Pride/Prejudice by Ann Herendeen

Pride/Prejudice by Ann Herendeen

Pride / Prejudice. A Novel of Mr Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet and their Forbidden Lovers

In Ann Herendeens words ‘I felt there is a hidden story behind the one Austen shares with us, one she gives readers just enough clues to discover if we will”!

So what is it that Ann has read between Jane Austen’s lines?

Well, she has found Fitzwilliam Darcy to be a fairly brutal lover, and his victim is poor Charles Bingley.

When Charles, deeply in love with Jane Bennet spurns Mr Darcys very regular advances Darcy sulks out regularly with plots to split up his ‘special’ friend and Miss Bennet

His own growing fascination with Elizabeth does not stop him continuing with his sexual activities with the help of the other members of the ‘Brotherhood of Philander’ a boys only club for hedonistic spoilt aristocrats who definitely prefer the male form.

Now to balance this Ann Herendeen has made Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas special friends as well, but does not draw their relationship in the same detail only using it to illustrate that both Lizzy and Darcy are selfish, both preferring to keep their lovers for themselves rather that worry about their happiness.

I found it pretty hard to like this Darcy and, Elizabeth was not that much better.

As for Lizzy and Jane happily allowing Darcy and Charles to continue their sexual activities under their noses during their marriages, hard to swallow.

One character easy to believe was Wickham, not much of a stretch to believe he would have sex with anyone if it was to his own advantage.

If you don’t like sex in your Austen then don’t read this and if a bi-sexual Darcy spoils your fantasies definitely don’t read this, however if these things don’t worry you, go for it, it was interesting.

Ann Herendeen has also written Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander, A bi-sexual regency romance.