As a direct descendant of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, Lady Elizabeth Darcy spent her childhood wandering the halls of Pemberley. Now a tourist attraction under the watchful eye of curator Joyce Hutchinson, every room contains reminders of the timeless love story as it seeps through the history of the great house.

Lizzy has given up trying to find love, but things get tricky once Hollywood director, Matthew Wickham, the father of her daughter Harriet, returns to the Derbyshire estate to begin filming Jane Austen’s classic novel, bringing with him a very famous, very aloof actor, who catches her eye. But Benn Williams has his own secrets, and Lizzy finds that history seems to be repeating itself, despite her attempts to resist it.

Dipping into key events in history, 'Becoming Lady Darcy' combines a variety of techniques to tell the story, as we move throughout the timelines of five obstinate headstrong girls who called Pemberley home.

Sophia, the Jacobean courtier, has a clever head and a smart mouth, but when the gaze of the King falls on her, she finds herself embroiled in courtly games and treasonous plotting.

Elizabeth, with her fine eyes, begins her tenure as mistress with the devoted Fitzwilliam by her side, but happily-ever-afters don’t always work out quite as we expect, and being Mrs Darcy proves trickier than she anticipated.

Mabel, only daughter of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth, finds that her privileged upbringing leaves her yearning for adventure and looking for escape in the arms of a handsome gentleman in a seaside town.

Millicent, who lives lots of lives, must navigate the changing world at the turn of the twentieth century, and fight to save Pemberley from an uncertain future.

And then there is Lizzy, who realises that in order to embrace her future, she has to accept her past and realise that sometimes life, and love, have to be experienced without pride and prejudice getting in the way.

Smallman weaves the characters that we know and love into a bold, new reimagining, charting the ups and downs of the Darcy dynasty, from humble medieval origins to the present day. Not simply a continuation of Pride and Prejudice, this is an epic, sprawling story spanning generations.

REVIEWS FOR ‘BECOMING LADY DARCY’

‘The concept is unique, the characters complex, flawed and vital. Smallman has created something special here.’

‘…totally enthralled by the author’s weaving of all the various characters and timelines. It has made for a highly entertaining read.’

“The characters are so real, the backdrop so immersive… I didn’t want it to end.”

‘Oh my god…my heart is singing. What an absolutely gorgeous story!’

“This is the first time I have been truly sad that ‘Pride and Prejudice’ wasn’t a real story…”

"Pemberley becomes so real...I found myself at home with Lizzy in her little flat, I wanted to believe that I could pay her a visit.”

‘The characters…are flawed, deeply human and utterly lovable, and that is what makes the story so special.’

'This work is pure genius. It references JAFF, Austen's fans, the book, the 1995 movie, whilst simultaneously giving characters of the same a new life. I love how the story is filled with many of the women of Pemberley. The detail speaks to an intimate knowledge of behind the scenes in show business and of a historic estate. And the genealogy serves as a metaphor for how so many people intimately relate to this timeless piece.'