Darcy's Tale, Volume III: The Way Home

Dear Jane Austen,As I closed the final pages of Stanley Hurd’s three book series, titled ” Darcy’s Tale”, I felt compelled to write to you to share the joys I experienced as I read Mr. Hurd’s series. I know that during your lifetime, you said you didn’t write about events that you yourself didn’t experience, such as conversations that occurred between two men alone in a room. Now, please don’t think I am complaining about this decision of yours, because you must know I have most ardently admired and loved your book “Pride and Prejudice” for the past 16 years. In my heart and mind, it has been, my most constant companion... But here I digress!I wanted you to know that Mr. Hurd has carefully constructed a text so brilliant and sparkling... just like your very own P&P, (I hope you don’t mind my beloved abbreviation.) Where his diverges from yours is in his ability to weave the male psych into your story, as he offers his readers new perspectives and experiences that are told from Mr. Darcy’s point of view. I know other authors have attempted to write similar stories from Darcy’s POV, and some of them are quite good. Yet, in my opinion, after reading all types of JAFF, (another abbreviation I hope you don’t mind!) Mr. Hurd has created a masterpiece in his retelling, due to his careful attention to historical accuracies, his original plot lines for Darcy and friends, and his precise construction of the English language, which closely resembles your own clear and sparse prose.I have to confess, I put off reading this series for one reason; it’s written by a male writer. I just didn’t believe I’d enjoy P&P from a male perspective. Aren’t only those female hearts able to savor and swoon at a beautifully written romantic story, let alone write one themselves? Yet, here, I believe, I am pleased to admit how wrong I was. Mr. Hurd’s writing is romantic, realistic, well-paced, and full of charming details, which includes his creation of beloved new characters who sweep their readers back into 1799 Regency England, where we cross numerous English countrysides, spending blissful hours with an extraordinary cast of friends and family.Of course, while this is going on, we have front row seats as we witness Mr. Darcy’s utter despair and suffering over the loss of Miss Elizabeth Bennett. Naturally, this is where the story was really exceptional for me. I developed such insights into Darcy’s inner struggles, along with his theories and beliefs about the changing world. I came to develop an even deeper respect for his sense of honor and duty, as he genuinely approached this situation in such a scholarly manner, seeking out thoughts and views from respected friends and family members to help him understand his struggles and reconcile his heart with his mind, during a time when emotions weren’t regarded or understood as they are today within our modern world.Now Jane, please understand that I don’t mean to make this sound like boring, heady writing that is too cerebral to enjoy... That’s certainly not the case here! Mr. Hurd gives us our romance and offers us sweet memories for our dear couple in new and pleasurable ways. We also come to understand more about his struggles with Wickham, as we watch Darcy settle the Wickham/Lydia affair with strength of character and gorgeous manliness. Oh, how he struggles to keep Wickham alive under such overbearing struggles... This is definitely a favorite part of the story for me.I also adored Darcy’s relationship with his aunt, Lady Andover. Their conversations about love, duty and the desires of the heart made me reflect a bit about my own life. “Overmastering passions overmaster us,” the lady replied, a hint of sadness in her tone. “That’s how you know what they are. There is no fighting them.” These are words I will reflect upon for a long time.I also loved Darcy’s relationships with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley. Both men enjoyed such intimate and close relationships with Darcy. I treasured their conversations, especially as we come to hear more about Bingley’s own personal crisis, as he tries to find happiness without the coy Jane Bennett. He’s not overly sad or weepy, but we feel his anguish as he realizes how much Jane meant to him and how empty his life feels without the possibility of her in it with him.The new character I must also mention to you is a Mr. Vincent Pender, who is a former professor from Darcy’s Oxford days, and who is held in the highest regard for his great philosophical mind. Darcy travels to speak with Pender , during his struggles regarding his feelings for Elizabeth. Through his wisdom and his abilities to truly discern Darcy’s true concerns, Pender offers some of the most unusual and interesting advice for Darcy.After Darcy voices his concerns about introducing the Bennet bloodlines into the Darcy bloodlines, Pender compares animal breeding with human genetics, in an attempt to help Darcy understand that marrying Elizabeth doesn’t warrant much concern about their future offsprings, when compared to Darcy’s preconceived notions about superior breeding. This gives us quite a bit of insight into how men of Darcy’s station really believed in the strength of their “inherited” traits and how much of their culture was reinforced through their ideas about “superior” birth and breeding, (which we know Aunt Catherine constantly reinforces throughout the story.)Once their discussion diverges into what happens when dogs are “Bred too closely to their own pedigree,” we know the discussion has really turned into some fascinating reflections about how people who only stay confined to other people within their own stations; thus inevitably contributing to their own offspring’s weakened states. What a concept!“One breeds from out of the line to reintroduce strength. It is the most common way to improve the breed.... “ Darcy’s voice trailed off. So Elizabeth is really the strength needed to continue the strength of the Darcy legacy! Touché!On closing Jane, I wish to say to you that your decision to leave the male perspective of P&P to a male only raises my esteem in you, because now, 200 years later, we have this masterful series to read alongside your timeless classic. “Capital, capital!” I must say to you. I can never thank you enough for writing P&P and to Mr. Hurd for writing his series!Yours truly,Claudine DiMuzio

5+++ So well-written and thought out, this is the very satisfying conclusion to Mr. Hurd's trilogy. The characterizations, language and settings all ring true to canon. Finally, we have a satisfactory detailing of Darcy's life and trials from his disastrous proposal at Hunsford to the meeting of his and Lizzie's hearts and minds. After he returns to town, he makes an effort to attend first-circle events, where he meets a lively, intelligent and beautiful woman who seems to have all the charms which drew him to Lizzie, just to overhear her laugh about how she has drawn him into her web. This maneater had all but secured him and his wealth. This incident makes him rethink his attitude toward the Bennet's level of society, and makes him see Elizabeth in a different light. Georgiana and the Colonel are aware of the situation but don't know how to help. The Colonel's Mother, Lady Andover, finally pulls the whole story out of him, and after showing him how insensitive his proposal was she advises him to take time and take a trip. Darcy organizes a trip with some friends and acquaintances and they tour the country, eventually heading toward Pemberley. As he arrives at Pemberley, Lizzie and the Gardiners are touring the estate, and he has his chance to show her the good and decent man who is Fitzwilliam Darcy. Of course, Miss Lydia makes the childish mistake that will color the rest of her life, and we read how Darcy discovers the missing couple and how he works on Wickham to marry the childish Lydia. When he and Bingley return to Hertfordshire, Elizabeth seems cold to him, and he eventually returns to town. He has to philosophy that even if Elizabeth still does not wish to accept him, at least she will not have her prospects ruined by the actions of her sister. This situation would have continued, but for the actions of Lady Catherine to make sure that he marries her daughter, not Elizabeth. When he learns that Lizzie has refused to guarantee NOT to marry Darcy that he realizes he has not lost her after all. With many protestations by each of their fault in misreading each other, our couple finally marries for reasons of the heart. Many thanks to the author for a beautiful trilogy, I find very few dropped stitches in this tapestry, these books are a joy. All JAFF should aspire to be of this quality.

Having read all 3 volumes of Darcy's Tale, and finding each one as enjoyable as the last, I can thoroughly recommend this trio. They truly are one of the best written P&P adaptations/variations! Such a pleasant surprise to find this trio written in an intellectually superior style (to many P&P variations), much of the vocabulary wonderfully old-fashioned, inviting the reader to savour the words, many of which have long gone now from our every-day usage. The style and language are perfectly befitting of the era, proving the author has put a lot of work into his research!Darcy's Tales, which move along with the original P&P storyline, allow us to see right into Mr Darcy's mind and in so doing, the reader can appreciate just how hard he struggles to overcome his faults, which in fact he realises he possesses from very early on in the story. On so many occasions one cannot help but sympathise with poor Mr Darcy as we see right into his softer side - for example, upon his unexpected meeting of Elizabeth in the grounds of Pemberley..."It was not made easier by the fact that Elizabeth was become even lovelier during his long absence from her, and that he felt her eyes upon him as he struggled. He tried one or to topics, awkward and hurried, but when he found himself on the verge of asking how long she had been from Longbourn for the third - or was it the fourth? - time, he stopped speaking entirely, racking his brain and commanding his thoughts forward into the van, but for nought; while unbearably disappointed in himself, he simply could not lay tongue to another idea. This left him nothing to do but absent himself, that he might spare the lady's embarrassment..."

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed these books, except my giving them five stars so say it all. The tone, indeed the very way they are written speaks well of the author. We all know the outcome, but to have it all, and more, from Darcy's point of view is well worth the effort of reading three volumes. I would also like to commend Mr Hurd for his portrayal of one of my favourite characters, Colonel Fitzwilliam. He has given him sense, education and a good sense of humour, without making him the laughing bafoon some authors make him out to be. For this alone, many thanks.

I've been waiting for months for the publication of this third volume in the series, and was so glad to be able to buy it at last. Like its companions, it is extremely well written, and Darcy's inner journey to self knowledge convincingly portrayed. I loved the insight provided into his character, education and intelligence and the new scenes featuring interactions between Darcy and Elizabeth are just right. I highly recommend these books to lovers of P & P and am very pleased to note that they are also available in paperback, making them perfect as gifts.

Not what one was expecting but absolutely amazing. Kept me engrossed from the very beginning until the very end and has me reading the first once again just to make sure one has not missed a thing. Having read p&p at least 70 times I can honestly say that this set of books is as accurate as one could be if it was miss Austen writing herself I would love the author to write an after happening

I thought it very well written. A very austenesque style. I loved his conversation with lady Catherine. I fabulous insight to Darcy's point of view.