Mr. Darcy's Bookshop

A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Pride & Prejudice Variations)

By: Summer Hanford

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman, Benjamin Fife

Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Cut off from his family’s fortune because he refuses to marry the woman his father has selected for him, Fitzwilliam Darcy takes up the only employment he deems tolerable, that of bookseller. Darcy is determined to support himself and to marry for love, but his powerful relations use their clout to keep customers and fashionable young ladies away. Worse, Darcy’s absence from Pemberley allows treachery to flourish. Determined to see her older sister marry as well as possible, Elizabeth Bennet orchestrates their removal to London.

Elizabeth isn’t searching for a husband of her own, but she is always looking for a good book. At a pleasant little bookshop in Cheapside, she finds plenty to read, and so much more. But should she give her heart to a bookseller and leave the life of a gently bred lady behind? Mr. Darcy’s Bookshop asks what would happen if George Darcy and Sir Lewis de Bourgh had lived, and taken up their deceased wives’ quest to see Darcy and Anne wed. This is a lighthearted variation with laughter, love, a touch of villainy, and a happily ever after for our dear couple.

©2024 Lillian Summer Hanford (P)2024 Lillian Summer Hanford

Darcy the bookseller.

I loved this book when it was released earlier this year and thrilled to now have it as an audiobook. The dual narration with the incomparable Stevie Zimmerman and entertaining Benjamin Fife, make it all what it should be… a great listen! Three widowed fathers, Mr. George Darcy, Sir Lewis de Bourgh, and the Earl of Matlock, are determined to see a pact undertaken years earlier to have Anne de Bourgh and Fitzwilliam Darcy wed, except—Darcy isn’t interested and has become estranged from his family by his refusal to capitulate to their demand. Cut off from his allowance, he sells some belongings and purchases a bookstore to make his living. Wickham has gained influence with Darcy’s father, and is determined to take his place. He has also befriended Bingley, who is yet unknown to Darcy, more to use his purse than be a friend, mind you. Meanwhile, at Longbourn, Elizabeth and Jane prepare to leave for London to escape Mr. Collins’s unwanted attention.

Elizabeth meets Darcy at his bookshop and a friendship ensues. Bingley also sees Jane there for the first time and, of course, is instantly infatuated with her. Jane is not well pleased with Elizabeth’s interest in a ‘bookseller’, and throughout the book, she is quite tenacious in trying to have her way by thwarting Elizabeth whenever she can. It wasn’t that she was mean, but I felt she was a ‘not-so-nice Jane’.

I really loved this variation where Darcy has to undertake an occupation to support himself and is just above living in poverty. He falls for Elizabeth quickly, but fears she would unlikely have him, being a gentleman’s daughter, in addition to his own fear that if she did accept him, the trio of fathers would make her and her family’s lives miserable. Also, while Wickham is as ever the villain, Summer Hanford has made him especially deceitful and even criminal.

The novel is well written and has a great plot that even includes a rare and significant role by Sir Lewis. Anne de Bourgh is not the commonly portrayed laudanum-induced Anne, but is a vibrant and outgoing woman who hunts and fences, among other things. I recommend the prequel to this book, ‘The Adventures of Miss Anne de Bourgh of Rosings’ be read first to have a better understanding of this Anne, although this book can stand alone.

I highly recommend this very satisfying and engaging page-turner. I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited but loved it so much I purchased it for my library.

Kisses only.

Sweet humble P & P Variation

This was a very sweet and humble version of our dear Mr. Darcy! Very enjoyable, just a little too short. Anytime you get Stevie Zimmerman narrating, you know you’re in for a treat! Such a pleasure to listen to this book. I can’t wait for more!

Fantastic dual narration!!

Loved the story!! Darcy standing by his principles to not marry Anne and being essentially disowned for it and becoming a bookstore keeper to support himself was a unique twist I’ve not seen before. Of course Darcy and Lizzy fall in love discussing books but Wickham and family drama make the path less than smooth. Stevie Zimmerman and Benjamin Fife are two of my favorite narrators and a book combining them was a delightful listen.