Product Description

Pride and Prejudice is the most popular romance of all time, and in this enjoyable retelling, Amanda Grange allows us to see the events of Jane Austen's famous novel from Mr Darcy's point of view. Scenes only hinted at in the original are here recorded in detail and brought to life as Darcy writes of his horror at discovering his sister's plans to elope with George Wickham, his efforts to separate Charles Bingley from Miss Jane Bennet and his disgust at having to arrange a marriage between George Wickham and Miss Lydia Bennet. But, most satisfying of all, he discloses his feelings for Elizabeth. Darcy's Diary records the full story of their courtship, from initial hostility to their eventual love, before revealing a tantalising glimpse of their early married life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12910 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781402208768
• Condition: USED - LIKE NEW
• Notes:
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From Publishers Weekly
Joining a growing field of Austeniana—and, particularly, Darcyiana—Grange retells Austen's Pride & Prejudice from Fitzwilliam Darcy's point of view. Her device for doing so is an imagined diary of a clever sort: Grange reproduces, word for word and comma for comma, conversations from the original novel, but shifts the perspective to reported speech in Darcy's first-person, with his commentary on the encounters. Between the reconstituted passages, the reader is treated to Darcy's ongoing reflections on Hertfordshire society, his family obligations, his sister and, most crucially, Elizabeth Bennet and her family. There are also wholly invented conversations, most engagingly between Bingley and Darcy as they try to resist the pull of Netherfield Hall. On the whole, however, the diary is awkward in tone and lacks the polish and poise of Austen's creation (which some of the sequels have managed to approximate). There's a decidedly introspective quality to the observations not befitting the very unmodern, unintrospective nobleman. It simply doesn't sound like Darcy. (May)
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Review
"Absolutely fascinating. Amanda Grange seems to have really got under Darcy's skin and retells the story, in diary form with great feeling and sensitivity." -- Historical Novels Review

A light and enjoyable read. I started reading this book expecting to be disappointed. Although I very much enjoyed Pamela Aidan's trilogy of books in the Fitzwilliam Darcy: Gentleman series, I am well aware there is a huge tract of dreadful material out there which is a follow-up or a retelling of Jane Austen's story, and I thought it quite likely this would be one of those.

How wrong I was! I was relieved to discover very quickly that Amanda Grange knows her subject, knows how to write in a lighthearted and enjoyable way, and I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. It's short enough and light enough to do that - the story moves on with more pace than Austen's book and Elizabeth features in most of the scenes in it, unlike the original. We get more of an insight into their life after their marriage - how the reconciliation with Lady Catherine takes place, and even an engagement between Colonel Fitzwilliam and Anne De Bourgh.

I have mentioned Pamela Aidan's three books, also written from Darcy's perspective. It's been interesting to read these two works only a few weeks apart as they couldn't be more different. Aidan's books are detailed, things move slowly, most of the action is taking place inside Darcy's head as we follow his thought processes as he falls in love with Elizabeth. Although in this book, written in the form of Darcy's diary, we do get some of his thoughts these are not particularly detailed. In some ways it read almost childlike - easy sentences, minimal description, fast-paced. But it worked really well for this book and made it a fun read.

The plot device of this being Darcy's private journal worked reasonably in some ways (it could be written in the first person) but had drawbacks - can anyone seriously imagine a gentleman writing for an hour each evening a diary with verbatim reporting of long conversations? But it was a useful tool upon which to hang the story and worked fairly well.

Probably 95% of the dialogue is lifted directly from Jane Austen's work but Amanda Grange certainly knows how to write in the style of the period as any other dialogue that she inserted worked really well. This was a seamless work which fitted in well and was true to the original.

Finally, it has to be said it was a relief to read a book written by an Englishwoman which was therefore bereft of the so-common American mistakes. Such a delight to read a book without a single "gotten", "fall" (for autumn) and "inquire". Very picky of me, but I think some of the other books I've read have shown a lack of decent editing and research.

I certainly recommend this book. I understand Amanda Grange has written at least nine other books. I shall be on the lookout for them now. -- Auntie Helen (Kent, England) - (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Absolutely fascinating. Amanda Grange seems to have really got under Darcy's skin and retells the story, in diary form, with great feeling and sensitivity. (Historical Novel Society )

As is proper, Grange doesn't attempt the impossible task of competing with the Divine Jane, but tells Darcy's story in her own style, with charm and a gentle wit. While her characters are true to Austen's creations, a couple of surprises lurk, only adding to the reader's pleasure. . . Fortunately, there are plenty of entirely fresh scenes...in which Grange's own humor and warmth shine, making this an amusing and diverting read for Austen fans.
--Susan Higginbotham, author of The Traitor's Wife: A Nove of the Reign of Edward II (Susan Higginbotham susandhigginbotham.blogspot.com )

I really didn't want this book to end, as Grange's description of events following P&P were excellent. (Revisiting the Moon's Library (revisitingthemoonlibrary.blogspot.com) )

If you've ever thought, 'How could he say that?' when Darcy proposed to Elizabeth the first time, or wondered what he thought of her when he met her again at Pemberley . . . if you've ever wondered what he said to Wickham when he finally found him in London, or what he said to Lydia . . . if you've ever wondered what Darcy felt when Elizabeth said 'Yes' . . . if you've ever wondered what happened at Christmas after Lizzy and Darcy were married . . . then this book will answer your deepest desires.

Ms Grange has also written Mr Knightley's Diary, which I loved, and Captain Wentworth's Diary, which isn't out yet but I want to read, too. I hope she does Col Brandon's Diary, that's one I would love to see.

I'm editing this review to say I've just found out from Amanda Grange's website that there's a paperback of Darcy's Diary, but it's called Mr Darcy's Diary - the slight change in the title is probably why there doesn't seem to be a link to it from this page. Anyway, you can type Amanda Grange into the search box and it will bring up al her books, including Mr Darcy's Diary, or you can type the ISBN into the search box, which is -- Austen Fan Book Devourer

Literature's most eligible bachelor is back! A treat for Pride and Prejudice fans, this tells the story from Mr. Darcy's point of view. Sensitive to the original but lots of fun, this is the tale behind the alpha male. (Woman magazine )

Mr. Darcy's Diary is an enjoyable journey into the mind of one of the most popular characters in literary history . . . a gift to a new generation of Darcy fans and a treat for existing fans as well.
(www.austenblog.com )

This is one of the best I have read so far, I was so sad when it came to an end. You could almost hear him telling you of his pain when Georgiana is so deceived by Wickham and Mrs Younge and how he blames himself for not protecting her enough. You can understand some of his anger and alarm. Why at first he seems to like Caroline Bingley, as his friends sister. But soon realises what she is.

You can read his thoughts about Elizabeth, how at first he becomes fasinated by her, because he as never met someone so guiless like her. Then eventually how this turns to love. You can feel the hurt she bestows on him at Hunsford and the anger at Wickham when he finds Lydia and him holed a run down tavern in London.

You can feel the love develope between them during the courtshipe and marriage. I loved the visions she gave us of their married life.

I hope Amanda Grange will write a follow up to this book as I would be one of the first to buy it. -- ML Robson "LynneRobson" (Dronfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom)

About the Author

Amanda Grange is a popular author of historical fiction in the U.K. She specializes in creative interpretations of classic novels and historic events, including Jane Austen's novels and the Titanic shipwreck. Her novels include Lord Deverill's Secret, Mr. Knightley's Diary and Titanic Affair. She lives in England.

Customer Reviews

Fitzwilliam Darcy---humanized!
The aspect of this novel by Amanda Grange which pleases me most is that she has been successful in turning Fitzwilliam Darcy into a flesh and blood man. Since Pride and Prejudice is essentially written from Elizabeth Bennet's point of view, at times I want an explanation of what Darcy is thinking. This book managed to do that for me. Even knowing that these words, thoughts and ideas do not come from Jane Austen, I am still completely satisfied with thinking "my" Mr. Darcy would have been like this. He was arrogant, he did believe in his own self-importance, he did interfere in Bingley's life. But, he also learned from Elizabeth and Bingley and the situations he found himself in that he could change. He didn't need to stay so stiff and formal. He could actually learn to tease and be teased and the world as he knew it would still remain on its axis.

I found this book to be slow going at first. I really didn't think I was going to be able to accept this Darcy as the same one who lives in my imagination. But a strange thing happened as I continued to read. I began to really like this man. Amanda Grange had made him a true, real, loveable person for me. As most of the other reviewers have said, I also am a huge fan of the Jane Austen books. Ms Grange does not try to be Jane Austen. She tries to be herself, giving us her version of how she thinks Fitzwilliam Darcy might have responded to his situations. I applaud her effort and recommend this book as a worthwhile read.

This is just a little extra information in case you get confused (as I did). This book came out in Britain in 2005 in hardcover and was titled DARCY'S DIARY. It has a full head portrait of Darcy on the cover, quite interesting but maybe just a little too feminine for "my" Darcy. The paperback was published in 2007 and is titled MR. DARCY'S DIARY. I, of course, was not careful and managed to buy them both. The paperback has only a partial portrait, probably because the publisher discovered that each of us has our own mental picture of Fitzwilliam Darcy. Both books are identical in every way except as I have stated. Now, my advice is to just read and enjoy one copy or the other.

Mr. Darcy Does it Again!
I always wanted to read a book that reflected Mr. Darcy' feelings and emotions when he met Elizabeth. This book does exactly that- it "explains" in Darcy's voice how he feels about Elizabeth Bennett from the very first moment he sees her, and how he falls in love with her over time.

Loved it- Read it after Pride and Prejudice.

Ellen

I went to bed with a happy heart!!
From the time UPS delivered this book yesterday, until I finished it at 2 a.m., I was captivated --and went to bed with a happy heart! Darcy's Diary is witty and delightful. Each entry is dated which keeps the timeline ever in focus. Amanda Grange successfully makes our hero all too human as she clearly exposes his pride that may not be as obvious in other's writings. Although Darcy may be a bit shy in company of those he does not know, it is in this novel that his arrogance is clearly his weakness -- and that is what he truly must overcome! Interactions that Darcy relates (as well as his innermost thoughts) are laugh out loud funny. And as I am an avid (yet critical) fan of anything Darcy and Elizabeth, this is one novel I am eager and confident to recommend!