vvb32 reads: An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan

Sunday, November 22, 2009

An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan

An Assembly Such as This:

A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman
by Pamela Aidan

Published: 2006
Genre: Romance
Paperback: 246 pages
Rating: 4

"She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me."

So begins the timeless romance of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen's classic novel is beloved by millions, but little is revealed in the book about the mysterious and handsome hero, Mr. Darcy. And so the question has long remained: Who is Fitzwilliam Darcy?

In An Assembly Such as This, Pamela Aidan finally answers that long-standing question. In this first book of her Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy, she reintroduces us to Darcy during his visit to Hertfordshire with his friend Charles Bingley and reveals Darcy's hidden perspective on the events of Pride and Prejudice. As Darcy spends more time at Netherfield supervising Bingley and fending off Miss Bingley's persistent advances, his unwilling attraction to Elizabeth grows -- as does his concern about her relationship with his nemesis, George Wickham.

Setting the story vividly against the colorful historical and political background of the Regency, Aidan writes in a style comfortably at home with Austen but with a wit and humor very much her own. Aidan adds her own cast of fascinating characters to those in Austen's original, weaving a rich tapestry from Darcy's past and present. Austen fans and newcomers alike will love this new chapter of the most famous romance of all time.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): the flip side

This book begins to answer the questions we all have of what was going on in Darcy's mind during the whole Pride and Prejudice doings. Along with reading about his thoughts and feelings, you get to spend time with him and see things from his point of view.

Pamela does a great job in capturing the Jane Austen genre. The scenes, settings and dialogue jibe. You get to know the man behind our Darcy.

As I said, this is just the beginning. The story starts from when Darcy first meets Elizabeth at an assembly in Town and ends after the Netherfield Ball. There are two more books in this series that completes the Pride and Prejudice experience.

Off to get book 2...

Definitely one to read for Darcy lovers.