Darcy's Tale: Into Hertfordshire


Title and Author: Darcy's Tale: Into Hertfordshire, Stanley Michael Hurd
Type: P&P Parallel (true to the original plot, told from a different perspective)
Perspective: Darcy
Romance Level: Austen-esque
Recommend: Yes, 4 stars

Darcy's Tale is broken into three parts (much like the original Pride and Prejudice). The First book, Into Hertfordshire, covers the time from just before Darcy and Bingley travel to Netherfield to when Darcy follows Bingley back to London (so he can persuade Bingley not to pursue Jane Bennett). It follows the original story closely, adding Darcy's reactions and thoughts as well as letters to his sister.

Things I liked:
* Darcy is such a minor character in the original story that it was fun to get his background. As a charcter, he makemore sense in the context of his losses and the society he inhabits (where he has not met a suitable wife in 9 seasons).
* Georginana is a fun addition to the story. The letters and her reaction to themhelp explain how Darcy is feeling and his struggles with those feelings. It also explains some of his actions (like dancing with Elizabeth at the Netherfield ball. It also explains why Georginana knows enough about Elizabeth to want to meet her later in the story.

Things I didn't like:
* Darcy. This Darcy is proud, very impressed with his station in life and, in general, impressed with himself. I think this is true to the original story, but it doesn't make him likeable.
* The end. Because the story is divided, it ends rather abruptly, so be ready to dive into book 2: Into Kent.

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