It is with great pleasure to welcome you to the penultimate stop of Much Ado in Meryton virtual tour. As you already may know, Riana Everly has published this Pride and Prejudice clever mash-up with Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing last November. But since it was a busy time last month with Christmas, Hanukkah and the bustling holiday season, she only have the chance to promote it now. Let's read her specially prepared guest post along with an enticing excerpt that drives home the point. Then be sure to participate in the giveaway below.
Mr. Darcy, I'll turn it over to you now.
I am, as you might know, the grandson of an earl and the heir to a large and prosperous estate in Derbyshire. There are few in my circles who do not know the name Darcy and give it the respect and deference it deserves. I was raised in the first circles of English society and received the finest education. I have been accused of excessive pride, but pride is not vanity, and where there is real superiority of mind, pride is always under good regulation.
I arrived in Hertfordshire to assist my friend Bingley in setting up and managing the estate he had let. I was loath to accept his request at first, having passed a most unpleasant summer caring for my younger sister, but I am not entirely heard-hearted, and his pleas were sincere. He, at least, knows my worth and values my experience.
The town, Meryton, is a middling sort of market town with enough to keep Netherfield well supplied with provisions and servants, but the people! The local knight is a crude sort of man, given to airs and pomposity, presuming to introduce me to St. James! Me, the scion of Pemberley, who dined with the Prince before my four-and-twentieth birthday. The rest of his society are little better. The local gentleman's wife is from the middle class, and there is not a title to be seen.
Bingley convinced me to accompany him to the town's assembly the very day of my arrival, the acceptance of which was a great mistake. I, who am accustomed to dancing at Carleton House, now thrust into something little better than a country dance, where anybody with the means to procure a ticket could attend with no discernment as to rank or breeding. The manners on display were questionable, and the clothing, while suitable for the country, I suppose, were at least six months behind in fashion.
Can you but wonder that, when faced with the prospect of dancing with a young lady who had the temerity to express scorn at my worth, I refused the suggestion. She heard the talk of my wealth and background and sneered at me. And then, she was the one to throw the first insult, declaring that I was no gentleman. Impudent. Insolent!
I put it to you: Would you have done otherwise? I can only think not!
"...my daughter, Charlotte."
Darcy blinked and brought himself back to the present. Sir William was still speaking, introducing the new arrivals in the neighbourhood to everybody in the space. Darcy turned to take in the woman now before them. She looked sensible enough, and about his own age of twenty-seven, but she had no particular charm or beauty. Was she married? No, it seemed not. Bingley greeted her, saying, "A pleasure to see you again, Miss Lucas." To be unmarried still at her age did not bode well for her future felicity in life. He must take care to find a good husband for his sister Georgiana to save her from this same fate; although his sister, at least, had the sort of fortune that made spinsterhood a choice rather than a sad fate.
But he had no time to worry about ageing spinsters. Sir William and Bingley were weaving their way through the throng once more and Darcy must follow them. Sir William was still talking. "You have, I believe, previously met Mr. Bennet of Longbourn, Mr. Bingley. He is not here this evening, but do not fear! Pray, allow me to introduce to you his lovely daughters. This way, I see them together by the fern."
He traipsed behind Bingley and Sir William as they waded through the crowd, which parted before them like the waters of the Red Sea before Moses. Everywhere he glanced, he met an ocean of fascinated eyes. The whispers were quieter, but they had not stopped. One ruddy country face after another looked upon him with variations of awe, reverence, and other intimations of being in the presence of a superior creature. He held his head high, not deigning to meet any one person's eye, certainly not daring to smile. He was not one to crow about his place in the first circles in London, nor to bask in the glow of his noble relations, but neither would he lower himself to befriend these rustic imitators of society. For Bingley's sake he would be coolly polite, and even civil should he find himself in suitable company, but these people were not of his class, and they must know it.
A tale of friends, enemies, and the power of love.
"Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably." — Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing, 5.2
Mr. Darcy's arrival in Meryton raises many people's disdain, and Elizabeth Bennet's ire. An insult at a dance is returned in full measure, and soon the two find themselves in a merry war of words, trading barbs at every encounter. Matters go from bad to worse when Elizabeth and Darcy find themselves living under the same roof for a time, and their constant bickering frays everybody's nerves.
Will a clever scheme by their family and friends bring some peace to Netherfield's halls? And what of Mr. Wickham, whose charming presence is not quite so welcome by some members of the party? When the games get out of hand and nastier elements come into play, will everybody's chances for happiness be ruined forever?
This clever mash-up of Pride and Prejudice and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing casts our beloved characters in fresh light, uniting Jane Austen's keen insight into love and character, and Shakespeare's biting wit.
Riana Everly was born in South Africa, but has called Canada home since she was eight years old. She has a Master's degree in Medieval Studies and is trained as a classical musician, specialising in Baroque and early Classical music. She first encountered Jane Austen when her father handed her a copy of Emma at age 11, and has never looked back.
Riana now lives in Toronto with her family. When she is not writing, she can often be found playing string quartets with friends, biking around the beautiful province of Ontario with her husband, trying to improve her photography, thinking about what to make for dinner, and, of course, reading!
Riana's novels have received several awards and citations as favourite reads of the year, including two Jane Austen Awards and a Discovering Diamonds review.
Thanks to the author's generosity, five e-books of Much Ado in Meryton are offered in this worldwide competition. You can either fill up the following Rafflecopter form or email your name and preferred email address to riana.everly@gmail.com to be in. She will manually add you to the list for the draw.
Guest Post
Happy New Year to everyone, and thanks for this opportunity to visit this lovely blog as part of my blog tour for Much Ado in Meryton. In this story, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy do not get off to a good start at all, and find themselves quite antagonistic towards each other, until their friends step in with a clever plan. But instead of me going on for a while, I thought I would let Mr. Darcy speak for himself and explain what started it all.Mr. Darcy, I'll turn it over to you now.
Mr. Darcy Speaks
Thank you, Miss Everly, for this opportunity. I find I am all too often misunderstood, and yes, it is true, that despite my superior upbringing and education, I am somewhat lacking in the ability to comprehend fully the conversations around me. I am thankful for the chance to explain to your readers why I behaved as I did, in the hopes that they might forgive me for any lapses in my otherwise impeccable manners.I am, as you might know, the grandson of an earl and the heir to a large and prosperous estate in Derbyshire. There are few in my circles who do not know the name Darcy and give it the respect and deference it deserves. I was raised in the first circles of English society and received the finest education. I have been accused of excessive pride, but pride is not vanity, and where there is real superiority of mind, pride is always under good regulation.
I arrived in Hertfordshire to assist my friend Bingley in setting up and managing the estate he had let. I was loath to accept his request at first, having passed a most unpleasant summer caring for my younger sister, but I am not entirely heard-hearted, and his pleas were sincere. He, at least, knows my worth and values my experience.
The town, Meryton, is a middling sort of market town with enough to keep Netherfield well supplied with provisions and servants, but the people! The local knight is a crude sort of man, given to airs and pomposity, presuming to introduce me to St. James! Me, the scion of Pemberley, who dined with the Prince before my four-and-twentieth birthday. The rest of his society are little better. The local gentleman's wife is from the middle class, and there is not a title to be seen.
Bingley convinced me to accompany him to the town's assembly the very day of my arrival, the acceptance of which was a great mistake. I, who am accustomed to dancing at Carleton House, now thrust into something little better than a country dance, where anybody with the means to procure a ticket could attend with no discernment as to rank or breeding. The manners on display were questionable, and the clothing, while suitable for the country, I suppose, were at least six months behind in fashion.
Can you but wonder that, when faced with the prospect of dancing with a young lady who had the temerity to express scorn at my worth, I refused the suggestion. She heard the talk of my wealth and background and sneered at me. And then, she was the one to throw the first insult, declaring that I was no gentleman. Impudent. Insolent!
I put it to you: Would you have done otherwise? I can only think not!
Excerpt
The next half hour seemed interminable. Every face looked the same, every coat and gown interchangeable. There was too little of fashion and taste, and too much of vulgarity. The ladies' gowns were dated enough that even he knew they were last year's styles, and not a single gentleman, other than Sir William himself, wore the latest cut of waistcoat and collar points. Furthermore, everybody talked too freely, too loudly, like farmers at a harvest festival. These — these — were the haute ton of local society? What had Bingley got himself into?"...my daughter, Charlotte."
Darcy blinked and brought himself back to the present. Sir William was still speaking, introducing the new arrivals in the neighbourhood to everybody in the space. Darcy turned to take in the woman now before them. She looked sensible enough, and about his own age of twenty-seven, but she had no particular charm or beauty. Was she married? No, it seemed not. Bingley greeted her, saying, "A pleasure to see you again, Miss Lucas." To be unmarried still at her age did not bode well for her future felicity in life. He must take care to find a good husband for his sister Georgiana to save her from this same fate; although his sister, at least, had the sort of fortune that made spinsterhood a choice rather than a sad fate.
But he had no time to worry about ageing spinsters. Sir William and Bingley were weaving their way through the throng once more and Darcy must follow them. Sir William was still talking. "You have, I believe, previously met Mr. Bennet of Longbourn, Mr. Bingley. He is not here this evening, but do not fear! Pray, allow me to introduce to you his lovely daughters. This way, I see them together by the fern."
He traipsed behind Bingley and Sir William as they waded through the crowd, which parted before them like the waters of the Red Sea before Moses. Everywhere he glanced, he met an ocean of fascinated eyes. The whispers were quieter, but they had not stopped. One ruddy country face after another looked upon him with variations of awe, reverence, and other intimations of being in the presence of a superior creature. He held his head high, not deigning to meet any one person's eye, certainly not daring to smile. He was not one to crow about his place in the first circles in London, nor to bask in the glow of his noble relations, but neither would he lower himself to befriend these rustic imitators of society. For Bingley's sake he would be coolly polite, and even civil should he find himself in suitable company, but these people were not of his class, and they must know it.
Book Blurb
"Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably." — Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing, 5.2
Mr. Darcy's arrival in Meryton raises many people's disdain, and Elizabeth Bennet's ire. An insult at a dance is returned in full measure, and soon the two find themselves in a merry war of words, trading barbs at every encounter. Matters go from bad to worse when Elizabeth and Darcy find themselves living under the same roof for a time, and their constant bickering frays everybody's nerves.
Will a clever scheme by their family and friends bring some peace to Netherfield's halls? And what of Mr. Wickham, whose charming presence is not quite so welcome by some members of the party? When the games get out of hand and nastier elements come into play, will everybody's chances for happiness be ruined forever?
This clever mash-up of Pride and Prejudice and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing casts our beloved characters in fresh light, uniting Jane Austen's keen insight into love and character, and Shakespeare's biting wit.
Author Bio
Riana now lives in Toronto with her family. When she is not writing, she can often be found playing string quartets with friends, biking around the beautiful province of Ontario with her husband, trying to improve her photography, thinking about what to make for dinner, and, of course, reading!
Riana's novels have received several awards and citations as favourite reads of the year, including two Jane Austen Awards and a Discovering Diamonds review.
Giveaway
My sincerest gratitude for your kind invitation to be part of your celebratory online tour, Riana. It is refreshing and fun to hear directly from the master of Pemberley himself as many people misunderstand his character. Darcy is just more refined, polished and used to socialising in the finest London circles compared to the Meryton folks. Don't you agree?Thanks to the author's generosity, five e-books of Much Ado in Meryton are offered in this worldwide competition. You can either fill up the following Rafflecopter form or email your name and preferred email address to riana.everly@gmail.com to be in. She will manually add you to the list for the draw.
Thank you hosting me today! I'm looking forward to seeing what everything thinks about Mr. Darcy in this book.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure, Riana. I wish you all the best in the tour.
DeleteThank for the excerpt. Already thinking of Lizzy 's scrutiny of Mr. Darcy. Looking forward to reading the rest of the story
ReplyDelete