Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Seducing Mr. Darcy-Gwyn Cready

Seducing Mr. Darcy
Gwyn Cready
Pocket, Aug 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 1416541160

Although she loves the romantic novels by Jane Austen, ornithologist Phillippa “Flip” Allison believes true love is only found in fairy tales or novels and not for someone pragmatic like her. Her recent divorce affirms her belief. Besides who wants such a prim and proper male like Mr. Darcy even if he reads like quite a man.

At a masseuse, Flip fantasizes that she and Darcy had a fling prior to his meeting Elizabeth. Thinking it was just a nice dream; Flip is stunned when she realizes somehow her fantasy trip to Regency England resulted in her changing Pride and Prejudice. Knowing she must fix what she wrought, she turns to Austen scholar Magnus and several of the author’s finest characters.

Mindful of Jasper Fforde’s zany Thursday Next tales, SEDUCING MR. DARCY is a fun satirizing of the zillion Jane Austen novels and movies of the last decade. The story line is fresh with irreverent chick lit modifications to the classic Pride and Prejudice. Although at times the irony ironically turns inane, fans who enjoy lampooning the modern romance novels love affair with dissecting Jane Austen will enjoy Gwyn Cready’s flippant SEDUCING MR. DARCY, literally that.

Harriet Klausner

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