A Frankness of Character

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

De: Pemberley Darcy, A Lady

Narrado por: Harry Frost

An apology more offensive than an infamous insult. A decidedly epic set down. A gentleman left properly humbled. An impertinent young lady provoked to civil disdain.

As humiliating as an ill-bred set down was from an impertinent country miss, the veracity of Elizabeth Bennet’s arguments and the humiliation at his own lack of understanding started to sink in.

After years of entrenched isolation, others would take notice if he appeared more civil. How was he to take his place in society without raising expectations?

He reaches out to the one person he can trust, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who joins the party at Netherfield.

The colonel’s plan for Mr. Darcy’s redemption seems on course until his aunt’s obsequious parson proposes marriage to Miss Bingley, setting off a flurry of unintended consequences that even he struggles to contain.

Longbourn is in an uproar. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is on a rampage. Darcy and Elizabeth are estranged.

Dear Listener, this Pride and Prejudice Variation is of the sweet, clean, and slightly witty sort. Although the book opens with an argument and a lot of accusations are thrown around, this story promises nothing more vulgar than Mrs. Bennet’s exclamations and a few ill-informed insinuations. Adult topics are discussed. There will be a happy ending for all.

©2022 Pemberley Darcy (P)2022 Pemberley Darcy

The best adaptation!

Love that there is less angst, and that no one gets stuck with Wickham. A most satisfying story beginning to end.

A new ending but a great one!

I really how this started at Elizabeth and Darcy’s meeting and went on from there. It was different but so good. 8 really enjoyed it!

Good Story and Good Narrator

Good variation, good narration. Best part was the beginning between Darcy and Elizabeth. Truly great dialogue. Also responses by Mr Bennett. Rest of story was good, but not as engrossing. I have listened to Harry Frost in other variations and enjoyed those readings, but this one wasn’t up to par. Not sing-song, not quite that, but nearly so, when not reading dialogue.

A lovely story

While staying true to the characters the author came up with a fun and rather unique variation of my favorite book. I always love Harry Frost’s narrations and true to form he did an excellent job. My favorite part was the views on and how the author handled the younger sisters, rather than just writing them off.

Colonel Fitzwilliam tries to reach Darcy about Romance

I loved the first 3/4 of this book. Darcy realizes after the insult at the assembly that he was wrong. His subsequent attempts to correct first impressions with Elizabeth go awry so he writes to Colonel Fitzwilliam for advice. When the Colonel arrives at Netherfield to instruct Darcy on the proper way to court a young woman there are many lighthearted enjoyable moments. But unfortunately Lydia and Wickham and Lady Catherine enter the story. Expected of course but there’s so much wailing, worrying, discussions that go on & on and stupidity on Lydia and Mrs. Bennet’s part that the story drags in the last hour or so. Harry Frost was the perfect narrator for this and honestly everything he narrates is enhanced.

A Story With Character

An overheard insult, a not-so-sorry-apology, mischievous matchmaking, and a classic romance gets turned on its ear in Pemberley Darcy’s A Frankness of Character. As further enticement, a familiar and engaging narrator told this new-to-me author’s debut Pride and Prejudice variation story.

Whether familiar with the original classic or not, readers and listeners can follow along for this engaging Regency era sweet romance which begins when a wealthy, high ranking man who can’t see he has gotten a smidge arrogant. Fitzwilliam Darcy is overheard by the lady when he throws shade on her ‘tolerable’ beauty and declines dancing with her or any of the rest of the country neighborhood ladies. Elizabeth, who normally laughs at people’s folly, reacts strongly to the insult and tells Fitzwilliam Darcy what he can do with his half-hearted not-so apology when he learns she heard him and comes to do the gentlemanly thing.

Neither of them pick up on the mutual attraction and have reasons for not wanting anything to do with it if it were true. His is duty to class and hers is her doubt in his character. Though Mr. Darcy softens first, confronts his flaws after Elizabeth threw them in his face, and is well aware he met his match even without his cousin’s matchmaking efforts to help him, Elizabeth has to learn her own truth about first impressions and she isn’t as good at gauging people’s characters as she thought.
Plenty of interference comes from others, some of it fun and some stirring up trouble. A secondary romance for Jane Bennet goes along calmly by comparison and there is a startling turn of events for Elizabeth’s wildest younger sister, Lydia.
Between the antics of silly Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine and mean girl, Caroline Bingley, things sure weren’t dull and I got a few good laughs, but seeing a couple grow in understanding and love at the center of it all was sweet indeed.
The pacing is uneven. There are times of repetitive thoughts that bog down the plot. But, it does have fascinating portraits of the character personalities and weaves some interesting storylines around the central couple.

Harry Frost is a familiar voice in Austenesque fiction and he handles this latest variation just as well. His character voices and astute tone and pacing made a good story even better.

All in all, this was a good time with familiar characters in new situations and I found it endearing with an eminently satisfying ending.

Great story

I loved the plot and the development of the characters. I always enjoy more involvement from Colonel Fitzwilliam and the solution to Lydia’s story.
I’m looking forward to another book from the author.
Highly recommended

A superb variation!

I loved the story and the narration. It’s one I’ll listen to again and again!

Most enjoyable

I recall reading this a while back. As soon as I saw Harry Frost was narrating, I purchased the Audible immediately. A delightful story with the talented "Harry style" made it all the more fun to listen to. You can always distinguish between the characters dialogue. His Darcy is by far the best. Colonel Fitzwilliam is a more involved character here. Just love the Colonel. A definite HEA with some humor and smiles in the mix.

Loved it.

Reread. I just love listening to Harry Frost being Lady Catherine de Bourgh :) and all the other characters as well. Just a fab time spent listening to this great story. Highly recommend it to all who likes JAFF.