I am thrilled to be taking part in the Austen in August event. Thanks so much to Lost Generation Reader for organizing such a great literary exchange. Jane Austen has been one of my favorite authors since I was in high school. Please click on the image above to see the full list of blogs participating in this event. I will be reviewing Darcy’s Tale Volume III: The Way Home and giving away a copy of Darcy’s Tale Volume I: Into Hertfordshire so that you can get started on the series (open internationally).
Review:
Last fall I decided to reread all of Jane Austen’s works, including my favorite novel which is Pride and Prejudice. After I finished Austen’s works I was still eager for more of Austen’s stories and became curious about the genre of Austen fan fiction that is so popular. I was particularly looking for a novel that would give me the story of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s perspective and in my search I came across Stanley Michael Hurd’s books. I quickly devoured Darcy’s Tale Volumes I and II and I was 
disappointed to find that I would have to wait for summer to read Volume III. But it was well worth the wait.
I believe that of all the characters in what is arguably Austen’s most famous work, Darcy is the one who undergoes the biggest transformation. From the time of his prideful proposal to Elizabeth at Rosings, to his encounter with her at Pemberly he is a changed and humbled man. I, like many others, have wondered what exactly happened during this time to make him reassess his attitude and approach towards Elizabeth. Stanley Michael Hurd’s latest book Darcy’s Tale Volume III: The Way Home fills in the story of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s perspective and picks up Darcy’s story just after the failed proposal.
In Darcy’s Tale Volume III, Darcy is at first angry at his rejected offer but he admits that he still loves Elizabeth and he cannot stop thinking about her. After a heart to heart talk with his aunt, Lady Andover, who is also Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother, he understands the error of his ways. He vows if he ever sees Elizabeth again that he will prove to her that he is a humbled man and a true gentleman.
This book also fills in the details about Darcy’s involvement in tracking down Wickham and Lydia. I enjoyed this part of the book because it showed us a more daring and adventurous side of Mr. Darcy of Pemberly. Colonel Fitzwilliam is also a character in this part of the book which is very interesting since in Pride and Prejudice he has a very limited role.
The final part of the book, as one would expect, deals with Bingley’s proposal to Jane, Darcy’s successful proposal to Elizabeth and the double wedding. Georgiana is also a character who features prominently in these books and it was delightful to see her grow from being shy and unsure of herself to a true friend and sister to Elizabeth. I truly enjoyed all three volumes in this set and if you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice then all three volumes of Darcy’s Tale are a must read.
Giveaway (Open Internationally):
In order to get you started on this great series, I am giving away a copy of Darcy’s Tale Volume I: Into Hertfordshire. Please leave a comment telling me what your favorite Jane Austen novel is. I will randomly pick a winner on August 28th and email the winner. This giveaway is open internationally as long as you can receive an Amazon gift code. If you live in the U.S. you may choose an electronic or hard copy of the book.
*The winner of the giveaway is Sylvia. Thanks so much to everyone who entered!
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This book is a mix of genres, including historical fiction, romance, and Jane Austen fan fiction. The narrative alternates between two periods of time. The first point of view is through the eyes of Sophie who has grown up on an estate that has been in her family for generations. Although her parents house has a grand library which contains rare editions of many books, it is her Uncle Bertram who instills in Sophie a love of reading and old books. Sophie’s Uncle Bertram lives in a flat in London where she often visits him and looks through his own unique collection of rare books.
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