Customer Reviews

The Other Mr. Darcy: Did you know Mr. Darcy had an American cousin?

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Whatever became of Caroline Bingley? After her dreams of being Mistress of Pemberley were dashed, how did she recover? Did she rebound quickly after her disappointment of losing Mr. Darcy or was her heart deeply broken?

At the end of "Pride and Prejudice" the future looks a little bleak and uncertain for Caroline Bingley. She has just lost the man she spent years pursuing to an unsophisticated and unconnected country maiden, she has the unfashionable Bennet family as in-laws, and to top it all off, she is approaching an age where she will soon be labeled a "spinster." Does this arouse any sympathy or compassion in you for "bad girl" Caroline Bingley? If not, then reading Monica Fairfiew's new novel, "The Other Mr. Darcy," will surely do the trick!

Can there be another Mr. Darcy??? No, definitely not, but Fitzwilliam Darcy does have an American cousin who shares the same last name. However, beyond the same name and some attractive physical attributes, Robert Darcy shares little in common with his English cousin. In contrast with the reserved and proud Fitzwilliam Darcy, Robert is more open, charming, and amiable. He does not concern himself with social proprieties and gentlemanly etiquette. In addition, he is delightfully flirtatious and provoking!

On the day of the Darcy's and the Bingley's wedding, Robert unintentionally witnessed Caroline Bingley's humiliating and unladylike display of emotion. When Caroline discovers she was observed, she chastises him for invading her privacy and takes small comfort in the fact that she may never see him again. However, Robert Darcy appears in her life ten months later, informing the Bingleys that Elizabeth Darcy is unwell and entreating them to travel to Pemberley. Jane and Charles depart immediately for Pemberley, leaving Robert behind to convey Caroline and Louisa Hurst in a couple of days. Caroline soon finds herself in numerous complications and moments of perturbation because of this disagreeable and ungoverned man...

Ms. Fairview has brilliantly and plausibly transformed Caroline Bingley before our very eyes. It turns out that Caroline is not the detestable snob we thought she was. Ms. Fairview creatively provides an explanation for Caroline's behavior and character. Furthermore, she capably answers questions such as: Why did Caroline fawn and flatter Mr. Darcy? What was it about Mr. Darcy that attracted Caroline the most? Who instilled the importance of being a proper lady in her?

I simply loved how one of my favorite has antagonists has become a likable and admirable protagonist! I took great pleasure in delving deeper into Caroline's psyche and I loved witnessing her moments of introspection and realization. In addition, I enjoyed the sparks and tension created between Caroline and Robert, it seems the course of true love will never run smooth for the Darcy men!

In short, "The Other Mr. Darcy" by Monica Fairview was simply fantastic! Ms. Fairview wrote an endearing and beautiful tale that will banish your dislike of Caroline Bingley. I only hope that Ms. Fairview continues to write more stories in this vein and spotlight other minor characters as cleverly and gracefully as she did Caroline Bingley.

Austenesque Reviews

The Other Mr. Darcy is a new Pride and Prejudice sequel with a unique premise. Spotlight Caroline Bingley, a minor character who we all loved to hate in the original novel, and somehow make her into a likeable heroine. Impossible you say! And so it would seem. Add into the mix Robert Darcy, the unconventional American cousin of Mr. Darcy, and you have an intriguing concept that could challenge the most accomplished writer. Let's hope author Monica Fairview's fairy godmother mojo is stronger than Caroline's predilection to snark.

After attending the marriage of Fitzwilliam Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet, the distraught Caroline Bingley uncharacteristically breaks down. Unbeknownst to her, she has a witness to her emotional outburst, Robert Darcy, Mr. Darcy's American cousin. Shocked and embarrassed to be seen in such a state, their first meeting gets off to a very bad start. When they meet again a year later, Caroline is horrified to see him. Will he keep her secret, or use it against her? As they travel together from Hertfordshire to Derbyshire, complications delay their journey in Nottingham and their party takes refuge at a local estate. While there, Caroline will receive two surprising marriage proposals. One from Colonel Fitzwilliam who she suspects is motivated by her dowry, and the second by the last man in world she would be prevailed upon to marry, Robert Darcy. To save her honor, he has gallantly stepped forward offering a fake proposal to quell rumors of her engagement to the wealthy and distinguished Sir Cecil Rynes, the one man she truly aspires to marry. Dumbfounded and numb with shock, the proper Caroline has no choice but to temporarily play along with the scheme to save her own reputation. Also included in the ensemble are many familiar characters from the original novel: The Bennet's, the Bingley's, Louisa Hurst, Lydia Wickham, and of course Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, all ready to offer help or hindrance to the couple.

Cleverly crafted and humorously engaging, The Other Mr. Darcy will delight Austen fans as they travel with Caroline Bingley on a journey of self discovery to Pemberley and her heart. Monica Fairview is a skilled storyteller, creatively continuing Jane Austen's characters, presenting a captivating but un-haughty version of the iconic Mr. Darcy in his American cousin Robert Darcy, and a Caroline Bingley who clings to her structured propriety sparking brisk repartees between them. Surprisingly, this Caroline has evolved beyond that snobby and gossipy "mean girl" that we remember in the original. I did not object to her change in attitude, but I think it would have been a tad more interesting if Caroline was that "mean girl" at the beginning, and grew away from it with new experiences. Despite this small quibble, I commend Monica Fairview for waving her magic wand and cleverly transforming Caroline Bingley into a human being worth knowing!

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Caroline Bingley is overwhelmed and heartbroken over the marriage of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. But soon, at a very awkward moment, a mysterious gentleman enters her life--Mr. Darcy's cousin from America. Tension immediately develops between the two as Caroline shows contempt for her American acquaintance. Although, Robert Darcy falls in love with Caroline, their worlds are very different and far apart.

This book is so elegantly written, the reader will think they are reading Jane Austen. I knew from the very beginning this was going to be an excellent book. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down.

I'll keep this simple. I was given this book, I dived into it, neglected my family, and totally loved it! If you've seen the Colin Firth version of P&P, you'll see all of the characters in this book.

In this sequel Caroline Bingley is the main character as she develops a relationship with Mr. Darcy's American cousin from Boston, as they go through a typical Austen-like series of spats, mis-understandings, teasing and tears. But along with Caroline, the auther incorporates all of the other personages: the entire Bennet family (you can just hear Mrs Bennet!), Colonial Fitzwilliam, Jane and Charles Bingley, and even the now-widowed sister Louisa. And lest we forget, the evil Mr. Wickham plays a role, although a silent one. And all are completely 'in character'. The only difference I feel is that Caroline is better looking in this book, and not quite as haughty, but otherwise the author has transported them from one story to another.


Do youself a favour; if you love Austen....read this sequel. It's the best!

Caroline is distraught. She is in alone and sobbing as "her" Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy marries Elizabeth Bennet. Little does she know that she is being watched...by the other Mr. Darcy...the American cousin, Robert.

I adored this book. The characters were represented perfectly and they grew in ways that allowed us to love them. Caroline and Robert have a very difficult time relating to each other. She does not feel he is a proper English gentleman, and he thinks she's too guarded and doesn't share her thoughts enough. They are tossed together by Elizabeth Bennet (now Darcy) taking ill and sending for her friends for comfort.

Seeing all the characters again was like catching up with old friends and hearing their new stories. I fell into the story and didn't come up for air until it was finished.

4/5

This is such a sweet book. For those of you who prefer your "Austeninations" to be a bit more on the regency-romance-bodice-ripper side, you may want to pass on this one. But you'd be missing an interesting perspective on a character who has been, to date, singularly unlikeable, the woman to root against. Fairfiew has a bit of fun as she paints Caroline as a woman who is really defined by her times and she also provides us with some unique perspectives (the argument is presented that Miss Bingley herself is not really a gentlewoman!) I'm not giving this 5 starts because I found a few things to quibble with - What happens to the thieves? Why is (the original)Mr. Darcy's character seemingly inconsistent? Why does poor Col. Fitzwilliam swing from goodie to baddie to OK again? Not to mention a subdued Lizzie (but understandably so, it's still a bit jarring.) Where Fairview shines is with the two main characters, Caroline and the other Mr. Darcy, Robert Darcy, cousin of Austen's beloved Mr. Darcy. He's a wonderful character and you can easily believe he'd be the type that would draw Caroline out into the real world. So, overall, an enjoyable, likeable, sweet book that brings another one of the extended Darcy-Bennet family to closure.

I enjoyed this verison of JA fiction. Caroline is usually a much maligned character that most authors have kept as such. The author made her likable and sympathic. You get to understand the reasons for her behavior and choices in her life. Robert Darcy is not as well drawn, but believable. The book description on the back of the book leads one to believe that you will hear his side of the story, but the book is entirely from Caroline's view point. I think using both would have been interesting...
My one problem was the continued use of Eliza to refer to Elizabeth Darcy. Caroline and Lousia definitely used that name, but the rest of the family used Lizzy or Elizabeth.
I would recommend this as I have read no others that use Caroline in this manner.

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Caroline Bingley is a character you love to hate. She's the unmarried, snobby high society sister of the affable Mr. Bingley, and she's been not so subtly pursuing Mr. Darcy for years with awkward flattery and clueless put downs of heroine Elizabeth Bennet. By the end of P and P Elizabeth and Darcy are getting married, of course, so what comes next for Caroline Bingley who is must be bitterly disappointed and broken hearted?

Author Monica Fairview performs the miracle of creating a believable and likeable Caroline Bingley. She even finds the perfect man for Caroline, who is now doing some soul searching about her life. In a P and P role reversal it is Caroline, the female, who is reserved, concerned with propriety and maybe a little over proud while the male, Mr. Darcy's charming American cousin, is open, iconoclastic, funny and totally unconcerned with the finer points of etiquette. They have a lot to learn from each other.

If you enjoy Monica Fairview's story telling skills you can find a wonderful short story sequel to Jane Austen's Emma by her in the anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It.

I have read other Austen "spin-offs" only to find they don't measure up to the literary style, genre, gentility, and class of the master (mistress?) herself. However, Monica Fairview has completely captured all of those qualities in The Other Mr. Darcy as well as in The Darcy Cousins. Fairview writes with extraordinary attention to the details of the period without feeling the need to add the risque and vulgar content that I have been disappointed to find in other books that claim to be Austen-esque. I truly felt like I was reading Austen herself. I can hardly wait for her next one. I honestly believe Jane would be proud!

I'm new to reading this genre of P&P spin-off books. So far, I've found I don't enjoy ones that "rewrite" what happened between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.... but I LOVED this premise.... Caroline Bingley was one of my least favorite characters in the P&P books... and I love when a writer can make a disliked character become human and even likable in another novel. I'm not hung up on whether or not the novel was precisely historically accurate nor precisely as Jane Austen would have written it... what I am concerned with is rather it was enjoyable reading experience, which this one was! Thoroughly enjoyed it and would read other works by this author.