Mr Darcy’s Dream

By Elizabeth Aston

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Phoebe Hawkins, niece to Mr. Darcy, is twenty years old, handsome, and well-born, and she possesses a fortune of fifty thousand pounds. Unfortunately, she is recovering from an affair of the heart and retreats to her uncle’s estate to recuperate. There she is put in charge of planning the annual Pemberley ball in order to take her mind off her broken relationship. This story, part of Aston’s “continuation” of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, is chock full of love triangles and misadventure, as all good Regencies are wont to be. Of course, there is a happy ending, and love triumphs. Should a light-hearted romance end any other way?

Aston is an excellent storyteller, and true to the original characters, mores, and morals of the time. However, rather than overwhelming the reader with facts, she slips them in when no one is looking. This is historical fiction at its most enjoyable, a period romp of manners.

I recommend Mr. Darcy’s Dream to lovers of the Regency era, and for anyone looking for a fun read. Miss Jane Austen would be very comfortable in Ms. Elizabeth’s Aston’s world.