Sonderbooks Book Review of An Assembly Such As This

Reviewed October 1, 2004.
Wytherngate Press, 2003. 218 pages.
Sonderbooks Stand-out 2004, #1, Historical Fiction

For those who love Pride and Prejudice as I do, I need only say that this book tells the same story from Mr. Darcy’s point of view. Of course, I simply had to read it.

I’m happy to report that Pamela Aidan carries it off beautifully. She did a fine job of showing us Mr. Darcy’s growing fascination with Elizabeth Bennet. We see him trying to separate his friend Mr. Bingley from Jane partly so he can stay away from Elizabeth.

The only frustrating part is that the story is separated into three parts. This first one only brings us through the ball at Netherfield and Darcy and Bingley’s departure to London. Of course, Pamela Aiden could use Jane Austen’s own dialogue for any scenes that were straight out of Pride and Prejudice. However, she weaves these scenes seamlessly into inventions of her own, filling the time when Mr. Darcy is off-stage from the other book.

As soon as I finished this book, I got on Amazon and ordered the next. Book 3 is supposed to come out in “late 2004,” so I hope maybe I can order it when I’ve finished Book 2. Pride and Prejudice fans, you really should try this book! I’m not going so far as to say that it’s as good as the original, but it is a delightful complement to a great book.

Reviews of the other books in the trilogy:
Duty and Desire
These Three Remain

Austenalia

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Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

******An Assembly Such As This*

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman, Book 1

by Pamela Aidan