*Sneak Peek* Pride & Prejudice fanfic/pastiche

[Thorn Wilde]

The idea came to me a while back to write a sort of pastiche of Jane Austen's classic where everything happens exactly as in the original, but it's told from Darcy's point of view and he is gay and in love with Bingley. I started a little bit tonight. It's only about 250 words, but I wanted to see if this is something people might be interested in reading before I get fully involved with the project, especially as there are so many other things I should be working on... So, without further ado, here's a rough start:

 

 

    It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a great fortune must be in want of a wife. It was the first thought that had entered Mr. Darcy’s head when Mr. Bingley had announced that he had found a wonderful estate for let in Hertfordshire. Mr. Darcy was certain that the place would be simply swarming with young ladies eager for his friend’s attentions, starved as they must all be of good company. He was also certain that none of them would make for an advantageous match. But then Bingley was unlikely to care about such things. 

 

    It was perhaps in part for that reason that Darcy chose to accept his good friend’s invitation to come stay with him and his sister at Netherfield Park. Someone had to keep Bingley out of trouble. He was too kind, too amicable to be let alone in the company of country shrews, and while he was certain she had his best interests at heart, Darcy had never quite trusted his sister, Caroline Bingley. No, it would have to be himself.

 

    ‘So, what do you think of it?’ Bingley asked him as Netherfield came into view. ‘Is it not splendid?’

 

    ‘Quite,’ Darcy allowed. 

 

    ‘It is nothing to Pemberley of course . . .’

 

    ‘Nonsense. ’Tis a fine estate.’ Darcy granted his friend one of his rare smiles, and Bingley in turn adopted a grin that could light up the darkest of catacombs.

 

    ‘I had hoped you would like it. You know how I value your opinion in all things.’

[joann414]

I like it!

[Suvitar]

I´m not sure. I love Pride and Prejudice, both the book and the TV series (1995). Usually I hate it when someone messes with something I really like, but this sounds like a  fun idea. I think I´d be willing to read it.

[Sasha Distan]

yes, i love it. run with it as far as you all can go.

[Irritable1]

I would  read it, but I'd probably twitch and quibble internally. It's very hard to match the original style exactly because you'd potentially need to match not only the language but also the conventions of what it was acceptable to say out loud. Still, I'd definitely want to see what you'd do with it. 

 

It is absolutely THE original slash pairing: handsome, sunny, lively, compliant Bingley, even handsomer, withdrawn, passionate, possessive, upright Darcy. OMG, I want to see this happen now. And how does Wickham fit into it all??? First love? Does Elizabeth know? 

 

     Ok, clearly this needs to happen. I can hardly sit still.

[Ron]

It's been so long since I've seen the movie.  I have never read the book but I quite like the language, the formality of it. I would be a reader, Thorn. After L&G is finished, of course. 

[George Richard]

Definitely.

[Thorn Wilde]

Thanks for the encouragement, you guys! The challenge would definitely be in trying to match the original language. I'll have to reread the book to make sure I get everything right. But I think it would be a fun exercise nonetheless.

[Irritable1]

Here's a thought: do you even want to try to imitate the language? You could maybe do a completely different internal voice. Baz Lurhmann it up a bit. It would be a change to have someone consciously not try to match the original patterns. 

[Thorn Wilde]

Here's a thought: do you even want to try to imitate the language? You could maybe do a completely different internal voice. Baz Lurhmann it up a bit. It would be a change to have someone consciously not try to match the original patterns. 

 

Hm... I would have to give that some thought. I would want to make it as historically accurate and realistic as possible, and that does require a certain attention to the language of the time. In keeping with Austen's style, though, I would be using a lot of free indirect speech, which would change the feel a bit regardless, as I'd be writing from Darcy's point of view. I would also avoid the period's love affair with commas as it gets on my nerves.

[Irritable1]

Hm... I would have to give that some thought. I would want to make it as historically accurate and realistic as possible, and that does require a certain attention to the language of the time. In keeping with Austen's style, though, I would be using a lot of free indirect speech, which would change the feel a bit regardless, as I'd be writing from Darcy's point of view. I would also avoid the period's love affair with commas as it gets on my nerves.

 

Well, I think you are absolutely deft enough to pull it off. Can't wait 

[Ron]

As an aside, I just noticed the words under your signature banner. Very nice . . . is this of your creation?

[Mann Ramblings]

I think any project that keeps the creative drive moving it worth exploring. Have fun with it.

[Aditus]

Maybe listen to the audio book, it always helps me to get in the right set of mind language-wise.

[Sasha Distan]

Well, I think you are absolutely deft enough to pull it off. Can't wait 

 

if anyone can manage, i really think that Thorn is our man. 

 

 

Maybe listen to the audio book, it always helps me to get in the right set of mind language-wise.

 

I think this is damn good advice.

[Timothy M.]

That would be fun. I read the book for an English literature class, and I have to admit I much prefer Jane Austen to the Brontë sisters, both for content and style. I also liked the original BBC TV series but disliked the most recent film version with what's-her-name overly bubbly high-pitched actress playing Elizabeth. I refused to see it for ages, but was finally persuaded by a female friend. She owed me afterwards

 

If you don't want to stray too far from the story line of the original, I'd make Darcy bisexual and attracted to Elizabeth even if he loves Bingley. (If you want to have a completely HEA, make both men bisexual and ready to keep up their liason even after being married, but that might strain the 'willing suspension of disbelief' too much.)

 

I'd be happy to help beta / edit, if you like. But I'm also fine with just looking forward to reading the story. Have fun writing and keep us posted.

[Mark Arbour]

This is a really intriguing idea.  One of the nice parts is that you wouldn't have to do much historical research, which is a good thing, since that takes time. Lots of time.

[Thorn Wilde]

As an aside, I just noticed the words under your signature banner. Very nice . . . is this of your creation?

 

Yes, it's something I came up with on the fly one day. I'm considering bringing it into a story or making it part of a poem, but for now it can just be there for inspiration.

 

Maybe listen to the audio book, it always helps me to get in the right set of mind language-wise.

 

That's a great idea. I think I have some credits on Audible. I'll bet they have an audiobook version of it I could download.

 

That would be fun. I read the book for an English literature class, and I have to admit I much prefer Jane Austen to the Brontë sisters, both for content and style. I also liked the original BBC TV series but disliked the most recent film version with what's-her-name overly bubbly high-pitched actress playing Elizabeth. I refused to see it for ages, but was finally persuaded by a female friend. She owed me afterwards

 

If you don't want to stray too far from the story line of the original, I'd make Darcy bisexual and attracted to Elizabeth even if he loves Bingley. (If you want to have a completely HEA, make both men bisexual and ready to keep up their liason even after being married, but that might strain the 'willing suspension of disbelief' too much.)

 

I'd be happy to help beta / edit, if you like. But I'm also fine with just looking forward to reading the story. Have fun writing and keep us posted.

 

I love Jane Austen. I have read all her books. I love her style, her characters, her humour and her plots. I love the sense of biting social commentary that's always hiding underneath the romance. Some consider Austen a romantic writer; I consider her a realist. My favourite of her books is probably Sense and Sensibility which, in a sense, is where this aspect of her writing comes most to the forefront, as it directly addresses the issue of women not being able to inherit property at the time. Austen wrote about real social issues at a time when most literature, even that written by women, focused solely on the emotional side to femininity. 

 

I like your idea of making them both bisexual. I was planning on having Darcy really fall in love with Elizabeth in the end anyway, because he really very obviously does, but to still have him settle for her when he'd really rather be with a man, knowing of course that that would be impossible. I'm still working out the plot in my head, and likely much will change once I write it. And I'll certainly let you know when I need a beta for it.

 

 

Thanks, everyone, for your encouragement!

[Timothy M.]

I love Jane Austen. I have read all her books. I love her style, her characters, her humour and her plots. I love the sense of biting social commentary that's always hiding underneath the romance. Some consider Austen a romantic writer; I consider her a realist. My favourite of her books is probably Sense and Sensibility which, in a sense, is where this aspect of her writing comes most to the forefront, as it directly addresses the issue of women not being able to inherit property at the time. Austen wrote about real social issues at a time when most literature, even that written by women, focused solely on the emotional side to femininity. 

 

Sometimes I feel like we're mind twins, Thorn. What you wrote here about Jane Austen being a realist with an observant mind and sharp wit is exactly what I appreciate too. Her heroines stay within the narrow confines of propriety, manners and tradition imposed by society, yet still manage to achieve love and the best possible life while being true to themselves. And she is merciless on fools, snobs, bootlickers and selfish or vain people.

[Suvitar]

That would be fun. I read the book for an English literature class, and I have to admit I much prefer Jane Austen to the Brontë sisters, both for content and style. I also liked the original BBC TV series but disliked the most recent film version with what's-her-name overly bubbly high-pitched actress playing Elizabeth. I refused to see it for ages, but was finally persuaded by a female friend. She owed me afterwards

 

 

 

I´m still refusing to see that film, Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle are perfect Darcy and Lizzie, I don´t want to see anyone else playing their parts.

[Sasha Distan]

I´m still refusing to see that film, Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle are perfect Darcy and Lizzie, I don´t want to see anyone else playing their parts.

 

Thorn has inspired me too watch it (again) with this thread. I think that what i love so much about the 2005 as opposed to the earlier editions of how well the girls all fit together as sisters. they are very believable.

[Thorn Wilde]

I have seen them both. Sasha has a point with regards to the 2005 film in that the make-up of the Bennet sisters makes more sense there. They appear to be closer to the right ages, for one. However, that is where its superiority ends as far as I'm concerned. The heart of the matter is that there never was a better Lizzie and Darcy than Jennifer Ehle (one of those rare women I would happily do naughty things to) and Colin Firth (*drooools*), nor a better Caroline Bingley than Anna Chancellor. That combined with the fact that you get so much more of the story when you have the length of a miniseries to tell it makes the 1995 far superior to the 2005, in my opinion.

 

I bought a Pride and Prejudice audiobook narrated by Lindsay Duncan from Audible last night. She reads it very well. I think it will help me a lot with my writing. I also found the full text of the book online (it's public domain after all), so I won't have to leaf through the pages of my illustrated Complete Jane Austen mammoth tome to reference stuff.

[Irritable1]

What I find particularly thought-provoking about your concept, Thorn, is how Darcy might've behaved differently with male and female loved ones. I mean, Bingley never expressed any particular anger with him, even when he was critical ("I cannot bear to see you standing around in this stupid way.") It makes me think of a much more peaceful relationship, even if Darcy's love is unrequited.

[Thorn Wilde]

What I find particularly thought-provoking about your concept, Thorn, is how Darcy might've behaved differently with male and female loved ones. I mean, Bingley never expressed any particular anger with him, even when he was critical ("I cannot bear to see you standing around in this stupid way.") It makes me think of a much more peaceful relationship, even if Darcy's love is unrequited.

 

Exactly. The patience and acceptance that Bingley and Darcy show each other throughout the story is unmatched.

[Timothy M.]

I think one of your main challenges will be to work out how Darcy and Bingly met. I don't recall this being mentioned in the book.

As to Wickham being his first love, maybe - but only until Darcy realized he was a womanizer and bad guy. Although Darcy would hopefully have known before that and never revealed his secret (or Wickham would blackmail him). I rather think his first male liason may have been his cousin Fitzwilliam, who Lizzie mets in the awful aunt's manor. Now he could be completely gay (in your version), even if he does seem to admire her at one point.

I think you need to have a part where Darcy sees Bingley being truly unhappy about giving up Jane, and nothing he does can comfort him, not even declaring his own love. This would make it much more likely that he proposes to Lizzie, knowing full well that this will bring Jane and Bingley back together. And when she rejects him, the pain is doubled because this will hurt the man he loves too.

Crikey this will really be a monumental undertaking, I admire your audacity.