Jane Austen Award.

Editorial Review:

In this delightful JAFF Pride & Prejudice Variation Mr. Darcy is in deep mourning. Altogether this has an unusual opening and touching theme for fans of Darcy. The background to the story is the impending marriage between Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley, which brings the Bennet family centre stage of Mr. Darcy’s life. Elizabeth saddened by his loss soon plans to draw him out of his morose and lonely malady with little acts of ultra kindness. Therefore research into the rich gentleman’s tastes requires an amount of diplomacy and secrecy. Who better then than Caroline Bingley and Darcy’s valet as valuable sources of his choicest passions? What seems impossible in taking Ms Austen’s original novel and character personas it must be said familiar context is absent in this reworking of her tome. Who would have guessed Elizabeth and Caroline would become friends from the start. Significantly the story line is far-flung from the original Jane Austen plot, and all is forgivable as a P&P Variation. This is a gentle tale of friendship between Elizabeth and Darcy which leads to a happy dénouement. The writing is precise, the work well presented and bears a remarkable Austenesque tone. Therefore Mr Darcy’s Christmas Surprise by Debra-Ann Kummoung, is hereby awarded the Jane Austen Award.