No Less Resentment

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

De: Nan Harrison

Narrado por: Simon Alison

All of his efforts to forget her had failed, and he had accepted that some part of her would always be with him

In the winter of 1812, a fatal accident on a stormy night plunges the Bennet family into mourning and scandal. Shunned and isolated from nearly everyone they have ever known and loved each of the Bennet sisters hurries to marry, to provide themselves the respectability of married women. Miss Elizabeth Bennet settles into marriage of prudence with a man she respects but could never completely love.

Fitzwilliam Darcy left Hertfordshire determined to put Elizabeth Bennet and her fine eyes behind him. Disgusted by society and plagued by memories he would just as soon forget, he tries to seclude himself at Pemberley. Alas, the treachery and extortion of someone he once trusted leads him to settle into a marriage both he and his bride despise.

Shortly after he becomes a widower, a chance discovery on a beach in Devon brings Elizabeth Bennet back to Darcy’s mind. Not knowing anything of what has befallen her in the years since that fateful autumn in Hertfordshire he sets out to find her and, if possible, court her.

Will the tumult both have endured in the years since last they met be put aside? Will their long-awaited second chance at love finally lead to happily ever after?

©2024 Nancy Narigon (P)2025 Quills & Quartos Publishing

I couldn’t put this down.

Amazing story arc. This is one of those ‘one thread pulled’ stories, but it’s a huge thread. And the threads that unraveled afterwards were painful to observe or listen to. And they did really unravel. Oh my, my gut hurt for many of the indignities the Bennet family suffered after what happened to their youngest daughter. Lydia died during her running away with Wickham. The cart he stole met with a horrific accident killing them both.

That first change in the familiar narrative changed so many other things and not, at first, for the good. I loved this book, I can see myself listening to this many times in the future.

I have to stop here so I don’t spoil the rest of the story. Very well written. I liked the narrator very much. I highly recommend this for JAFF readers. Now I’m wanting more from this author.

Great story!

Subtitled ‘Elizabeth’s Adventures as a ‘beard.’

This is a really great story. I have read so many variations at this point (over the last nine years) that I rarely read one (any more) that is without a trope that has been thoroughly exhausted by other writers before.
What I loved: The clever way E & D are both widowed and yet never really married, Mr. Bennet’s unconventional response to his community, the disposition of the family at Rosings, the surprise of Charlotte’s resolution, Bingley’s bland character revision, and the surprising way each sister marries a humble man who achieves more because of their Bennet spouse. There are so many intricate ways the author weaves their lives together.

I also loved that this story frequently made me chuckle.

Highly recommended, so entertaining I listened to the whole thing in one day, the audio book equivalent to “couldn’t put it down.”

Congratulations to the author.

Emotional, multi-trope listen.

I’m thrilled that this 2024 favourite is now available in audio! I adore this story! Simon Alison’s narration and performance are excellent. The one thing I’d love to hear more from him in future is more distinction between male and female characters. A couple of times, I only realised a different character had begun speaking once the dialogue made it clear. He did great justice to Nan Harrison’s lovely prose, though, and brought out the emotion of the story.

Book review:
The prologue of this book is strikingly atmospheric, as it partly takes place under the sea and instantly creates a sense of mystery and discovery that emerges from its depths. It leaves a lasting impression without revealing too much, as something long-buried stirs beneath the surface. It’s a scene that lingers—the narrative is both haunting and beautifully crafted. From this point, I knew I would not put the book down until I finished it. I love a noteworthy prologue, and I feel this is one of them.

With a tragic event early on that shakes the Bennet family to its core, the first half of the novel is a tearjerker for me. It chronicles the aftermath of Lydia’s elopement with Wickham and offers deeply emotional moments as the Bennets struggle with mourning, isolation, and decisions for their futures. While the first half of the book carries a weight of sorrow, the latter half brings hope to all, and eventually to Darcy, as he and Elizabeth are reunited after several years.

“Elizabeth shook her head in wonder and bemusement. ‘Banishments, elopements, fatal accidents, fighting, insanity, bribery, extortion, shunning, addiction…’ she said, shaking her head and running out of words. ‘If this were a novel, I should think it too far-fetched to read.’”—quote from the book

Yet, that one quote aptly describes Nan Harrison’s No Less Resentment without being over the top. All becomes clear. Will their happiness now be threatened by an unknown enemy? A brilliantly-written and plotted novel that brings second chances to many.

Highly recommend.

Deserves six stars!

I love that this would have been a compelling story, even without ODC. The stories of each family member are interesting and well rounded. Truly an enjoyable listen!

Great read

This was a tragic tale to start with. Then it grew more light and happy. Many nice characters. And mr Wickham got what he deserved. Great Jaff.

Spirit From The Sea

If I were to translate my thoughts about this story into the language of Mrs. Bennet, I would say that Nan Harrison’s “No Less Resentment” is like a Wedding Breakfast Feast. This audio version is no Simple Family Dinner; it’s absolutely delectable. The tantalizing Prologue tempted this listener with a hint of a mystical spirit from the sea guiding a forlorn lover to his destiny. I recommend treating yourself to a thoroughly satisfying banquet of listening pleasure.

There are many noteworthy moments in this book, but I especially liked the inclusion of Wickham’s mental grumbling as he deserted his militia post, Mr. Bennet’s bold honesty with the Meryton matrons, and Darcy’s relaxed conversations with Elizabeth.

OneOne of my favorites.

At first, I had doubts about all the glowing reviews — I thought it might be one of those cases where people praise a book they haven’t actually read. But no, every positive review is well deserved!
The characters go through a tough journey right before our eyes, and that only makes them feel more human to me. I’ll gladly listen to it again — more than once, for sure.

Might be the BEST P&P variation I've ever read!!

This story has everything I want in this genre, it was SO GOOD, I can't get over it. Seriously!! It starts right after the Netherfield ball and takes a wide left turn from canon from there. But, the diversion is so good. There is tragedy in the beginning, but then you see every single character learn and grow and evolve beautifully. And the way the author crafted the dialogue and the storyline was truly amazing. I have well over 150 books of this genre in my collection, there are some that are incredible and some that are not so much. So many of them have dialogue that feel like it doesn't flow proper, or jumps around or ends abruptly or the storyline does the same thing. This book (to me) felt like the storyline was meticulously mapped out, and evolved slowly but with such precision. There are many new characters introduced throughout and each one served an exact purpose and added to the storline greatly, all of the original cast is included also, it was a wonderfully developed story. I especially loved the growth and development of ODC, they both seriously struggled at moments, and to listen to them come together and the dialogue crafted around them falling in love is to die for good. While this story does follow a long and winding path to happiness, it's not at all angsty, which I appreciated. I'm not a super fan of that nervous, why are they doing this feel of some of the more angsty stories. This one feels like every single character made the right decision at the time for them and even though it took longer for them to come together, their harder path made that coming together all the sweeter.

Simon Alison is a new to me reader, he did an amazing job with this book!!! Seriously, the regulars SZ & HF could have read it also and I know I would have loved it, but Simon was the perfect fit.

Just do yourself a favor and buy this one. I am going to be listening to this over and over forever! Well done Nan Harrison ❤️

Superb, Satisfying Alternate Path Variation

This was one of my favorite variations of 2024, and now it is one of my favorite audiobooks of 2025!

The prose is beautifully composed. The story is original. The narration is exquisite. And there is not a false note.

The events that mark the departure from the original Pride and Prejudice - an early, tragic elopement for Lydia and Wickham that was set in motion (in part) by a dastardly plot to force Darcy's hand to marry his cousin - forces the remaining characters to make choices due to their new circumstances that lead to new journeys and growth that are surprising and ultimately satisfying. And once Darcy and Elizabeth meet again, they have gotten past their pride and prejudice and are ready to be pleased by one another.

I look forward to listening again and again!

Scandal, blackmail & tragedy but love wins

This is so worth the read or better yet the audiobook. I did both together and very glad I did. The prologue gives us a little mystery and then jumps back in time to just after the Netherfield Ball. Tragedy does a double hit for the Bennet family as their community and even some relatives turn on them. Isolation eats at them but they rally together and become stronger for it. Each daughter individually goes to London with their Gardiner relations and find worthy men who do not shun them but sees them for the jewels they are. Elizabeth struggles until a Naval Captain arrives at Longbourn and asks for her hand. Elizabeth then travels with her husband and continues to learn and grow to be a better individual than her quick to judge younger self.

Darcy goes through his own growth and finds local friends who still support him even after he is blackmailed into marriage he does not want. When Darcy & Elizabeth meet once again they are both more mature and ready to see the best in each other. I loved seeing how the siblings of both have also grown and found their love/respect matches. Mr Bennet and how his life turned out was a fun little side note and so glad to see that happen. This is a story that I will gladly read & listen to again! The narrator, Simon Alison, did an amazing job with this book. I look forward to more JAFF narrations by him in the future.