Debut Novel from Gianna Thomas

Darcy and Elizabeth is Gianna’s first Pride and Prejudice variation. The novel is scheduled for publication in the Spring of 2014. It has amusing moments, plenty of angst and family interference that mimic that found in the original Pride and Prejudice. Follow along with the highs and lows of one of the most romantic couples of all fiction history.

Three short story prequels lead into the Pride and Prejudice: Darcy and Elizabeth novel:

Pride and Prejudice: Attending a Ball recounts the three days before the beginning of the novel from Elizabeth Bennet’s perspective.

Pride and Prejudice: Darcy and Bingley recounts Darcy’s and Bingley’s first encounter, some of their history together and their current activities a few days before the start of the novel. 

And Pride and Prejudice: Pemberley and Beyond looks at the history of Pemberley House, how Darcy is truly Master of Pemberley and what his vision is for the future of his beloved home.

I was contacted asking if I would like to read and review these stories and I was only too happy to.  So far, two of the prequels mentioned above have been released and I liked both of these prequels, particularly ‘Darcy and Bingley’. As is always the case with short stories, the story sometimes feels a little rushed and the characters underdeveloped, but I am looking forward to reading a full length story which allows for this development, and besides, these prequels are exactly that; prequels which are just preparing us for the main story. I do feel that these two short stories have set the story up well in preparation for the full length novel, especially with the cliff-hanger ending.

Pride and Prejudice: Attending a Ball

This was a short story which covers the time before the start of Gianna Thomas’s new novel, from Lizzy’s point of view.

It was enjoyable to see more about each of the Bennet sisters; Lydia and Kitty as they become excited about the prospect of a ball at Netherfield and then the news that the militia are to be quartered at Meryton. Jane and Lizzy are also interested in this news about the militia but are more so about their new neighbour, a Mr Bingley, who they look forward to meeting. Mary is not interested in either of these events in the slightest, but is looking forward to further perfecting her latest Mozart piece.

In general the characters seemed as we would expect - Lydia was spot on. I enjoyed seeing a little more between Lizzy and Jane and the sisterly bond they share. I also enjoyed seeing the relationship between Lizzy and her father, which is just as strong as you would imagine.  Mrs. Bennet was also very accurate and how you would expect her to be, and between her and Lydia, they provided plenty of humour.

Lizzy also has more to be happy about as her and her dear friend Melanie are to head to London to buy some new materials for a new ball gown. We meet Lizzy’s good friend Melanie, and also see a little more to Charlotte Lucas. The three of them seem like the best of friends, and Melanie was a nice addition and I look forward to seeing more of her in the coming novel.

It was clever in that it set up lots of questions and hinted at many events which are to come in the main novel. It was good at enticing the reader in, especially with the dramatic cliff hanger - the carriage ride to London, which a certain handsome gentleman is also part of, doesn’t go quite as smoothly as hoped.  I look forward to reading the novel to see what is going to happen.

 

Pride and Prejudice: Darcy and Bingley

I enjoyed this short story, recounting the history to Darcy and Bingley’s friendship, and what they get up to in the few weeks leading up to the beginning of Gianna Thomas’s new novel, from Darcy’s point of view. 

It was fun to see how Darcy and Bingley met, at Cambridge, and seeing how their friendship developed on from that through the years. They really do have a strong bond and it is explained well why two such different gentlemen get on so well. As Darcy helps Bingley go through the process of letting out an estate, Netherfield Park, the trust and respect Bingley has for Darcy is clear, and Darcy is a very good friend to him.

Where would we be without Caroline Bingley, who is just as annoying as ever, but I have to say, her obvious attempts to capture Darcy’s attention as well as seeing what Darcy really thinks about her was rather amusing.  

Georgiana also came into this story and she is just as shy as she is meant to be, but the strong bond shown between her and her brother was lovely.  

 

The way in which the two stories collided and ended in the same way has set it up for an exciting opening to the full length story.

Your affectionate friend,