From the desk of Debbie Brown:
Hunsford Parsonage is a popular jumping-off spot for Pride and Prejudice variations. This is when Mr. Darcy makes his ill-phrased marriage proposal to Elizabeth Bennet, is soundly refused, and presents her with a letter the following morning to defend himself against her accusations. It’s the seminal event of the book, making it an ideal spot to imagine “what if” things had happened differently there. That is where we begin in Monica Fairview’s newest variation, Fortune & Felicity.
The Prologue shows an agonized Darcy struggling to write that important missive. When he accidentally spills ink over the finished letter, he decides it must be fate intervening. Consequently, he consigns his night’s work to the fire, leaving Elizabeth ignorant of its contents.
The surprise here is that, unlike most variations, the book then skips ahead seven whole years. During that time, the Bennet family fared poorly. Lydia did run away with Mr. Wickham who, predictably, abandoned her. Mr. Bennet paid dearly to marry her off. He subsequently died, resulting in Mrs. Bennet’s removal from Longbourn to a simple cottage provided by her brother Mr. Gardiner. Jane is married, but not to Mr. Bingley. Her husband, Mr. Grant, is a tradesman whose business is struggling, and they have four children with another on the way. Elizabeth lives with them, having married Thomas Heriot, a naval officer who died at sea three years ago and left her a penniless widow.
Darcy bowed to Lady Catherine’s wishes immediately after that terrible night seven years ago and married Anne de Bourgh. “He had done it in a moment of anger against the world, a moment of supreme indifference to his own fate.” It was not a happy marriage for many reasons.
Anne recently died, and their five-year-old daughter Kathy is a difficult child, “well on her way to becoming a Lady Catherine.” Not only is she willful and spoiled, but she emphatically tells Darcy that she hated her mother. Although Anne had loved her daughter, she was too sickly and fretful to be much of a mother.
Rather than continue being a financial burden to her family, Elizabeth seeks work as a governess. Mr. Darcy is the only potential employer to show any interest, forcing her to swallow her pride and be interviewed for the position. After so many years, Darcy has gotten over his desire for her, but he’s startled by her appearance when he first sees her. “Before him, he saw a serious woman looking for a position, weighed down by circumstances, dressed in a matron’s mob cap and plain dress. She was perfectly ordinary. Miss Elizabeth Bennet was gone. It was Mrs. Elizabeth Heriot that sat before him, a woman whose experiences he knew nothing about. She was a stranger.”
Hoping she retains enough of her old warmth and liveliness to handle his obstinate daughter, Darcy engages Mrs. Heriot to be Kathy’s governess. Soon Elizabeth is on her way to Pemberley to meet her new charge.
Kathy proves to be a tough nut to crack. Although Elizabeth is quite capable after caring for Jane’s rowdy brood and, on occasion, the Gardiner children, Kathy rudely rejects Elizabeth’s attempts to engage her. Fortunately, Georgiana comes to visit with her husband and their two little boys, and Kathy becomes more cooperative when sharing lessons with her younger cousins.
Ms. Fairview does a wonderful job of conveying Elizabeth’s situation more realistically than is usually found in Jane Austen fan fiction. As a governess, she must wear gowns that are simple (she must dress herself without assistance), dark-colored, unadorned, and made of drab fabrics. Most of the servants are unfriendly, and Elizabeth must use the servants’ stairways, corridors, and passageways. When the household is particularly busy and Elizabeth offers to help, Mrs. Reynolds admonishes her—Elizabeth’s duties are strictly in the classroom. Then there’s Kathy herself, who continues to be a challenge.
The chemistry between Darcy and Elizabeth is developed extremely well. By leaping ahead those seven difficult years, Ms. Fairview gives us more mature, more emotionally scarred versions of these beloved characters. Darcy confuses matters from the start by directing Mrs. Reynolds to treat her “like a gentlewoman,” not recognizing how this could be perceived by others. The point of view switches back and forth, showing Elizabeth struggling to find her place in the household, Darcy slowly becoming more obsessed with her, and both fighting their growing attraction to each other. Things come to a head at a marvelous Cinderella-like ball that leads to a disastrous aftermath.
Generally, the plot is beautifully executed with well-drawn characters. It’s fun to read a Jane who’s so emotionally charged thanks to her current pregnancy. I do note that part of her story arc is left dangling. We’re told she almost died giving birth to her last child and her doctor advised her against having another, but she’s pregnant again. We never learn what happens to her. Caroline Bingley turns up, still unmarried, still after Darcy, and still full of underhanded mischief. Georgiana has grown into a confident, mature woman, and I particularly enjoy the characterization of Lord Barrington (“Barry”), her insightful husband.
Overall, I found Fortune & Felicity to be the perfect mixture of humor, romance, realism, fairy tale, and, naturally, Pride and Prejudice.
5 out of 5 Stars
BOOK INFORMATION
- Fortune & Felicity: A Pride and Prejudice Variation, by Monica Fairview
- White Soup Press (April 28, 2020)
- Trade paperback & eBook (295) pages
- ISBN: 979-8632347297
- Genre: Austenesque, Regency Romance
ADDITIONAL INFO | ADD TO GOODREADS
We received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Austenprose is an Amazon affiliate. Cover image courtesy of White Soup Press © 2020; text Debbie Brown © 2020, austenprose.com.
Oh dear. It seems ODC will still have their share of angst caused by the likes of Caroline Bingley! I would have thought she’d be out of the picture after 7 years but obviously she is now more than desperate!
I’m not an angst lover but I will have to be strong and get through it I suppose? I just keep reading and telling myself that there must be a happy ending so I can do this!
In these restricted times I do hope I can obtain enough necessary treats and tissues to sustain me while I read 🤔😏
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I think you can, Glynis. I believe in you… Thanks again for making me laugh.
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I’m totally unaware of days and dates at the moment so was surprised to just check my emails and find my copy has just been downloaded! I’m not due to go shopping until a week on Wednesday so am all out of the necessary treats! 😱
I’m currently reading something else so may just have to wait. Oh well they do say patience is a virtue so it’s a pity I don’t have much! 😏
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I think patience is overrated… :)
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Glynis, you will love how Caroline’s plans get overturned! Yes, the story’s angsty, but you can always be reasonably certain D&E will get their Happily Ever After when you’re reading JAFF, right?
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I am only waiting to see if I am lucky enough to win a copy of this book to then read it one way or another. This sounds fascinating, intriguing and difficult to put down. Great review, Debbie. You never disappoint.
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Good luck with the giveaways, Sheila.
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Thank you for the compliment, Sheila. I did find this difficult to put down – stayed up far later than normal to finish it. Warning: you might experience the same!
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I found it on KU and did read it…enjoyed it.
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Sounds like a very intriguing and clever reworking of the story! Thank you for reviewing it.
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It was a pleasure to read and review a book with such an unusual and well-developed premise.
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Great review Debbie. I am so glad that you enjoyed Fortune & Felicity. Monica is one of my favorite Austenesque authors and I was so excited when I learned that she had a new book in the queue. She is an amazing writer. I am looking forward to reading this. Thanks again, LA
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Thank you for saying so, Laurel Ann. And thank you for the opportunity to visit your blog.
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Tried to post this earlier but my internet is going up and down.
Many thanks to Debbie Brown for her astute review. I’m very glad she enjoyed the novel.
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You’re very welcome, Monica! Thank YOU for writing such an engaging story!
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Monica definitely is a talented author, and I’m certain you’ll enjoy this as much as the others, Laurel Ann.
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Having read a couple of excerpts of this, I am eager to read the entire story! Thanks for a detailed review – Almost don’t need to read it now! Although, since Monica Fairview does write beautifully, I will definitely read it.
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Very kind of you to say so, Cheryl!
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Oh, there’s so much more that happens, Cheryl – I didn’t give away any spoilers, I promise! Just enough to tweak your curiosity. Hope you enjoy the full book as much as I did.
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The review had sold me; Fortune & Felicity is going on my TBR pile! I’m looking forward to it. Congratulations on the new book!
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Thank you, Lucy!!
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Wonderful to hear, Lucy! (I advise you to put it near or on the top of your pile!)
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I honestly canNOT wait to read this! I keep seeing these great reviews and I’m just so eager to get my hands on it! :)
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You won’t be disappointed, I’m sure!
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I’ve still got it to read so skimmed after your initial thoughts, but I’ll be back to read when I’m through. I’m really looking forward to it.
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Enjoy! I look forward to reading your thoughts about it, Sophia.
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