Pride and Prejudice Variations

How would the story of Pride and Prejudice be altered if Mr. Wickham had been a good man? Instead of becoming a scoundrel who regularly attempts to elope with teenage girls, Mr. Wickham studies the law as he originally told Mr. Darcy when he gave up the value of the living. After finishing his studies, Mr. Wickham finds work in Meryton with Mr. Phillips, a local solicitor and the Bennets's uncle. By the time that the Netherfield party arrives, the Bennets are well-acquainted with Mr. Wickham. He is even engaged to one of the Bennets! How will this altered Wickham influence the rest of the characters and their road to happily ever after? Will Darcy still look down on the Bennets and their connections, even if one of those connections is his childhood best friend?

When Mr. Darcy's valet goes missing, he must join forces with Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters to discover the truth behind the abduction and unravel a grand conspiracy that threatens the stability of the entire country. On the morning after the Netherfield ball, the world of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is shocked by the disappearance of Mr. Witting, valet to the wealthy gentleman Mr. Darcy. As Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy begin to uncover the mystery behind Mr. Witting's disappearance, they must face their faults and previous prejudices. The closed off man she once knew now reveals himself to be a loyal and kind man. No longer can she consider him to be the same person derided by Mr. Wickham. It soon becomes clear that Witting was more than just a lowly servant and his disappearance no accident. The investigation sheds light on a conspiracy that reaches further than anyone could have imagined, threatening to bring down the entire country with it. As they delve deeper into the hidden web of corruption and betrayal and put their very lives at risk, will their love be strong enough to survive?

What would have happened if Jane had been born male? James Bennet is the perfect heir to Longbourn. He is always looking out for his sisters and mother, making sure they have the opportunity to receive proper education, and always making sure they have the guidance and direction they need. He purchased a small cottage to ensure that his mother and sisters had somewhere to live in the event that something happened to him and his father. He works tirelessly on the estate to ensure that Longbourn is profitable. He puts any additional money that comes into the estate towards ensuring that his sisters have dowries that are appropriate for their social standing. The summer before the story began, James had done the Darcy family a great service, almost certainly keeping Georgiana from ruin. Between the debt owed to the Bennets and the younger girls being away at school, Darcy's objections to the Bennets are greatly lessened. Despite the divide in their social standing, the Darcys and the Bennets find themselves drawn to each other. Yet, given their differing situations, can their connection ever become deeper than just friendship?

If a different Mr. Collins was the heir to Longbourn, what would have happened? Gregory Collins inherited a flourishing wine importing business in London from his father and is now a prosperous tradesman. Upon discovering he is the heir presumptive to a relative's estate, he realizes he must make the journey to meet the family, as he has no knowledge of landowning or agriculture. He is determined to amass as much knowledge as he can so that when he comes into possession, he can tend to the land and its tenants properly. Rather than hoping to evict the Bennets from the estate when their father dies, he desires to re-establish the familial bond, so there will be no difficulty living together, although he expects Mr. Bennet will live for many years more. Mr. Collins may not be physically attractive, yet he is not repulsive or unintelligent. He is precisely the sort of man the two elder Bennet daughters had always assumed their meager dowries would enable them to marry. While becoming the wife of someone active in trade would be a lowering of status temporarily, the security of their family would be ensured. When Mr. Collins comes to understand the value of the eldest two Bennet daughters and considers if it would be advantageous to everyone if he married one, how will Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy react in the face of competition?