Rate this book

Le Rêve De Mr Darcy (2014)

by Elizabeth Aston(Favorite Author)
3.46 of 5 Votes: 4
ISBN
2811213279 (ISBN13: 9782811213275)
languge
English
genre
publisher
Milady
series
Darcy
review 1: A few years back Jane Austen wannabes and spin-offs (especially of "Pride and Prejudice") were all the rage. I read several, and some were better than others. (And some are just awful). Elizabeth Aston's series (there are about 5 or 6 books in the bunch) is the best of those I read. She does a nice job of telling the stories of the next generation of the P&P characters, starting with "Mr. Darcy's Daughters". She also avoids the mistake made by too many imitators of trying to keep the older generation in the picture. There are few (maybe none) who can write enough like Jane Austen to sustain lengthy conversations involving Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. So, despite the title, Mr. Darcy puts in only a very brief appearance near the end of the book. This is, instead, the st... moreory of Phoebe Hawkins, Mr. Darcy's niece (Georgiana's daughter, for those to whom genealogies and connections are important). There is also major subplot involving her cousin, Louisa Bingham. The two young women are organizing a ball for early summer at Pemberley in the absence of the elder Darcys who are on the continent. Phoebe is fleeing a disastrous love affair; Louisa, who has been the debutante rounds for several years, has decided that she'd rather sit this one out. Aston does a nice job of writing in the style of Jane Austen, without attempting to imitate too closely. So if you liked P&P enough to read it several times, you will find this a charming extension of the time and place of that society.
review 2: I read this after the five-books-so-far Song of Fire and Ice, so I kind of "pity" it because Martin is a tough act to follow... But I wanted something a bit "light" and just *easy* to read (not that Martin is hard to read - on the contrary I could read for hours and hours every night). In looking at other people's reviews of Aston's novel, it seems that this - the last of the series - is the weakest of the bunch, so I MAY give her another chance because I did not really like this book. Except for the strong relationship between Phoebe and Louisa (Georgina's and Jane's daughters) and the character of Mr. Drummond, there was not much to like. The whole novel hinged on one question: why was Mr. Stanhope in Derbyshire? Was he there for Phoebe or just because his sister lives nearby? If Phoebe had stopped running away, she could have asked him. Things could have been resolved. It was a matter of just finding out the truth about Mrs. Vereker.... or, rather, accepting the truth of Mrs. Vereker as Mr. Stanhope's lover for five years prior to her marriage and his love for Phoebe... there was no drama - nothing much happened - the arrival of their Great Aunt was one of the most exciting things that ever happened in the book... there needed to be a more complex plot, a more complicated issue to deal with, a better misunderstanding....this is my third Austen spin off, and it's a bit sad for me to think Bridget Jones' Diary was the best of the three... less
Reviews (see all)
Liska
Great fan fiction, mirrors Austen's style perfectly. Just not my favorite style of storytelling.
nabil
Sigh. This novel actually has Fitzwilliam Darcy in it at the end. Love this series!
booklover047
A nice ending to the series.
dominique
Finished April 28 2012
Write review
Review will shown on site after approval.
(Review will shown on site after approval)