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246 of 246 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Perhaps the best of the Pride & Prejudice spinoffs, March 3, 2004
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman is a trilogy that focuses on Darcy's point of view. Unlike other Pride & Prejudice spinoffs, which attempt to continue the story into the future, this one cleverly covers the same ground from the other protagonist's perspective. It is imaginative and realistic. Aidan enhances her tome by fleshing out some of the details of Regency England. Austen herself assumed that the reader understood the mindset of the landed gentry of early nineteenth century England, and thus glosses over incidental description. Aidan introduces more of the culture, for example the Morning In tradition, and includes greater interaction with servants as well. These serve to enrich the modern reader with a greater appreciation of the background setting. This work is not without flaws but they tend toward disagreement in interpretation than serious error. For example, she has Bingley reveal annoyance privately to Darcy about sister Caroline's criticisms toward others, which seems a bit out of character with his overwhelming affability in every situation as Austen portrayed him. In a couple of places, Aidan's passages about Darcy's evaluation of his early encounters with Miss Elizabeth Bennet seem far more typical of a woman's much keener perceptions of the subtleties and nuances of relationships than the typical man, then or now. (Although a bit unrealistic, since most readers of this will be women they will probably enjoy and appreciate Darcy's analysis.) It seems a glaring mistake to have Darcy figure out that Elizabeth overheard his untoward comment about her at the first Hertfordshire assembly, when seen in light of the naivete' of his first marriage proposal in Austen. However, Aidan more than compensates with outstanding portrayal of Darcy's plausible reasoning behind many of his early attitudes that lead Hertfordshire society to think ill of him. On the whole, this is in my opinion the best of the many second party writers' books that attempt to extend Austen's timeless story. The second part of the trilogy is scheduled to appear during summer 2004 and the final installment in the fall of 2004. I look forward to reading them as well, and encourage all aficionados of Pride & Prejudice to read all three. She earns only four stars from me primarily out of respect for Austen.
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144 of 151 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Only the first third of Pride and Prejudice - retold, March 25, 2004
I do not wish to discourage anyone from buying this book, which I feel is one of the better Austen adaptations or sequels available today, and certainly among the best that I have read. However, it is important to point out (as another reviewer has done) that Aidan covers only the first third of Jane Austen's novel, roughly upto the point that Mr Darcy leaves Netherfield and just before his visit to his aunt Lady Catherine in Kent. Pamela Aidan's version of Mr Darcy is fairly true to Austen's Mr Darcy, although his self-absorption might displease some Austen purists. The most interesting part of Aidan's version is her filling in the details about Darcy's life outside of the original novel. This includes not only the goings-on in Ramsgate (with his sister Georgiana and Wickham) but also his relationships with other members of his family such as Col. Fitzwilliam and some close friends. Darcy's valet Fletcher is a memorable secondary character. Aidan's explanations help us understand what Austen left out. Jane Austen assumed that her readers would know the social conventions (for example, when to visit, when not to visit) as well as practicalities (for example, the burden imposed by relatives in trade or vulgarity among near relatives; the problems of a small dowry in the face of lack of gentility or family connections). Readers who are fully conversant with Regency-era society might understand all these points, but for many other readers, Aidan's version of Pride and Prejudice might be a gentler and entertaining introduction to Austen's work. The big minus for Aidan's book is that the price is a little stiff; her entire retelling (with two books forthcoming) will end up at least thrice as long as the original and almost thrice as expensive (unless you are buying a critical edition of the original book). Some readers might be put off by the level of detail, while others might find her language a little too flowery and the details just a little too excessive. Others will relish her attention to details and consider her effort an admirable tribute to the great novelist. I appreciate the fact that she did not stray from the original storyline even though she added new characters and invented new episodes involving Mr Darcy. I do wish that some of the characters had other names, and at least one name evokes in my mind the image of a certain up-and-coming politician and barrister who lived in the same period. Other recommended sequels I have read - Joan Austen-Leigh's version of Emma "A Visit to Highbury" (ASIN: 0312118600) which however uses the point-of-view of a minor character in the original novel and tells the story through letters.
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54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant and whole-heartedly recommended, November 1, 2003
The charm of Pride and Prejudice has lured many into attempting to write about this delightful love story, but in my opinion no such work can parallel the mastery of Pamela Aidan's novel. Beautifully written, in exquisite austenesque language - so rare amongst Jane Austen's followers - Pamela Aidan's work is the only one worthy of standing alongside the original story, as its perfect companion. If you wish to read only one of the many books written about Pride and Prejudice, I urge you, read THIS ONE. If you have read the original novel and were left yearning for more; if you have seen the remarkable 1995 BBC adaptation and wished it was not over; if you read other books claiming they were written in the spirit of Pride and Prejudice, but found that modern day language and mentality, as well as lame 21st century plots were clumsily patched onto the beautiful tapestry that was early 19th century England, allow Pamela Aidan to guide you beyond the cool reserve of Jane Austen's brilliant character to the `other side of Pride and Prejudice'. You will find the powerful emotions hidden beneath Darcy's reserved exterior and will be offered a glimpse into his world. If no reference to the events of her time can be found in any of Jane Austen's novels - which may be one of the reasons why her work is as relevant now as it was when it was written - Pamela Aidan's book is skilfully anchored in the realities of the era which, in my opinion, serves to further emphasise the gulf between the sheltered existence of the country miss, and the demands and expectations of `the man of sense and education who has lived in the world'; and the absolutely remarkable way in which Pamela Aidan depicts how, in his mind, this gulf was bridged by Darcy's love for the delightful but so unsuitable Miss Elizabeth Bennet makes this book the best I have ever read, since Pride and Prejudice.
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