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Jane Austen Heroes

Pride and Pyramids

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Pulled into the craze of Egyptology, the Darcys and their lively children embark on an expedition to find a hidden tomb and uncover its treasure. Not only are immeasurable riches awaiting them in the exotic land of the Sphinx, but also danger and betrayal and the chance to lay an ancient grudge to rest.

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

23 people are currently reading
550 people want to read

About the author

Amanda Grange

42Ìýbooks708Ìýfollowers
Amanda Grange was born in Yorkshire and spent her teenage years reading Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer whilst also finding time to study music at Nottingham University. She has had twenty-five novels published including six Jane Austen retellings, which look at events from the heroes' points of view. She has also had two books published under different names: Murder at Whitegates Manor (as Eleanor Tyler; a Regency cosy crime murder mystery) and The Rake (as Amy Watson; a very light and frothy Regency romance).

Woman said of Mr Darcy's Diary: "Lots of fun, this is the tale behind the alpha male," whilst The Washington Post called Mr Knightley's Diary "affectionate". The Historical Novels Review made Captain Wentworth's Diary an Editors' Choice, remarking, "Amanda Grange has hit upon a winning formula."

Austenblog declared that Colonel Brandon's Diary was "the best book yet in her series of heroes' diaries."

Amanda Grange now lives in Cheshire. Her profile photo was taken at the Jane Austen House Museum, Chawton. The museum is well worth a visit!

You can find out more by visiting her website at You can also follow her on Twitter @hromanceuk and find her on Facebook

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Profile Image for Sheila Majczan.
2,613 reviews189 followers
September 14, 2016
3.5 stars

First, I won this book in a drawing on the JustJane1813 blog. Secondly, I usually like P&P variations above all else so this sequel is a departure from my normal reading fare. I have read one other book by Amanda Grange and liked it. This is the story of how the Darcys are enticed to join his cousin, Edward, in a trip to Egypt to not only tour exotic sights but to also continue the past generation’s search for a hidden tomb.

There were two parts of the story line that were not developed well for me. One (And here I will attempt not to spoil a point in the story.) is that a person becomes a stowaway by basically hiding instead of debarking. My complaint is that we are never told what this person did for a wardrobe for the 6 months this adventure took: 2 months to reach their destination, 2 months exploring and sightseeing and 2 months traveling back. There were stops along the way but no mention is made of shopping for clothes and accessories and, yes, this nagged at my sensibilities. The second lack of background is that a certain “bad� guy was able to not only find his and his wife’s way to Egypt but also that he was able to hire men and donkeys, etc. needed to pull off his plan to…well, not to spoil it further, but his plan to again gain moneys illegally, by cheating and robbing someone. How did he finance his plotting?

I did like how the six children of Darcy and Elizabeth are described to us. We read of them as individuals and their interactions and even their maturing, as their parents come to realize that they are not far from leaving the nest. The love between Darcy and Elizabeth continues strong and it is sweet to read of considerations put into acts to not only please each other but also to give these busy parents time to themselves ALONE. Any who are parents know how precious those types of moments are to a marriage.

There is a triangle romance brewing between an artist, Paul Inkworthy, Edward Fitzwilliam (who as a third son has no prospects) and Sophie Lucas, who has been thrown over when a rich heiress comes to town and her beau abandons any notice of the young lady at all. She wavers as she weighs the attentions paid to her on one hand seeming to be true and steady but with no future due to money needs and on the other hand sweet but then neglected when something else attracts the attention of her would-be-suitor.

And NOW for the adventure part of this story! It is eerie when a little girl seems to be hearing a doll talk to her and her explanations of what the doll says and intends and then to read of how the lass is seemingly possessed while sleepwalking. This is the part of the story which grabs your attention as you want to know how the intentions of this doll play out. Do you believe in magic, in curses and in ghosts from the past? The Egyptian natives have lore, legend and superstition which lend credence to the doll’s warnings and intents. But on the other hand the lure of an undisturbed tomb with possibilities of treasures casts a spell on the newer adventurers and spreads to those who have searched for many years.

There are new characters with Edward Fitzwilliam being one. Then there is Sophie Lucas, the artist, Paul Inkworthy and the Egyptologist, Sir Matthew Rosen. And you can’t forget Aahotep, whose name is taken from a queen discovered buried in a sarcophagus in 1858.
Profile Image for Rita Deodato.
265 reviews12 followers
November 12, 2020
Published at:


Pride and Pyramids is an exciting yet comforting Pride and Prejudice sequel released 8 years ago and that I should have read sooner.

The story begins 15 years after Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s wedding, and we are immediately privy to their happy marriage and extensive offspring. They have six children of different ages who captivate readers hearts for different reasons. The authors took the time to reveal to the reader all their personalities and incorporate them in a relevant manner into the narrative. I loved getting to know each one of them, but little Margaret, who has a bigger role in the story, was obviously my favourite.

The plot begins when the Darcy’s receive a visit from Edward Fitzwilliam, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s younger brother, who entices them with his enthusiasm to travel to Egypt, just as his father did in his youth. Elizabeth loves the idea of an adventure and convinces Darcy to make the trip of their lives taking the children with them. They invite Sophie Lucas, to whom Elizabeth wants to provide a good moment, and Paul Inkworthy, an artist in charge of producing paintings portraying the family’s adventures. But they will also be joined by an uninvited guest who will provide the reader many funny moments.

As the Darcy’s embark on an adventure neither of them will forget, we will see a completely different part of the word full of history and mystery. I loved travelling along with the Darcy’s and seeing this different place through their eyes. I would love to travel to Egypt as I am very curious about all its history and I believe a trip like this, 200 years ago, might have been something incredible. I was amazed with the authors� ability to make me feel I was right there with the characters and to create an unequalled environment that provided a sense of wellbeing.

Pride and Pyramids doesn’t have one single focus, the story provides us with descriptions of incredible and exotic places, tackles family relationships with which the reader can relate to, explores a love triangle with new characters, has an exciting supernatural mystery and all the while without foregoing Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship. I cannot believe it could be more perfect than this. Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are older and I enjoyed witnessing between them a love that is steady and mature, and I even got very interested in the other romance in the book.

While reading this book I could feel it was written at a time when Jane Austen Fan Fiction literature wasn’t saturated yet because the plot is very different and innovative without falling in the exaggeration trap. It is a very balanced book with characters who are respectful of Austen’s prose yet new and fresh.

Pride and Pyramids is an exciting book with ancient curses, the pyramids, the Nile, a loving relationship between the Darcy’s and an exquisite writing. I could not recommend this book enough, plus every chapter of this book ends with a cliff hanger that forces the reader to continue reading, making it a page-turner novel.
Profile Image for Charlene.
473 reviews
August 5, 2012
First off I have to say I really rate this book 41/2 stars.I thoughly enjoyed this alternaative story with a myterious twist!

Mysterious twist it certainly did have. In this story we meet with a new characters, Mr Darcy's much younger cousin Edward Fitzwilliam and the Lucas' youngest a daughter, Sophie. Edward is younger than Darcy by fifteen years. He is also very enthusiastic and interested in all things Egyptian. We learn that Darcy's father along with Edward's father and a third man went to Egypt for there world tour and while there were given a map of a tomb supposedly filled with unknown treasures. Unfortunately for there fathers they did not find the tomb and were stricken by bad health and had to return to England empty handed. Edward finds the 2/3 of the map in his father's attic and than trys to get invited to Egypt with a known Egyptiantologist. And so he is to go to Egypt. Darcy knowing his cousin fears that he will be taken advantage of and suggests that he and his family go with him and the story begins. There is just one kink in the plan. There is a doll of an egyptian woman that Darcy's youngest Meg(who is 5) takes possesion of from Edward's find in his father's attic and of course there is an intersting story with a curse that goes along with this doll and so the journey begins.

Ms Grange does a wonderful job of diverting us and also creating a mystery and of course there has to be some love in the air. I just loved this read and could not put it down. I would highly recomend thi book!!!
Profile Image for Ahnya.
414 reviews6 followers
December 14, 2015
Edward Fitzwilliam, Darcy's younger cousin comes to Pemberly and announces he is taking a trip to Egypt. After the Darcy family accompanies Edward to the British Museum to meet with Sir Matthew who is an archaeologist in Egypt whom Edward would like to work with, Darcy decides the whole family should go on an adventure to see the Pyramids. So, Darcy, Elizabeth, and their children Beth, William, John, Laurence, Jane, and Margaret go to Egypt with cousin Edward. They invite along a painter, Paul Inkworthy, to document the journey, and Sophie Lucas, who has just been jilted, and can do with a bit of time away from home. Also, a few surprise guests show up.

While I enjoyed the story it moved a little to slow for me. I am not sure, but it seemed like the author was going for a bit of mystery, however, it was quite predictable. The characters were not that interesting (even the ones we know and love). The characters is what makes Jane Austen novels so timeless, and these just did not live up to it. It was an interesting concept, and the plot was decent, but like I said predictable.
Profile Image for Barb.
511 reviews47 followers
November 17, 2012
Truly nothing really to do with Pride and Prejudice, but I love Amanda Grange and enjoyed this book tremendously. However, you could change the names and you would have little to no idea it was based on P&P.
1,096 reviews2 followers
July 31, 2023
Do you ever learn about a book that you are almost certain will not be good, but you have to read it regardless.
I love Egypt, I love Pride and Prejudice. When I learned of this book I knew it was inevitable for me to read this.
Oh friends, it's not good. I sort of knew it going in, but that was before I learned about the cursed doll. Why? Why add a mystical element to an Austen inspired story? Aaaargh.
This almost has no plot, and has a few moments which make me wonder how well this was fact-checked (a character who had been to Egypt describes the Pyramids as being in the Valley of the Kings.... oh no. Oh no. Not even in the same city!!!)
I don't regret reading this, but it is certainly not something I will turn to again.
Profile Image for Vas.
98 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2019
The Darcy Family- Family of 8, travel to Egypt, searching for treasure. It was difficult to read- didn’t engage my attention. Also there was a “magical� aspect to it, which I wasn’t to crazy about.
Profile Image for steph .
1,343 reviews86 followers
June 7, 2012
4.5 stars.

I adored this book. Utterly, positively adored this book. Set 15 years later after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Darcy are happily married with their six children between the ages of fourteen and six. Darcy's cousin Edward Fitzwilliam, younger brother of Colonel Fitzwilliam is a Egyptian fanatic and he visits them shortly before setting off on a Egyptian trip. One thing leads to another and before everyone can say "Pyramids!", Darcy and Elizabeth and the children are joining Edward for his trip to Egypt.

As someone who reads a lot of historical books, I must say that historical books set in Egypt and books set in the Austen universe are both very hard sub-genre's to write for. Either the author is brilliant and the book is amazing, or the story simply falls flat. With these two subsets, there is really no middle line. That said, luckily this book belonged to the former half. There was plenty to love in this novel; the sparkling individual personalities of each of the six Darcy children, the budding romance triangle between Sophie Lucus, (youngest sister of Charlotte who was recently jilted and invited to come partly to help with the children and partly to get over her disappointment), Edward and Paul Inkworthy, the artist commissioned to join the Darcy's so they would have drawings and artworks of their journey (remember, there were no camera's back in the day. If you wanted memories, you hired someone to draw them or you drew them yourself). And of course, being Egypt there is also a mystery storyline involving an old Eygyptian folklore tale and tombs and grave robbers and a creepy wooden doll. And of course, being a Pride and Prejudice book, there was also Mr. Wickham to show up with another dastardly plan.

But my favorite part of this whole novel would have to be the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. It is perfect and everything I want when I read any of the Pride and Prejudice spin-off books. They are still very much in love with each other and their children and the little visits and side activities they do by themselves are very romantic and adorable and them. You will not be disappointed by the portrayal of them. If anything, I really liked how the author(s) showed how much they have changed and grown since the events of P&P and their bond to each other is even stronger fifteen years after it all began. So if you like books set in Egypt during this time and you like books about Elizabeth and Darcy read this. You will not regret it. PROMISE.


*ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY
Profile Image for Meredith (Austenesque Reviews).
996 reviews338 followers
July 9, 2012
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Sequel

TIME FRAME: 15 years after the close of Pride and Prejudice

MAIN CHARACTERS: Fitzwilliam Darcy, Elizabeth Darcy, Edward Fitzwilliam (new), Sophia Lucas (new), Paul Inkworthy (new), Sir Matthew Rosen (new)

WHY I WANTED TO READ THIS BOOK:
- It is Amanda Grange...need more be said?!?
- I loved the idea of Darcy and Elizabeth doing something so wholly unique.
- Sourcebooks publishes some fantastic Austenesque literature, and in the past I've always done well to trust their judgment.
- And lastly, I delight in adventure!

WHAT I LOVED:
- The Adventure: Traveling by sea, scaling pyramids, exploring tombs � I loved that this novel took our beloved characters so far away from their world of drawing rooms, carriages, and assembly rooms. It was entertaining to see them on an adventure of this magnitude!
- The Children: Darcy and Elizabeth have SIX children! I loved that every child had their own unique personality traits and interests. And I especially loved witnessing the Darcys interactions with and rearing of this large brood!
- The Romance: After fifteen years and six children, the Darcys are still as devoted and in love with each other as ever. I loved seeing them take time for romantic excursions, Darcy sure wins the “Husband of the Year� award with all his special side trips and surprises for Elizabeth!
- The Uninvited Guest(s): Don't want to spoil it for you, but the Darcys encounter some unexpected companion(s) on this trip. Oh brother!
The Artist: Since the Darcys were planning on having a family portrait painted soon, they decide to bring the artist with them to Egypt and commission him to create many sketches and paintings of their journey. I loved that the Darcys did this! So smart! I loved hearing the descriptions of all the artwork, they sounded so magnificent! I really wish we could see them!

WHAT I WASN'T TOO FOND OF:
- The Supernatural/Mythological Elements: I know that mythology and folklore were prevalent in ancient Egypt, but I was a little turned off by the unexplained phenomena and ghostly visions that took place in this book.

CONCLUSION:
Filled with adventure, romance, ancient myths, unexpected visitors, and a lively brood of children � Pride and Pyramids is an exciting and entertaining sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice! A perfect read this summer for those who want to travel to Egypt but (ahem) don't have the means! I definitely recommend!
Profile Image for Maria Grazia.
195 reviews60 followers
July 2, 2012
Fast paced and with the exotic charm of Egypt added to the appeal of the Regency world, Pride and Pyramids is a delightful surprise.
Mystery, legends, superstitions enter the lives of the pleasing and proper Darcy family on visiting the land of the Pharaohs.
Defying a magician’s wrath as well as the legend saying magical plagues affect archaeologists , the Darcys seek the tomb of Hammon and Husn to uncover its hidden treasure.
Elizabeth and Darcy have been married 15 years now and have 6 children. Their life at Pemberley is quiet and comfortable but lacks adventure. This is why they can’t resist the proposal of Edward Fitzwilliam, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s younger brother, and join him in his intriguing expedition to the exotic land of the Sphinx with their family and friends. Not only immeasurable riches await them but also danger and betrayal.
Familiar characters from Pride and Prejudice and new lovely ones enliven this novel full of surprising twists and turns which is the result of the combined efforts of Amanda Grange - best-selling author of Mr Darcy’s Diary and Mr Darcy, Vampyre - and Egyptologist Jacqueline Webb.
Are you willing to meet Mrs Bennet again and being amused at her hectic ways? She’s fully active and travels with the rest of the family taking care of Elizabeth’s six children and directing their tutors and governesses.
Are you ready for romance? Elizabeth and Darcy re-discover their romanticism watching the sun rising after climbing onto the top of a pyramid and their love is reinforced by the risky adventures .
But there are new charcters too seeking their happiness in love.
Sophia Lucas is the object of the loving cares of both Edward Fitzwilliam, Darcy’s young cousin, and Paul Inkworthy, a poverty � striken artist who is with all them to draw the beautiful sites they visit and take records of the unforgettable moments. Which of the two loving men will Sophia choose? She actually likes them both!
Among the new characters you’ll also meet, Sir Matthew Rosen, the leader of the expedition, who is an authority on Egyptian tombs and a sir Mark Belligham, a wealthy baronet who seems highly interested in the expedition. He follows and spies on the Darcys from a distance along their trail. But be warned! He hides a notorious rascal behind the noble appearance and the name of Bellingham. Someone we well know, one of Mr Darcy’s old rivals in search for his revenge...
291 reviews6 followers
January 1, 2020
This book is somewhat amusing, but had to many jolting glitches for me to enjoy it.

It had various facts about the original Pride & Prejudice wrong. For example it called Longbourn a village when it is actually the Bennet's estate. This should be no big deal, but it disrupts the reading flow for me.

Sometimes the prose has other errors, such as contradicting itself. Here is an example from two adjoining sentences:
"... He has almost resented the fact that he ... When he had overcome his resentment ..."

In addition to the two sentences being contradictory (he could not overcome resentment if it only almost happened) the statement in the first sentence is way off the mark. A central part of the original P&P is that initially Darcy totally resented the fact that he had fallen in love with Elizabeth.

To bad, as I think I would have otherwise enjoyed this book, especially as I am going to Egypt soon. A lighter reader, or someone who has reread Jane Austin less often might get great enjoyment from this book.
Profile Image for Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves .
1,037 reviews
March 30, 2013
Two and a half stars - very disappointing. Once again a really good premise but failed to deliver. All the Egyptology details were so simplistic they bordered on the ridiculous! Sad.
Profile Image for Kate.
243 reviews
July 31, 2014
This was... silly. And improbable. And not very accurate, for either Austen or Egyptology.
Profile Image for Laura.
23 reviews
March 1, 2019
A nice jaunt to Egypt, but...

I enjoyed the story, but it felt like the author used Elizabeth Peters ' books too much instead of writing something original.
1,067 reviews
August 22, 2023
3.5*

This book has been in my TBR pile for a long time, enticed as I was by the interesting title and cover.

Firstly, I enjoyed it; it was an interesting idea and the execution of it was good. There are very few sequels to the original written in this genre, perhaps because most authors are seeking to write an out-and-out romance, and I applaud the author for taking on the challenge. The children are not obnoxious or precocious as they often are in sequels and the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth is realistic and not too sickly sweet.

As some other reviewers have commented there are some inconsistencies, particularly in the case of the stowaway and another couple travelling independently. I wasn't too worried about the gaps with the stowaway but I think a little more explanation as to how the second couple found themselves able to travel would have been good.

There are a number of original characters in this book and to be honest I really didn't warm to any of them.

All in all it was an interesting book and I am glad I took it off my TBR and gave it an airing.
Profile Image for Nikki.
498 reviews18 followers
February 18, 2024
1.5/5 Stars

I am a massive P&P fan and, when done properly, love a good retelling/updated P&P story. For me, this was a little slow to get started and, once started, didn't really hold my interest and it took me a lot longer to finish than I was expecting (considering I can read the original in a couple of hours).

I speed-read the second half in the hopes that something would happen and, whilst the ending had a little more action than the beginning, it still wasn't enough to win me over.

74 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2019
I love the premise of the book. I enjoyed the idea of peeking into the future life of the Darcy's.

This book was a hard slog for me. You knew way too early where it was heading. It was a great idea just not my cup of tea.

I may revisit this title in the future to see if it gains something in the re-reading.
Profile Image for Carlymor .
453 reviews26 followers
June 8, 2020
This is a fun sequel to the classic with Darcy and Elizabeth taking an adventurous tour of Egypt. It’s enjoyable to speculate about how the Darcys would turn out after years of marriage and many children. The plot has a twist that adds a bit of intrigue. This was a pleasure to read.
Profile Image for Sandra Guzdek.
425 reviews4 followers
July 5, 2024
A silly bit of pro-fic that puts the Darcy and Elizabeth, post-Pride and Prejudice and with a passel of children (there is always a passel of children in these things, it seems), in Egypt for a bit of mystery and adventure. At times it reminded me of the Amelia Peabody books.
Profile Image for Katherine.
164 reviews17 followers
February 3, 2018
The title says it all. The Darcy's investigate a mystery at the Pyramids.
Profile Image for ProfNSutton.
56 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2021
Well, it was okay. Amanda Grange is generally a reliable author of historical fiction.
Profile Image for Adam.
131 reviews
June 16, 2021
Meh. Somewhat entertaining, but so historically inaccurate and at some points bordering on offensive. Too much use of the word “exotic�.
111 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2022
I've liked Amanda Grange's other books, but this one was odd.
Profile Image for Tien.
2,232 reviews76 followers
July 7, 2012
Pride & Pyramids is light-hearted read with a splash of history, a pinch of mystery and a hint of the supernatural. To truly enjoy it, you will need to have an appreciation of all things Pride & Prejudice and a fascination of Egypt (especially ancient Egypt). There were many references to P&P and without this insight to P&P, you will more likely be confused. It is definitely a book for fans of P&P.

This book is mainly focused on the Darcys as a family and also as a couple. Jane & Bingley, Lydia & Wickham, and a number of others were minor characters whilst some others did not even make an appearance. As the title suggests, the Darcys went on an adventure to Egypt. This is once in a lifetime adventure with camels, pyramids, history, spirits, superstitions, and lots of sand. Reading about how the Darcys travelled to Egypt and what they saw & did, however, made me wish I was with them! The Darcys definitely knew how to travel!

There were many eye-rolling moments for me as I read about Mrs Bennet (eye-roll = *snorts* she doesn’t change at all). Amanda Grange has used her well as a comic foil with her characteristics even more exaggerated as we read her interaction with her grandchildren�

Luckily, Laurence hit upon a better topic by saying there were not carriages in Egypt, and they would all have to ride on camels. Mrs Bennet said he must take care that the camel did not bit him, to which Laurence replied that the camel must take care that he did not bit it. Mrs Bennet said he wouldn’t, Laurence said he would, and the argument entertained the pair of them until the housekeeper mercifully arrive and showed Mrs Bennet and the Lucases to their rooms.


Elizabeth, in the middle of her laughter, said it was no one. It did not seem the right time to enlighten Mrs Bennet; indeed, she thought the time would never come, and Mrs Bennet soon ceased to enquire. There were far more interesting things to do, such as eating dates and arguing with Laurence about the likelihood of him being allowed to keep a crocodile in the lake at Pemberley.

Other P&P characters do not appear to change overly much either. Whilst some matured but kept their distinct personalities, others grew worst with no intention to change for the better. So it felt comfortable reading characters you know well even though, purportedly, 15 years has lapsed since P&P.

Do you like romance? I don’t mean classical romance like P&P, nor ‘hot & steamy� romance but� sweet romance. I love P&P and have been known to indulge in some hot & steamy ;) I’m a romantic at heart but there is a limit to “sweetness� that I can take. At times, it just felt a little too much� a little overly sweet.

Darcy placed his hand over Elizabeth’s arm and she looked up at him, wondering how she had been so lucky as to find herself here in this magical place with the man who had made her whole life magical. True, he could be infuriating at times and their life together had not been without its arguments, but she knew she could never have married anyone else. He had brightened every day with his presence and he still, after all these years, managed to excite and surprise her, as he was doing now by taking her on a midnight walk across the desert.

“Well?� he asked softly. “Was it worth it?�
“Oh, yes,� she nodded, glancing at him before looking back at the wondrous view. “A thousand times yes. We will remember this for the rest of our lives.�
He put his arm around her waist and she turned to face him, and they kissed in the early morning sunlight as if it was the first time.


Nevertheless, it was fun, it was light, a perfect beach read (if only it was summer here Down Under).

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this galley
Profile Image for Laura Hartness.
331 reviews19 followers
July 16, 2012
It’s summertime!The perfect time for a fun, sunshiny read. And if you’re a fan of all things Darcy and Indiana Jones, Pride and Pyramids might be a great fit for you. The talented Amanda Grange has partnered with the Egyptian scholar Jacqueline Webb to bring us an exciting adventure in the exotic lands of the pharaohs and secret treasures.

Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy have been married for fifteen years in this sequel to Pride and Prejudice.Ìý They are as happy as ever, enjoying their children and the years they have had together. They are given the opportunity to pack up the entire family for a long journey to Egypt, spending months away on a grand adventure.Ìý Colonel Fitzwilliams’s younger brother Edward is one of the instigators of this plan, as he is on a particular quest and is always in need of benefactors for his work with the esteemed archeologist Sir Matthew Rosen.

Along with Edward Fitzwilliam and the Darcy clan, the young Mr. Paul Inkworthy joins them as the official artistic painter of the expedition.Ìý He is commissioned to capture the essence of their journey in portraits and drawings along the way.Ìý His talent is essential, as cameras were not available in that day to memorialize grand journeys such as this.Ìý Paul is pleased to discover that the Darcys have taken on Sophie Lucas, youngest sister to Elizabeth’s dear friend Charlotte Lucas Collins.Ìý Along with female companionship for Mrs. Darcy, she will offer the role as nanny for the young children.Ìý Sophie is young and attractive, and finds herself in a bit of a love triangle between two fellows in the story.




Pride and Pyramids is a fun, light read for these summer days.Ìý I enjoyed spending time with Austen’s characters in this adventure.Ìý Grange and Webb did an excellent job in not only capturing the essence of the Darcys, but also the details of Egyptian history and mythology. Much like the Indiana Jones movies, this novel captures adventure, history, romance and a bit of spiritual magic.Ìý The interaction between the characters was realistic, and I liked how the authors kept the romantic aspects of the story very chaste, yet delectable at the same time.

If you’re looking for an unexpected diversion in the lives of Jane Austen’s characters, I certainly recommend this novel to you.Ìý We are whisked away from the shades of Pemberley into the wilds of Egypt, where danger lurks around every turn.Ìý The struggle between good and evil is readily apparent, unfolding in a way that I found to be very entertaining.Ìý Those headed out on their own summer expeditions would do well to pack this in their travel case, and those remaining stateside can have an adventure of their own with this one. Amanda Grange has succeeded again, and I applaud her partnering with Jacqueline Webb. They made a great team, and I hope they collaborate again in the future.
Profile Image for Kim.
2,117 reviews64 followers
July 20, 2012
In the entire spectrum of Pride and Prejudice sequels, variations, retellings, and what-if’s I’ve seen Darcy as a vampire, werewolf, zombie, ranch owner, and rock star. I’ve seen Elizabeth as a master zombie fighter, scientist, doctor, sleuth, and time traveler. I’ve seen them in WWII England, Colonial America, Thailand, Texas, and Oxford, but never have we seen them the way Amanda Grange and Jacqueline Webb have envisioned them in Pride & Pyramids: Mr. Darcy in Egypt. Taking them down the Nile and into the sprawling deserts of Egypt, Grange and Webb turn our beloved couple into amateur archeologists on an expedition in the land of the pharaohs!

Pride & Pyramids begins approximately 15 years after the fairytale ending of Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth and Darcy are comfortably tending to their many children and leading a comfortable, happy life. This changes with a visit from Edward, brother of their cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. Recently, Edward has been stricken with the latest craze in Regency England: Egyptology! Begging for an adventure, Darcy gives in to Elizabeth and asks Edward if he can bring the family along with him to Egypt. After months of preparation the whole clan heads out on an epic journey to Egypt. What happens when they get there can only be described as Egyptian myth…�

When I first heard that there were two authors writing this, I’ll admit that I was nervous. Grange is already known for her excellent insight into the heads of Austen’s men with her diary series. I was concerned that the book would read oddly with an Egyptologist as a co-author. Webb has certainly made her mark in a wonderful way, helping weave her knowledge of Egyptian myths and beauty into the story. The juxtaposition of Austen-styled writing with Egyptian myths is mesmerizing. The story is effortlessly told, transporting the reader on this epic journey with the Darcy family.

While Elizabeth and Darcy are obviously important to the narrative, their children and their cousin Edward are the focal characters. These new character creations make great additions to Austen’s cast of we know and love. I was THRILLED that Mrs. Bennet was able to wheedle her way into the novel, as her “fluttering and spasms� made for great humorous fodder.

In all, this is a great new way to explore the Pride and Prejudice sequel JAFF genre! It was entertaining to read this refreshing take on these familiar characters. If I ever get the chance to go to Egypt I’ll be sure to remember all the sights and sounds that I read about in this work!

Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
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