Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins's Widow

An Elizabeth and Darcy Story

De: Timothy Underwood, A Lady

Narrado por: Virginia Ferguson

Elizabeth planned to never remarry. She had married Mr. Collins to protect Jane when Mr. Bennet died. But would her memories of how he hurt her keep her from finding love with Mr. Darcy?

Elizabeth was only 15 when Mr. Bennet died. His heir, Mr. Collins, was an awful, ugly man who mistreated the servants. Elizabeth would never let her dear Jane marry him. Never. Jane was beautiful, kind, and good. She deserved to marry someone she loved. Elizabeth convinced Mr. Collins to choose her instead. His character was far worse than she had imagined it could be, and her marriage was an unending nightmare. Elizabeth felt joy when he died.

Years later Mr. Bingley took Netherfield, and Elizabeth met his haughty and handsome friend, Mr. Darcy. Even though he saw himself as superior to most of the local gentry, Elizabeth and Darcy quickly became fast friends. But as they grew closer Elizabeth’s terrifying memories of Mr. Collins returned....

Note: Four to five people told me, while they don't like the idea of Elizabeth married to Mr. Collins, they really liked the story. He is dead by the first paragraph.

©2015 Timothy Underwood (P)2022 Timothy Underwood

Good Listen

Enjoyable listen, narrated by Virginia Ferguson, I found her voice sounded a bit too old for the ladies of Longbourn, however, and there wasn’t enough variation in the performance of the different characters. There are also a few glitches in the audio, with some repeated short phrases. All in all, still good. Loved the story.

Difficult Topic but well done

Who of us want to imagine Lizzy married to Mr. Collins (shudder), but then to find he was cruel to her!

Will Lizzy be able to overcome her fears and find love? We hope so! 😘

Great read

Horrible mr Collins. Hateful man. Well written story. Luckily mr Darcy enters the story quite quick :) great Jaff

Never thought I'd love it

I nearly did not buy this title. Most of what I listen to these days are P&P variations because I love the characters so much. However, I did not like the idea of Elizabeth having married Collins and almost just passed it up. This very well may have been one of my favorite variations I have ever listened to. It was worth the credit to me. It was well written, and even though I agree with the previous reviewer that the narrator may have sounded old for the Bennet sisters, she did a wonderful job.

Character growth is quite good.

I read this book years ago and have reread it a few times since it was published, but usually let a couple years pass before rereading it. Parts of it are grim as Elizabeth and one of her sisters is abused by Mr Collins in the beginning. He dies early in the book which is not a spoiler I’m sure. But anyone who has gone through something similar knows the trauma and memories from those experiences doesn’t just disappear when the b_____d dies.

Elizabeth comes into her own though. She has inherited Longbourn and she is not going to sit around letting her estate continue to decline as it had when it had been owned by one very indolent man and then one very ignorant self important man. Nor overseen by a lazy greedy steward. Here’s where some readers reject how Elizabeth is portrayed as being nearly perfect. But the author stresses several times that she has worked hard to learn and understand the estate, and see it grow and prosper. She is at loggerheads with her mother for multiple reasons. This Mrs Bennet made me want to lace her tea with something to shut her up. No, not permanently but continually.

When Darcy and Bingley show up in the story there are a lot more interesting moments in meeting the two families than strictly canon, which I will not spoil.

When Darcy inevitably comes around to understanding himself enough to make an offer for Elizabeth, he has some work ahead of him to gain her trust. And Elizabeth has an internal challenge with her past and with changing her decision to never marry again. Understandably.

This is a full length novel with a good story arc and interestingly changed characters. I truly recommend this for Austen variation readers. The author comes up with some great original stories. I think now I have the audio book I will listen to it more frequently than I had reread it before.

Don't be afraid - buy this book!

For many months I put off buying this book because I could not stand the idea of Elizabeth and Collins being married. I wish I had not been afraid because, when I finally did get this book, I truly enjoyed it. First, the Elizabeth/Collins connection was only a brief segment. Their marriage was only a few months and only a few pages. He was quickly DEAD, thank goodness. But it was a traumatic experience for Elizabeth. What I did like is that, upon meeting at the Assembly, Elizabeth and Darcy immediately felt an attraction beginning as good friends and had a wonderful relationship throughout as they fell in love. They were wonderful together and I loved them tremendously. I also loved Lydia. She was still bold and outspoken, but not a hussy. Plus she was completely loyal and loving toward Elizabeth. Wickham played only a small roll, as did Lady Katherine and Anne. Katherine (Kitty) was the slutty Bennett sister and Mrs. Bennett was despicable. I was most pleased that Elizabeth put her mother in her place quite effectively.
The book was well read, except I was not completely enamored of Darcy's voice. Overall I was impressed with the book and am happy I listened to it.

Elizabeth’s ordeal finds a happy ending

Elizabeth’s sacrifice to marry Mr Collins gives her nightmares. Collins abuse was not only of Elizabeth but of Lydia as well. After he dies Elizabeth takes charge but does heal until she makes friends with Darcy.

Needed More Romance

This was an interesting, well written book about Lizzy recovering from a bad marriage and learning to trust again. I liked parts of it very much, especially a more positive view of Lydia. And I liked the independent Lizzy that a bad marriage produced. But once Darcy entered the scene, I felt like there was too much talking and revisiting the same aspects of Lizzy's recovery, but very little actual romance. Just discussion of the possibility of romance, and the hope for the same. Her thoughts, his thoughts, her thoughts, etc. Too much tell and not enough show. I wanted to see them at Pemberley, and see a happy Lizzy in her second marriage.

Almost impossible to listen two

The writer is very good. I bought this book because of hearing another that was narrated by stevie zimmerman.

I'm really sorry because I feel like the narrator try to do a good job, but her the voice of Darcy was
Just terrible.

Additionally
Narration in general was very melodramatic, kind of like a blend between a therapist and an overly emotional person, it could almost put you to sleep