ReviewsByErin

Following in the footsteps of "An Assembly Such as This" and "Duty and Desire," this final installment in the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series brings us the climactic events of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" from the hero's point of view. Darcy's love for Elizabeth is on full display, from the opening scene on the way to Kent all the way through to the final lines on the last page.

After the disastrous events of the second novel, Darcy is ready to forget women everywhere and revoke his emotional attachment to Elizabeth for good. But the very day he makes this choice, he arrives at the home of his aunt for his yearly visit and discovers that Elizabeth herself is visiting her good friend just down the lane. A meeting is inevitable, and his heart will not listen to his cautions.

Finding Elizabeth just as witty and lovely as she was in Hertfordshire, Darcy decides he cannot live without her and begins what he believes to be a courtship, mistaking Elizabeth's responses to him as a form of shy encouragement. When he finally makes a declaration of his love in the Hunsford parsonage, he is beyond shocked at her round refusal and complete dismissal of him, his hopes, and his character.

Darcy returns to London and spirals into despair. How could he have been so blind to her true feelings? Could it be possible that he is more the man she thinks he is rather than what he has always tried to be? With the determined love of his sister and the strength of a good friend helping pull him through, Darcy begins overhauling the way he views the world and attempts to become the kind of man that Elizabeth would be proud to call friend, even though he knows he may never cross paths with her again.

I positively loved this book and found it thoroughly engrossing. Darcy's emotions were so palpable, whether it be his love or his pain or his decisions to make himself a better man. Although I enjoyed the first two books, I found this one to be the best by far. I hated every time I had to put it down, even though being familiar with Austen's original meant I knew how events were going to unfold. Pamela Aidan added a whole new dimension to the story and it had me hooked. I have a new understanding of Fitzwilliam Darcy which will enhance every future reading of the classic or the viewing of its various adaptations.

This series, and especially this final book, is one I would recommend to all Austen fans. If I may badly quote Lady Metcalfe talking to Lady Catherine: "Pamela Aidan, you have given [us] a treasure." 

As a huge fan of Jane Austen, I was thrilled when a friend recommended I check out Pamela Aiden's "Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman" series. This trilogy retells Austen's beloved "Pride & Prejudice" from Mr. Darcy's perspective. I have to admit that Darcy isn't my favorite of Austen's heroes, but I was still eager to read this when I was able to get a copy.

"An Assembly Such as This" opens at the Meryton dance where Darcy is introduced to the society into which his friend Charles Bingley has moved. Used to the finest social circles, Darcy is a little horrified at the country manners he sees on display, and has no interest in forming friendships with the people there. On the other hand, Bingley is captivated and charmed by the whole town in general, and Jane Bennet in particular. It's when Bingley urges Darcy to dance with Jane's sister Elizabeth that Darcy's famous rebuttal is spoken: "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me." Yet it is just the same Elizabeth who Darcy can't quite get out of his mind over the next few weeks and months.

Upon further meetings with Elizabeth, Darcy is struck by her wit and the teasing way she communicates with others. He can tell there's a disconnect between them, and while he longs to heal the breach, he is a little unsure on how to do so when she finds a way to dismiss his every attempt at friendship. As the Netherfield ball approaches, all Darcy can dream about is finding a way to ensure her good opinion, even while he knows he must be careful in his deep regard for her.

I enjoyed this book very much! It was fun to meet new characters, like Darcy's valet Fletcher, who seems to have lots of unknown mischief up his sleeve. The book is written in a classic style so it took me longer to read a normal novel, but that won't stop me from reading the next books in the series as I am able. This novel concludes a little while after the Netherfield ball, when Darcy and Bingley are in London and going to parties that include real historical figures such as Beau Brummel and Lady Caroline Lamb. As "An Assembly Such as This" closes, Darcy is about to remove to Pemberley for the Christmas holidays.

This book was very faithful to Jane Austen's original, including the discomfort and agony of meeting Wickham in Meryton, and the love between Darcy and his sister. I would highly recommend it to all Austen fans!