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Chawton, Hampshire, 1810 and present day New York
What if Jane Austen had a romantic interest, and she based the male character of Pride and Prejudice on this encounter?
Eliza Knight is an artist, she also likes going to antique stores. One day she comes across an old vanity table, she likes it so much, she decides to buy it. After she is home, she discovers a packet of letters, supposedly written by Jane Austen. Eliza starts doing research on Jane Austen to determine if these are authentic or just somebody’s idea of a bad joke.
Her research takes her to Virginia where Pemberley Farms is located. This is the name of farm in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and leads her right to Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Fitzwilliam Darcy has been trying for three years to find out if what
happened to him really happened or if it was just a crazy dream. When he
meets Eliza and she shows him the letters including the letter which has
not been opened, he is willing to pay whatever amount to be able to
finally find out if he really met Jane Austen, or if it was just a
dream. Eliza is wondering why Darcy is so willing to pay any amount of
money for the letters; she demands he tells her his reasons. Darcy
proceeds to weave a most unbelievable tale.
As the story unfolds, Eliza and Darcy are starting to have feelings for each other. Eliza however is wondering if Darcy’s feelings are genuine or if he is acting, because he wants those letters. Darcy is wondering himself.
What an amazing book! It was like having two books inside. There were two love stories. The one with Darcy and Jane, in 1810 and the one with Darcy and Eliza, in the present. Because there is little information about Jane Austen’s private life, it is possible Jane did have a romantic interest with a man named Darcy. The reader will have to decide for themselves if Darcy is based on the male character in Pride and Prejudice. This is a must read for fans of Jane Austen and the Victorian age of England.
Reviewed by Patsy Glans
for The Road to Romance
May 31, 2006
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