Elated readers: You have a chance of winning one of three copies of Dancing With Mr. Darcy: Stories Inspired by Jane Austen and Chawton House Library, and compiled by Sarah Waters. The book will be available in your local bookstore on October 19th!
For a chance to win, just leave your comment. Please address this topic: What kind of story about Jane Austen or her characters would you be interested in reading?
Contest ends October 20th. Names will be drawn through a random number generator.
So sorry: Only those who live in the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win. THANK YOU for participating. Contest is closed.
Jane Austen's World 
What kind of story about Jane Austen or her characters would you be interested in reading?
not sure but would gladly read them all
I really enjoy reading about the sagas of the lives of the characters … Elizabeth and Darcy’s days, Mr. Bennet and his library, a blooming of Mary Bennet, and a settling down of kitty ….
I would like to read about Mary Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s cousin, Col. Fritzwilliam Darcy.
What kind of story about Jane Austen or her characters would you be interested in reading?
I would love to read about Anne and Capt. Wentworth at sea. I would also like to read a cache of newly-discovered letters by Jane Austen! (Uncensored, of course!)
I love to read a variety of different variations on Jane Austen’s works (except for mash-ups), but I’d really like to read something more about the author herself, a good biography.
Margay
I’m interested in reading JA related books that are true to her writing. Some of the new stories take far too many liberties, so I tend to just go back to the originals.
I’m kind of interested in wanting to know how the Crawfords really got on after Mansfield Park ended, as well as how Mrs. Norris and Maria did, too. I’d also like to see how Ms. Darcy’s life unfolds.
I’d like to read a humorous novel in which the following characters end up some how intertwined such as:
1) After Lord Bertram dies, Lady Bertram and Mr. Woodhouse are introduced to each other but the relationship never flowers since Lady Bertram is always resting on the couch and Mr. Woodhouse is afraid of germs.
2) Lady Catherine DeBerg and Lady Dalrymple compete for Darcy to marry their daughters
3) Elizabeth Bennett and Elinor Dashwood start up a 19th century movement to reform the rules of inheritance laws and succession rights.
I want to read more stories with the characters of “Emma”. I would love to read a story which flips between all the secondary characters POV. ^^
I would like to read the finished version of The Watsons, written by Miss Austen herself, and all the books she would have written if she hadn’t been taken from us so young.
This is a really good question..I like everyone’s comment and would read them in an instance!! I have a couple of ideas for books:
1). What is the real back story on the Tilney’s? I mean really..
2). Wonder what life was like after all of the characters got married…whose marriage was the happiest, who had the most children and which couple ended up being miserable together, etc.
3). Did Lady de Berg ever come around and where is the rest of Mr. Darcy’s family (if they are still alive) and what did they think of Elizabeth?
4). What would happen if all of the characters met…who would become friends/enemies…what if the characters met before they married their significant others…
5). What ever happened to Kitty and Mr. Wickham? What was their life like?
I love JA! :)
I love books that can mirror JA’s style and that give us a glimpse to the lives of the characters after JA’s stories end. Also, looking at the lesser characters and what happens to them is also very interesting.
I do not like the monster mash-ups that have seemed to run rampant recently.
Thanks for the question! :~)
I would love to read lots of different stories about Jane Austen and/or her characters. Stories about Mr. Darcy would be what I would want to read the most. Missing scenes from Pride and Prejudice or snippets of scenes after the novel would be wonderful. Real letters from Jane Austen would be great too!
I’ve always wanted to know more about what *really* happened between Georgiana Darcy & Wickham (or Eliza Williams and Willoughby, for that matter). And who were Austen’s inspirations for these rakes? Did she know of young women in similar circumstances? Did she hate a man whose name began with W?
i would be interested in reading stories that include Jane Austen as a character during her times and in a mashup format.
I’d love to read about the trading class minor characters in the novels — what were the Gardiners’ lives like? How about the Coles’?
I’d love to read a story about Kitty & Mary Bennet.
I enjoy reading stories that fill in with more detail than Jane Austen did in the originals, or continue further into the future of of the lives of Jane’s characters.
But I also love stories where the Austen characters are written in a different time period, BUT where the world is drawn with the same kind of detail that Jane used on her 2 inches of ivory.
I would love to read more about Emma, but it would have to be written by someone who knew how to write that time period.
I’d love to hear more about the backstory of Anne Elliot’s friend Mrs. Smith. There’s a good story there, no doubt!
I think some stories about Capt. Wentworth’s adventures would be interesting. Also maybe some with the Capt. and Anne after they are married.
I would like more books that explore, through fiction, but with some basis in fact, Jane Austen’s life. I really enjoyed Cassandra’s Sister by Veronica Bennett and would be happy to read more such.
hmm i would love to read a story with a combination of Jane Austen characters. Like what if Emma lived as a neighbor to say Mr. Darcy or what if Elizabeth Bennet grew a crush on Mr. Knightley (i’m making this up but i would love a story with a combination of those personalities and characters!! <3
“What kind of story about Jane Austen or her characters would you be interested in reading?”
I would probably like to read a story about Frank Churchill and his bride. (I hope I am getting the name of this secondary character correct? It’s been a while since I read Emma). I thought his character was done a little injustice, in that though he was a flawed character, I think there were some redeemable qualities about him, and I would have liked to see how he lived once married, and whether his character was always as open.
I would also like to read a story about Mr. Bingley and Jane. Really, I think extroverted male characters are not seen enough in a happy or long enough light as they could be in Jane’s novels. ;)
~ Hannah Kingsley
I would like to read about some one or two of the
characters (perhaps those on a honeymoon) taking
a trip to the Continent, perhaps in search of a distant
relative, solving some kind of puzzle…clearing the way
for some young lovers to marry by revealing true family
relationships…finding a lost heir….something that would
tell of the conditions during the regency in another
country.
I think the story of Fanny’s and Edmund’s lives after Mansfield would be most interesting. Haven’t we all wondered how they would have changed and handled life’s blessings and curses? They must have grown some! And their relationship was so blah that I think it would have changed considerably with responsibilities.
I don’t know if this book has already been written but I thought it would be interesting to have a book where all of the Jane Austen heroine’s and maybe even hero’s were worked into the plot.
There is a book and it was the first in the “sequel” genre. It is called Old Friends, New Fancies, I believe. It was published in the 1920’s as I recall. It was a fun read.
I would love to read what happened to Fanny and Edward after they got married. I know Mrs. Norris didn’t approve and I would love to find out how she felt! Jane Austen is an inspiration!!!
I would like to read about Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy and her life with Mr. Darcy in his estate. It would be interesting to see that life is not so great having so much money, so many servants, and so much land. I think Lizzie would need another challenge, perhaps her own daughters….
I would love to read more about Henry Tilney and Catherine Morland’s life together! Great giveaway – thanks!
I have read almost all of the fanfiction out there, except for the mashups of the supernatural type. I tend to like the stories that flesh out, no pun intended, the romance of the hero and heroine. I have read almost anything to do with Pride and Prejudice.
Is this the same short story collection that was published in England?
Yes, it is. By Harper Collins.
I’d love to read more about Admiral and Mrs. Croft and their adventures at sea all the way through the marriage of Captain Wentworth and Anne. Also what was Anne’s mother (and the household at Kellynch) like before she died? I also reread Sense and Sensibility recently and was surprised at how Mr. Willoughby’s fate was not very bad at all.
P&P and Persuasion sequels are my favorites. Perhaps……after the Netherfield Ball, Darcy confesses to Lizzy that he LIKES her but she is too far beneath him to actually marry her. He wants her to ‘have a good life’ and waves good bye. Lizzy is secretly wealthy as she is an author of children’s book (which are extremely popular in the new America). She has even purchased Netherfield to secure the Bennets future. Bingley does not know he has “let” N from Lizzy. After the new year, she and Jane go to London for the little season. Lizzy catches the eye of Darcy’s college rival and Darcy has to watch another man court ‘his” Lizzy. And……??????
I also like the thought of Anne Elliot secretly helping the Navy to decode messages and has “protected” Capt W on several occasions during their seven year absence. And….?????
Both of these stories would be interesting to read! The mind starts working…. Thanks. :~)
I love variations, especially with Pride and Prejudice. There’s just so many turns the story could take! And different POVs set during the books. Especially Darcy, I’ve yet to read one that does him, and the book justice.
I think I’d be very very interested in reading about Frank Churchill and his life with Jane F too. It would such an interesting relationship, I never did think it would be successful, but who knows?
But with the entire JA related books, I prefer anything really, so long as its well-written and respectful towards our beloved author.
I hope I find this in the local bookstores!=)
I would like to read a sequel to Persuasion and see how Anne and Captain Wentworth lived and their relationship with her annoying father and sisters.
I really like Elizabeth Aston’s books about Mr. Darcy’s Daughters and other relatives. They are fun, fresh and the earlier books in the series are the truest to JA’s writings.
Im sure many other’s have said this, but I have always identified with Mary Bennet. I would like to know more about how he life as an adult is.
Thanks for having such a fun and interesting site!
I’d like to read a sequel to Sense and Sensibility. Elinor and Marianne are still so very young when the story ends, Margaret is even younger, and their mother is only forty. There are hopefully a lot of years left in all their lives. They are such strong women, and I’d like to see how their lives would be. Perhaps I should write one myself!
my favorite jane austen book is persuasion. it is so true to form. the oldest girl wanted her father’s attention. the middle daughter was the mediator. the youngest one craved all the people to notice her. jane austen understood birth order.
Sounds like a great book! I never have read any of the many Imitation-Austen stories, I need to.
We can never get enough even though we’ve had “Old Friends, New Fancies”. Following up anew on Marianne and Col. Brandon as well as Elinor and Edward would be nice. Kitty Bennett helping a widowed Lydia through a new life might make an interesting story too. Everyone wants a continuation of Persuasion. Jane Austen left a void. Only 6 books – not enough. We love her characters: the good, the bad and the ugly.
I would love to read more about Colonel Brandon and Marianne and there lives together or Elinor and Edward. Also more about Georgiana. I would love to her about here the most!she such good character!
I would love to hear more about any of them as long as the books don’t overlap!
My favorite was Emma!It would be great to read more of her story!
Any of the characters from Persuasion stories wold be cool!
I enjoyed reading the comments and suggestions above. Certainly alot for any of the authors we enjoy reading to consider. I would especially enjoy plots revolving around the ancillary characters as many others. Mrs. Smith Anne Eliot’s friend, Col. Fitzwilliam, Mr. Bennet, Charles Bingley, The Tilneys.
What kind of story about Jane Austen or her characters would you be interested in reading?
I would like to read a story about Kitty and Mary Bennet and a sequel to Sense & Sensibility. I agree 6 novels was not enough.
I would love to read all of Jane Austen’s books from the perspective of Jane Austen’s men. I read one book called Darcy’s Story and it was pride and prejudice from Darcy’s perspective and it was a nice compliment to pride and prejudice, and so it would be nice to read all the others from this perspective as well.
I would also like to read a book about Mr. and Mrs. Bennett
I would love to read more about Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth. What happens after they are married?
You know I am pretty open to Austen related works but I most enjoy those that stay true to Austen, her period and her characters…thanks for a great giveaway!
Courtney
Jane Austen’s stories are detailed with wonderful lines of characters, not all of them major. Often, minor characters make appearances that influence later scenes, or are brought up in gossip. Jane Austen built worlds, and how better to know a world than to transcend what is handed to you? Hearing the lives of minor characters would open new interests and themes not previously revealed.
I love alternate POVs that pretty much follow the original novel’s events. My favorite alternative POV is Mr. Darcy (there are many already but I never tire of speculation of what HE was thinking.) I would like to read other POVs of P&P as well.
I would like to read a book about the secret life of Captain Wentworth, his sea adventures the people he meets abroad.
I am a new reader of Jane Austen but am loving her work so far, and am excited to read more! That’s one reason I subscribed to this blog. I’d love to read any love story by Jane Austen, preferably one with some sort of turmoil, because I think that would best mimic real life. Great blog!
I love stories that capture the daily motions of Regency characters. I would always take charm and quiet insight over dramatic sensationalism. Of course, I love the romance and drama necessary for an intriguing plot, but I find that many “sequels” that use Austen’s characters go overboard on plot structure. I want to feel like I’m living in the 19th century.
I would really, really love to read the actual story of Mr. & Mrs. Bennett’s courtship. Did he have other chances? Did SHE? What made him so attractive to her, especially since she’s so shallow? What in the WORLD made a man who so clearly has a brain think that a pretty woman without a brain was a good life partner? We get a touch of it, but not enough.
I should love to see the characters from my favorite novels about five years after “The End” to see what they are doing. And I’d love to see a crossover with Charles Dickens’ characters, or Bernard Cornwall’s Richard Sharpe. Although, frankly, I don’t think Captain Sharpe would be very comfortable in a drawing room with Miss Austen’s ladies.
This isn’t the website I was looking for — I was trying to find how a Regency era doctor would treat a broken arm — but it’s been a fascinating distraction.
I would love to read some alternative ending type stories to Jane Austen’s works.
What might have happened if Mr. Darcy had chosen Jane instead?
What if Elizabeth had married Mr. Wickham?
What if Mr. Darcy had married Anne?
And something along those same lines for the other Austen stories.
I’d love to read a continuation of the Persuasion story.
I would love to read stories about Colonel Fitzwilliam, Tom Bertram, Eleanor Tilney and Henry Crawford. And thanks for this great giveaway! :)
Voice of negativity here: I don’t want to read any more fiction about Jane Austen or her characters other than that which she wrote herself. While I am curious about what happened later on in life to Colonel Fitzwilliam, Miss de Bourgh, Henry Tilney’s sister, et al., if they’re not in Miss Austen’s own mindset and prose, I don’t want to read them. No one can become another person well enough to write what that person would have written the way that person would have created and expressed it; they may come close, but it is false. Now that publishers have discovered that there is a zillion bucks in imitating or extending her works, I am concerned that the glut of poor imitations will cause the public to interest in her books and she will go back to being the cherished literary friend of a comparatively few readers.
I would like to read more about the P & P characters–
Did Col Fitzwilliam find love or glory? Perhaps his brother did not produce a male heir and Fitzilliam did, turning the title back to the younger brother’s family?
How many children do the Hursts have? Any? Where are they?
Why did the deBurghs stop at one child…
I think that the most tempting of all Jane Austen’s works, just begging you to pick up the quill, is Sanditon. Just imagine this humble resort by the sea waiting to hit the big time. It is not only people Jane Austen was interested in, but places also. London, Bath, big mansions and little cottages… But Sanditon is different: what will it fate be? How will it intertwine with the heroine’s ramble through pages? Although I do beg your forgiveness, “ramble” is such an inappropriate word! Her way through the pages will rather resemble a trajectory of a lady in a good old country dance, just like in the old days… And you know what, Sanditon, where Jane Austen had left it, never got as far as a Big Ball Scene. Is this to be endured?
I enjoy reading the modern adaptations(Bridget Jones’s Diary) and the paranormal fiction mix (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) of Ms. Austen’s novels.
I am interested in reading more about The Bennett family and all the adventures they encounter. I would also like to read about Mr. Darcy’s family and Mr. Bingley’s family.
I would love to read about what happened to Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mary Bennet and the somewhat funny disaster that was the union of Lydia Bennet and Wickham.
I would love to read anything about Kitty or Mary Bennet, or any stories about what happens to the characters in ‘Persuasion’ after the story officially ends. Especially Anne and Wentworth. :)
Did Wentworth and Anne live quietly ever after?
:-)
I’d like to read more about Georgiana Darcy or Colonel Fitzwilliam.
What kind of story about Jane Austen or her characters would you be interested in reading?
I would LOVE to read a story about Jane Austen meeting a party of Americans from the new United States–her thoughts and impressions of them–especially their manners!
I would love to read about Kitty and whomever she should come into love with.
I’d love to read about the “parents” in Jane Austen’s books – what were their lives like when they were courting? Fashions would have been different and so on…
I want another book to take my breath away like Pride and Prejudice did. Every eloquent line every chapter. I could not wait for the next chapter to unfold.
Maybe the next storyline could be about what happens to Darcy and Elizabeth. Do they have children? Do they see
Lydia and Wyckham again? Or maybe even a little mystery entwined with a love story something to make us intrigued.
I would like to read a book about Mr. and Mrs. Bennet telling how two such disparate characters found each other. A clever author could imagine and tell a fascinating tale of their meeting, courtship and marriage. Now there is a challenge for some enterprising writer.
I would like to read more about Col. Fitzwilliam more I think. Of course all the characters are great.
It would be interesting to read Austen’s novels written from the male characters’ perspective.
Would love to read about the married life of Jane Bennett and Mr. Bingley
I would love to read a story about how Mr. and Mrs. Bennet met and fell in love…..
I would love to read a story based on Pride and Prejudice done as journal/diary entries of the major plot points through the eyes of the books many characters. For example, how Kitty felt at the Netherfield Ball, Colonel Fitzwilliam meeting Lizzie and what he felt towards her knowing his limited income and his cousin’s interest in her, and of course I would love to know how Lizzie felt about wedding plans (the double wedding and the silliness of her mother).
Maybe a quick entry of Mrs. Bennet at the double wedding or Mr. Bennet upon hearing that his daughter Lizzie not only liked Mr. Darcy but wanted to marry him.
I realize that whole books ‘from’ Darcy’s or Lizzie’s diary have been written but I like the idea of seeing many different views of several key events contrasted against one another, all complied into one lovely work of fiction.
For Austen’s characters: I’d love to know more about Anne and Capt. Wentworth’s first meeting and the circumstances of their first engagement.
For the historical Austen: I’d love something that explored in fiction the reaction by readers to Austen’s early works, often called her Juvenilia, after they were finally released. After some 100 years of censorship it must have been a shock to some people’s ideas of Austen
How about some time travel? Maybe an honorable man of 2010, disinterested and disillusioned, appearing and stealing away one of Jane’s yet unmarried ladies? Maybe a rebellious one that had sworn off marriage because men could not envision women as their equals. Of course our modern hero could do just that. Would he enjoy regency England so much that he stayed or would he take our heroine back to modern day so she could live in a world of equality and opportunity she only knows in her dreams? Sounds so good I may have to pen that so I can find out what happens!! : )
I would love to read a novel exploring Jane’s private life. Her escapades and a secret love that never made it to fruition. Her travels, hopes and dreams.
I would love to see what happens next in the Northanger saga! I love books that talk about books…
I especially love all the sequels to Pride and Prejudice. It being my favorite Jane Austen novel.
It is fun to read what people think happens to the characters post-book; but some of the (man) sequels are not true to the characters or the tone of the original.
But prequels of some characters, or the in-between years (Wentworth at sea) … off the top of my head …
I like JAFF that takes up after the weddings of Elizabeth and Jane and Bingley and Charles. I think all four of these characters still have much to learn about each other.
I too would like to known morw of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, and maybe some “secret” paths through the not public areas of Bath. mmmmm..
I would love to read more follow ups of the characters in all of her books- what happened after? What was their happily ever after like? E.g. The Darcys at Pemberley… oooh la la.
The problem there is that, if it’s not actually JA, then I’m not actually interested. There are cetainly spinoffs, such as ‘Pemberley,’ but I can’t shake that it’s not JA’s, and so I’m always let down. I have to just let my imagination fill in the blanks, I guess!
I would like to read something that shows Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth with some interest and activities other than parties, society gossip, and long walks.
I would be interested in reading a story about Colonel Brandon and his life with Marianne after Sense and Sensibility. :)
I would love to read a story about everyday things…like sewing, and making tea, and letter writing. Perhaps set in a mystery or friendship situation. Or just about the blessedness of domesticity and ordinary things.
I would love to read about Jane Austen’s writing life. Her day to day activities.
food plays such an important part in her novels, so i would like to know more about this aspect!
I would love to read about what happened before the stories. We are given very little specifics of what these characters were like before they get to the point that Jane Austen writes about them. I’d like to see what school was like for Anne or what Marianne thought of her stepbrother’s fiance and later wedding.
I am another who would like to read some prequels – sequels to Jane’s works seem to be the “thing”, and that’s great – but getting some backstory would be great too!
I think it would be interesting to read about Elizabeth Bennett and her sisters during their childhood, to see them interact with each other and with the adults as little girls. And maybe also Darcy and Bingley’s childhood.
Thank you all for participating and sharing your brilliant ideas! The contest is closed and the winners by random number generator are:
Martha Renner, Karen Husted, and Cait from bibliophile.
I enjoy reading Old English novels, especially Wuthering Heights and Jane Austen’s novels. I prefer more mature titles.
Hi, wondering where to send you my info. for the Dancing w/ Mr. Darcy book! (Yay!).
Couldn’t find a contact address…
Thanks!