The Courtship of Edward Gardiner

A Pride and Prejudice Prequel

By: Nicole Clarkston

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Every great love has a beginning. In Austen's Pride and Prejudice, we meet with perhaps the most sensible, caring relatives a lovelorn young woman could hope for: Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. What is their story?

Edward Gardiner has just been refused by the lovely young woman he had intended to make his wife. Heartbroken and eager for a diversion, he accepts an invitation from his brother-in-law, Thomas Bennet, to accompany him along with his two eldest daughters to the north on family business. Gardiner's pleasure tour is interrupted, however, when his eldest niece falls ill and is unable to travel farther.

Stopping over in the scarcely remarkable village of Lambton, the men decide that Bennet must continue on, while Gardiner and the children remain. The only trouble is that Gardiner has not the least idea how he should care for one ailing niece and another who is ready to drive him to distraction...until he meets with Madeline Fairbanks.

©2016 Nicole Clarkston (P)2017 Nicole Clarkston

Lovely story

Such a great Jaff story. And it is about ODC as children as well. Loved it. Great Jaff.

A wonderful story for an underrated Austen couple

The Gardiner's and all their sense are such a breath of fresh air when you read P&P. Though we love the comedy, drama, and hijinks of the Bennet's, the Gardiner's are a lighthouse for the two eldest Bennet girls-- real, respectable people with sound minds and opinions they can fall back on. Even in their limited time in the original novel, they are obviously very much in love and have the strongest marriage out of any characters we meet. It's lovely to see how they could have come together in this prequel! It's also very charming to see a young Jane and Lizzie-- in a way, the precocious Lydia could have been like Lizzie as well, if her father and mother had spent the same amount of time educating her. They definitely share a wild spirit, if not the same interests, in their youth. You can even see the beginnings of Madeline's influence on the girl.

Stevie is always a joy to listen to and this book is no exception. Very nice prequel!

A Wonderful Story!

It was wonderful hearing the backstory of Mr. and Mrs. Gardener as it helps us understand how they became the loving couple we see in most JAFF.

Their story is as romantic as you’d expect and the voice artistry of Stevie Zimmerman is perfect (as usual)!

Lovely prequel

This is an enjoyable prequel that is one to revisit. We not only get to see how Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner met but we get to spend time with a young Jane and Elizabeth. We also have the opportunity to meet other characters from canon and yes, their personalities stay true. I did enjoy and laugh at some of the interactions that Darcy and Elizabeth had as children. Overall, this is a sweet enjoyable story that if you’re looking for something in that realm, this fits perfectly.

The audiobook is narrated by Stevie Zimmerman and of course is fantastic. You can sit back listen and get lost in this story.

The Gardeners

Here we get a glimpse at a different courtship from Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam. Edward Gardener must remain in the town of Lampton while a very young Jane Bennet recovers from an illness. There he meets Miss Madeleine Fairbanks and the story grows more delightful with every turn of the page!