In Essentials

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Helen Williams

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Five months after Fitzwilliam Darcy’s disastrous proposal to Elizabeth Bennet, he discovers that the woman he ardently loves is suffering from a grave illness. Despite an affliction that has left her altered, Elizabeth is still the same person in essentials: witty, sanguine, and obstinate.

However, her future is uncertain, and she struggles to maintain her equanimity - especially when Mr. Darcy returns to Netherfield and seems determined to improve her opinion of him. Now, she must decide whether she is brave enough to trust him and embrace happiness - however fleeting it might prove to be.

©2021 Helen Williams (P)2021 Helen Williams

Lovely

This story made me cry. Some angst. But oh so beautiful. I highly recommend this book to a Jane Austen fan fiction lover. Great Jaff.

Bittersweet and Beautiful

Elizabeth develops a horrible illness after Hunsford and becomes mostly bed ridden. The Gardiners visit Pemberly, run into Mr. Darcy, and end up informing him of her illness. The story commences from that point, and the main obstacle to ODC's HEA is the illness and Elizabeth's misgivings about being able to be the wife Darcy needs. Darcy is swoonworthy in his constancy. Elizabeth's concerns are understandable. The story is believable, bittersweet, and beautiful. And Stevie Zimmerman does a wonderful job of bringing it to life.

A sad but definite HEA

Read this tale when first published. Of course with a Stevie narrative, a definite addition to my audible library.

Elizabeth becomes ill after Hunsford. Darcy finds out after he meets the Gardners when they toured Pemberley. He eventually travels to Longbourn with Bingley. Our story is a tale of love, compassion, heartache, despair and of course the deplorable and selfish behavior of certain female characters.

Not your typical variation. Well written with a tumult of emotions involved.

An interesting take on the Darcy/Elizabeth story

Little bit hand-wavy on Regency Era health and medicine...it's a plot device and not the main point of the story, but still a little off putting. The story is sweet and romantic. Stevie Zimmerman is on point as always; really, she was the reason I gave the book a try. I did enjoy, but I am not sure I would re-listen to it often.

Very Enjoyable Variation

Low angst variation that spends a good bit more time with scenarios involving the couple than the ensemble which I enjoy.