Helpful Score: 16
If you've read Pride and Prejudice you will be pleased with Mr. Darcy's Daughters. Elizabeth Aston has done a great job of being true to the original tale. Though it's written in a contemporary style, it is a worthy sequel.
I found it to be one of those books I hated to see end. The main character, Camilla Darcy, became like an old friend. She is such a likeable character that you get angry when other plot against her.
The story is very enjoyable. What a wonderful book!
I found it to be one of those books I hated to see end. The main character, Camilla Darcy, became like an old friend. She is such a likeable character that you get angry when other plot against her.
The story is very enjoyable. What a wonderful book!
Helpful Score: 12
As the title indicates, this book is about the daughters of "Pride and Prejudice" characters Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. Of all the sequels attempted of that wonderful Jane Austen story, this one is the best I've read. However, if you are expected to read about the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, you will be disappointed because they do not appear in this book. It is purely about their daughters as they stay with Colonel Fitzwilliam and his family and mingle in London society for a summer season. The plot and characters very closely mirror that of P & P, which I found to be disappointing. The eldest daughter Letitia is very similar to Jane Bennett. The second daughter, Camilla, is levelheaded and independent, very much like Elizabeth Bennett. There is a love story fraught with troubles for Camilla and a possible love-lost scenario for Letitia, just like the P & P plots for Elizabeth and Jane. Although I was disappointed in these aspects, I still found this to be an entertaining read. It was entertaining to read about the P & P characters that do show up in the book as their older selves... these include Lydia, the Gardiners, and Caroline Bingley. As I said before, this book is a respectable sequel as opposed to some others that have Darcy and Elizabeth having sex like bunnies... Yuck!
Helpful Score: 5
I picked up this book while I was on a Pride and Prejudice reading marathon.
Immediately you begin to root for his second daughter, Camilla, and towards the second half of the book, Aston surprises you with twists and turns you never dreamed of. I will confess on more than one occasion I was laughing out loud and got dirty looks from the people around me. It was a pleasure to indulge in.
Immediately you begin to root for his second daughter, Camilla, and towards the second half of the book, Aston surprises you with twists and turns you never dreamed of. I will confess on more than one occasion I was laughing out loud and got dirty looks from the people around me. It was a pleasure to indulge in.
Helpful Score: 2
From Publishers Weekly: This sequel to Pride and Prejudice from first-time novelist Aston reads more like a beach book for historical fiction fans than a literary homage to Austen's masterpiece. The novel is set in 1818, when Mr. and Mrs. Darcy (nee Elizabeth Bennett) have gone on a diplomatic mission to Constantinople and left their five daughters in London with Darcy's cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and his wife. Bossy Letitia and rebellious Camilla, the two eldest girls at 21 and 19, look forward to London's social whirl; the youngest, 16-year-old Althea, has an opportunity to study voice with an Italian master musician; and 17-year-old twins Georgina and Belle can't wait to flirt and break hearts. But the young country ladies "need to keep their wits well about them" in the city; pitfalls abound, suitors come calling and soon the Darcy girls-especially the mischievous Camilla, who "had too much of a sense of humour, too witty a tongue and too clever a mind"-are raising eyebrows and incurring the censure of some powerful Londoners. Aston attempts to imitate Austen's style, with little success-the prose is stilted and anachronistic ("it would be very fortunate if we were to find a suitable young man for Letitia. To help her get over Tom's loss, you know, and give her thoughts a new direction"). The daughters' personalities are drawn in broad, predictable strokes, and the romantic plot feels contrived and overly drawn out. Despite the curiosity factor, even Austen fans will likely give this a miss, perhaps turning instead to Emma Tennant's superior Austen sequels (Pemberley, etc.).
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The book is OK. There's nothing really wrong with it, but there's nothing particularly right about it either. It lacks the charm of the original Pride and Prejudice and none of the characters have much development, but it's an interesting curiousity for fans of Austen's work.
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The book is OK. There's nothing really wrong with it, but there's nothing particularly right about it either. It lacks the charm of the original Pride and Prejudice and none of the characters have much development, but it's an interesting curiousity for fans of Austen's work.
Helpful Score: 2
Does anyone really think that Mr. Darcy and his wife Elizabeth could raise daughters as frivolous as her younger sisters and as unthinking as her mother?
as other reviewers have noted this book is a re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, but why bother? the original book is ever-so-much better, and does not insult the the reader (by thinking that s/he has not read Pride) or Jane Austen (who wrote the original telling) or the characters of Pride (who would be mortified to think that anyone would believe they could raise such idiots for children).
The book manages to do all three. Jane Austen would not approve.
as other reviewers have noted this book is a re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, but why bother? the original book is ever-so-much better, and does not insult the the reader (by thinking that s/he has not read Pride) or Jane Austen (who wrote the original telling) or the characters of Pride (who would be mortified to think that anyone would believe they could raise such idiots for children).
The book manages to do all three. Jane Austen would not approve.
Helpful Score: 2
Any fan of Jane Austen will enjoy this. I have read several books taking place in the world of Jane Austen, and Aston is enjoyable. We never get to see Lizzy and Darcy, but their daughters are a joy. Her writing is similar to Austen's, and so are some of the situations these girls get them selves into.
Helpful Score: 2
Picking up 20 years after Pride and Prejudice left off, Elizabeth and Darcy have gone to Constantinople, and have left their five daughters in the care of the Fitzwilliams. While the eldest, Letitia, frets and the youngest, Alethea, practices her music, twins Georgina and Belle flirt and frolic their way through parties and balls and Camilla - levelheaded and independent - discovers what joys and sorrows the city has to offer an intelligent young woman.
A fun read for any Austen fan. Many Austen characters make a comeback, such as Caroline Bingley, the Gardiners and Lydia. Although the author has removed Elizabeth and Darcy and the time period is much later, it's hard to believe that their children would turn out that way.
A fun read for any Austen fan. Many Austen characters make a comeback, such as Caroline Bingley, the Gardiners and Lydia. Although the author has removed Elizabeth and Darcy and the time period is much later, it's hard to believe that their children would turn out that way.
Helpful Score: 1
I could not get into this novel at all. There are several things wrong with it from the onset:
1. The Darcy sisters are watered down versions of the Bennet sisters. Nothing new or original about any of them.
2. Aston's story lines for original P&P characters are just terrible.
3. She retains nothing of Jane Austen's delicacy and spirit in her writing.
4. It was just plain boring to read.
I purchased it new because I was excited at the prospect to see what becomes of Elizabeth and Darcy, but I should have known better. Sequels written by other authors rarely turn out well.
1 star because Aston used correct grammar and spelling.
1. The Darcy sisters are watered down versions of the Bennet sisters. Nothing new or original about any of them.
2. Aston's story lines for original P&P characters are just terrible.
3. She retains nothing of Jane Austen's delicacy and spirit in her writing.
4. It was just plain boring to read.
I purchased it new because I was excited at the prospect to see what becomes of Elizabeth and Darcy, but I should have known better. Sequels written by other authors rarely turn out well.
1 star because Aston used correct grammar and spelling.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was a little slow in the middle but picked up toward the end. I enjoyed it.
Helpful Score: 1
It's not Jane Austen, but it's a pleasant excursion into her world, and a fun read.
It's an interesting extrapolation, however i found the end felt a bit rushed.
Loved this book. Kept my attention all the way through. I can relate with Camilla being a sister and having an adventerous spirit with not fitting with society for young woman. If you like historical & romantic books, you should enjoy this one.
A delightful read, especially for fans of Jane Austen. I've added all the other books in the series to my wish list!
I enjoyed the book, but I wish Elizbeth and Mr. Darcy were included. I felt like part of the story was missing.
A charming and well-written continuation of the Austen story. I was delighted to find this series, and have continued to enjoy the succeeding books.
It was ok, I was alittle disappointed that the daughters are more like Lydia or Kitty or even Mary other than Elizabeth and Jane. Unexpected.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and want to read more about the Darcy family by this author. Aston wrote in a style reminiscent of the era and created believable, engaging characters.
If you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, you'll like this book. It's a quick, fun read that sweeps you back into the days of gallant Mr. Darcy.
Very good book and different perspective about the daughters of the fictional characters of the Darcy sisters created by Jane Austen. This is the 1st in the series of 3 books.
one of the best follow ups to Pride and Prejudice by a contemporary author
Not Jane Austen, but a fun read!
This book was a good book even though it was a little far fetched in some places.
This is a fun, light read. I read it and the sequel back to back. I liked the multiple plots,although predictable.
Authentic with a contemporary attitude.
One of the best books I've read. Very good sequel to a classic favorite.
This is a sequel to "Pride and Prejudice"that Jane Austin could have written
Not as good as Jane Austin's "Pride and Predudice." It follows the daughters of Elizabeth and Darcy as they spend a few months in London, after having been raised in the country at Pemberley.
This was a great read. The beginning was a little slow, but once I got past the first couple of chapters, the story was great. The author stays pretty true to the original story with this follow-up one. I am reading more of Elizabeth Ashton's works now.
This book was a lot of fun. I have read several series about the Darcy's and this was my favorite so far. Lots of twists and turns, and great descriptions of the clothes, activities and houses of the time. I highly recommend this book.
