A Fine Mind

A Pride and Prejudice Novella

By: Alix James, Nicole Clarkston

Narrated by: Megan Green

Length: 2 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

He’d give anything to keep his sister safe.

Even his own future.

Georgiana Darcy sees the world differently. Gifted with a sensitive soul and a mind that feels what others miss, she is the misfit in an aristocratic family. She’s also the reason her brother, Fitzwilliam Darcy, lets few people into his heart.

Teaching her, guiding her, and pushing away those who would not understand her, Darcy has done all in his power to protect his sister. Is it enough? If he cannot convince his uncle, the earl, that Georgiana’s place is with him, he is in danger of losing her forever.

Darcy’s worst nightmare comes true when Georgiana stumbles - quite literally - into a guest at Pemberley. But, when that guest turns out to be Elizabeth Bennet, the only woman in the world he ever dreamed of having by his side, Darcy learns to hope that there may still be a way to have everything. Can he persuade Elizabeth to give him another chance? Will they find a family and a love that endures all, hopes all, and never fails?

A Fine Mind is a sweet, novella-length, Regency variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

©2020 Nicole Clarkston (P)2021 Nicole Clarkston

A different view of Georgiana

I find this story fascinating. Part of it is seeing Georgiana as a high functioning autist. Watching her struggles in a world where people in her class are expected to fit into very strictly defined expectations and if they don't, they are put into asylums. She is able to deal with the world on her terms, if she is allowed to. Her interactions with her brother and with Lizzy are fascinating.

This story takes place when Lizzy and the Gardiners tour Pemberley and while you see Lizzy and Darcy encounter each other again, you also see what happens when the Darcy's uncle, the Earl, comes to visit. The conflict of the story is when he tries to take charge of what is happening with Georgiana.

Darcy is written perfectly. He loves his sister and has created an environment for her that she can function in and as long as the world doesn't invade that environment, it goes well. The unconditional love is obvious, even in the middle of the frustrations, fears, and anger that he experiences during the story. He is desperate to keep his sister safe. And all of this that you see, just in the scenes of the novella, explain away every action and word of Jane Austen's book to that point. It is beautifully done.

The slight drawback is the narrator, but that's not a huge drawback. This one isn't my favorite narrator for a story like this. I think I would have preferred Lillian Rachel.

The novella is absolutely lovely. I have it on my Kindle as well as Audible and it is well worth it.

‘A Beautiful Mind’ at Pemberley

What a brilliant and important storyline.

Mr Darcy protects and loves his sister Georgiana, who is extremely gifted at the piano forte and has a heart of gold. However, she has been known by Lady Catherine and the Earl of Matlock to have meltdowns and not “act appropriately”.

The Earl of Matlock is attempting to have Georgiana put in an asylum so she doesn’t embarrass the family.

We see how Mr Darcy champions and protects his sister. And we see how Elizabeth is so true to her canon character in how she interacts with Georgiana and the Earl.

The story unfolds beautifully and believably.

The author unveils more in this novella than most authors take 1,000 pages and still never manage to portray.

I highly recommend this book.

(One point of fact, putting relations in asylums was done even by the current King Charles’s ancestors, where Queen Elizabeth’s own family members were put in an asylum. The Queen said she was ashamed of that and acknowledged her relatives before her passing.)

Georgiana is sweet

Georgiana is sweet and sees things differently and that scares Darcy. His uncle does not understand or even want to understand Georgiana. He forces his will on others so this is no different. Elizabeth understands Georgiana and sees the possibilities and love. When Elizabeth meets Darcy again and understands his worries and concerns she changes her opinion of the disagreeable gentleman.
I loved the story and the narrator was great.