Irony and Influence:  A Presumptive Tale of Pride and Prejudice
A bold,radical retelling of Pride and Prejudice. In early 19th-century England, thefamiliar and beloved characters Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are aboutto meet. However, the pair has undergonean edgy makeover: Elizabeth is now a self-educated woman who possessesoutrageous ideas and principles about how women should be treated, andFitzwilliam is no longer a stuffy, off-putting man but one whose rebelliousways have his elderly father concerned about his future. Upon encountering Elizabeth at a bookstore,the elder Mr Darcy can already sense that Elizabeth “is what (his son) needs tochallenge him, keep him humble, and prevent him from becoming too gloomy.” Anticipating how unlikely the two would bewilling to move past their own prejudices … Darcy’s father decides to leavetheir courtship to chance. One daydestiny brings them together … their wits and chemistry sparking a connectionbetween them that transcends their differences, without knowing each other’sname. They soon decide to wed. Elizabeth’s sharp mind becomes ever moreapparent as she helps build and expand Darcy’s wealth, and her sensuality marksher as a much more dynamic heroine than her era would seem to allow. While the two passionately discover moreabout one another, their love grows richer and more complex as they learn toaccept and even appreciate their differences. Set against a backdrop of both familiar and new characters, theinnovative and surprising shifts in the story speak to a current audience as wellas readers who love the classic. Thecharacters of St. Andish’s debut novel, especially the gutsy, forward thinkingElizabeth, are well-developed and intriguing, and the choices they make are surprisingand relatable. Humor, suspense andromance shine through in this retelling that mingles 19th-centurysensibilities with modern-day sentiments.