The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Fantastic read,very unusual story and very sad in places. Thanks again for this outstanding contribution,wonderful experience and wonderful vision for Elizabeth and Darcy and the rest of there family members. Thanks.

This book is very well written but I found that I didn't really want a 'happy' ending for Elizabeth and Darcy.I absolutely despised Darcy for most of this book. He was kidnapped as a child and raised as a Lucas, and he and Elizabeth had an understanding for years that they would marry once she turned 20. Her birthday is only a few weeks away when he finds out the truth about his identity. Then he just abandons her. I understand that it was a confusing time for him but that really is no excuse for his actions. He realises his real family have much more wealth and consequence than his adoptive one, thinks his father won't approve and so just drops the girl he claimed to be so in love with. He doesn't even have the integrity to write to her and explain he isn't coming back - he goes from planning their wedding one day to just ghosting her for 5 months! And he doesn't have any intention to ever contact her - although I guess that kind of abandonment is message enough.Then he sees her again at a ball and barely acknowledges her, before eventually deciding that maybe he can convince his father that he is obligated to marry her (although where that sense of obligation or honour was before is anyone's guess). He does miss her occasionally but he never actually thinks about her or how she might be feeling considering he's just jilted her. I was actually quite upset half way through the book since I knew they would eventually reconcile because I did not want that for Elizabeth. She deserved a more honourable partner who actually respected and loved her.Then the story follows the format of P&P where he misunderstands a lot of her words/actions and makes an insulting proposal that she refuses. But this doesn't fully make sense in the context of them being best friends/lovers who've grown up together and knew each other so well. And although Lizzy is angry at him, she and everyone else forgive him so easily.I found this a bit in this author's other novel, where Darcy's behaviour is really unforgivable but there they were already married and since divorce wasn't an option, you end up glad that they make it work. Here they weren't married yet so considering the characterisation, a better ending might have been that Lizzy realises she's worth more than someone who would treat her like Darcy did.

This is a Pride and Prejudice variation, which features the trope of Fitzwilliam Darcy, not knowing his true identity.The prologue commences with a 1789 news report of the tragic kidnapping of Fitzwilliam Darcy, infant son of a wealthy and well-connected family. It is reminiscent of the high-profile Lindbergh baby case.The baby’s mother grieves, languishes and dies of a broken heart. His father, George Darcy continues alone, tormented by the burden of his double loss.Chapter one moves us ahead to Hertfordshire, in 1811.William Lucas is the adult son of Sir William Lucas. He has a warm circle of friends and is well liked in the local area. He has an “understanding” with his best friend, Elizabeth Bennet and they keenly await her next birthday when they can become betrothed. They plan to be very happy, living on the small estate at Lucas Lodge. A small but contented life.We are introduced to Frederick Darcy, on old friend of Mr Bennet. He takes one look at William and declares him to be the missing Fitzwilliam Darcy, based on his similarity to George Darcy.This understandably drops a bomb into the peaceful lives of the Lucas and Bennet families.As (Fitz)William is whisked away to his birth family, he starts to lose his sense of self. He is overwhelmed by the wealth, status and expectations of his family. Who is he? How should he behave? He sees that any mention of his former life, distresses George Darcy, with the hint that he might leave again.However, this leads to him neglecting his Hertfordshire connections.The pain this causes Elizabeth and his Lucas family is heart breaking.When he meets Elizabeth several months later, at a ball in London, he is distant and haughty. To her he appears to be a different man. We know, from William’s thoughts, that he is trying to protect her from his snobbish and dissolute cousin. He longs to find comfort in her embrace; to be ‘William’ again.There is a substantial amount of angst for the couple, as they try to rebuild their relationship, in the alien landscape of the London Season.This was an excellent book with well-drawn characters. The plot is compelling and well written. This book should appeal to JAFF readers everywhere.I have enjoyed Lucy Marin's previous books and look forward to more.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.

4.5 starsThe plot is a great one and the writing is really good but for me Darcy was far too annoying.He "quickly" forgets all he was taught and he only thinks of the pain of his father but they barely talk of anything apart from state matters. Darcy does not have a proper conversation about feelings until more than half of the book. It seems that something strikes him and he becomes "sensible" again.It is true that Elizabeth, until she meets Mr Darcy senior, is self-pitying but she tries to overcome her sadness and carry on but... going to to London with her new friend maybe is not the best idea :)I recommend this book and I think it is great but a big part of the book was too slow for me and I was pretty upset with Darcy. However, I may read it again in a couple of years and love it more!I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Found living with the Lucas family. He loves Elizabeth. They have been brought up together as the families are friends.William struggles with his new life as a Darcy and is betrayed by his new relations. He cannot forget Elizabeth.Lovely story- so enjoyable, so different as it doesn’t follow Jane Austen’s story. The new characters mix well with the known ones.Well written and I couldn’t put it down as I wanted to know what happened next.