Hi,

this is Angelika and as Fiora had already mentioned in the last post we will try to post about fanfictions on a regular basis. I had originally intended to post sonner but RL has been a bit stressful lately so there was a delay in posting – my apologies.

But let’s begin with an absolutely adorable fanfiction which is currently posted as a WIP at the DWG (but the author updated regularly, mostly on Wednesdays). The story called “Excessively attentive” and written by JessicaS. The blurb is as following:

Elizabeth’s Hunsford visit, and subsequently her life, takes a sharp left turn when Lady Catherine recognizes her.

It is revealed that Elizabeth may be Lady Catherine’s long lost second daughter – and this may be a unique premise for a Jane Austen fanfiction. I have read many stories where Elizabeth or Jane (or both) turn out to be members of Darcy’s family but they were never daughters of Lady Catherine and Sir Lewis de Bourgh – only children of another of Darcy’s aunts and uncles (Elizabeth being the Colonel’s sister was quite popular, I think…).
In some way Lady Catherine is very often the baddie in Jane Austen fanfiction – but in her first fanfiction JessicaS manages to portrait a completely different Lady de Bourgh, one that has severly suffered under the loss of her husband and her youngest daughter and one that is now extremely eager to welcome her long lost child back into her family – whatever the consequences may be. First of all it’s a bit awkward for both mother and children (as Anne also doesn’t know how to react towards her sister, having been an fiercly protected only child far too long) but scenes like the one where Lady Catherine remembers Elizabeths favourite jam and has it served for breakfast are extremely heart warming. Well done – I really like Lady Catherine in this fanfiction!

Let’s come to the hero, Mr. Darcy *sighs* (yeah, I do have a soft spot for him and he is so adorable especially in the last chapters *sighs again*). With Lady Catherine suddenly recognizing Elizabeth all the following scenes at Rosings (and of course the Hunsford proposal) of course never take place, however Darcy learns that Elizabeth really doesn’t like him and tries to change his behaviour. Futhermore Jane comes to stay at Rosing and he realizes his mistake in seperating her from Bingley. Jane of course notices Mr. Darcy’s interest in her “sister” – this talk is really extremely well done.

Well, I hope, I haven’t given away too much of the story already – it’s really a joy to read it and I’m eagerly anticipating the next chapters. It is hinted that Darcy and Wickham may be half brothers so I guess there will be a lots of twists and turns for all the protagonists, especially as Elizabeth’s disappearance is still a mystery and Wickham may know more about it. I’m hooked!

So, as a conclusion: Excessively attentive is a throughly enjoyable fanfiction with completely altered family dynamics – if you haven’t started reading it go for it!