No Less Resentment

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Nan Harrison

Narrated by: 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

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.

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.

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!

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 ❤️