Darcy's Tale, Volume II: Into Kent

There are many moments I feel Darcy is very out of character. Especially in the moments where the author used a bit of filler story to flesh him out a bit more. He’s dense, charming, and strangely open at times.Though I suppose the author was lending credence to Darcy’s misguided proposal.I did like how we were treated to how Darcy interpreted all of Elizabeth’s barbs (which in P&P we all knew to be mean spirited) in a positive light, giving him confidence where it should have given him pause or at least an idea of her true feelings. Instead he let feelings and pride delude him irreparable.To be honest I skimmed some bits because the pacing sometimes lost my attention (especially in Kent) and I wanted to get to the good bits.The character I felt that was best displayed in this book was actually Bingley. His constant disbelief there was no affection from Jane his character brightening in company but quietly wallowing when he thought to long about her.All and all a good story and good reasoning for his complete muck up of a proposal. Though Darcy did lose a bit of his stoicism and natural calmness. He did, however, become much more human in my eyes.

OVERALL: 3 1/2 STARSStory/Plot: 2 - Sadly, I am giving this a 2. Yet again, I read an account of a "Gentleman's Daily Life About Town" with the second V. of P&P told through Mr. Darcy's eyes. As I stated in my previous note/review of Darcy's Tale,, I was deeply disappointed with Pamela Aidan's second volume of her Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series, Duty and Desire. I wonder if this is because I am a huge P&P fan and this colors how I view these works. If so, I apologize to both authors for this short coming, but I cannot take away how I felt. In this volume, Darcy returns to Town to "deal" with Bingley before setting out for Pemberley to collect his sister for Christmas, which is going to be spent in Town with Family and Friends. I will not drop spoilers, but if you have read Ms. Aidan's Duty and Desire I will mention it was a little similar. My major concern was the storyline in regards to P&P, wherein Col. Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy visit Lady Catherine deBourgh in Kent, and Darcy discovers Elizabeth to be in residence and rekindles his (somewhat)romance with her, doesn't happen until Chapter 17. There are only 24 Chapters. Prior to this, you are left with Darcy's ever present thoughts and feelings and long winded prose. I apologize for this, but I couldn't help thinking - god, Mr. Darcy is a bit of wimp, deeply shallow and a tad pathetic. *sigh* Where, oh where, was MY Mr. Darcy?!Re-read Value: 2 - I think I am being generous with the 2 here too. I did enjoy this volume considerably more than Duty and Desire - although in that on you have a little side of intrigue and if I totally spoiled it for you, I apologize. In this volume though, you see more of Bingley's suffering & although this might sound rude, I kinda liked that. If I were to re-read this volume, I would more than likely skip Chapters 1 - 17 and skip right to where it picks up the P&P thread.Continue Series: 5 - I do intend to finish this series. The next one will not become available until the summer of 2014, so I do have a bit of a wait though.Characters: 3.5 - There was an introduction to new characters and as I stated above, I liked to see Bingley suffer after disappointing Jane's hopes. There were a number of things that struck me and if you are curious, I will drop them in the Personal Involvement comments & they are also in comments I made while reading the novel. I will warn you, you might consider them SPOILERS of a sort, so you might wish to avoid them if this concerns you.Cover: 4 - Again, this cover is very masculine, depicting a Gentleman on the cover. Anyone coming across the cover on a shelf or a quick glance might think it's a biography or journal of an English Gentleman circa the Regency Era - i.e. he's wearing a cravet. Upon seeing the title, us P&P fans will most likely pick it up recognizing it as a P&P through Mr. Darcy's POV.Genre Fulfillment: 4 - Yes. Yes, I know what you are thinking if you actually wasted time glancing at the notes or thoughts from my review of Darcy's Tale: Into Hertfordshire. That was a 5, but again, THAT was unequivocally a P&P retelling. Although THIS ONE IS a retelling of P& too, the actually storyline of P&P is not picked up until the very end of the volume. Yes, it does deal with various characters from P&P, but I found it more a historical fiction piece explaining about Society, life in Town and how a Gentleman runs an Estate and financial matters during the Regency Era. In that element it makes an interesting read, BUT, for me, I thought this book should represent a retelling of P&P and so cannot say it fulfilled it's promise to the reader.Personal Involvement: 5 LOL, I know you're a little shocked huh?! Reading this review/note, you have seen how disappointed I was while reading this volume, so you might be wondering why then my rating for this is so high, while in the previous review, I gave it a rating of 4. Simply put, you can have feelings of strong approval and strong dislike equally. Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike this volume, I just had a lot of strong thoughts and feelings about it. Up above, I told you I was happy reading about Bingley's pain after deciding to no longer pursue Jane Bennet. I have to be honest, I always wished this issue was addressed because in P&P we see how hurt and sad Jane is. She trusts no one and becomes a pale imitation of herself, which distresses Elizabeth, her Father and the Gardiniers. I like how we see Bingley's suffering and his inability to smile just as much. BEWARE SLIGHT SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT: There is also a scene, where there is talk about the Gentry in terms of animal husbandry, which I found hilarious to say the least - I also wondered if someone from the Aristocracy were to read this volume what they would have thought upon those comments. Another concern I had - minus Col. Fitzwilliam, whose name I have ALWAYS known as Richard, is still referred to as Edmund - was on the way to Kent, Mr. Darcy makes reference to marrying a woman below yourself. At first he alludes to Mr. Bingley, but it changes quickly to represent himself. this bothers me, because in P&P Col. Fitzwilliam makes mention to Elizabeth about Mr. Darcy's involvement in separating Bingley from a woman in Hertfordshire this past fall, BUT NOW, Col. Fitzwilliam knows of Darcy's interest in a woman in Hertfordshire as well. Maybe it is me and I apologize, but this bothered me considerably. There is one other issue, but rather I think it is an interesting thing, which I never considered before. Do you remember the scene in P&P, when Mr. Darcy comes upon Elizabeth alone at the parsonage when Charlotte and Maria are out running errands? When he and she discuss the advantages or disadvantages of distance between families? In this volume, it the idea is entertained THIS is where Mr. Darcy believes Elizabeth knows of his interest in her and reciprocates his feelings. I feel I can never read this scene in P&P ever again without smirking and shaking my head at his thoughts - especially when the proposal scene is a short ways ahead and he finds out she never thought of him in that way.All in all, I thought it was a good book, but in regards to a true retelling of P&P I felt it lacked a little, but is well worth the read.

As was true in the first book of this series, the author has a firm grasp of the tone of the original P&P, and is true to the portrayal of Darcy as Jane Austen imagined him. He is a very passionate man, although his standing in Regency era aristocracy demands that he suppress all outward evidence of it, and therein lies the root of the trouble he always seems to have in his dealings with Elizabeth.This representation of Darcy's pov stresses not only his passionate nature, but also his intellectual one, his possession of a mind ruled by logic and order, almost unable to accept the vagaries of romantic love. Every encounter with Elizabeth is analyzed, based on his interpretation of her words and facial expressions, and assigned a value based on what he thinks he is projecting to her by his own words and actions. These values are often in error, as he seems unable to realize that how Elizabeth sees him is worlds away from what he intended. For such an intelligent man, and one who is 28 years old, he seems extremely naive in the ways of love and quite blind to how he appears to others.The book is well written and well edited. I was a little put off by the rigidity of Darcy's reliance on strict logic and strict adherence to the restraints of proper social behavior, but other than that I recommend the book highly.

I've been eagerly waiting for this book after devouring the first. I wasn't as keen on the Darcy in this book as in the first but this is always the most uncomfortable part of the story of Elizabeth and Darcy where they make the woest of their mistakes, find out the darkest elements of their own characters and learn their biggest lessons. I can hardly wait for the summer so I get to read part 3. If it lives up to the rest we'll get all of Mr Darcy's inner thoughts and feelings for Elizabeth and Georgiana, we'll have him crossing swords with Caroline Bingley (yay!) and also the big show down with Wickham.

This book, like its earlier volume, is enjoyable and absorbs you into its story. The book benefits from having been written by a man, as this gives you a slightly different perspective on Darcy's thoughts and, in my opinion, an edge more realistic than is often found in some of the poorer P&P literature. That said, the book is still at heart a romance, albeit a well thought out and well written one. Very much to be recommended.

Just as good as part one. Looking forward to part three.

I know the difficulties of writing a fanfic novel which stays true to the original but also brings more to the party. Darcy's Tale Vol I and II are therefore a joy to read and I am eagerly awaiting Vol III. Congratulations to the author. Chrissie Elmore (author of Unmapped Country: the story of North & South continues).

Since I found volume one I have been waiting for this and I really enjoyed it. Well thought out and written as is the first. The subtly and nuance was there allowing the emotion and personality of Darcy to shine through. Summer seems a long way off to wait for volume three.