Barbara L.B. Storey

I have loved Pride and Prejudice for years, one of my top "re-reads." This book is a re-imagining of the story from Darcy's point of view. And after reading it, I have come to the realisation that he was never my favourite character in the story.

And it's not just because of the pride thing - though he is, even in this book, very pompous. He's just kind of . . . boring. I have no idea why he would be considered an ideal man. And - according to Aidan - he dithers over his attraction to Elizabeth in a way that is not really believable.

The writing itself is a little muddy in places - by which I mean there were passages where I was not sure what the author was trying to accomplish. Darcy, Bingley, and an old friend of Darcy's go to a soiree/ball in London, at which something scandalous happens, but the scandal is so scantily described, I was left wondering just what exactly had happened. It's as if the author assumes we are all inhabitants of that time and place in history, and have the same sensibilities of her characters, making it improper to really explain in any detail - it's just not something a gentleman would put into words. But not even Jane Austen was this deferentially reserved!

All in all, I was not horribly impressed by this book in any way, and was anxious to finish it and move on to something better.