A Matter of Prudence

A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

By: Lucy Marin

Narrated by: Caius Ashburn

He could hardly stop thinking of Elizabeth, and no longer tried to convince himself that he should.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is drawn to Elizabeth Bennet from the day they met, captivated by her cleverness, her charm, and her good humour. While he initially sees only a friendship between them, his feelings for her soon grow more ardent, even while he tries to persuade himself she would be an unsuitable bride. At length, however, his pride and his prejudices must be laid aside; he knows that to be happy in marriage is more important.

Alas, just as he grows certain of his own heart and mind, a problem reveals itself. Mr. William Collins, a cousin of the Bennets who has lived in Longbourn since his boyhood, returns to Hertfordshire. The fondness between Elizabeth and Mr. Collins is clear, and Darcy begins to fear there is an understanding between them. His fears are confirmed by Miss Caroline Bingley, who warns him that the pair are on the brink of matrimony.

A chance encounter when he is visiting his aunt, Lady Catherine, changes everything. Deceptions are uncovered and friendships end, but is it too late for him and the woman he loves?

A Matter of Prudence is a Pride and Prejudice vagary in which mistaken identities and false assumptions complicate the road to true love for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

©2023 Lucy Sportza (P)2023 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Enjoyed!

Terrific storytelling. Enjoyable narrator. Great pacing. Unique spin on a beloved classic. Easy to recommend.

A pleasant change of some of the main characters personalities.

I appreciated a new approach to some of the characters. There were consequences to bad behaviors. Of course, there was also the usual lack of communication that led to unhappiness. But that was resolved and there was a happy ending for Elizabeth and Darcy.

Different grouping of couples - very good

This plot is different in that Darcy and Elizabeth were attracted to one another immediately and did not have a big fight that separated them - something quite different did. Wickham made only a very small appearance. Lady Katherine and Mrs. Bennett were not horrible. Caroline and Charles Bingley were a nasty duo. Rev Collins was not so repulsive and Lydia was not so silly. So I guess you may be thinking "well, what IS the story?" It is quite good, thank you. I was captivated from the beginning and listened to the book non stop until finished. The narrator is pretty good, but I like Stevie Zimmerman better.

What a story!

Not only a very bad Caroline but an equally bad Bingley. What a pair. They came so close to ruining Darcy’s life it was so disgusting yet compelling to listen to find out how he was going to get out from under their machinations. Boo. Hiss.

Highly recommended. AND I have anew favorite narrator.

Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s immediate attraction and friendship.

I loved it. Given the Bingley family was the money grabbing bunch made this story more interesting.
The narrator was great.

Bad Bingleys

Great story. The Bingleys are not what you think they are. Very interesting take on pride and prejudice. I liked Lady Catherine as well. Or Lady Kitty ;) great Jaff

A Heinous Brother and Sister Act

I’m giving this new-to-me narrator a four-star rating. Her pace is quite fast. Because of this, it was often difficult to distinguish which character is talking, especially for the men. I had to slow down the speed to 0.85 which helped a lot in this regard. I grew accustomed to her cadence the farther I got through the book. I do like the sound of her voice, but would like to see a little more animation in the dialogue, which sometimes felt inexpressive.

Book Review:
Lucy Marin’s latest novel is a friends-to-lovers story, where Darcy and Elizabeth's initial meeting at the Meryton Assembly is devoid of the infamous insult, allowing them to enjoy a pleasant dance together. Unbeknownst to them, Mr. Bingley and his sister, Caroline, have come to Netherfield with nefarious schemes in mind that will bring hurtful consequences for beloved characters, showcasing this heinous brother and sister act.

As the couple’s friendship blossoms, Darcy overhears vague conversations about William Collins, who was taken in at age twelve by his Bennet family cousins after his father's death. Elizabeth often guides her cousin, leaving Darcy confused and curious about their relationship, especially when rumors circulate about Collins marrying one of the Bennet sisters.

While it is clear that Darcy and Elizabeth will eventually achieve their happily ever after, the author skillfully keeps readers and some characters guessing about the true intentions of Longbourn's heir. This clever writing choice creates anticipation and prolongs the confirmation of the expected outcome.

Despite Darcy's overly prudent nature in this variation, and his temporary rejection of his feelings for Elizabeth, his portrayal in the story resonated with me. When he uncovers the deceit of his so-called friends, he promptly takes action and transforms into an assertive and commanding Darcy and confronts them accordingly. Elizabeth, because she never experiences that insult, never gets her hackles up towards Darcy, although she never expects more from him than friendship because of his position in society. Alas, she must eventually acknowledge he captured her heart with that dance.

The remaining Bennet family members retain their familiar characteristics, although their wildness is toned down in this story. Mr. Collins, despite being somewhat dull, manages to be likable. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lord Bramwell, in their brief appearances, provide entertaining moments. Even Lady Catherine, while remaining candid and outspoken, displays a more likable side.

I can always count on a generously satisfying read from this author, and this one fits that bill nicely. I highly recommend it.

Clean content with kisses only.

Narrator Not for me

Fast talking, little inflection or emotion. All the characters sound alike and at times it’s hard to tell who is speaking. A different story but kind of irrelevant. The Bingleys are confusing in their single mindedness given the parent they are trying to please and who they almost seem afraid to displease has long been dead. Not sure if it’s one to listen over and over again. I do love a completely different story from the original.

Interesting Twist to P&P

A Matter of Prudence is a beautifully written book, and the author’s deviations from Pride & Prejudice were among the most intriguing I’ve seen in the past year. Instead of just repeating the same scenes and dialogues, the author was able to truly change the story while maintaining the intense romance between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, and that was the game changer for me. After reading so many P&P variations, it may become a bit repetitive to see the same script developed with only minor changes, Lucy Marin was able to add minor changes but revamp the entire feeling of the book, making it an unforgettable story. I highly recommend this book to readers who love to see Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth find their way to HEA in romantic and uncomplicated manner.
This was the first audiobook I heard Caius Ashburn narrate and it was an agreeable experience, especially when hearing the female characters, however, the lower tones, namely Mr. Darcy’s sentences were a bit hard to hear while I was commuting, requiring a more silent environment. I would also like to see more inflexion in the dialogues, which sometimes felt flat, but it was still a good narration.

Exceptional Narration

I have read this book before and enjoyed the unique take on the characters, as well as the quality of the writing. So, I decided to give the audiobook a try. I am so happy I did! The narrator is truly gifted at voices. Her overall narration of the story flowed well- her pace was spot on.