The Challenge of Entail


Type: P&P Variation
Perspective: Elizabeth and Darcy
Romance Level: P&P
Recommended: yes, 3 stars

Summary: In this P&P variation, Mr Phillips had discovered how to end the Entail on Longbourne and so that Mr Bennett can bequeath it to Jane. With increased security, each of the members of the family each are a better version of himself, Mr Bennett putting more care into the home and family, Mrs. Bennett with no need for nerves or scheming for husbands for her daughters, Kitty and Lydia have a governess and are not "out" and so on. 

Things I Liked:
* I enjoyed seeing Mr. Bennett more engaged with his family. This is one place where the original story bothers me.
* I liked how Mr. Collins was put in his place.
* Darcy also is his best self, giving Georgiana more freedom, but also more power and assertion.
* We see more of Colonel Fitzwilliam in this retelling and he gets his own happily ever after. 

Things I Didn't Like:
* There is less drama with everyone being their best self, and in places, it felt more contrived. There is no pride or prejudice needed when everyone is so well behaved.
* With everyone else so perfect, Mr Collins, Mr Wickham (and even Caroline Bingley) has to be much worse to create our drama. With Wickham so much more desperate, we had little explanation as to why.
* It was too neat to have the entail be the reason for all the Bennett's flaws. 


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