Dear Nameless Stranger: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

4.5 starsI was not a fan of the author’s Tact because Elizabeth could do no wrong. In this book, however, she is delightfully human. Peneaux (I will need to go back and correct that) uses a unique premise for Darcy to thoroughly realize how wrong his Hunsford judgments had been.The author does a remarkable job capturing the voice of each Bennet sister. Check this example of the secretly insightful Kitty: “I love to blow out a candle, there is something in the plume of smoke that seems so beautifully romantic. It does not merely expire–it sputters out of existence and leaves a ghostly meandering line of grey that eventually disappears into nothing. It is both sad to see and very pleasing to follow the curve of it with the eye until it can no longer be seen.”I deduct half a star because the Collins situation isn’t fully resolved. Not that the man needed a complete comeuppance (due as it is) for the book to end well, but because we (Bennet and reader alike) deserve to hear from Charlotte. Instead, she’s a ghost, lurking in various scenes but never speaking. Two sentences from her would tell us if she knows the man she married is an idiot, whether she’s OK with that or whether she’s disgusted. We simply need to know a sliver of what she thinks. It’s hard to believe that Elizabeth’s particular friend for so many years would turn a blind eye to Collins’s doings, but because she doesn’t speak, we. don’t. know. That is not a fulfilling resolution to the tale.

In _Dear Nameless Stranger_ readers are treated to a what-if that is deftly handled. What if both Mr. and Mrs. Bennet died not long after Elizabeth returned from Kent? As the girls face separation from one another, an anonymous gift is given: a small but comfortable place to live, their necessities provided, and a companion to keep them respectable. The only thing they must offer in reply is for each sister to write a letter once a month to tell their kind but nameless stranger how they are getting along.This is a shorter novel, but it does not feel incomplete or under-developed as some can. Instead, we have a charming story that reveals much about the inner lives of both Elizabeth Bennet (first part) and then Fitzwilliam Darcy and the other Bennet sisters (second part). I called this an epistolary novel in the headline, and we do learn much from the letters, however there is also narration that allows us a less limited view of events.I highly recommend this story.

This book is the same story told from two different points of view and printed as two stories. The first book is the story is from Elizabeth's point of view and communicated to an anonymous benefactor. The second book is the story told from Me Darcy's point of view and his actions and reactions based on the letters he has received. The second book includes references to letters written by all of the Bennet sisters and their companion. The first book is just Elizabeth's letters.This is innovative and a well-written variation. It engages the reader with positive tension to find out how things turn out. The writing is excellent and the story well thought out. I recommend.

Delightful reading. Ms Peneaux has a style all of her own, sophisticated yet simple and flowing. I loved the quirkiness of Elizabeth's letters, kind, intricate, funny and thoughtful. They keep Darcy on his toes, as well deserved.Her description of all the sisters' personalities and contributions to what a family really is was touching and real.There is a special charm about Ms Peneaux's writing, a rare gift.

I'm not sure what I can add that hasn't already been said other than this is an adorable read! There were moments that I laughed out loud and others when I was holding back tears.The Bennet sisters are orphaned when both parents are killed by disease. Mr. Collins writes to inform them that he will not offer them any aid nor allow them to stay on at Longbourn. To the rescue comes a letter saying that an anonymous benefactor has provided a cottage, yearly funds, and a companion in Meryton that the sisters might stay together. His only requirement is a monthly letter from each of them informing him of how they are doing though they are forbidden to write their thanks.The first half is almost entirely E's letters to this kind Nameless Stranger detailing their lives and eventually confessing her love for Mr. Darcy. Oh, guess who the anonymous benefactor is? I loved when E quipped about marrying the next man to offer and they recieve a letter stating none of them can marry at present. That made me laugh.The second half is from Darcy's perspective and you get to read some of the other sisters letters. It's very heartwarming and cute to get inside these lesser characters heads and watch Darcy learn to appreciate them and come to love them as sisters.Sometimes the second half got a tiny bit hard to follow when he would talk about something in E's letter but you weren't provided with it. If I had a hard copy it would have been easy enough to flip back, but I read this on my kindle. Even still, the author offered at least a little bit of context that I was mostly able to infer the meaning. E's letters were not rewritten in the second half at all, which is understandable.Ive read two of Jeannie Peneaux's works and I loved them both (this and Tact which I purchased after reading). I found it interesting that she makes you really like Collins in Tact, but utterly loathe him in Dear Nameless Stranger. I'll be pleased to read any if her other/future works!

I really enjoyed this new novel of one of my new favorite writers. As stated in previous review mr Bennet and Mrs Bennet have died through an illness and the girls are throw out their home by that odious man. And their saviour is kept unknown to them but not us the reader. I reallt loved the closeness and sisterly love between all the sisters and Lydia is a dear heart too. Another well written book by Miss Peneaux.. I really enjoyed her book Tact if you did give her new one a try.

This story takes place after Hunsford but with no Pemberley visit or elopement due to tragic events at Longbourn. It presents a point of view account from Elizabeth and then Darcy with letters playing a major role (as they often do in P&P) and driving the narrative. I don't want to go too far into spoilers but the feel of this novel is excellent and authentic in my view, with no far fetched craziness (and a clean read). As much as it is a shorter novel the story is complete and well developed. I highly recommend this book.

A delightful story presented in a very interesting manner.I would strongly recommend that the two stories are read without much time elapsing. I am often guilty of putting aside multi part books for months at a time; this would make the interrelationship hard to follow.

An interesting version of "Pride and Prejudice" that shows Mr Darcy to be a much more pleasant gentleman, willing to secretly provide assistance to the Bennet ladies to make up for his Aunt's cruel demands of Mr Collins to ruin these lovely ladies by throwing them from Longbourn subsequent to their parent's passing away.

No spoilers here - if you enjoy reading Pride and Prejudice variations then I think you'll really enjoy this book :-)

One of my favourite P&P variations ever. The story unfolds beautifully and the sisters characters developed like no other. Loved it