Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins's Widow

An Elizabeth and Darcy Story

By: Timothy Underwood, A Lady

Narrated by: Virginia Ferguson

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Elizabeth planned to never remarry. She had married Mr. Collins to protect Jane when Mr. Bennet died. But would her memories of how he hurt her keep her from finding love with Mr. Darcy?

Elizabeth was only 15 when Mr. Bennet died. His heir, Mr. Collins, was an awful, ugly man who mistreated the servants. Elizabeth would never let her dear Jane marry him. Never. Jane was beautiful, kind, and good. She deserved to marry someone she loved. Elizabeth convinced Mr. Collins to choose her instead. His character was far worse than she had imagined it could be, and her marriage was an unending nightmare. Elizabeth felt joy when he died.

Years later Mr. Bingley took Netherfield, and Elizabeth met his haughty and handsome friend, Mr. Darcy. Even though he saw himself as superior to most of the local gentry, Elizabeth and Darcy quickly became fast friends. But as they grew closer Elizabeth’s terrifying memories of Mr. Collins returned....

Note: Four to five people told me, while they don't like the idea of Elizabeth married to Mr. Collins, they really liked the story. He is dead by the first paragraph.

©2015 Timothy Underwood (P)2022 Timothy Underwood

Good Listen

Enjoyable listen, narrated by Virginia Ferguson, I found her voice sounded a bit too old for the ladies of Longbourn, however, and there wasn’t enough variation in the performance of the different characters. There are also a few glitches in the audio, with some repeated short phrases. All in all, still good. Loved the story.

Don't be afraid - buy this book!

For many months I put off buying this book because I could not stand the idea of Elizabeth and Collins being married. I wish I had not been afraid because, when I finally did get this book, I truly enjoyed it. First, the Elizabeth/Collins connection was only a brief segment. Their marriage was only a few months and only a few pages. He was quickly DEAD, thank goodness. But it was a traumatic experience for Elizabeth. What I did like is that, upon meeting at the Assembly, Elizabeth and Darcy immediately felt an attraction beginning as good friends and had a wonderful relationship throughout as they fell in love. They were wonderful together and I loved them tremendously. I also loved Lydia. She was still bold and outspoken, but not a hussy. Plus she was completely loyal and loving toward Elizabeth. Wickham played only a small roll, as did Lady Katherine and Anne. Katherine (Kitty) was the slutty Bennett sister and Mrs. Bennett was despicable. I was most pleased that Elizabeth put her mother in her place quite effectively.
The book was well read, except I was not completely enamored of Darcy's voice. Overall I was impressed with the book and am happy I listened to it.

Difficult Topic but well done

Who of us want to imagine Lizzy married to Mr. Collins (shudder), but then to find he was cruel to her!

Will Lizzy be able to overcome her fears and find love? We hope so! 😘

Great read

Horrible mr Collins. Hateful man. Well written story. Luckily mr Darcy enters the story quite quick :) great Jaff

Never thought I'd love it

I nearly did not buy this title. Most of what I listen to these days are P&P variations because I love the characters so much. However, I did not like the idea of Elizabeth having married Collins and almost just passed it up. This very well may have been one of my favorite variations I have ever listened to. It was worth the credit to me. It was well written, and even though I agree with the previous reviewer that the narrator may have sounded old for the Bennet sisters, she did a wonderful job.

Elizabeth’s ordeal finds a happy ending

Elizabeth’s sacrifice to marry Mr Collins gives her nightmares. Collins abuse was not only of Elizabeth but of Lydia as well. After he dies Elizabeth takes charge but does heal until she makes friends with Darcy.

Needed More Romance

This was an interesting, well written book about Lizzy recovering from a bad marriage and learning to trust again. I liked parts of it very much, especially a more positive view of Lydia. And I liked the independent Lizzy that a bad marriage produced. But once Darcy entered the scene, I felt like there was too much talking and revisiting the same aspects of Lizzy's recovery, but very little actual romance. Just discussion of the possibility of romance, and the hope for the same. Her thoughts, his thoughts, her thoughts, etc. Too much tell and not enough show. I wanted to see them at Pemberley, and see a happy Lizzy in her second marriage.