Product Description

Jane Austen's classic novel, Pride and Prejudice, ends with the marriage of the Bennet sisters to their hard-won fiancés, but the story of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy's life together is only beginning. And This Our Life is an affectionate and historically accurate sequel that chronicles the lives of the Darcys during their first year of marriage. In addition to learning to be the mistress of Pemberley, the Darcy estate, and overcoming the preconceptions of her new relatives, Elizabeth must help her young sister-in-law, Georgiana, find her way to womanhood through the maze of ritual, tradition and marital politics that is Regency-era England. Often snubbed by the first circles of society, Elizabeth strives to gain acceptance with the same grace and wit that attracted Mr. Darcy, while helping Georgiana acquire the confidence she needs to find true love and happiness, no matter what obstacles are placed in their way.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87907 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 248 pages

About the Author
C. Allyn Pierson is the nom-de-plume of physician Carey A. Bligard, who has combined her many years of interest in the works of Jane Austen and the history of Regency England into this sequel to Pride and Prejudice. She lives in Fort Dodge, Iowa, with her family and three dogs. Visit her on the web at www.callynpierson.com.

Customer Reviews

A debut to be proud of
Of course those of us who love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice wish to know more about Elizabeth and Darcy. I was pleased to see how gracefully this author has continued with their tale. The main roles are featured with subtle ongoing character development. Elizabeth still has a wry and puckish sense of humor, Mr. Darcy takes life seriously but is softened by his love for Elizabeth, and Georgiana moves from a background character to someone we can like and admire.
This sequel starts just before the wedding of Darcy/Elizabeth and Bingley/Jane, and any historical facts and people mentioned fit accurately within the time frame. Details of period clothes, customs, and traditions add to the marvelous flavor of the book. The writer has a clear pleasant voice and starts each chapter with a literary quote.
This first novel by C. Allyn Pierson is a debut to be proud of.

A Wonderful Sequel!
I have read many books and fanfics about the life of Darcy and Elizabeth after their marriage, and this is one of my favorites. It is a satisfying read, and I think that Jane Austen, herself, would be proud of this endeavor. If Jane Austen could write a sequel, I think that the characters and the storyline would be very similiar to what Ms. Pierson wrote about in this novel. I am looking forward to Book 2.

A sweet story that will delight most Austen purist
Everyone has their own thoughts on how the happily ever after continued at the conclusion of Pride and Prejudice. As of late, we have seen many creative sequels with Lizzy and Darcy taking another turn about the shrubberies. What they do in those shrubberies can be quite surprising. Rest assured, you will see none of that in And This Our Life, by C. Allyn Pierson.

This sequel takes the straight and narrow path from page one with few detours in Austen's tone, reverently recreating her characters and bathing them an idealistic light. The story immediately picks up as the Bennet sisters, Jane and Elizabeth prepare for their marriages to Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is still miffed over her nephew Darcy's choice of a 'no name bride' and Bingley's sister Caroline is as acrimonious as ever. However, the ceremony proceeds and the couples depart for their London townhouses and wedded bliss. The narrative is primarily from Elizabeth's perspective and we experience her anxieties at being accepted by London society and the Darcy family quickly resolved, and her concerns over being Mistress of Pemberley not really materialize. One delight in Elizabeth's new life is Mr. Darcy's shy young sister Georgiana who she eagerly assists in her preparation for her society debut. Darcy gets his bit of storyline too as he aids the Prince Regent in the recovery of stolen letters in a James Bondish escapade in Paris. In addition to other familiar characters such as Mr. Bennet and daughter Kitty, we are introduced to Colonel Fitzwilliam's parents Lord and Lady Whitwell, a new amiable neighbor Sir Robert Blake, and a few villains thrown in for good measure, ner' do well Jonathan Walker, dissolute George Lewis Winslow Fitzwilliam, Viscount St. George, and the gold digging Comte de Tourney.

Overall this debut novel is a sweet story that will delight most Austen purist. The plot would have benefitted from more tension and drama as life with the Darcy's was a bit too perfect. One of the things that I appreciate about Austen's characterizations is that even her hero and heroine have their faults, the process to overcome them is one of the most enjoyable aspects of her storyline. We do see Georgiana develop from a shy retreating girl into a confident young woman, but that was not quite enough for me. Furthermore, the pacing was slow until about 100 pages in, and then improved greatly. Ms. Pierson's understanding of literature, Regency history and social customs was the highlight of this novel. We are in no doubt of Lizzy and Darcy's happy ever after. I just wish that it could have been harder wrought.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose