Customer Reviews

Mr. Darcy's Dream: A Novel

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've read all of Aston's Darcy-family books. They've been a delight. This latest is dismally disappointing, moving me to wonder if the same author is at work here. Boring, shallow protagonists, much too much focus on the maids! and their perspectives/quibbling, and story that doesn't really kick in until at least 150 pages in. What a disaster. I had no desire even to finish. Hoping this is just an example of having a bad outing, and that Ashton is back on her game in her next effort.

I would have easily given this book 5 stars if not for the niggling sensation I felt as I read it. Like all Elizabeth Aston's books, Jane Austen's original characters are not principal players -- which for in any other book would have been perfectly acceptable. And I love that all her books can stand alone. But to actually title this book MR DARCY'S DREAM was extremely deceptive. In classic Aston style, Mr Darcy makes an appearance at the end and does have the last word. But since almost the entire story is based at Pemberley, and the Darcy's arent even in residence until the day of the ball -- well, to be honest, that disappointed me. This book was very enjoyable nonetheless, if not for the deceptive title. (Yes, yes... I get it. I totally get WHAT Mr Darcy's dream is... it just wasnt what I had anticipated or hoped for when pre-ordering this book.)

That said, Mr Darcy's nieces are enchanting and I easily liked them. The heart break that Georgianna's daughter, Phoebe, experiences and carries with her through out the book is intense and Aston inflicts just the right amount of angst on us to keep us reeling til the end. Which by the way, wraps up all too quickly for my liking (but then all her books do!)

I found the added Whig vs. Tory ingredient to be just the right balance. Aston gives enough of the politics to make it interesting and a believable situation -- but not so much to bore us to death.

Elizabeth Aston is a gifted writer and I enjoy all her books. This story, even though Mr Darcy doesnt actually show up until page 281, was a superb read that I heartily endorse!

***SPOILERS*** I agree with a previous reviewer. It's almost as if this book was not written by the same author as the other ones in this series, which I think have all been terrific.

In this one, however, the main characters are insipid. The conversation is dull. And the most characteristic marker that's missing from this one is the clever plot twist all the others had that both generated the happy ending and caused the bad guy to get what was coming to him. That's probably because there isn't much of a plot in the first place, and while the bad guy does get found out, nothing is tied together very well, the story does not hang as whole cloth, and the ending is abrupt and utterly uncompelling. This one doesn't come off as worthy of the use of Jane Austen's premise, and it shows none of the social satire that the other books carry through from Austen -- it just comes off as a badly executed romance.

I hope it's just a bad outing as well. Otherwise, if the author is tired of the whole thing, she'd be better off publishing no more books in the series, rather than diluting the really good start she made with more like this one.

Author Elizabeth Aston has become a nonpareil in the Austen sequel publishing industry. Her latest outing Mr. Darcy's Dream will be her sixth Pride and Prejudice continuation in as many years. With so many authors out there jockeying for position in this competitive book niche, she remains on top and true to her vision consistently offering amusing stories of Jane Austen's famous romantic couple Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy's children and families. A winning recipe if you mix it up right, so why does the namesake of this book Mr. Darcy not show up until the last three pages of the novel, and what the deuce does his dream have to do with anything?

Twenty-year old Phoebe Hawkins is handsome, well-born, and endowed with a fortune of fifty thousand pounds to the lucky man to win her affections. Unfortunately, her choice Mr. Anthony Stanhope has a bit of a bad rep prompting her father to reject his offer of marriage. Undaunted, Phoebe is certain that Stanhope is no rake until she witnesses his assignation with a notorious woman. Heartbroken and dejected, her clever ma'ma Lady Georgiana averts London gossip by devising a plan to send her to the country to her uncle Darcy's estate in Derbyshire until it blows over. Joining her is her amiable cousin Louisa Bingley whose failure to engage after three London seasons is a bit of flop. Their temperaments could not be more opposite. Quick to judge, Phoebe's free spirit challenges social stricture, while easygoing Louisa is as accepting of fate as her mother Jane Bingley seeing little fault in anything. Both feel the pressure to fulfill their family obligations with brilliant marriages yet neither have a clue as to why they have not succeeded or if they will ever find their own bit of happiness. Together they hope for a respite at Pemberley free from the pressures of thinking about men, while focusing instead on planning a summer ball while the Darcy's are abroad.

The young ladies arrive at Pemberley to see great improvements underway with the construction of a grand new glasshouse supervised by Mr. Darcy's estate manager Hugh Drummond, all part of Mr. Darcy's dream of modernizing Pemberley, (thus the book title). Educated as an attorney, Mr. Drummond is a bit of hands on manager after his stint as a 'Light Bob' during the peninsular war where he and Mr. Stanhope served under Wellington. Louisa Bingley takes a shine to him. Who wouldn't? When Mr. Stanhope arrives in the neighborhood on the pretext of visiting his married sister, Phoebe is resigned not to see him averting his persistent attempts until she must face the music. Add to this mix the return of devilish George Warren, step son of the condescending and censorious Caroline Warren nee Bingley, and you have your sinister element. When Mr. Darcy finally arrives at Pemberley to attend the ball, the story swiftly concludes as all the romantic misunderstanding and machinations have been resolved, but not to everyone's satisfaction.

Underneath this diverting historical romance, Aston has supplied us with perceptive commentary on early 19th-century life in upper class England where women's worlds were governed by men and social convention. Throughout the novel there is a thin thread of cynicism about marriage illustrated by Mr. Stanhope's unhappily married sister Kitty, "one day you'll realize you need an heir, and will propose to the nearest available girl, who will proceed to make your life misery.", and the fear of infidelity by Phoebe after witnessing the affects on her parent's relationship after their own affairs. These honest themes can be a bit leveling, but move this novel away from being escapist fluff. To lighten it up, Aston has supplied the requisite ensemble of secondary characters to add interest, but little humor: a peevish Frog governess, fussy and gossipy maids, an officious great aunt, a toady Minister, and a bit of espionage to keep the plot churning and our attention engaged. Overall, I found the tone of Mr. Darcy's Dream a bit dark and overshadowed with angst. When reading a sequel to the light, bright and sparkling Pride and Prejudice it is difficult not to compare the two, but in fairness to Ms. Aston this novel is so far removed in time and characters to the original that it is an entirely new entity. On its own merit I enjoyed it thoroughly and recommend it highly. As a continuation of a 'Mr. Darcy does something novel', well, that it debatable.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

While I enjoyed reading this latest in a line of Jane Austen inspired romances, I did not enjoy it as much as some of its predecessors. The plot was predictable, although it was sweet and incredibly well written. The characters were the high point of the novel, although I felt that I would have enjoyed it better if Louisa had been the main character instead of Phoebe. I enjoyed Phoebe's attitude and spunk but I think I would have liked the book better if the quieter Louisa had taken center stage. Otherwise, however, I enjoyed this book thoroughly, as will any fan of Jane Austen, historical fiction, or light hearted love stories.

I have enjoyed Elizabeth Aston's other novels and was naturally looking forward to this one. It's a disappointment. The characterization is loose and careless; Aston seems not to have bothered to check her work for consistency. Phoebe, a recent debutante, is initially described as having few old clothes, but just a few chapters later, she stubbornly insists on wearing "a favourite muslin, so old that the pattern had faded" (107)-- and there are many logical glitches of this type. Moreover, the conversation between Phoebe and her cousin Louisa is astoundingly inane-- when Louisa inquires why Phoebe doesn't open a letter, Phoebe complains that she doesn't know who wrote it, and Louisa wisely replies, "'You can find that out in an instant by simply opening it'" (106). Is this supposed to be witty banter?

I'm also troubled by the shallowness of the plot. Many of Aston's novels explore topics such as politics, prostitution, foreign travel, or women in the arts. Mr. Darcy's Dream has a mild Whig/Tory theme, but it's poorly explained and largely peripheral to the plot. The young heroine, Phoebe, experiences some psychological growth in a manner vaguely reminiscent of Jane Austen's heroines Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, and Marianne Dashwood, but Phoebe's character is so weakly and inconsistently developed that it's hard to care about her in the same way. If you're not already an Aston fan, I would strongly recommend beginning with one of Aston's more substantial novels, such as The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy or The True Darcy Spirit.

The characters are pretty good. And the settings are great. Actually the characters hark back to Austen's characters very well....

But then there's the story.

It's mostly about moping around Pemberley. And the easily predictable story lines that lead to romance for all deserving. But then there's the sub-plot about the French governess, which is hastily resolved (well, not really, because there is no final act to it) by the hero, but with no explaination as to he suddenly figured it out. And the finale that realizes the love between the hero and heroine that happens with all the build up of a lightning strike.

The writing is good, but the plot has very little to recomend.

This is the first book I read by the author. I loved Jane Austen books and the movies. In this book, I never could fall in love with the characters, and the 'problems' were wrapped up all too quickly. For the three dilemmas -- they had 3 lines each at the end that resolved the problems -- what a waste of time! There was really no drama or suspense, I just couldn't get into the book, even the evil people didn't seem that repulsive to me.

Perhaps the other books are better and I will give them a try, but I definitely wouldn't seek them out based on this book.

It may be that others who rated this book poorly were disappointed or felt misled by the title, as Mr. Darcy really is in no way a part of this story.

I have not read Ms. Aston's series of other Darcy novels, but I enjoyed this one very much. I liked the heroine, I felt sorry for her situation, and enjoyed hearing about the monumental work of constructing a glass "room" for plants at Pemberly. There are two love stories in the book, with a few twists and turns, and I thought the scene where arguing lovers (separated by a father who had forbidden further contact) happened to be sitting near an oil painting of Apollo chasing Daphne was clever (after being shot by Cupid's arrow, Apollo saw Daphne and fell in love. While being chased by Apollo, Daphne, seeking to avoid him called out to her (greek-god) father who turned her into a Laurel tree; thus Apollo is always shown wearing a laurel wreath). This is explained through banter between the couple and I appreciated it's insertion as indicating that this is not a throw-away, chick lit thinly disguised by regency/Austen cover (and those books are certainly are out there).

This is a light-hearted story, and certainly worth reading. I enjoyed it for its description of life at that time, its "clean" romance, and, I have to say it...it's happy ending. :)

In all, this series of books has it's strengths and weaknesses, but this addition is beyond weak. The protagonists spend almost zero time on the page together, so the tension never really rachets up. However, this is understandable given the flimsy misunderstanding between the two lovers. In their first real conversation (2 pages from the end), they clear everything up in a snap and are easily set on the road to marriage. It's hard to understand what the author thought she was offering her readers with this 284 pages of drivel. Georgian England and a dash of romance was what I wanted. I'll reread Pride and Prejudice a dozen times before I come near another Aston novel. (Clever pen name, btw.)