Dear Mr. Darcy: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice [Paperback]

Amanda Grange (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 7, 2012

In this imaginative retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Amanda Grange now tells the classic story through the eyes of its compelling romantic hero, Fitzwilliam Darcy—in a series of revealing letters that casts a sparkling new reflection on the manners and morals of the landed gentry in 19th-century England…

Here, for the first time, are the letters written by the exceedingly proud and stubborn Mr. Darcy, covering the life-changing events that defined him—from the death of his father, to his control of his Derbyshire estate of Pemberley to his conflicted courtship with the lively, intelligent, and delightfully willful Elizabeth Bennet. Try as he may, he cannot deny his attraction to this woman with fine eyes, a playful spirit, a mind of her own… and an embarrassing family that is frankly, and utterly, beneath him. But it is Elizabeth who controls both their destinies, and whose surprises will change Darcy’s life yet again.

Editorial Reviews

Review

 "Grange is one of the most gifted writers in the Austen subgenre, giving us a touching inside story that is hard to put down."

About the Author

Amanda Grange is the author of numerous re-tellings of renowned historical romances.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (August 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425247813
• ISBN-13: 978-0425247815
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Please Let This Be the Start of Another Splendid Series! August 7, 2012

By Meredith VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

In a style similar to Jane Austen's Lady Susan and the first draft of Sense and Sensibility (Elinor and Marianne), bestselling Austenseque author, Amanda Grange's newest novel, Dear Mr. Darcy, retells Pride and Prejudice in epistolary form. Want to see what Darcy wrote to his cousins while living at Netherfield? Observe the Bennet sisters' correspondence with their friends, the Sotherton sisters? Witness the letters sent to and from Mr. and Mrs. Bingley and their children? Amanda Grange enables readers the opportunity to see all this and more in her illuminating and brilliantly executed Dear Mr. Darcy.

What I loved most about this retelling was the numerous and diverse list correspondents readers witness exchanging letters throughout the course of the novel. Besides Elizabeth and Darcy, readers observe the communications between Wickham and his cohorts, Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner, Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana Darcy, and Mr. Darcy Senior and his son Fitzwilliam amongst many others. These characters help give a thorough illustration of everything that takes place in Pride and Prejudice by portraying the events through their varied and unique perspectives. After a major event, such as the Netherfield Ball or Lizzy's refusal of Mr. Collins, it was interesting (and amusing) to see the differing and detailed accounts recorded by several different characters.

Another aspect I took great pleasure was Ms. Grange new creations, the Sotherton sisters and the Bingley parents. The Sotherton sisters are three sisters who are friends with all five Bennet sisters. But because of their father's drinking and gambling problem, they are forced to abscond from their beloved Netherfield Park and retrench to Bath (like the Elliots do in Persuasion). Moreover, in Pride and Prejudice we never meet Mr. and Mrs. Bingley, but we know of their background and ambitions. And while we don't see it taking place in Jane Austen's novel, we could assume that the Bingley siblings were often corresponding with their parents. I enjoyed how Ms. Grange implemented these characters to enhance and flesh out the events of the story. Not only do they enlighten the reader about what is taking place, they are a source of high entertainment as well!

Speaking of entertainment, I cannot believe I am saying this, but my favorite epistler in this novel would have to be Mary Bennet! Mary corresponds with the middle Sotherton sister, Lucy, who is very similar in tastes and disposition to Mary. I just loved witnessing these two exchange letters about their quests to become a "Learned Women," their new tastes in literature, their "books of extracts," and Mr. Shackleton...

Masterful, dynamic, and absorbing - Dear Mr. Darcy is sure to please Janeites who appreciate the art of letter writing and are interested in seeing Pride and Prejudice retold through epistolary form! This reader dearly hopes that Amanda Grange will take up her quill, blotter, and wax sometime soon and gift the Austenesque genre with another Jane Austen novel in epistolary form!

Austenesque Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Expected more.... August 24, 2012

By Verostar

Format:Paperback

I gave this two stars because although there was a interesting start to the letters it never climaxed well and ended with a thud. No final words from Mr. Darcy, he was gone almost the entire ending. His POV was needed more...and way too much time spent on Mary Bennet's letters (but I guess they were supposed to be the comic relief).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Dear Mr. Darcy September 10, 2012

By M. Miller

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I can't seem to get enough of Pride and Prejudice and have read over 75 fan fic books relating to the original. I don't mind some sexual content, but detest books that have been written so that explicit sex seems to be the main content of the book. Fortunately this book is not one of those. I gave it 3 stars because I found it is not witty or clever enough to rate higher. It is simply written and straight forward. Darcy's conversation with Mr. Bennet is interesting. The last third of the book is better than the first two thirds.