By Reason, By Reflection, By Everything


Title and Author: By Reason, By Reflection, By Everything; P.O. Dixon
Type: P&P Variation
Perspective: Mostly Elizabeth
Romance Level: Kissing
Recommended: yes, 4 stars

Video Excerpt

Summary: In this P&P variation, Mr. Bennett and the elder Mr. Darcy (old college friends) have a long standing agreement that their two eldest children will marry one another provided they reach a certain age without marrying. Jane, Elizabeth, and Mr. Bennett travel to Pemberley for Jane and Darcy to meet, knowing this arrangement. Others visiting the house (Caroline and Charles Bingley)  are not aware of the arrangement and this complicates the situation.

Things I Liked:
*This is a different Darcy due to the longer life of his father and the fact that he is at Pemberley where he is comfortable in his own element.
* The struggle Elizabeth has against her feelings is a fresh twist to the situation.
* Darcy and Elizabeth have more time and space to get to know one another well in this version. The angst in this one is provided by friends and family scheming instead of a dislike for anyone.
* All the "evil" characters in this version are not quite as bad as in the original. Wickham tries hard to stay in the good graces of the elder Darcy.

Things I Didn't Like:
* The idea that two young, unmarried men would make an agreement about their as yet unborn children seems far fetched.
* Jane does something quite out of character in this version. It is definitely essential for furthering the plot, but it felt like a stretch.
* There was very little about the rest of Elizabeth's family here. one wonders what Darcy would have thought upon meeting them (perhaps this Mrs. Bennett would be far less desperate).

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