Discussion Questions
1. What is a "bromance”?
2. Were the Jane Austen characters from Pride and Prejudice appearing in Darcy and Fitzwilliam—Fitzwilliam Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Charles Bingley, Caroline Bingley, Mr. Bennet, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Anne de Bourgh and Lady Catherine de Bourgh—true to their original interpretations? Describe the characters. Which character was most similar? Which character was most changed from the original?
3. Colonel Fitzwilliam appears in only a few pages of Pride of Prejudice, yet he was very important to the plot He was the independent verification Jane Austen needed to convince the reader that Darcy was a good man, a good friend, and that his actions toward Wickham were noble; that, in truth, Wickham was a scoundrel with dishonorable intentions toward Lizzy. What were the Colonel’s feelings for Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, and her feelings toward him? How did they change in Darcy and Fitzwilliam?
4. What of the new characters introduced? Amanda Penrod, Harry Penrod, Dr. Anthony Milagros? Describe the characters. Were they true to Jane Austen’s type of characterization?
5. What were some of the social issues involving women of Regency England discussed in Darcy and Fitzwilliam? Women’s rights? Medical care? The attitude of the aristocracy toward marriage? The morals of the Regent’s court?
6. Colonel Fitzwilliam was haunted by the war, and the atrocities that he had seen. Is that similar to what soldiers experience now? What are the common symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disease?
7. What other major themes did the author explore?
8. Were you gripped immediately by the book or did it grow gradually on you?
9. Were the dialogues between the men, Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, believable? Were they enjoyable?
10. Were you offended by the sometimes coarse language between the men, or did you find that to be expected when two friends sit in private to discuss?
11. Were you offended by the sexual references and scenes? There were some very angry Janeites over the sexual aspect of Darcy and Elizabeth, as well as the introduction of a gay character into a Jane Austen sequel. Were you offended by the gay character?
12. Were you offended that Darcy and his Elizabeth had disagreements, fights, and an outright brawl, during her pregnancy?
13. Did you empathize with Amanda’s fear of losing her child, with Richard’s anger over her desire to return to her mother-in-law’s home?
14. Was the ending satisfying? Believable?
15. Most importantly—did you laugh?
(Questions kindly provided by the author.)