Mary Lyndon Simonsen has taken a beloved classic and made it a new historical romance novel full of the characters we all know and love, yet fresh and different at the same time. This book certainly has the main story that is so familiar, but a few little changes here and there make a difference in a big way.
A Classic Pride and Prejudice Remake in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is Mary Lyndon Simonsen’s idea of Jane Austen’s classic tale. The main theme is there; Darcy falls for Elizabeth but their pride and prejudices get in the way of the two uniting. Caroline Bingley is still an annoyingly stuck-up woman, Jane and Bingley are still separated for a time, Lydia still runs off with Wickham, and the details go on. At first I though this book was an attempt to make Pride and Prejudice more readable for today’s teens. I was a little let down that it was just the same old story. But it wasn’t, it isn’t.
An Historical Romance Fiction Tale in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
The difference between this Austen remake and the original is undoubtedly the way Darcy and Elizabeth ultimately find themselves united. In the original Pride and Prejudice Darcy wins Elizabeth’s heart by writing her a letter explaining away his choices, then proving he is a compassionate man by seeing to the happiness of Lizzy’s sister, all with Lizzy in mind. This still takes place in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, but far more occurs then you may think.
It falls to a few matchmakers to play their cards right, so to speak. Those who love Darcy, and find themselves believing Lizzy is the right woman for him, unknowingly help Darcy win her over. Lots of matchmaking and so called ‘coincidences’ take place. This new take on the original, with more being done to unite the two, is refreshing and entertaining to say the least.
Why You Should Read This Romantic Fiction Novel
One of the best parts of this book is how the author plays up the sub-characters. People we don’t get to see a lot of in Pride and Prejudice suddenly have much larger roles. Lady Catherine De Bourgh’s sickly daughter for one. In Pride and Prejudice we see Anne De Bourgh has a sick woman supposed to marry Darcy as per her mother’s wishes, a quiet woman who can’t even hold up a conversation. Not so in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy.
In this remake, Anne is actually a very wonderful woman who cares very much for her cousin; Darcy, but only so far as she would for a brother. Anne’s detailed character in this novel plays a major role in Darcy and Lizzy’s uniting, and though she is still a sickly woman, Anne moves about the country side with a witty and wise mind and ends up with her own happily ever after.
Another character we learn more about is Georgiana Darcy, Will Darcy’s sister. We see more of her love for her brother, but readers also learn more about Georgiana as a woman. She was not so easily conned by Wickham as any Pride and Prejudice fan may have thought and she is more than intelligent and imaginative in her own right. Georgiana also plays a roll in Darcy and Lizzy’s love life, thought not so much as Anne.
The Perfect bride for Mr. Darcy stays true to it’s original counterpart; it relates to the society goings on of the regency era, is more of a deep and meaningful romance read than a fun fluffy one, relates to the world as we know it as far as pride and prejudices are concerned and is recommended for romance lovers of ever age range.
About the Romantic Fiction Author
Mary Lindon Simonsen is the author two Sourcebooks Inc. publications; Searching for Pemberley and The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy. She has also authored two self-published works; The Second Date, Love Italian-American Style and Anne Elliot, A New Beginning. With a firm foot in the written world of Jane Austen, Mary Lyndon Simonsen is reworking classics like Pride and Prejudice in whole new and ultimately captivating way.
Publication Details
Author: Mary Lyndon Simonsen
Title: The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
Publication Date: January 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc.
ISBN-10: 1402240252
ISBN-13: 978-1402240256
Jessica Hastings - Jessica Hastings is a published author/poet, professional reviewer, and avid reader. Schooled in journalism and creative writing, she ...
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