Mr. Darcy: Through the Looking Glass by D.B. Thomas is a retelling of the acclaimed historical romance Pride and Prejudice, restructured without compromising the story's bone structure. Fitzwilliam Darcy, after inheriting Pemberley, discovers that Wickham is attempting to take advantage of his sister Georgiana for her fortune. At the same time, Darcy’s interactions with Elizabeth Bennet become more involved as he observes her family’s behavior and Wickham’s deceit. When Wickham secretly elopes with Elizabeth's sister Lydia, Darcy tries to shield the Bennet family from scandal. Throughout, Darcy supervises his estate, ensures Georgiana’s welfare, and juggles his sense of duty with his feelings for Elizabeth. “It is a rare thing indeed to find love on first acquaintance, but I believe that you have been struck with the affliction.”

Aside from a different style of writing in historical classics that contemporary readers often have trouble following, one of the biggest differences between novels of yesteryear and fiction today is an almost complete absence of detail. This ranges from what characters look like to the rooms they are in, and goes even deeper in narrative-heavy storytelling with dialogue that, while undoubtedly clever in wording, is somewhat perfunctory in its rapid-fire delivery. D.B. Thomas addresses all this in Mr. Darcy, and because we can see more of the minutiae, we are better able to grasp the thoughts and feelings of characters that are less familiar. The standout to me in Thomas's work is being in the head of Mrs. Reynolds, who has such a fly-on-the-wall perspective as a fringe character who happens to be on the inside; she could totally have a spin-off of her own. Overall, this is a well-written, thoughtful, and exceptional work. Recommended.

Mr. Darcy: Through the Looking Glass by D.B. Thomas is a stunningly imagined sequel to Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice. The novel reimagines the life of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy during the events of Austen’s original story, delivering a tale of love, duty, deception, and self-discovery. It follows Darcy’s journey through personal loss, his parents’ deaths, and his subsequent struggles to manage Pemberley and protect his sister Georgiana from Wickham’s treachery. Mr. Darcy is a man of wealth, and those not well-acquainted with him will find him cold and proud. But he can’t shake off the thoughts of the woman he once met, and he must do everything to reconnect with her. Meanwhile, he has an enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy him. Can Darcy unravel Wickham’s schemes, rekindle his relationship with Elizabeth Bennet, and navigate the challenges of marriage in early 19th-century England?

Mr. Darcy is set against the picturesque backdrop of Derbyshire’s Pemberley estate, London society, Hertfordshire, and Ramsgate, capturing the nuances of Regency life. The characters are wholly developed: Darcy is portrayed as a proud yet deeply caring man burdened by his responsibilities and haunted by past losses; Elizabeth Bennet emerges as a sharp, compassionate woman whose wit and integrity remain intact despite social pressures. Supporting characters, such as Georgiana, Mrs. Reynolds, Wickham, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh, are vividly crafted, each with their own unique flaws. D.B. Thomas excels at descriptive prose, which I enjoyed. The narrative is filled with irony, foreshadowing, and character foils, which are skillfully employed, enriching the story’s depth. The author’s meticulous research into the era’s customs and history lends authenticity to the story, and the author blends historical accuracy well with romantic adventure. This story is exceptionally written, filled with drama and suspense.

A little more than two hundred years ago, life in England was very different. One character brought to life at this time is Mr Darcy, Jane Austen’s creation in Pride and Prejudice, who appears as an unfeeling, cold, and thoughtless man. His standing as the owner of a thriving fifteen-thousand-acre estate in Derbyshire secures his place in the social hierarchy. Modern author D.B. Thomas turns this idea on its head in this version titled Mr Darcy: Through the Looking Glass. Orphaned at twenty-two, Darcy faces not only the task of managing his affairs, but is miserably the target of every mother desperate to marry off a daughter to someone of the aristocracy with immeasurable wealth. Should he dance, smile, and even engage in conversation with any young lady, the rumors of an impending marriage flew around society at speed. This book shines a new light on Darcy’s behavior, explaining his shyness, his fear of the opposite sex, and the struggles he has after falling in love with Elizabeth Bennet, who is far below his station in life. That fact does not bother him at all, but in the meantime, through a series of misunderstandings, he struggles to avoid marriage plans from outside influences.

I loved Mr Darcy: Through the Looking Glass by D. B. Thomas, though I had no preconceived judgment against Mr Darcy of Pride and Prejudice fame. All the characters are quite brilliant, from George Wickham, the unrepentant villain, to the simpering and frantic Mrs Bennet with five daughters to marry off. Elizabeth Bennet is a heroine years ahead of her time. She is not the usual blushing and pleasing female expected in those days. Readers will easily relate to each one of the players while being reminded of life in the early nineteenth century. There were the long travel delays, the months when no news arrived, the expectations of behaving like a gentleman, and the belief that money brought good manners and moral and ethical behavior. Society was rigid, and there were multiple rules to be followed. I was taken back to those times so vividly; they were so well written. For lovers of historical novels, books by Jane Austin and a peep into the society of the era, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

D.B. Thomas offers a beautiful reimagining of diary entries in Mr. Darcy: Through the Looking Glass. In this story, readers explore possible diary entries from the well-known characters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. We follow Mr. Darcy from his youth, meeting Miss Elizabeth Bennet as a girl of fifteen for the first time on a trip to Meryton, Hertfordshire, with his father. From that moment, neither could stop thinking about the other, hoping to meet again one day. We learn that Mr. Darcy kept his thoughts and feelings private and often appeared proud and unapproachable, while Miss Elizabeth Bennet was outspoken and stood up for her beliefs. We all know how the story ends, but the best part is the journey in between.

Author D.B. Thomas has crafted a remarkable story for any Jane Austen fan by exploring in-depth perspectives from the familiar characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of these diary entries, as they gave me a deeper understanding of nineteenth-century society and courting customs. The writing was exactly as I imagined it would be—detailed and elaborate. I felt the characters' uncertainties and hopes. I loved the element of unpredictability regarding the characters' reciprocated feelings because it made the story more realistic and relatable to modern life. Ultimately, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are just like anyone else—hopelessly in love with someone they believe they have no chance of winning. Mr. Darcy: Through the Looking Glass is a captivating read from start to finish, celebrating the brilliance of Jane Austen.