Darcy’s Voyage: A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas
Janeites: Rejoice! Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy come alive again in this imaginative retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Kara Louise revisits the star-crossed romance of Elizabeth and Darcy but with a chance first meeting where no names are exchanged, and followed two years later by a second meeting on a cross-Atlantic voyage. Romance blooms onboard without the interfering prejudices of Darcy’s family and the embarrassing presence of Elizabeth’s silly mother. However, a misunderstanding separates them in America, and Darcy devotes much of his time to finding Elizabeth in the new world and back home in England.
Familiar characters return as well. Charles Bingley falls in love with Elizabeth’s kind sister, Jane, but Bingley’s sister, Caroline, returns as even more conniving and vicious in her attempt to win the hand of Darcy and turn his attention away from Elizabeth. The bounder Wickham this time pursues Elizabeth’s youngest sister (with Darcy taking a decidedly physical resolution to his scheme), and Elizabeth’s family overall remains as embarrassing as ever, but Darcy is more steadfast in his love for Elizabeth in this distinct rendition. Kara Louise captures the style and language of Regency England with a few slip-ups (would Elizabeth really refer to “ethnic neighborhoods” in New York?). Probably not, but it’s a very creative and witty read for those who can’t get enough Elizabeth and Darcy.
