Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World (A Pride and Prejudice Variation Book 0) in Austen Variations

May 07, 2014 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

After reading all the other reviews I would like to point out that some of the reviews are repeats so if you are looking at the number of "stars" don't be fooled. Secondly, I read this book as The Last Man in the World, shortly after it was published, and have re-read it at least two other times. The reason for not posting a review earlier is that I only recently retired and now have time to devote to posting reviews. I wanted to re-read this one b/c in reading other reviews many claim this one After reading all the other reviews I would like to point out that some of the reviews are repeats so if you are looking at the number of "stars" don't be fooled. Secondly, I read this book as The Last Man in the World, shortly after it was published, and have re-read it at least two other times. The reason for not posting a review earlier is that I only recently retired and now have time to devote to posting reviews. I wanted to re-read this one b/c in reading other reviews many claim this one is their favorites written by AR. I love Abigail Reynolds' books. One must always remember that her variations are just that. Don't read variations if you expect the characters or the events to remain true to JA. I find so fascinating how Abigail tweaks them both in her books and, yet, I find them to be totally reminiscent of our original couple. There are books which I have read which only use the names and have no connection for me. I kept reminding myself that the reason Elizabeth doesn't rebel at Darcy's various "requests" after the marriage is that Charlotte cautioned her, "What will your life be like if you make him miserable? Would you live with a husband who hates you? Please, Lizzie, do not give him that power; for your own sake, find ways you can be happy within a marriage you do not want." Yes, I was not happy that our usually forthright Lizzie did not immediately put Darcy straight on his assumption that she had accepted his marriage proposal and our original Elizabeth would have been impulsive and done so. But this Lizzie thinks it through and realizes that she and her sisters will be ruined as both Col. Fitzwilliam and two gamekeepers witnessed Darcy kissing and holding her. Even in re-reading this novel I could not put it down. I had to laugh at myself and say, "Get thee to bed - you know what happens" so I finished it before reading the morning paper the next day. I found the bedroom scenes to be handled very nicely. I would have liked more story at the end....did she have a boy or a girl? What happened with Jane and Bingley? (Even though it seems a foregone conclusion.) Did anyone explain to Georgina what had happened, as she was so disillusioned about marriage in witnessing the confusing relationship between Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth. But even with those events not addressed I have to give this all the stars it deserved. I own all of AR's books and (note the date when I wrote this) - so they are many. ...more

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Sep 23, 2010 Barb rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own-e-book, austen-fan-fiction-read

I decided to reread this title after giving it 3 stars in 2010. This was probably one of the very first JA FanFic I ever read. I loved P&P and I don't think I understood the concept of variations when I first read this. Rereading it now gives me the chance to change my rating.

In this story, Darcy has proposed to Elizabeth and then kissed her in plain sight of Colonel Fitzwilliam and a few others. She did not have a chance to answer, but must marry to prevent a scandal.

Truly, in this variation I decided to reread this title after giving it 3 stars in 2010. This was probably one of the very first JA FanFic I ever read. I loved P&P and I don't think I understood the concept of variations when I first read this. Rereading it now gives me the chance to change my rating.

In this story, Darcy has proposed to Elizabeth and then kissed her in plain sight of Colonel Fitzwilliam and a few others. She did not have a chance to answer, but must marry to prevent a scandal.

Truly, in this variation there is only one major misunderstanding. Darcy and Elizabeth both believe they understand the other and so continually avoid discussing their relationship. Because they both are afraid talking will make the situation worse, they avoid talking and actually do make it worse. They assume they understand the other when in fact they don't. This actually is true of many, many marriages, so I am not sure why I felt in 2010 that this was unrealistic.

Happily, I can now compare this story to a few hundred other P&P variations and give it the 5 star rating it deserves. It is a lovely story of allowing a spouse to be themselves and learning to love them for the person they actually are and not who we think they are. Isn't that what we all want in our marriage? If we set aside our pride and prejudices, we can genuinely love and be loved in return.

2010 review
Although I enjoyed this variation on Pride and Prejudice, I found it frustrating. The concept is that Elizabeth was compromised and thus unable to turn down Mr. Darcy's first proposal while visiting Rosings. Elizabeth had not yet learned to love Mr. Darcy and is very unhappy in her marriage. What frustrated me about this book was the HUGE number of misunderstandings the Darcys had and the incredible number of opportunities lost to set their relationship on a strong footing. Possibly my idea of Elizabeth is a bit different, but I just cannot believe her actions nor can I believe she would keep so much to herself while suffering through her circumstances. I did enjoy this different way to see the Darcys fall in love. But, I still prefer the original. ...more

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Sep 09, 2009 Anna added it · review of another edition

Shelves: austenesque

Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

Her eyes locked with her husband’s again. “I intend to put this knowledge to good use by waiting until he is deep in a book to confess any sins I have committed. Then I will have the pleasure of a clean conscience, and he will be none the wiser.”

Bingley said, “An excellent plan. Upon my honour, when Darcy is reading, Bonaparte and all his army could come charging through with sabres drawn, and he would take no notice!”

The above quote about Mr. Dar Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

Her eyes locked with her husband’s again. “I intend to put this knowledge to good use by waiting until he is deep in a book to confess any sins I have committed. Then I will have the pleasure of a clean conscience, and he will be none the wiser.”

Bingley said, “An excellent plan. Upon my honour, when Darcy is reading, Bonaparte and all his army could come charging through with sabres drawn, and he would take no notice!”

The above quote about Mr. Darcy certainly applied to me when I was reading Abigail Reynolds’ latest Pemberley Variation, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, in which she poses one answer to the question, “What if Elizabeth Bennet had accepted Mr. Darcy’s first marriage proposal?” What follows is not merely a re-telling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice but a different story about Austen’s beloved characters, one that is fresh and unique while staying true to the Darcy and Elizabeth I know and love.

Reynolds opens her novel shortly after Darcy and Elizabeth are married — occurring when her sister, Jane, is still sad about Mr. Bingley’s sudden departure from Netherfield and prior to the elopement of her boy-crazy and impulsive sister, Lydia — with Darcy taking Elizabeth to Pemberley for the first time and Elizabeth recalling how she came to be married to a man she loathes. Mr. Darcy just assumed she’d accept his proposal, despite insulting Elizabeth with comments about her embarrassing family and low status, and the passionate kiss he forces upon her is observed by Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Catherine’s gatekeepers. This leaves her with little choice but to marry the arrogant Darcy and put up with the fact that he doesn’t want her associating with her family; if she chooses otherwise, she feels her family will be ruined and any chance for her four other sisters to marry will be lost.

Darcy soon learns that Elizabeth doesn’t share his feelings of love, and when an accident occurs and Elizabeth realizes that she does in fact love Darcy, it might be too late. Lonely, without family or friends, Elizabeth passes her days at Pemberley, feeling certain that she and Darcy will spend the rest of their lives simply co-existing. Both are too proud and stubborn to talk about their feelings, and when her sister, Lydia, runs off with Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth is sure that Mr. Darcy will want her to permanently sever all ties to her family.

While reading Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, it became obvious to me that Reynolds has read Pride and Prejudice many, many times and knows these characters inside and out. Though her writing style is part old-fashioned, part-contemporary, it was easy for me to lose myself in the story and actually forget I was reading an Austen sequel. Sometimes it felt that Elizabeth’s abhorrence of Darcy was stated too many times, but it was easy to overlook because the path Reynolds paved for the two was interesting. It was entertaining to watch Darcy come to the realization that he can be an arrogant ass and Elizabeth come into her own as the mistress of Pemberley. The only disappointment for me was not getting to see much of Elizabeth’s family. I can do without the annoying Mrs. Bennet, but I felt the absence of the witty Mr. Bennet.

Since the book opens in the middle of Austen’s story without any introductions of Darcy or Elizabeth or any backstory about their first meeting or the reasons why Elizabeth’s family (really, mother) is so embarrassing, I think it would be hard to truly understand if you haven’t already read Pride and Prejudice. For those of us (me included) who have read Pride and Prejudice more than once, it’s nice to just start at the exact point where Reynolds’ story begins.

I highly recommend Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World if you love Darcy and Elizabeth and have every wondered “what if?” You can be sure that I’ll read more of Reynolds’ Pemberley Variations in the future! ...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Ceri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-inspired, historical, austen-variation

This is another of Abigail Reynold's Pemberley Variations books, which looks at what might have happened if something in Pride and Prejudice had been different. The 'what if' here was what if Lizzy had no choice in accepting Darcy's first proposal? This book starts around the time that Lizzy is visiting Charlotte in Kent in P&P. In one of her rambles round the area she meets Mr Darcy and he proposes to her (in a similarly offensive manner to P&P). He assumes she will accept and kisses her and th This is another of Abigail Reynold's Pemberley Variations books, which looks at what might have happened if something in Pride and Prejudice had been different. The 'what if' here was what if Lizzy had no choice in accepting Darcy's first proposal? This book starts around the time that Lizzy is visiting Charlotte in Kent in P&P. In one of her rambles round the area she meets Mr Darcy and he proposes to her (in a similarly offensive manner to P&P). He assumes she will accept and kisses her and they are observed. So not only can Lizzy not vent her anger on him like she does in P&P she is forced to accept his proposal or she would be ruined in the eyes of society and her sisters chances of making good or even ANY marriages would be ruined with her.

She goes back to Charlotte who gives her prudent counsel; she has to marry Darcy, so she needs to keep him as happy as possible, as she'll be completely under his power as his wife. So Elizabeth and Darcy start out married life on the wrong foot - she is married to 'the last man in the world' that she ever wanted and he has no idea that his wife doesn't care about him. Of course, he doesn't remain in ignorance of this fact...

One of the things I really liked about this book is the things from the original that happened another way in this story - in P&P Lizzy finds out about Wickham's lies, what he tried with Georginana, Darcy's reasons for his interference between Bingley and Jane, the fact that he is a much better man than she had realised and then when she thinks she's lost any chance with him she realises that she loves him. All the same things happen here.

There is much more angst and misery in this variation than in P&P, it's certainly not the happiest book you can find, but I thought that Abigail Reynolds did a great job of it. I felt awful for them both for a large portion of the book, he is heartbroken and guilty at the fact that he could have ruined her happiness forever by assuming her agreement to his proposal, and she feels guilty at misjudging him, and guilt at his heartbreak, my stomach was in knots with pity for them both for a large portion of the book. I've read quite a few of Reynold's books, so I generally like her stuff, but this is my favourite of hers so far. ...more

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Jun 26, 2014 Staciel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen-inspired

I got so caught up in this one that I read it in one day.

There were moments where the misunderstandings were down right painful, and I just had to keep reading to make sure that they got resolved.

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