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Duty and Desire (2004)

by Pamela Aidan

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9992920,638 (3.47)75
³There was little danger of encountering the Bennet sisters ever again.² Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice is beloved by millions, but little is revealed in the book about the mysterious and handsome hero, Mr. Darcy. And so the question has long remained: Who is Fitzwilliam Darcy? Pamela Aidan's trilogy finally answers that long-standing question, creating a rich parallel story that follows Darcy as he meets and falls in love with Elizabeth Bennet. Duty and Desire, the second book in the trilogy, covers the "silent time" of Austen's novel, revealing Darcy's private struggle to overcome his attraction to Elizabeth while fulfilling his roles as landlord, master, brother, and friend. When Darcy pays a visit to an old classmate in Oxford in an attempt to shake Elizabeth from his mind, he is set upon by husband-hunting society ladies and ne'er-do-well friends from his university days, all with designs on him -- some for good and some for ill. He and his sartorial genius of a valet, Fletcher, must match wits with them all, but especially with the curious Lady Sylvanie. Irresistibly authentic and entertaining, Duty and Desire remains true to the spirit and events of Pride and Prejudice while incorporating fascinating new characters, and is sure to dazzle Austen fans and newcomers alike.… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 26 (next | show all)
This one, Aidan took a bit more freedom with, but I was willing to run with it as I enjoyed the first so much. In his attempt to find a woman of his own station, Darcy gets into a bit of interesting scandal, LOL I love Fletcher though, and think he's a great side character, and this era with riding horseback everywhere is my kind of thing. Nelson and Trafalgar are Darcy's "pets" as much as my horses and dog is mine. Thoroughly enjoy reading these. ( )
  Ambie-Wan | Jan 10, 2021 |
I do love me some Pride and Prejudice retellings! Pamela Aiden's offerings introduce us to some charming new characters and broadens our knowledge of others...a fun, light read. The second book in the trilogy enters into a Gothic romance style which is a bit out of character for Darcy, but still enjoyable. ( )
  sanyamakadi | Aug 26, 2020 |
After rather unwillingly enjoying the first novel in Pamela Aidan's retelling of Pride & Prejudice, I cannot say I found the second quite so agreeable. In Duty and Desire, Aidan's writing seems to have improved from her first effort, but if the character wasn't named Fitzwilliam Darcy it would not have been evident that this was a part of his story. The plot events present such a radical departure from the norms of Austen's world, I am still at a loss what to think of it.

The story also struggles because Elizabeth is absent for most of its pages, present only in Darcy's thoughts and shoved entirely to the side by the lurid events at Norwycke Castle, whence Darcy repairs to find a suitable replacement for his fine-eyed fascination. The story quickly becomes more of a mystery than anything else, with Darcy and his highly competent valet Fletcher tracking down clues and trying to discover the author of the disturbances.

I do give Aidan full credit for the inventiveness of her plot. It is so far removed from anything I can imagine Austen penning. Some readers will like that; others, like me, will like it better if they think of it as its own tale, unrelated to Austen's characters or story. Duty and Desire would make an admirable historical novel in its own right, but it doesn't feel a plausible place for Austenian characters to live in. ( )
1 vote atimco | Mar 27, 2018 |
This second book in the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy is both very silly and rather horrible. Almost horrible enough to be fun, but not quite. Just standard horrible.

The premise seems interesting enough--it is set during one of the time periods when Darcy disappears from Pride and Prejudice and no one knows what he's doing. Turns out he realizes that Elizabeth Bennet does not like him, so he sets out to find someone to replace her in his affections. So far, so good.

Unfortunately, the first half of the book is Darcy sitting in church thinking, and then having boring conversations with his cousin Col. Fitzwilliam or speaking in platitudes with his sister Georgiana. In the later half, he goes off to Northanger Abbey and gets involved in a ridiculous Gothic plot in a creepy castle.

This Darcy is a cardboard hero who is boringly flawless, and the only likeable character in the novel is his valet, Fletcher.

Aiden uses a weirdly antiquey style of writing that I think is supposed to sound Austen-esque, but has none of Austen's flair or wit.

I praised the first book in the trilogy (An Assembly Such as This) as "not atrocious," but I'm sorry to say that part two is most definitely atrocious.

Recommended for: Many readers suggest skipping this part of the trilogy, and I heartily agree. ( )
1 vote Nickelini | Feb 28, 2015 |
Since this novel covers a period of time when we have no idea what Darcy did, anything was possible. Aidan chose the mystery route and the plot was fine, not top-notch (some secondary characters were poorly developed) but interesting enough. I think she really expands on Darcy's personality most beautifully, though, and that, to me, is the real strength of this novel. The first part has a lot to do with Georgiana and it was really well-written, engaging and plausible. I quite dote on the girl and their interactions are splendid. Well done again, can't wait to read the rest! ( )
  RubyScarlett | Nov 11, 2013 |
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To my sons, Nathan, Marcus, and Zachary --- my gift to the future
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Darcy recited the collect for the first Sunday in Advent, his prayer book closed upon his thumb as he stood alone in his family's pew at St.------'s.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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³There was little danger of encountering the Bennet sisters ever again.² Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice is beloved by millions, but little is revealed in the book about the mysterious and handsome hero, Mr. Darcy. And so the question has long remained: Who is Fitzwilliam Darcy? Pamela Aidan's trilogy finally answers that long-standing question, creating a rich parallel story that follows Darcy as he meets and falls in love with Elizabeth Bennet. Duty and Desire, the second book in the trilogy, covers the "silent time" of Austen's novel, revealing Darcy's private struggle to overcome his attraction to Elizabeth while fulfilling his roles as landlord, master, brother, and friend. When Darcy pays a visit to an old classmate in Oxford in an attempt to shake Elizabeth from his mind, he is set upon by husband-hunting society ladies and ne'er-do-well friends from his university days, all with designs on him -- some for good and some for ill. He and his sartorial genius of a valet, Fletcher, must match wits with them all, but especially with the curious Lady Sylvanie. Irresistibly authentic and entertaining, Duty and Desire remains true to the spirit and events of Pride and Prejudice while incorporating fascinating new characters, and is sure to dazzle Austen fans and newcomers alike.

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