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Excerpt from Chapter One:

“In a moment, when we leave the trees, you will be able to see the house,” said Mr. Darcy. “There it is, across the valley—Pemberley House.”

Elizabeth smiled at him dutifully, then looked out the window of the carriage to where he was pointing. The house was large and handsome, even at this distance, and its situation on a rising hill above the water was lovely. Of course, she had expected as much, having heard its praises sung by Miss Bingley as well as Darcy himself. In other circumstances, she might have been delighted by it.

She became aware that his eyes were upon her awaiting her response. Obediently, she turned to him and said, “It is lovely, sir. I do not believe I have ever seen a house more fortunately situated.”

His face warmed with pleasure, and Elizabeth hurriedly looked out the window again, pretending to examine the nearer aspects of the house as they drove along a stream which wound its way downhill. There was no denying the beauty of the park. It would be some consolation to have such fine-looking grounds to wander through whenever she wished.

The driver called out to the horses as they pulled up in front of the house. Darcy stepped out immediately, then turned to offer his hand to Elizabeth. She placed her own upon it, accepting his support as she stepped down, then allowed him to bring her hand to his lips for an intimate caress.

There was no point, after all, in pretending he did not have the right or that he had not spent the previous night taking every imaginable liberty with her body. She had no reason to complain; he had been kind and gentle, but after a second long day of travel, her spirits were flagging, and she found the pretence of happiness more difficult to sustain.

He did not release her hand, and eventually she glanced up at him to find a slight smile upon his lips. “Welcome to Pemberley, Mrs. Darcy,” he said with evident satisfaction. To Elizabeth’s relief, the rooms and furnishings of Pemberley house showed more restraint and true elegance than she had expected. She had tried to imagine living in an even grander and ore ostentatious version of Rosings; at least her surroundings would be more pleasant than that. It demonstrated more good taste on Mr. Darcy’s part than she would have anticipated. In all fairness, she had to admit there had been no reason to think he lacked taste beyond the garishness of his aunt’s residence. Nothing about his appearance, from his frock coats to his horses, was ever lacking. She schooled herself to remember how little she knew this man who was her husband. It was imperative that she learn to grant him the benefit of the doubt if they were not both to be unhappy.

She was greeted respectfully by the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds. The household appeared to be excellently managed; she could have no complaints in that regard. The servants were deferential without being obsequious, and Darcy appeared genuinely glad to see some of them.

Finally, he asked if she would like to see her rooms. Hoping for the chance to refresh herself, she agreed and followed him through a maze of corridors to a large, well-lit suite. Darcy closed the door behind them and took her into his arms. It was something she had become accustomed to, and in general it no longer made her uncomfortable, but after the intimacies of the previous night, it felt like an intrusion. She would learn to bear it.

If only she could have a few minutes to herself! She had barely been out of his company since she walked into the church the previous day. It was a long time to play the role of the contented wife without an intermission.

Finally, in desperation, she suggested to him that she needed a little rest, and he reluctantly departed, promising to see her shortly at dinner. As the door closed, leaving her alone at last, her façade visibly collapsed, her shoulders slumping in despair. Surely this would become easier with time. She lay down on the bed—larger than any she had ever slept in before—to which she was supposed to welcome her new husband. Tears of loneliness and fatigue slipped down her face.

How had her life come to this? If only she had paid more attention to Darcy’s puzzling behaviour when they first met and then later at Rosings, perhaps she might have prevented it. But that was useless speculation. There was nothing left but to make the best of it.

Review:
In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett tells the proud Fitzwilliam Darcy that she wouldn’t marry him if he was the last man in the world. Abigail Reynolds’s The Last Man in the World: A Pride and Prejudice Variation, she creates asks the question, "What if Elizabeth hadn’t refused Darcy? What would their story have been like if she had said yes?"

The book builds on this interesting premise. Even though Lizzie Bennett has agreed to marry Darcy, she still carries her uncertainties and doubts. George Wickham’s insinuations are still unanswered at the time of the wedding and Lizzie hasn’t formed a good opinion of Darcy.
In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Fitzwiliam Darcy is particularly interesting: It is clear that he loves Lizzie but he doesn’t know her well. It never occurred to Darcy that Lizzie Bennett would refuse his proposal or that she wouldn’t be honored and excited to become Mrs. Darcy. The two discover that they’d been blind in their own ways and as Lizzie and Darcy gradually see beyond their prejudices and expectations, they find love.

Overall, I found The Last Man in the World: A Pride and Prejudice Variation a fun read. The Lizzie Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy seemed to be closer my own impressions of Jane Austen’s characters and thoroughly likeable. I enjoyed the ups and downs of their love story and its satisfying conclusion.

Recommended for: Pride and Prejudice fans
My rating: 4 /5
My thoughts:

What happens when you take a famous scene from an incredibly popular novel and change it up? Abigail Reynolds does just that in this Pride and Prejudice variation novel. This is the story of what would have happened had Lizzy said ’yes’ when Mr. Darcy proposed the first time.

There where times that I wanted to shake Lizzy for being so stubborn & Darcy for being so tactless. They do not lead a happily ever after from the beginning, but then did you ever expect that of them? They play games, there are misunderstandings and it was fun to see the relationship develop. There is one steamy scene included (which of course I happened to be reading on my train ride home from work) so just be forewarned! Abigail’s love of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice shines through. This was an easy, fun read that I would suggest to all P&P fans.


Those of us familiar with Jane Austen’s classic Pride & Prejudice – which, if you’re even reading this, is probably most of us — know that Fitzwilliam Darcy popped the question to a flabbergasted Elizabeth Bennet long before she actually accepted, forcing Elizabeth to launch into her famous diatribe about Darcy being “the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.” (Yikes. What a shut-down.)

Because Darcy? He was proud. Arrogant. Disdainful of Elizabeth’s family and “low connections.” And yet there was something about her — something spirited — that got him to cast aside his reservations and actually drop to one knee.

Or, in this case, plant a giant kiss on her.

While reading a novel like Abigail Reynolds’ Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man In The World, a variation on Pride & Prejudice, we have to remember what life was like in Regency England — decidedly straight-laced. After Darcy offers for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage and assumes she’ll be overjoyed at the proposal, he leans forward to kiss her. But his belief that they’re alone while walking is quickly voided when Colonel Fitzwilliam stumbles across the pair. Shocked and horrified that she has now been “compromised” — and knowing there’s no way she can walk away from Darcy’s unbelievable offer of marriage now — Elizabeth stays mum as she is congratulated by her acquaintances and Darcy formally asks Mr. Bennet for permission to wed his second-eldest daughter.

Can you imagine? You’re caught in a man’s arms and suddenly you’re damaged goods — destined to bring shame and poverty upon your family because of one small, unexpected smooch. Let’s just say I’m glad it’s not 1815.

But I digress.

Reynolds’ Darcy is a familiar one: haughty and in control, but his unexpected tenderness and obvious infatuation with Elizabeth — though she most definitely did not return his sentiments — was very different. I enjoyed this novel from start to finish, absolutely loving the push-and-pull between our principle characters. Reynolds does an impeccable job of keeping us firmly rooted at the Pemberley we know and love while still allowing for some change. Familiar characters enter the landscape — like the devious George Wickham, a man for whom I must admit to have a certain soft spot (I know, I know) — and Austen’s plot points are honored, though Reynolds does take us in some new directions. And some of those steamy scenes would have brought a decided blush to Miss Austen’s cheeks.

The discourse between Elizabeth and Darcy was funny and tender — and, dare I say it, they bantered. Really bantered. So many recent spin-offs or variations of Pride & Prejudice I’ve read, like Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, feature our beloved characters as mere shells of who they used to be. Reynolds’ Elizabeth is still spirited and independent, afraid of Darcy though she can’t quite put her finger on why. The evolution of their relationship was believable and, though I knew that they would have to grow to love each other (right?), there was still a little shadow across my brow when I wondered how the couple would finally set aside their — ahem — pride and prejudice to accept one another . . . faults and all.

After reading a page or two here and there for a few days, when I finally sat down to devote my full attention to this novel? I whipped through it in a few hours. And what a diverting few hours they were! Fans of Austen and our beloved Darcy and Elizabeth won’t find much fault with this novel, though I have to admit to getting a little weary of the fact that they were so often at cross-hairs. But that’s just part of the fun, right? If you love Austen fiction, don’t hesitate to pick this one up.

4 out of 5!


Overall Rating: 4.5

Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth Bennet and kisses her. Much to Elizabeth’s dismay Colonel Fitzwilliam and a servant come upon them at that exact moment. Because of this, Elizabeth is compromised and feels that she must marry Darcy for the sake of her family. Elizabeth decides, since she will be totally in Darcy’s power, to make the best of things and pretend happiness. Darcy, oblivious to Elizabeth’s true feelings, soon after the marriage, realizes Elizabeth’s true feelings. Will Elizabeth and Darcy grow to love one another, when their marriage starts out on such shaky ground.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World is an entertaining read but doesn’t develop some characters in a way that Austen might have, in my opinion. Elizabeth seemed far too meek and accepting, but Darcy behaved in a way that meshed with his characterization in Pride and Prejudice. Even so, this book is a poignant love story and makes a great read. Elizabeth, who has a very distorted vision of Darcy, begins to see his great qualities and grows to love him. Darcy’s character and actions are explained very well and this reader’s heart goes out to him. Through misunderstandings and interfering villains, the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth survives and becomes stronger.

All in all, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World is an exceptional read, but it may disappoint some Jane Austen purists.

Marlene



In recent years, Pride & Prejudice has undergone several transformations from a teenaged time-traveler in Pradas to a match made in zombie apocalypse to post-happily-ever-afters to what-ifs. Sadly whichever Austen retelling I have picked up thus far has been promptly set down in disappointment. You’d think I’d learn my lesson, but sometimes there are plot summaries that I cannot resist. Which is why I decided to give The Last Man In The World a fair shot.

Only to be thoroughly delighted with it.

Mr. Darcy, in his excitement of proposing to Elizabeth, kisses her without permission or even waiting for a "yes", and the two get caught in a compromising situation by Colonel Fitzwilliam and some gamekeepers. As much as Elizabeth still loathes him at this point, she resigns herself to marrying him to avoid any scandal to her name or her family’s.


Page 13 (ARC): His lips touched hers. She felt a moment of panic at the intimacy of it. She would not let it show, though; instead, she forced herself to think how her marriage might provide another chance for Jane and Mr. Bingley.

Although it was distinctly odd to be kissed by Mr. Darcy, it was neither terrible nor disgusting, she decided; it was tolerable. The thought of applying that term to him was rather amusing. Perhaps she should start trying to think of him as tolerable.
And so begins a truly wretched marriage where Mr. Darcy views it as the single greatest thing in his entire life and Elizabeth sees it as her greatest sacrifice.

If you love romances where the two main characters start off on opposite ends and eventually come together after several heartaches, then I highly recommend The Last Man In The World for delivering such an entertaining romance! While Elizabeth dominated the story with her torn feelings, Mr. Darcy had his moments of vulnerability as a husband hopelessly in love with his wife who does not return his affections yet, if ever.

Abigail Reynolds kept this Pride & Prejudice variation short and sweet. An unwanted early marriage seemed to heighten the conflicts that were already present between these two most-beloved characters, and it is almost - just almost - as good as the original Pride & Prejudice ending.

I usually don’t say this, but I am hoping that Abigail Reynolds will bring back to life Georgiana who might have stolen the show if she had more page time. In the meantime, I may just check out her other Pride & Prejudice "what-ifs" to have more delicious tension between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth!


The above quote about Mr. Darcy certainly applied to me when I was reading Abigail Reynolds’ latest Pemberley Variation, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, in which she poses one answer to the question, "What if Elizabeth Bennet had accepted Mr. Darcy’s first marriage proposal?" What follows is not merely a re-telling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice but a different story about Austen’s beloved characters, one that is fresh and unique while staying true to the Darcy and Elizabeth I know and love.

Reynolds opens her novel shortly after Darcy and Elizabeth are married — occurring when her sister, Jane, is still sad about Mr. Bingley’s sudden departure from Netherfield and prior to the elopement of her boy-crazy and impulsive sister, Lydia — with Darcy taking Elizabeth to Pemberley for the first time and Elizabeth recalling how she came to be married to a man she loathes. Mr. Darcy just assumed she’d accept his proposal, despite insulting Elizabeth with comments about her embarrassing family and low status, and the passionate kiss he forces upon her is observed by Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Catherine’s gatekeepers. This leaves her with little choice but to marry the arrogant Darcy and put up with the fact that he doesn’t want her associating with her family; if she chooses otherwise, she feels her family will be ruined and any chance for her four other sisters to marry will be lost.

Darcy soon learns that Elizabeth doesn’t share his feelings of love, and when an accident occurs and Elizabeth realizes that she does in fact love Darcy, it might be too late. Lonely, without family or friends, Elizabeth passes her days at Pemberley, feeling certain that she and Darcy will spend the rest of their lives simply co-existing. Both are too proud and stubborn to talk about their feelings, and when her sister, Lydia, runs off with Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth is sure that Mr. Darcy will want her to permanently sever all ties to her family.

While reading Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, it became obvious to me that Reynolds has read Pride and Prejudice many, many times and knows these characters inside and out. Though her writing style is part old-fashioned, part-contemporary, it was easy for me to lose myself in the story and actually forget I was reading an Austen sequel. Sometimes it felt that Elizabeth’s abhorrence of Darcy was stated too many times, but it was easy to overlook because the path Reynolds paved for the two was interesting. It was entertaining to watch Darcy come to the realization that he can be an arrogant ass and Elizabeth come into her own as the mistress of Pemberley. The only disappointment for me was not getting to see much of Elizabeth’s family. I can do without the annoying Mrs. Bennet, but I felt the absence of the witty Mr. Bennet.

Since the book opens in the middle of Austen’s story without any introductions of Darcy or Elizabeth or any backstory about their first meeting or the reasons why Elizabeth’s family (really, mother) is so embarrassing, I think it would be hard to truly understand if you haven’t already read Pride and Prejudice. For those of us (me included) who have read Pride and Prejudice more than once, it’s nice to just start at the exact point where Reynolds’ story begins.

I highly recommend Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World if you love Darcy and Elizabeth and have every wondered "what if?" You can be sure that I’ll read more of Reynolds’ Pemberley Variations in the future!

Most of the people that I know who are obsessed with historical romance novels, adore Jane Austen. Yes, I am one of these people. This book answers the question that has plagued myself and readers like me. What could-have-been between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy if she had not refused his proposal?

This was an amazing read that explores the romantic possibilities between two unforgettable characters. I found it thought-provoking and extremely sensual.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World (4.5/5)

This book is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This book plays out as if Elizabeth said yes to Mr. Darcy’s first proposal of marriage. Reynolds stays true to Austen’s characters and nicely develops Lizzy and Darcy. The writing style works as well as when compared to Austen’s.

Darcy thinks Elizabeth is in love with him; he does not realize that Elizabeth married him because she felt she had to. This misunderstanding moves the first half or so of the book along and then when Darcy figures out the truth, the star-crossed lovers must find their way back to each other. This book has romance in it worthy of Austen herself. Bingley and Jane’s relationship has moved along in this book too.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I believe Reynolds did a nice job of making these characters her own, while not sacrificing Austen’s intent. I would recommend this book to Jane Austen fans and also to fans of romance and historical fiction.

I own all of Abigail Reynolds books but I have never picked up any of them. I was saving the best for last which tends to result in never reading the books you really want to read. I was really curious about how Abigail Reynolds was going to go about changing the Pride and Prejudice story we all know and love and if it would be believable.

The portrayal of Lizzy and Darcy was absolutely fabulous. Both characters were completely on point. Lizzy was charming yet a bit, shall I say cruel, to Darcy and Darcy was a bit of a dunderhead in just assuming that Lizzy would not say no to him because of his wealth and status. I think this book was so successful because it kept both Lizzy and Darcy completely in character with slight, yet very obvious changes in their circumstances.

The book was so convincing that, at times, I forgot that this book did not actually happen (not that Pride and Prejudice actually happened) . I totally forgot at points that Darcy did not compromise Lizzy during his proposal by not giving her a chance to say no to him and Lizzy being forced to marry Darcy as a result. It was so interesting to see what the marriage between Lizzy and Darcy would have been like if Lizzy had not gone through that period of discovery about Darcy.

I think we all often wonder “what would happen if…” in our lives and in our favorite books as well. The Last Man in the World shows the road not taken in Pride and Prejudice and I can’t wait to read Abigail Renolds’ other books and will read any further sequel she writes.

Grade: A


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
*****
“Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy,” originally published as “The Last Man in the World” in 2007, is an engaging and clever variation of “Pride and Prejudice.” If you have not yet had the pleasure of encountering this series, “The Pemberley Variations,” by Abigail Reynolds, it is collection of “Pride and Prejudice” re-tellings that asks the question “what if?” In these variations we see how one small change in the plot can alter the course of “Pride and Prejudice.” This is one of my favorite variations by Abigail Reynolds, I love how heartbreaking and emotional the story is.

The slight change that sends “Pride and Prejudice” on its ear in this variation is Mr. Darcy kissing Elizabeth before she can refuse his offer of marriage and that kiss being observed by Colonel Fitzwilliam and Rosing Park gamekeepers. Now Elizabeth finds herself in a difficult situation as Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are under the impression that she has accepted Darcy’s addresses and if she were to correct their assumption it would jeopardize not only her reputation, but also the reputations of her sisters. Even though Elizabeth never gets to proclaim to Darcy that he is “the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed on to marry," she strongly despises him for what he’s done and her outlook for her a happy future is very bleak.

In “Pride and Prejudice” the flaws of “pride” and “prejudice” are played upon. In “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy” these flaws are still represented but added to them are “selfishness” and “deception.” Mr. Darcy selfishly believes that Elizabeth’s answer to his proposal could only be yes, and Elizabeth decides it best to deceive her husband into believing her happily married instead of being truthful about her feelings for him. One of the reasons I love Elizabeth and Darcy is because they are flawed and they make mistakes. No one is perfect and in the literary world sometimes we tend to idolize our heroes and heroines. It is a nice change to see them feel insecure, embarrassed, or misunderstood. I believe even Elizabeth Bennet has times when she lacks confidence or jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Abigail Reynolds is a very talented and gifted author that clearly loves Jane Austen and “Pride and Prejudice” with a passion! I am delighted to own both this book and her self-published version of it “The Last Man in the World.” After reading “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy” and scanning through my copy of “The Last Man in the World,” I did not find many changes in the plot, and I would venture to say that the only changes were grammatical. So if you already own “The Last Man in the World” you might not want to buy this book, however, if you are like me, you wouldn’t mind having this lovely book grace your shelves twice! In addition, I would like to warn readers who don’t enjoy intimate and romantic scenes between these characters that there are a few included in this book. However, the romantic scenes are very infrequent and are not overly explicit.

I highly recommend this novel for people who are interested in seeing “Pride and Prejudice” travel a different course!


Abigail Reynolds’ Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World examines what it would have happened in Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen had Elizabeth Bennet not refused Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal. Lizzy is stuck in a situation in which she is forced to accept Darcy’s proposal, or at least she feels that is the case. The marriage happens quickly and Lizzy is filled with anxiety about her role as Mrs. Darcy, what to expect from her husband, and how to overcome her prejudice against her him.

"Was his pride so great that it did not occur to him she might refuse him? Elizabeth opened her mouth to deny his allegation, but before any sound could emerge, she recognized the danger." (Page 6 of ARC)

Reynolds has a firm grasp of Austen’s work and her Pride & Prejudice characters, and that knowledge shines through as we follow Lizzy and Darcy into their alternate universe. From misunderstandings to barbs, Darcy and Lizzy spar with one another and hide their true feelings as they fear the other’s reproach. The servants and the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, are just as they should be — hovering on the outskirts and ready to lend help when necessary.

"But when he turned his head sideways on the pillow, his eyes clouded with the drug, she leaned towards him to meet his lips with her own. It was a gentle kiss, but his lips were hot against hers. Elizabeth almost shook with the emotion of it." (Page 108 of ARC)

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World is a treat that will transport readers into regency England with a set of new and old characters. Lizzy and Darcy may be one of the greatest classic love stories, and Reynolds’ spin on the love story reads like a classic. Lizzy is still strong-willed, but tentative in her new marriage and her new circumstances. Darcy is a bit harsh at times, but readers will forgive him his transgressions. Readers should be cautioned that there are some intimate scenes that give this novel a more contemporary feel. All in all, this is a delightful variation.


First thank you Danielle at Sourcebooks for providing me with a review copy of this book. It’s very much appreciated. Second, I’m on a roll with reading these Jane Austen sequels. At first I screamed out sacrilege and heresy at the sight of them. However I started giving these books a chance and started liking them. This created a whole new unexplored genre that I was seriously missing out on.

Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World is a “what if?” Jane Austen spin off. It asks the question; what if Elizabeth agreed to marrying Darcy the first time around? the story revolves around their marriage and how it went from potentially disasterous to finally understanding each other, and coming around to loving one another.

This book was so addictive, that late at night I put it down. It was getting late and I thought I should work on reading another book. No I had to stop and go back to this one. I had to finish it. I just had to. I wanted to know what was going to happen next to Lizzy and Darcy. My heart just went out to them because I wanted things to work for them and yet it looked like everything was going from bad to worse. So I just couldn’t leave them there. I just HAD to finish this book. It took me two days to do so (because of interruptions and such).

Since I’m so attached to Lizzy and Darcy, naturally this book absorbed every bit of my attention. I liked how it switched from Elizabeth to Darcy’s viewpoint and it was fun to see how each one thought of each other and what they thought after their quarrels. Sometimes it made me just want to smack myself because they just couldn’t see eye to eye and you wanted to jump in and become the middle person in their arguements. Then there were parts where I wanted both of them in their own corners as if they were children and misbehaving. It was just filled with such emotional conflicts that you weren’t sure how to feel towards both of them. There were also times where I just heaved a sigh of frustration because it just wasn’t working out and it felt as if it was one thing after another and you’re left with saying: “Oh jeez, now what???” but, I liked it. This book was excellent on tugging emotions left, right and center. I really liked both Elizabeth and Darcy in this book.

Their character development was great. What I thought most interesting was, Georgiana, who wasn’t really much in the book developed in character as well I actually liked that considering we don’t really hear much about her anyway. However, naturally the main character development is within Elizabeth and Darcy and they develop nicely. Plotwise, I’d have to say there really isn’t much of one. The real main focus is the development of the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. This might not sit well with others as plot driven novels can be essential to the story. I didn’t mind, I was too engrossed in their relationship and what they went through to really pay attention to having no plot.

The one thing that did bother me about the novel was Elizabeth’s behavior. Where was her wit? her comments that had the subtle sarcasm that was her trademark? where was her inner strength and her ability to think things through clearly and cleverly? to me, Elizabeth wasn’t really Elizabeth it was like as if that part of her personality was wrenched out from her. I wasn’t really too crazy about this new Elizabeth in this book but I went along with it. There were parts in the book where she engaged in her banter with Darcy but it just wasn’t the same. It bugged me but not the the extent that I had to stop the book and quit it altogether. There are a few romance scenes in here, but I was willing to read it through. It was acceptable for a non romance reader like me.

Overall, if Elizabeth’s personality change doesn’t bother even the most hard core of Austen readers out there, then by all means pick this up. It’ll tear you to pieces with emotions, that I can guarantee you. You either wanted to reach out to either comfort or lecture these two. This is a great Jane Austen “What if” question, and a great novel to add to your Austen sequel collection.

I give it a 9 out of 10.


Cover
Title: Excellent. Iconic hero name + instantly recognizable quote fragment = win.
Art: Semi-headless man looking neckless as well due to period fashion, wearing muddy-colored clothing, slouched posture in contrast to usual bearing of hero, Bonapartesque right hand placement. The only nice touch - watch fob showing heroine’s portrait - undone by odd placement. This book deserved better.

What Works
The wave of stories using Austen as a springboard is gaining momentum. There is now a Jane-homage in almost any shape the reader may desire: time travel, newly discovered relatives, sleuthing, jaunts to other continents, espionage, paranormal. This story stayed more true to the original novel, imagining how drastically (or not?) a different decision would have altered the course of events and ultimate ending for the familiar group of characters.

It was an entertaining ride. The author is highly skilled at using the language and evoking the atmosphere of the original works, so that Apprentice Writer never once felt jolted by an anachronistic-sounding word or modern-feeling situation. AW was also intrigued by how the author would deal with some key moments, and pleased at how the previous actions were changed but in a way that felt satisfying and genuine for the characters. An encounter with ever-exasperating Lydia and reliably villainous Wickham was especially cathartic.

In the original, Pemberly seems like a mirage, too good to be true. It was nice to get to know that setting, and also to see more of the easy, loving relationship between Darcy and his sister. But most of all, it was wonderful to delve deeper into Darcy’s character, and realize all over again what an unparalleled heroic figure he makes.

What Doesn’t

WARNING! MILD SPOILERS!

After her arrival at Pemberly, Elizabeth spends almost all her time on the estate, with only Darcy, the servants, and later her sister-in-law for company. We already know that there is tension between the spouses, the sisters-in-law are more or less strangers to each other, and the servants don’t count due to difference in social station, nor visits with tenant families for the same reason. There are no descriptions of trips to the local village, visits at neighboring homes, gatherings, or entertaining anyone beyond a brief stopover by her aunt and uncle. The story takes place with Elizabeth in virtual social isolation.

It wasn’t hard to imagine possible writerly reasons: using limited wordcount for primary story, increasing tenstion between spouses to enhance the emotion, the logic of life on Pemberly being on a very different social level from her accustomed environment where she’d known everyone nearby all her life and participated in all sorts of gatherings. But even theouh Elizabeth’s much more solitary state made sense in a way, it was strange that she herself didn’t seem to recognize the effect this had on her. Also, part of the fun of Austenworld is how the characters bounce off each other and their unique conversations and interpretations of each other’s behavior. To have the story remain so heavily concentrated on Elizabeth and Darcy alone made the story not seem quite as well-rounded as this reader would have preferred. Perhaps the next volume from this author will reflect social aspects of Austenworld more.

END SPOILER WARNING!

Overall
A lovely visit back to the world of P & P, where hero and heroine still push themselves and each other to figure out what pride and prejudice mean. This is a story to make any reader who ever loved Darcy love him even more.

Pride and Prejudice fans will love and no doubt accept this “what if” plot scenario devised by Abigail Reynolds in Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, The Last Man in the World. The premise of the story is, suppose that Elizabeth accepted Mr. Darcy’s original proposal of marriage and they became husband and wife. Caught in a dilemma, faced with social ruin, Elizabeth does just that in Reynolds short novel. She really loathes him and finds the idea of being his wife abhorrent and distasteful. He on the other hand is madly in love with her and obsesses over her to extreme. When her true feelings are revealed to him, he recoils into his arrogant abyss. There lives are tenuous and as tempestuous as the original Darcy and Elizabeth.

Reynolds creative imagination provides a charming and whimsical fun read with her alternative plot twist. Her interpretation of the characters is a seamless blend. They are true to the memory of the original cast. Mr. Darcy’s speech and demeanor is still abrupt and aristocratically arrogant. At times I would like to shake sense into Elizabeth’s, but then with a sister’s support, cheering on her attempts to win back Darcy.

Reynolds succeeds in delivering a passionate Pride and Prejudice detour that is entertaining and honest.

What a beautiful story Abigail Reynolds has brought to the many devoted Jane Austen fans.

If you have read Pride and Prejudice (or like me and are a uber-fan and have read it at least 20 times) you may have pondered what might have happened had Elizabeth accepted Mr Darcy’s first proposal? Would they be happily married, or would the marriage be a disaster? There is no need to wonder anymore as Abigail Reynolds brings us Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, a tale of Pride and Prejudice where Elizabeth has accepted Mr Darcy’s first proposal of marriage.

Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World starts with Mr Darcy’s first proposal, where Mr Darcy inadvertently accepts Elizabeth’s silence to mean “yes”…

“I am engaged to Mr Darcy,” she said in a lifeless voice.
“Eliza, my dear!” cried Charlotte. She was not completely surprised, as she had often thought Mr Darcy interested in Elizabeth. Her friend, though, looked so unhappy that Charlotte checked her impulse to congratulate her on making a brilliant marriage, and said only, “It is a very prudent match for you.”
“It is not for me at all! He caught me quite by surprise with his proposal, and I should have refused him in no uncertain terms, but before I could, he kissed me without so much as a by-your-leave, and we were observed,” Elizabeth said angrily. “He is the last man in the world I wish to marry.”

What follows is a beautiful love story, as Elizabeth must find it within herself to accept Darcy and her marriage.

I smiled, I laughed and I cried during Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World. At one point I was bawling with tears and at the next I was smiling at this story that is so beautifully told.

Abigail Reynolds has taken the characters from Pride and Prejudice and spun a tale of “what if” that if I didn’t know better could have been written by Jane Austen herself. It truly was a wonderful read, and I’m looking forward to reading more from Abigail Reynolds in the future.

I highly recommend Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World for every Jane Austen fan. It is short enough that it is a quick read, and long enough that it will have you craving for more from this talent regency author.


Abigail Reynolds delivers again! The Last Man in the World is a Jane Austen variation of Pride and Prejudice. As a variation there are some things that must be accepted before you start the novel. The first is that for this variation to take place something must not be canon. This something is Elizabeth’s stunned silence when Darcy first proposes at Rosings.

In fact, much of the drama in Last Man in the World comes from Elizabeth’s self-enforced silence. She keeps her silence because of Charlotte’s mentoring earlier in the novel. It was along the lines of: Darcy likes you; you don’t like him, but if he knew that just think of how miserable he could make you. Hold your tongue, keep the peace, and you can learn to be happy. So Elizabeth does.

This novel is a tragedy and a comedy of manners all at once. Darcy and Elizabeth work at cross purposes throughout the entirety of the novel. Neither one quite knows what to do to make the other happy. Neither quite believes the other about their expressed feelings. Both are hurting and the solution is one of those simple yet nearly impossible ones to acquire.

I started this novel very late at night and gobbled it up in one sitting. Consequently I only have three hours of sleep the next day. It’s quite addicting and you’ll really want to know what happens next.

Depending on how you view Elizabeth’s characterization, you will either love the novel or you won’t. I personally thought this Elizabeth, while different in some ways is remarkably like the original.

Rating: 4.5 Stars.


Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, The Last Man in the World begins with an interesting premise: What if, rather than tell Mr. Darcy that he was the last man on earth she could ever be prevailed upon to marry, Elizabeth never said the words? What if she did end up marrying him then – how would that effect the outcome of the story and the lives of the others in the story?

With seeming ease, Ms. Reynolds takes us from that fateful moment and shows how, with one simple variation, the story of Darcy and Elizabeth changes and shifts to accommodate the new set of circumstances. Believing herself to be compromised because Darcy’s cousin catches Darcy kissing her after he proposes, Elizabeth reluctantly agrees to go through with the marriage. She doesn’t want to ruin the chances of her sisters for their own matches, after all.

So we are almost immediately thrust into the world of Elizabeth and Darcy as a married couple where he is just as taciturn as ever and she just as willful. These two traits factor in to the question of why it takes as long as it does for this couple to work things out and resolve all of their issues. Though the book itself is not long (it is just under 250 pages), the resolution is drawn out to almost the end of the book. Without giving too much away, there are incidents that occur – beyond their natural stubbornness – that keep them from resolving their issues, including misunderstandings and mishaps.

Although there were times when I just wanted to grab both characters by the shoulders and shake some sense into them, I was so invested in this book that I sped right through to the very end. I was invested in what happened to these characters and whether or not they could find their true happiness – or if they would. Since this took a different direction than the original with the first marriage proposal, I worried that it might not draw to the same conclusion, which was the main factor that kept me reading so ardently as my housework piled up behind me.

I won’t tell you whether or not they actually do find their happy ending or if they are doomed to live unhappily ever after, you will have to read the book to find out for yourselves. I will say that I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it for anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice and can’t get enough of these characters.


In The Last Man in the World, Abigail Reynolds gives us a look at what might have happened had Elizabeth Bennett accepted Mr. Darcy’s first proposal of marriage.

I must admit that at first, I had a love/hate relationship with Mr. Darcy when I started reading this book. While he was sweet and attentive most of the time, the way he spoke to Elizabeth about her family floored me! Most of the time I was surprised that our feisty Miss Bennett didn’t haul off and slap him. And then as I read further, I realized that the one common trait they share is stubborness! Both think often about their faults and what they could do to change it, but neither is willing to speak the words aloud to the other. Then a sudden turn of events changes things – but only for awhile!

I really love how this book takes parts of Pride and Prejudice and intertwines it with a totally original and different storyline. As I was reading it, I caught myself thinking ‘oh, I remember that part!’ It’s a lovely story, though maybe a bit repetitive. There is a lot of misunderstandings, fights, making up, repeat. However, the making up is so sweet it warms you right up. Abigail Reynolds tells a terrific story, full of nice extras (I like how Lizzy started to visit the Pemberley tenants) and she keeps you wanting to know more about the characters. I will definitely read another of her books in the future.


Originally self-published as a “Pride and Prejudice Variation,” Reynolds (From Lambton to Longborn) introduces a few twists to the Austen classic, a project that purists will surely abhor, but which should prove a pleasing diversion for more casual fans. In this spin on events, Reynolds excises Elizabeth Bennet’s famous rejection of Fitzwilliam Darcy’s initial proposal (“the last man on earth” she’d marry), instead putting them together from the get-go (despite Elizabeth’s lingering doubts). This romantic trifle is marred by occasionally hysterical sentiment (Darcy: “But ardent love will not be denied. I can no longer imagine a future without you by my side”) and the incongruous notion that Austen’s willful proto-feminist would feel constrained by a kiss, however public. If romantics can overlook the subversion, they should enjoy witnessing Elizabeth as an industrious and caring wife, administering to Pemberley’s tenants, learning how to be an equestrian and growing to love that perplexing Darcy; characteristic trepidations, setbacks and miscommunications stick close to the spirit of Austen. (Jan.)