Mr. Darcy's Diary: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

Amanda Grange (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Joining a growing field of Austeniana—and, particularly, Darcyiana—Grange retells Austen's Pride & Prejudice from Fitzwilliam Darcy's point of view. Her device for doing so is an imagined diary of a clever sort: Grange reproduces, word for word and comma for comma, conversations from the original novel, but shifts the perspective to reported speech in Darcy's first-person, with his commentary on the encounters. Between the reconstituted passages, the reader is treated to Darcy's ongoing reflections on Hertfordshire society, his family obligations, his sister and, most crucially, Elizabeth Bennet and her family. There are also wholly invented conversations, most engagingly between Bingley and Darcy as they try to resist the pull of Netherfield Hall. On the whole, however, the diary is awkward in tone and lacks the polish and poise of Austen's creation (which some of the sequels have managed to approximate). There's a decidedly introspective quality to the observations not befitting the very unmodern, unintrospective nobleman. It simply doesn't sound like Darcy. (May)
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Review

Mr. Darcy's Diary is a nice addition for all who enjoy Jane Austen's love stories.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 644 KB
• Print Length: 339 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1402208766
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (March 1, 2007)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001SE75F0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,008 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fitzwilliam Darcy---humanized!, September 4, 2007

By 

J. Lesley "(Judy)" (Midsouth, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mr. Darcy's Diary: A Novel (Paperback)

The aspect of this novel by Amanda Grange which pleases me most is that she has been successful in turning Fitzwilliam Darcy into a flesh and blood man. Since Pride and Prejudice is essentially written from Elizabeth Bennet's point of view, at times I want an explanation of what Darcy is thinking. This book managed to do that for me. Even knowing that these words, thoughts and ideas do not come from Jane Austen, I am still completely satisfied with thinking "my" Mr. Darcy would have been like this. He was arrogant, he did believe in his own self-importance, he did interfere in Bingley's life. But, he also learned from Elizabeth and Bingley and the situations he found himself in that he could change. He didn't need to stay so stiff and formal. He could actually learn to tease and be teased and the world as he knew it would still remain on its axis.

I found this book to be slow going at first. I really didn't think I was going to be able to accept this Darcy as the same one who lives in my imagination. But a strange thing happened as I continued to read. I began to really like this man. Amanda Grange had made him a true, real, loveable person for me. As most of the other reviewers have said, I also am a huge fan of the Jane Austen books. Ms Grange does not try to be Jane Austen. She tries to be herself, giving us her version of how she thinks Fitzwilliam Darcy might have responded to his situations. I applaud her effort and recommend this book as a worthwhile read.

This is just a little extra information in case you get confused (as I did). This book came out in Britain in 2005 in hardcover and was titled DARCY'S DIARY. It has a full head portrait of Darcy on the cover, quite interesting but maybe just a little too feminine for "my" Darcy. The paperback was published in 2007 and is titled MR. DARCY'S DIARY. I, of course, was not careful and managed to buy them both. The paperback has only a partial portrait, probably because the publisher discovered that each of us has our own mental picture of Fitzwilliam Darcy. Both books are identical in every way except as I have stated. Now, my advice is to just read and enjoy one copy or the other.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I went to bed with a happy heart!!, March 9, 2007

By 

Christina Boyd "Great Reader & sometimes gues... (Custer, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mr. Darcy's Diary: A Novel (Paperback)

From the time UPS delivered this book yesterday, until I finished it at 2 a.m., I was captivated --and went to bed with a happy heart! Darcy's Diary is witty and delightful. Each entry is dated which keeps the timeline ever in focus. Amanda Grange successfully makes our hero all too human as she clearly exposes his pride that may not be as obvious in other's writings. Although Darcy may be a bit shy in company of those he does not know, it is in this novel that his arrogance is clearly his weakness -- and that is what he truly must overcome! Interactions that Darcy relates (as well as his innermost thoughts) are laugh out loud funny. And as I am an avid (yet critical) fan of anything Darcy and Elizabeth, this is one novel I am eager and confident to recommend!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Darcy Does it Again!, March 25, 2007

By 

Ellen "emw314" (Long Island) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mr. Darcy's Diary: A Novel (Paperback)

I always wanted to read a book that reflected Mr. Darcy' feelings and emotions when he met Elizabeth. This book does exactly that- it "explains" in Darcy's voice how he feels about Elizabeth Bennett from the very first moment he sees her, and how he falls in love with her over time.

Loved it- Read it after Pride and Prejudice.

Ellen