Pamela Aidan

Interesting storyline from Darcy's perspective, his thoughts, feelings, emotions on his journey into Hertfordshire. This is a unique concept and is also the storyline is not resolved, continuing to the next book.

Having read this several times, I am always surprised at how it honors the original story, yet answers so many questions about Mr. Darcy's personality which were left unanswered by Ms. Austen. In Pride and Prejudice, his actions are a mystery. His pride is simply a flaw, but here they are illustrated; his choice of Elizabeth, despite his better judgement, is simply pompous, but here it is a great struggle; his decision to interfere in Wickham's abscontion with Lydia seems truly "all for Elizabeth", but here it is given depth and a real moral struggle; his about face regarding Bingley and Miss Bennett, and his own condescension to ask for Elizabeth's hand again, is glossed over, but here it is a hard won battle over his inner pride and a renewed maturity and humbleness. In short, Pamela Aidan delves in to who Darcy is and why he does what he does, while staying true to the story completely. She also ties in several historical moments, socially and politically, that men of that day would have been concerned with; allows us to understand Georgianna, Wickham, Bingley, and even Bingley's sisters more thoroughly, and adds some characters who help to drive Darcy's moral change. This is the first in a trilogy that I recommend highly.

This trilogy is my favorite set of P&P variations told from Darcy’s POV. The books follow the original story so faithfully that I actually read these books at the same time I read P&P. In this book we see the romantic and conflicted side of Darcy as he struggles with his attraction for Elizabeth. The author has made Darcy seem more real and has added to his character in such a way that you can’t help but fall in love with him. This trilogy must be read together to be thoroughly enjoyed. I love this series so much that it has actually been given a place on my limited bookshelves so I can be sure to recommend it to my friends and reread it every few years.

An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan is the first part of a three part novel telling the story of Pride and Prejudice through Darcy's eyes. I found the story very enjoyable. Darcy's relationships with his male friends and his dog and horse shed light on Darcy and his humanity. His relationship with his sister, here expressed in letters, shows that the turnaround in his character that Elizabeth provokes in P&P is not far-fetched. Aidan presents Darcy as a bit of an introvert who has learned how to function in society by using his wealth and prestige as armor, contrary to Elizabeth's impression that he is cold; and it is Elizabeth and his feelings for her that show him the inadequacy of his ways. However, his first solution is to run away, and that is as far as he gets in this first installment. Aidan starts at the beginning of P&P, with the Bingley's and Darcy settling in at Netherfield and progresses to their return to London, where Darcy is hoping to forget Elizabeth. All in all, a well written and fascinating redo of the first third of Pride and Prejudice.

What a wonderful concept this is! A book about Darcy and Elizabeth from Darcy's perspective! I'd never read it before, but ended up whipping through all three of the books in this series going mach 10 with my hair on fire. For those who've seen the two P&P movies (PBS series with Collin Firth, and last year's big screen release with Keira Knightly (sp?), it's apparent that either this book series borrowed from some of the additions in those movies, or those movies borrowed from some of the additions in this book. Either way, they're wonderful. It's not a duplication, though. There are story threads I'd never encountered, directions taken and characters utilized that kept it from being a simple rehash of things I'd already read or seen. Best of all, the author's keen sense of humor and writing style were fully in keeping with Austen's, which gives their accounts the feel of being "bookends" to the same marvelous love story.

I loved this book. I actually started this series inside out with a copy of Duty and Desire I picked up used. I fell in love with idea of variations on P&P and when I got my kindle I bought more than a few of the ones available. But none of them were satisfying in the way Duty and Desire was so I caved in and paid the price to get this on kindle. Pride and Prejudice is a great work and satisfying in its own way but this book explores the world of the time in a way Austen (or Elizabeth) couldn't have. I don't know if its historically accurate but it certainly seems well researched and it feels like its a complete world and narrative of its own (complete with original characters!). Even the lines that "must" come from Austen are given with such a different persepective that it doesn't feel derivative. I have stopped reading variations after reading this because I don't think another one could be as satisfying and rich as rereading this work.

Interesting storyline from Darcy's perspective, his thoughts, feelings, emotions on his journey into Hertfordshire. This is a unique concept and is also the storyline is not resolved, continuing to the next book.

Having read this several times, I am always surprised at how it honors the original story, yet answers so many questions about Mr. Darcy's personality which were left unanswered by Ms. Austen. In Pride and Prejudice, his actions are a mystery. His pride is simply a flaw, but here they are illustrated; his choice of Elizabeth, despite his better judgement, is simply pompous, but here it is a great struggle; his decision to interfere in Wickham's abscontion with Lydia seems truly "all for Elizabeth", but here it is given depth and a real moral struggle; his about face regarding Bingley and Miss Bennett, and his own condescension to ask for Elizabeth's hand again, is glossed over, but here it is a hard won battle over his inner pride and a renewed maturity and humbleness. In short, Pamela Aidan delves in to who Darcy is and why he does what he does, while staying true to the story completely. She also ties in several historical moments, socially and politically, that men of that day would have been concerned with; allows us to understand Georgianna, Wickham, Bingley, and even Bingley's sisters more thoroughly, and adds some characters who help to drive Darcy's moral change. This is the first in a trilogy that I recommend highly.