Book Description
When the irritating Mr. Collins proposes marriage, Elizabeth Bennet is prepared to refuse him, but then she learns that her father is ill. If Mr. Bennet dies, Collins will inherit Longbourn and her family will have nowhere to go. Elizabeth accepts the proposal, telling herself she can be content as long as her family is secure. If only she weren’t dreading the approaching wedding day… Ever since leaving Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy has been trying to forget his inconvenient attraction to Elizabeth. News of her betrothal forces him to realize how devastating it would be to lose her. He arrives at Longbourn intending to prevent the marriage, but discovers Elizabeth’s real opinion about his character. Then Darcy recognizes his true dilemma… How can he rescue her when she doesn’t want him to?
Guest Post & Excerpt
Thank you for having me for a guest, Ceri! I believe that Mr. Collins is, hands down, the most amusing character in Pride and Prejudice (perhaps all of Austen). Lydia, Mrs. Bennet, and Lady Catherine all have their humorous moments, but I don’t find them as laugh-out-loud funny. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s me. Perhaps it’s Collins’s unending stupidity. Perhaps it’s because he does no real damage to the protagonists in the story.
When I set out to write Mr. Darcy to the Rescue it was to imagine what would happen if Elizabeth said “yes” to Collins’s proposal. But it also allowed me to explore other aspects of P&P that had always intrigued me. For one thing, Collins makes a great foil for Darcy, who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. One of the sad things about the original P&P is that Darcy and Collins don’t share more scenes together; so I added some and the results are explosive. I’d also wanted to write dialogue for Collins because he’s such an idiot. It’s almost impossible to go too far in writing over-the-top conversation for him. So that was great fun. I hope my readers will also think the Mr. Darcy to the Rescue audiobook is great fun!
Please enjoy this excerpt from Mr. Darcy to the Rescue:
“…And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection!”
It must be admitted that Elizabeth Bennet’s attention had drifted a little as her cousin, Mr. Collins, had enumerated at great length his reasons for choosing to marry and why he had very rationally selected Elizabeth for this “honor.”
Now as Elizabeth focused on his words, she had to stifle a laugh at the idea that his affection for her was violent or deep or anything more than nonexistent. In fact, he had not even managed to produce any “animated language.” Instead, he had merely assured her that his language was animated. It was a bit like having someone declare it was raining when you stood in bright sunshine.
Oh, merciful heavens, he was still talking! “To fortune I am perfectly indifferent, and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married.” As he drew breath for another long-winded speech, Elizabeth knew she must say something—and quickly!
“You are too hasty, sir! You forget that I have not yet made an answer—”
Mr. Collins waved his hand airily. “We may dispense with these formalities. We both know how you shall respond.”
“We do?” Elizabeth expected smoke to be streaming from her ears by now.
“Yes, I have spoken with your most excellent father, and he assured me how felicitous he found this event.” He graced her with a smile, which presumably was intended to be charming, but oozed insincerity.
“He did?” Elizabeth found these words hard to credit.
“Indeed. I assured him that our union is already a foregone conclusion since we are united of one mind and one heart.”
“We are?” Elizabeth could not stay silent any longer. “Pray, sir, when did that happen?”
Mr. Collins merely looked bemused. “I…do not believe I can supply you with the exact date.…”
Elizabeth shrugged. “I keep a journal. I shall have to go back to see if I recorded it.” She tapped her lip with her finger. “I hope it did not escape my notice.”
Her erstwhile suitor blinked rapidly, fiddling with his cuffs. “Your father did caution me that you should speak with him first before making any decision regarding my most generous offer.” He shrugged. “I do not see the necessity since we both know that another offer of marriage may never be made to you… Miss Elizabeth?”
Mr. Collins had been so caught up in the sound of his own voice that it took him a few moments to realize that Elizabeth was halfway across the drawing room floor. He hastened to catch up with her.
“Where are you going, my most precious love blossom?”
The sound of this ridiculous pet name almost stopped Elizabeth altogether, but she had a more urgent mission. “I must speak with my father,” she muttered.
“Why?”
“To assure myself his wits are in order.”
“Hmm?” Mr. Collins’s tone was quizzical. “I assure you he was of quite sound mind this morning when I spoke to him.”
Briefly, Elizabeth considered the possibility that Mr. Collins was so stupid he was incapable of being insulted. Elizabeth would be tempted to laugh if the situation were not so dire. Why would her father give Mr. Collins the impression he wanted her to marry him?
Buy Links
You can buy the audio of this now! - Audible US / Audible UK. If you would like to read this but would prefer to read with your eyes you can do that too. It is available in ebook and paperback - Amazon US / Amazon UK.
Author Bio
Victoria has a Ph.D. in English literature and has taught composition to unwilling college students. Today she teaches business writing to willing office professionals and tries to give voice to the demanding cast of characters in her head.
She lives in Virginia with an overly affectionate cat, two children who are learning how much fun Austen’s characters can be, and a husband who fortunately is not jealous of Mr. Darcy. A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count – and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice.
Visit her at www.victoriakincaid.com
Goodreads • Twitter • Amazon US Author Page •
Giveaway Time
Victoria is kindly offering a giveaway of an audiobook of Mr Darcy to the Rescue. To enter, just leave a comment on this blog post by the end of the day on Tuesday 24 July. You could tell us what you like about audios, or which of Victoria's books you'd like to see available on audio next :)
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Oh,what a funny excerpt!! I actually think this version of Mr C. is actually so dense and incapable of processing any other version of reality,other than his own,that it's impossible for him to pick up the social cues that reveal he's being highly insulted!!
ReplyDeleteI love to listen to audiobooks when I'm travelling to/from work and when I'm doing work around the house.I don't have a lot of audiobooks but I have a soft spot or the first one I treated myself to......yes! you've guessed it! P&P narrated by Joanna David,aka Mrs Gardiner from the '95 version!
I just love it and have listened to it so many times that I practically know it off by heart and can narrate parts of it myself!!
Best of luck with your new audiobook, Victoria. Hope it's well received!
Ceri,thank you for hosting.
Hi Mary, I'm so glad you enjoyed the excerpt. Mr. Collins is so much fun to write for -- he's so silly. -- Victoria
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed the excerpt, Mary! I listen to audio books in the same way that you do, on my commute and doing housework, plus if the weather is good I try to get in a lunchtime walk when I often listen to a bit of audio. I have an audio of P&P narrated by Rosamund Pike (Jane in P&P 05) but I haven't listened to it yet.
DeleteLoved the conversation between Mr Collins and Elizabeth especially the part where she says she’ll have to check her journal. I look forward to his discussions with Mr Darcy too. I hope the next audio release will be Chaos comes to Longbourn.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are plenty of amusing conversations with Darcy as well. Chaos will be an audio book, but unfortunately it's not up next. Thank you for your interest! - Victoria
DeleteOoh. I haven't read Chaos Comes to Longbourn yet, but I mean to as it sounds huge fun. Glad you enjoyed Elizabeth's conversation with Mr Collins :)
DeleteGreat excerpt Victoria, I love your version of Collins. So dense, pompous and blind. Poor Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Hi Kate, It turns out dense and pompous are fun to write dialogue for.:) Good luck with the giveaway! -- Victoria
DeleteI think dense and pompous must be fun to write and it certainly fun to read, but must be horrible to meet in real life!
DeleteSo thrilled to see this story in audio.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful when a story you love turns up in another format, Becky!
DeleteIt's lovely to see you venturing into the audio format, Victoria. I've already used one of my Audible credits and listened to this fantastic story. That scene was funny on the page but listening to it on my commute recently had me laughing out loud! Fortunately, I wasn't surrounded by other vehicles at the time, so no-one was wondering what the crazy woman in the elderly estate car was laughing at.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to listening to more of your books on my travels. Obviously no need to put my name in your giveaway hat, Ceri.
Audio can really enhance some scenes, can't it, Anji! Glad to hear that you enjoyed this one when you listened to it. :)
DeleteLovely convefrsation between Elizabeth and Mr. Collins! I love the premise when Elizabeth has to see Darcy's value in contrast to Mr. Collins's character! I hope to read or listen to this story soon!
ReplyDeleteThat's very true, Agnes, Elizabeth can't fail to see that Mr Darcy has good qualities when compared with Mr Collins!
DeleteCongrats on releasing an audio version of your book. I enjoyed reading the novel.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dung!
DeleteMr Collins is so presumptuous as to assume that Elizabeth will say yes to his marriage proposal. His actions and words do make us laugh at how stupid and dense a man can be. I think he needs a strong wife who can control, direct and guide him to correct his ways.
ReplyDeleteBtw I am not a fan of audiobooks yet but I hope I can be persuaded to give it a try.
I think that canon Collins is very lucky in his choice of wife, because Charlotte is clever enough to guide is behaviour without him being aware of it, and keep him happy at the same time.
DeleteI hope you enjoy audio books when you try them. I never thought I could be converted, but I find them a wonderful use of time when my hands are busy.