Where to Start with Elizabeth Aston
If you are looking to plunge into Elizabeth Aston's famous Austenesque universe, the best starting point is her debut Darcy novel, Mr. Darcy's Daughters. Reading the books in their publication order is highly recommended. Although each novel focuses on a different heroine and has its own self-contained romance, characters frequently cross over, and the societal landscape evolves chronologically. Starting from the beginning allows you to appreciate the family trees and interconnected scandals without getting confused by later developments.
Important Reader Caveat: Be careful when shopping for the first book! In the United Kingdom and some international markets, the debut novel was published under the title The Way of the World. In the United States and Canada, it was released as Mr. Darcy's Daughters. They are the exact same book. Make sure you do not accidentally purchase both thinking they are separate stories.
The Main Darcy Series: Novels in Publication Order
Elizabeth Aston wrote six full-length novels in her Darcy series. They follow the next generation of the Darcy and Bennet families, starting roughly twenty years after the conclusion of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Here is the order in which they should be read:
- Mr. Darcy's Daughters (2003) – Also published as The Way of the World. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet have departed on a diplomatic journey to Constantinople, leaving their five spirited daughters — Letitia, Camilla, twins Georgina and Belle, and the youngest, Alethea — to navigate the dangerous and glittering social world of Regency London under the care of a frivolous chaperone.
- The Exploits & Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy (2004) – This installment shifts focus to the musically gifted and independent Alethea Darcy. To escape an unhappy, arranged marriage, she flees to Venice, embarking on a grand tour filled with artistic pursuits, mystery, and romance.
- The True Darcy Spirit (2006) – This book centers on Cassandra Darcy, a distant relative of the Darcy family. Cassandra is a bold, free-spirited artist struggling to assert her independence in a society that demands conformity, eventually finding love and her own voice in London and Bath.
- The Second Mrs. Darcy (2007) – The story follows Octavia Darcy, who finds herself widowed just weeks after her wedding. Cut off by her late husband’s wealthy and manipulative family, she must learn to navigate high society while dealing with the imposing head of the family, Fitzwilliam Darcy.
- The Darcy Connection (2008) – Aston moves the spotlight to the daughters of Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins. Georgiana and Harriet Collins travel to London, where their rural sensibilities are put to the test in the midst of high-society matchmaking, scandals, and romance.
- Mr. Darcy's Dream (2009) – The series returns to the grand estate of Pemberley. It centers on the Darcy family home as new relationships blossom, old friends return, and the next generation finds their own paths to love and happiness.
The Darcy Novellas and Short Stories
In addition to her six primary novels, Elizabeth Aston wrote a series of shorter stories set in the Darcy universe. These were published in 2014 and 2015, and they offer delightful glimpses into holiday celebrations and social gatherings at Pemberley and London. The individual novellas include:
- Mr. Darcy's Christmas (2014) – Georgiana Darcy (Mr. Darcy's sister) finds romance during a snowy, festive Christmas season at Pemberley.
- Mr. Darcy's House Party (2014) – The quiet of Pemberley is disrupted by the uninvited arrival of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins, leading to efforts to protect Darcy's cousin from an unwanted courtship.
- Mr. Darcy's Masquerade (2014) – Follows the London season of Mr. Darcy's jilted niece, Serafina, as she seeks a fresh start and encounters unexpected romance.
- Mr. Darcy's Drama (2015) – Set during a winter gathering at Pemberley where the guests staging a Gothic theatrical production stir up real-life drama and romantic intrigue.
If you prefer to read these together, they are collected in the omnibus volume Mr. Darcy Requests the Pleasure (2015). Reading these novellas after finishing the main six novels is the best approach, as they serve as wonderful companion pieces to the main saga.
Standalone Novels and Other Short Stories
Beyond the Darcy universe, Elizabeth Aston penned several standalone works that show off her versatility in both contemporary satire and other historical eras:
Writing Jane Austen (2010)
This contemporary novel is a sharp, witty satire of the modern publishing industry's obsession with Jane Austen. It follows Georgina Jackson, a struggling writer of serious, dark fiction who is offered a massive payday to complete a newly discovered, unfinished Jane Austen manuscript. The catch? Georgina has never read a word of Austen and holds a strong prejudice against her. Guided by a cast of passionate Austen fans, Georgina is forced to study the classics, leading to a transformation in both her writing and her personal life.
Standalone Short Stories
Aston also published three standalone historical and paranormal novellas in 2014:
- Valentine's Day (2014) – A historical romance following Valentine Welburn, a young woman raised in Calcutta who makes her debut in the daunting London social scene.
- The Painted Fan (2014) – A romantic mystery set in post-World War I Europe, exploring art, secrets, and recovery in the wake of the Great War.
- King Richard's Bones (2014) – A ghost story centering on the historical discovery of King Richard III's remains.
Anthology Contribution
For readers who want to track down every piece of Aston's Austenesque writing, she contributed a short story titled "The Ghostwriter" to the anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It (2011). The story features a modern protagonist who receives a lock of Jane Austen's hair and is subsequently visited by the ghost of Austen herself.
What to Know Before You Start
Elizabeth Aston was a pen name for Elizabeth Edmondson (who also wrote as Elizabeth Pewsey and Gally Marchmont). While Edmondson wrote mysteries and comedies of manners under her other names, she reserved the Aston pseudonym specifically for her Jane Austen-inspired Regency romances.
When reading the Darcy series, keep in mind that Aston takes minor liberties with the original timeline to set her books in the late Regency era (around 1818). Her writing style beautifully captures the cadence, sharp wit, and social commentary of Jane Austen, but she infuses her heroines with a slightly more modern sensibility. Her characters face issues of financial independence, artistic freedom, and personal agency in ways that feel both historically grounded and satisfying to modern readers.