Dear Nameless Stranger

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Jeannie Peneaux

Narrated by: Mandy Gasson

“Please admire my docile and obedient nature. I will not thank you for providing us with a home, nor will I even breathe a word of gratitude for your provision of such funds as will feed us each quarter. I will not even write such platitudes as ‘You are very good,’ given that you have also provided us with respectability in the form of Mrs. Ingles. There. I am quite done now with not expressing my gratitude – I should not at all wish to prove tiresome.”

From the author of Tact, Dear Nameless Stranger is a heartwarming tale inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Jean Webster’s Daddy Long Legs.

Tragedy has struck the Bennet sisters but they are greatly relieved when the anonymous kindness of a stranger means that they can remain together. In exchange for such charity, a monthly letter is required from each sister. It is a fortunate thing that Miss Elizabeth Bennet rather likes letter-writing, for she relishes the opportunity to relate to this unknown gentleman all her impressions and opinions regarding her changed circumstances.

With each passing month, Elizabeth confides more in the nameless stranger, and by the time Netherfield Park is once again occupied by the amiable Mr. Bingley and his friend Mr. Darcy, she is quite frank in writing of her dismay.

©2019 Jeannie Peneaux (P)2020 Jeannie Peneaux

Mashup

This book is a mashup of JAFF and Daddy Long-Legs fan fiction (does such a thing exist? Probably). Since I think Daddy Long-Legs has to be the best epistolary novel that exists, and yet still not as good as Pride and Prejudice for genius I think it was a wise plan to follow the basic plot of P&P and lean toward DLL in the character sketches. Overall the book is so sympathetic toward all the Bennet sisters and so unsympathetic toward certain other characters as to make them different people than they are in the original. But that’s the beauty of fan fiction-you can go wherever you like. This particular pairing works very well and made for an enjoyable and soothing afternoon.

I Agree with the Rave Reviews - Lovely

And Lively. Much of the story is conveyed through letters - but not all of it. I hesitated before buying this book as I was put-off by the idea of a story told only by letters. I thought it a bit odd for the first part of the story (Lizzy’s letters) to end so abruptly, before the story continued from Darcy’s VP where we see his reaction not only to Lizzy’s letters, but also to those of her sisters. Whoa, I very much admire how the author shows us the other Bennet sisters through their letters as well as “in person” throughout this part of the story. THESE Bennet girls are lovely. The narrator is very good, too.

Romantic and witty

I love this story. Everyone is in character and the perspective is of Mr.Darcy. It was so entertaining that I couldn’t stop listening until the end.

Dear Nameless Stranger, I LOVED it!

Rarely do I comment on reviews, but I truly enjoyed this story. The narrator did well (wished her male voices were deeper, but hardly worth mentioning). I will definitely be listening to this one multiple times!

Outstanding

I loved the tale. Fun and heartwarming. Well done to the author. Well done to the narrator.