Mr Darcy's Guide to Courtship
The Secrets of Seduction from Jane Austen's Most Eligible Bachelor
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Fitzwilliam Darcy's universally acknowledged primer for single men in possession of a good fortune, should they be in want of a wife. Perfect for fans of Bridgerton and the high society lifestyle of the Regency period.
Mr Darcy's Guide to Courtship is no ordinary Regency courtship manual, composed as it is by a Fitzwilliam Darcy as yet unmellowed by contact with Elizabeth Bennet. Full of entirely justified pride and meticulously cultivated prejudice, Jane Austen's most famous (and most fancied) hero here reveals the secrets of his success with the opposite sex, offering hints to both ladies and gentlemen on the rules of courtship, including making oneself agreeable, identifying an appropriate partner and how to escape the unwanted attentions of rogues and fortune-hunters.
*Also includes: beauty tips from Caroline Bingley, thoughts on the improper courtship techniques of Messrs Wickham and Collins, reflections on spinsterhood by Miss Emma Woodhouse, and Darcy's advice to his many illustrious correspondents including Lord Byron, the Duke of Wellington and Mr Willoughby of Combe Magna.*
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
An English historian invites readers into the byzantine and hilarious world of early-19th-century English romance in this faux dating er, courtship guide from the protagonist of Pride & Prejudice himself, Fitzwilliam Darcy. Though he offers very little in the way of advice that will be useful in today's dating world, Darcy, "dictating" to Brand (The Georgian Bawdyhouse), reveals attitudes typical of his particular time and place through discussions on English stoicism, remarks about the "weaker feminine intellect," and recommendations to pursue your cousins and eschew "dandyism." In one of many subtle, funny anachronisms, Darcy invokes Jay-Z's song "99 Problems," claiming "while I am beset by nigh on one hundred grievances, a vexatious female need not be counted among them." He advises potential suitors to "be tall" or, if this is impossible, "invest in a monstrous tall hat," and, in typical Darcian bluntness, "ensure that you are not utterly disgusting to behold." Other Austen characters make appearances as well. Emma Woodhouse pens "An Apology for Single Ladies," Darcy mocks William Collins's pickup lines, and Caroline Bingley suggests treating acne with mercury paste. Brand has done a delightful job recreating Darcy at his most cranky, aloof, and yes charming.
