Mr. Darcy Came to Dinner: a Pride & Prejudice farce Paperback – March 24, 2013

There were a few minor grammatical errors, but otherwise, It is an engaging story, and the author tells it well. I enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this one and how Darcy's stay has lasting impact on all the members of the Bennet family. Some of the scenes were just lovely -- such as Darcy threatening Collins -- and also plenty of humor throughout. My one complaint, really, is that Darcy and Elizabeth don't really talk or interact much at all during the story. Oh, they have a few scenes together, but most of the understanding on either side is not from direct interactions, but by Darcy overhearing Elizabeth's condemnation of his character (or hearing hints of how badly he acted from other people.) And Elizabeth mostly learns of how good a man he is, again not by interaction, but also from other people and watching how he takes control and truly acts the gentleman when necessary.As a work as a whole, the story is great -- I am just sorry that we didn't get more of that witty writing aimed toward showing us Darcy and Elizabeth together, because that would have just been a cherry on top.

Post-Meryton Assembly, Darcy has a riding accident and is forced to convalesce at Longbourn with a broken leg. Mr. Bennet, who is oddly written in this story, does not behave well during this emergency, disappointing his daughter Elizabeth, who sees more clearly the impropriety of her father's indolence and his preference for always taking the easiest way out for himself.With Darcy stuck in Longbourn's parlor, Col. Fitzwilliam and Miss Darcy arrive, panicked by Bingley's incoherent express relating Darcy's accident. Gradually, Darcy discovers the good points of each Bennet family member, but he is shocked to find how poorly Miss Elizabeth regards him, and how disliked he is by the townspeople.Realizing he has fallen in love with Elizabeth, Darcy is determined to change. In so doing, he finds himself helping each one of the younger Bennet sisters to overcome their faults. When Mr. Collins will not take Elizabeth's "no, thank you, sir", Darcy impulsively beats back the man's improper advances to protect the woman he secretly loves.Neither Wickham, nor Lady Catherine, nor Caroline Bingley will prevent Darcy from wooing Miss Elizabeth. But will he ever convince her that he has truly changed, and regrets his excessive pride?It's a creative and charming tale, and well worth the read.

I really liked the compassion in this book. Not so much between Elizabeth and Darcy, -- they, honestly, couldn't stop fighting until the last quarter of the plot -- but rather for many of the traditional antagonists. Mrs Bennet was more endearing than spiteful (though certainly still annoying to her children), Kitty and Mary were less churlish and more understood, Lydia (though stubbornly spoiled for a bit) eventually recognized the faults in her own behavior and Miss Bingley learned to curb her insecurities and be a good sport. All of these characters still had flaws, but they were fleshed out in a way that made them relatable, not evil. Caroline Bingley and Lydia, particularly, are favorite punching bags of JAFF, so this softened viewpoint was refreshing. Similarly, Mr Bennet was unusually maligned as a poor land owner, an indifferent father and a rather sulky child, but he achieves consolation and redemption by the end. Much like Lizzy, he earns a chance to know himself and adjust his attitude.Other villains were allowed no such redemption, however, and they provide all of the conflict that isn't the result of a misunderstanding between ODC or the pouting of Mr Bennet. Wickham, Mr Collins and Lady Catherine are each somewhere on the spectrum of "unabashedly evil" and perform as one would expect. Luckily, none of them have any great impact on our pairings and are dealt with accordingly. Disturbingly, it even seems like Wickham and Collins have struck up a friendship based on mutual hatred of Darcy; heaven help Canada.I suppose my only issue is that ODC's relationship is almost secondary to the rest of the goings on in the story. There's probably more interaction between Darcy and the other Bennets in the first half of the novel than Darcy and Elizabeth. I very much enjoyed seeing him reach out to the invariably silly Bennets, but one also has to wonder at the changes in Elizabeth's feelings for him when there's little direct intercourse between the couple (at least any that we're allowed to see; we're TOLD that they talk and enjoy each other's company, but don't get much more than this passing mention of their growing esteem until later). It's not completely devoid of their tender feelings, I just felt that a bit more direct contact would have been preferable rather than solely their separate thoughts on one another.The tone of the story was light and amusing and I chuckled throughout. I dare anyone to picture a drugged Mr Darcy singing a drinking song at the top of his voice in the Bennets' parlor without at least smiling. At least he was gentlemanly enough to dedicate the tune to the ladies of Longbourn when he was finished, haha...other moments of similar awkwardness lent this novel an air of whimsy and humor that was appreciated by this reader. The voice of the narrator was similarly amusing.Oh, and the "fairytale" that Darcy tells Lydia to illustrate her bad behavior was an ingeniously subtle way to compare/contrast his mother's virtues to Lady Catherine's haughty attitude while simultaneously encouraging the girl to understand how hurtful she could be to her sisters. He never uses their names, referring to them only as "princesses," but the implication is there. Very well done.

Sweet low angst and romantic. Darcy’s character rehabs while his leg heals at Longbourn. Elizabeth gets to see the changes in him and in her younger sisters and meet some of his family as he stakes out the family parlor. Well paced with in depth character construcution.Recommended

A light hearted enjoyable read with some laugh out moments . The usual villains had only tiny parts to play and barely impacted on the story line .The reformation of the Bennett family , one member at a time , was amusing yet sensitively written showing the impact of personal attention given to those who desperately needed it . The only thing would have liked is to have more romantic interaction between Darcy and Elizabeth and a longer epilogue

This is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time! If you want a book which will make you laugh, read this!Warning: This book is not to be taken seriously, hence this is a Pride and Prejudice farce, not a variation.To start off, Mr Darcy on laudanum is the funniest thing: his treatment of Mr Collins and also Lady Catherine de Bourgh who turns up is wonderful.You know in situations with Mr Collins and Lady Catherine there are times when you know exactly what characters are thinking but they just can't say it, however much you want them to? Well, Darcy on laudanum does say the things he is thinking! (As well as sings a rather interesting song for the ladies of Longbourn...)It was extremely clever with conversations we know from the original slotted in here and there, often spoken by different people to different people and about a different subject!Mr Darcy is so wonderful in this version. He is the knight in shinning armour (even though he did fall off his horse) and eventually, one by one, he makes all the Bennet ladies fall under his spell. Seeing Mr Darcy's relationships with all the different members of the household change was really interesting - Mr Bennet in particular - it was a great way for Lizzy and the reader to be shown Darcy's true character, through his actions towards others.Ok so I would have liked more time between Darcy and Lizzy, but that isn't really the focus of this story as it is through his actions with the rest of her household that Lizzy too falls under his spell (but there are some sweet moments (and funny moments!) between them.)The relationships between the Bennet sisters themselves and how they change through the story was also nice to see. I really enjoyed the further exploration of the characters of Mary, Kitty and Lydia, Mary and Kitty in particular who are very untouched in the original.The ending few chapters were a lot of fun! They show what happens to all the characters in the future (which I always like to read about) - a few characters from her other novels make some very interesting appearances! I particularly liked Col. Fitzwilliam's and Charlotte Lucas' fate! (But I won't give it away!)As humour is the main objective of this Pride and Prejudice farce, a final epilogue with Mr Wickham and Mr Collins really finishes the book with a bang - it was brilliantly funny!This is a wonderfully clever, witty and laugh-out-loud book! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good laugh - I was laughing from start to finish!

I bought this book having continually read P&P variations and sequels non-stop for a few months. My husband wants me to broaden my horizons and stop reading 'dodge', but I love this kind of book! I bought this book in particular because it's by a male author; "I bet they're all written by women too?". Well, apparently not.I enjoyed the story, it is a good interpretation and easy to read. My issues with it are that Lizzy isn't true to the usual character, she's a bit miss-ish for my taste. Darcy is excellent, and I really like Mr Bennet too. The tone is humorous and light and I like the style throughout. I did wonder, with it being a male author, whether the usual rules of a happy ending would apply (I realise how unfair that statement is, but I did think that). Do not fear, all comes good in the end!

This is an entertaining retelling of the Pride and Prejudice plot. The main characters end up married to each other, though under different circumstances than in the original. Other characters experience different fates, though.....I don't want to give too much away, but although it appears that Wickham and Mr. Collins get their comeuppance (Lydia and Charlotte Lucas are rescued from them), the epilogue suggests a possible future career for them. The novel also introduces characters from Austen's other novels.

A really enjoyable book. I like his style of writing and , unlike some variations, looks as if the proof readers and editor did their job properly. I was amused that some of the scenes hark to the best of the farces. The epilogue was a little treat. I can thoroughly recommend Mr Caldwell.