«Está pasable, pero no es lo suficientemente guapa como para sentirme tentado». Así es como empieza el eterno romance entre Fitzwilliam Darcy y Elizabeth Bennet en Orgullo y Prejuicio. La novela de Jane Austen ha sido admirada por millones de personas, pero poco se descubre en el libro sobre el misterioso y atractivo héroe, el señor Darcy. Y la cuestión ha seguido en el aire hasta nuestros días: ¿quién es Fitzwilliam Darcy? En Una fiesta como ésta, Pamela Aidan contesta por fin a esa pregunta. En el primer libro de su trilogía «Fitzwilliam Darcy, un caballero», nos vuelve a presentar a Darcy en el momento en que visita Hertfordshire con su amigo Charles Bingley y nos descubre la oculta perspectiva de Darcy sobre los acontecimientos de Orgullo y prejuicio. A medida que Darcy pasa más tiempo en Netherfield, supervisando a Bingley y resistiéndose a los implacables asaltos de la señorita Bingley, la atracción a la que se ha resistido por Elizabeth crece, al igual que su preocupación por la relación que mantiene con su opuesto, George Wickham. Emplazando toda la trama vivamente en el variado ámbito histórico y político de la Regencia, Aidan escribe con un estilo cómodo, de casa, como Austen, pero con un ingenio y humor de su propia cosecha. Aidan incluye su propia selección de fascinantes personajes a los de la novela original de Austen, tejiendo un rico tapete del pasado y el presente de Darcy. Los admiradores de Austen y también los que se acerquen a Aidan por primera vez adorarán este nuevo capítulo del romance más famoso de todos los tiempos.

{First of 3 ; stand-alone, Austen fan fiction. 2003}

I really should stop expecting that modern day novels continuing a Jane Austen story would live up to the author's style. I don't know why I should expect them to, but I do. I'm reviewing this assuming that readers have a tolerable acquaintance with Austen's Pride and Prejudice on the events of which this book is based so be wary of spoilers if you haven't read the original.

You probably could read this book without having read Pride and Prejudice first but I suspect you would not enjoy it as much; the depth in understanding it comes from knowing something of the source of the story. The story is told from Darcy's point of view, to explain his about face, and covers the events in Pride and Prejudice from the first assembly at Meryton up to the point when the Netherfield party suddenly decamps for London.

Descriptions of clothes and large quantities of food and drink appear, which are historical notes that Aidan gives us. Of course, Austen would not have had to since she was writing a contemporary novel (and, I suspect, it might have been considered vulgar to include such details at that time).

I do appreciate the addition of 'Nelson' and 'Trafalgar', supposedly Darcy‘s favourite horse and hound. Austen lived and wrote during the time of the Napoleonic wars - but I just like Aidan's depictions of the animals.

Of course some of this book is taken directly from Pride and Prejudice and generally it stays true to the spirit of the original - except for some occasional odd grammar (which then sticks out like a sore thumb in this quintessentially English period story, unfortunately) such as 'looked out the window' instead of 'looked out OF the window'. This story tries for the ambience of the Austen novel and succeeds better than most modern day interpretations although it still tends to lean more towards Georgette Heyer and even has a dash of PG Wodehouse splashed in to garnish it towards the end.

One of the better Austen adaptations I've read (although, to be honest, I tend to avoid them).

February 2021
3.5? stars ( )

This is one of my favorite Pride & Prejudice "extra" novels to read. It's such an excellent way of viewing things from Darcy's perspective AND it's super fun to speculate what they are doing while you "know" what the Bennetts are doing during the course of Austen's novel. Didn't find anything out of character, and very much enjoyed it. ( )

Very well-written. A must for any Jane Austen P/P fan. But why in three volumes? If Austen could do it in one, why not Simon and Schuster . . . of course the answer is $14 (7 or 8 at Costco) per volume x3 instead of once! Have to admit, I’m looking forward to Georgina Darcy and Dyfed Brougham’s story (Darcy’s friend and spy for the English government). ( )

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. ( )