authored two popular, novel-length sequels to Pride and Prejudice.
September 11, 2013
Do not read this book. Sorry to the author, Skylar Hamilton Burris....but this looks like rough draft = final copy. Your other books are better thought, better written and provide a good story. The marriage story goes from the rouge....who she might be naïve enough to marry to all of a sudden marrying someone....and you are not brought into the process of how she grew to love him.
October 20, 2013
This is a collection of short stories. The author explains in the Forward how they came to be removed from other works.
The Strange marriage of Anne de Bourgh is a decent enough work with a twist in the tale. The other two are adorable interactions between Mr & Mrs. Darcy.
The Strange marriage of Anne de Bourgh is a decent enough work with a twist in the tale. The other two are adorable interactions between Mr & Mrs. Darcy.
February 22, 2023
This reminds me of a dessert called Pavlova, meringue topped with fruit and whipped cream. It was sweet and enjoyable, but not very substantial. Still, if you're in the mood for a couple of hours with Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, curl up in a comfortable chair with this book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews