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Fitzwilliam Darcy has been many things, angel, werewolf, rock star, and cowboy, but King Arthur? Yes! King Arthur! P.O. Dixon's He Taught Me To Hope is a new spin on a most beloved story. And it works! Because knights were noble men of courage, honor, and dignity, they had to be true to their word, and none of these areas finds Darcy lacking. I love storytelling. I love being transported to another place and time by the vivid pictures the storyteller’s words create. In He Taught Me to Hope, I felt as if I was like listening to a fabulous tale where the handsome and charming knight comes to the rescue of his lady love. At seventeen, having gone against her father’s wishes, Elizabeth Bennet married her first love, Mr. Randall Carlton. Finding herself both widowed and with child within her first year of marriage, Elizabeth returns home, but her return is conditional: she must fulfill her familial duty by marrying Mr. Geoffrey Collins, her cousin to whom Longbourn is entailed. Our fair lady does what she must in order to secure a better future for her son. Five-year old Ben Carlton, who possesses an eager imagination, pictures himself as Sir Lancelot, a true knight embarking on a quest to defend a lady’s honor and to rescue her from danger. On his quest, he encounters Mr. Darcy. Immediately taken by the young boy, Darcy decides to play along, assuming the role of King Arthur. It is then that Sir Lancelot explains to King Arthur that they must plan their defense against the evil Meleagant (Mr. Collins). Seeing Elizabeth for the first time, Darcy is lost in her “fine eyes” and wonders where he has seen them before. Learning Elizabeth is engaged to Mr. Geoffrey Collins, Darcy decides that Guinevere (Elizabeth) is well worth the fight and embarks upon the quest of winning her hand and defeating Meleagant. However, Mr. Collins is not the only dragon KingArthur/Darcy needs to slay; Anne de Bourgh refuses to give up Darcy without a fight, telling him it’s not over until she says it’s over. From the first to the last page, I did not want to put down this book. The plot had just the right pacing and the perfect balance of humor, tension, and hot, but chaste, passion to keep the reader captivated. The first time Darcy and Elizabeth look into each other’s eyes, a spark is ignited and the heat between the two became palpable. As with many Pride and Prejudice variations, the author used her creative license and used it well. Georgiana is a bit more outgoing, Darcy is less haughty and disagreeable, and Mr. Bennet does not favor Lizzy and is harsher in his discipline. Jane, who was less forgiving than Austen’s, was the only character whose outcome I was less than pleased with as I would have liked more explanation for some of the choices she made. One does not need to know or love the Arthurian legends to enjoy this story. For those who love Darcy and Elizabeth, the parallels are unique and well-delivered. It’s an enchanting HEA! I will be reading it again, and soon. FTC Disclaimer: Review copy provided by author.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.jgirl6281
Posted March 10, 2012
A nice "what if" novel where my favorite character wasn't Darcy or Elizabeth but the "Young Knight".
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Posted November 14, 2011
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Posted May 13, 2013
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Posted January 13, 2012
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Posted November 1, 2012
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Overview
The legend of King Arthur meets the timelessness of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" in this engaging 'what-if'