Mr. Collins in Love

By: Lee Welch

Narrated by: Joel Leslie

The year is 1811 and the new rector of Hunsford, Mr. William Collins, must be above reproach. He must be respectable, pious, good at losing at quadrille, and disapproving of popular novels. Above all, he must obey his terrifying patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

When William's boyhood friend Jem arrives, looking for safe harbor from the press-gangs, William's "perfect clergyman" disguise begins to slip. A farm laborer's son, Jem is gentle and loyal, and being with him is all William wants. Soon, Jem and William renew their youthful intimacies—until Lady Catherine's demands come between them.

Can William find a way to navigate the Regency marriage market without losing his beloved Jem?

©2025 Lee Welch (P)2025 Tantor Media

A Gem of a book!

One of the best Austen FF books I have heard. A beautiful retelling of Mr. Collins' story, and Joel Leslie is the best👌 . Do not miss this one!
such a relief after so many mediocre books I have attempted to listen to on audible.

My new obsession

I could have used about 10 more hours of this. The characters were all excellently rendered and real, and fit so well into Austen’s world. The story is neatly wrapped up but there feels like so much more to explore. Perhaps there is room for a sequel?

A beautiful addition to a classic

Lee Welch has done a beautiful job of telling not just a moving, but also a realistic story of queer love perfectly ensconced within the world of Austen. Her characterization of Mr Collins’ inner world remakes him into a nuanced, brave individual, but one who still fits perfectly within the obsequious rector that Austen created. Welch has done nothing to change Austen. She just takes Mr Collins seriously, and in doing so she has opened a book within the book. This is rare, particularly when telling a queer adaptation of a classic. Welch’s Mr Collins, his neurodivergence, and his quiet love story, all breathe easily and naturally in Austen’s world, and in the history of the period. She requires no suspension of disbelief, as is common in queer historical fiction.

Welch has also attained the goal of the best adaptations - she convinces her reader to see Mr Collins as she does. It is not that Austen is wrong about him, simply that the story from his perspective looks different. She manages to make her reader sympathetic to and protective of a man who’s canonized for his inane line about “excellent boiled potatoes.”

Finally, a word to the narrator, who has done a masterful job. He captures the Mr Collins’ sincerity, his panic, his pomposity perfectly. He does a similarly excellent job with Jem.

Amazing book

I liked the book the only thing is I didnt like Mr Collin’s he kept coming off as really misogynistic which was meant to be I guess him being logical about the opposite sex but came off as bigoted which doesn’t match his character

Such a sweet story!

I didn’t think it was possible! Lee Welsh has reinterpreted Mr. Collins as such a lovely and sympathetic young man who just wants to be able to survive in a world he doesn’t fully understand and love whom he loves. Highly recommend!