Mad About the Boy- or mad about killing off Mark Darcy?
Mr Darcy is one of the most famous and well-known characters in the canon of English literature. Stepping from the pages of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice, we love him for his oh-so- English manners, his sincerity of expression and his character change from snob to perfect gentleman, so that he actually deserves heroine Elizabeth Bennet by the end of the novel. Author of Bridget Jones’ Diary took Pride and Prejudice and reinvented it into a modern day romance that shows all the hallmarks of the Austen classic. Bridget is a 30-something year old woman living in London, she drinks a lot of of vodka and always finds herself in the most embarrassing social situations. She may not be much like Elizabeth Bennet, but the novel does include a Mr ‘Mark’ Darcy who is played by Colin Firth in the film (if you haven’t seen it.)
So imagine the horror of bookworms and Darcy-lovers to hear that Helen Fielding has decided to kill him off in her third Bridget Jones novel, which is due to be published next Thursday 10th October. The Sunday Times magazine recently published extracts of the new novel that revealed that Mark Darcy actually died five years later, and the plot now centers on 51 year old single mum Bridget to two children. While trying to get over Darcy’s death, she is also dating a toyboy called Roxster.
Twitter was overrun with fans expressing their disappointment and a lot of readers have said they’ve been put off reading the new book entirely.
While I might feel like a small part of me has died to hear that Mr Darcy is dead, I would still like to read the novel and see what Fielding has done with this dramatic new plot. What are your views on it? Should we embrace the changes Helen Fielding has made or is killing the beloved Darcy more than a slight error?
I was horrified when I heard. Not so much about Darcy dying as such, but because I can’t see how that can fit in with the overall joyous tone of the original Bridget Jones. I really don’t think I want to read about a middle-aged Bridget, any more than I want to know what happened to Lizzie and the original Darcy.
Sometimes I wish authors would know when to stop…
I agree, I think it may be one too many Bridget Jones books? I would have liked to have thought that she and Mark lived happily ever after but I guess that’s not to be! 😦
I was so upset that the publishers needed to leak this prior to the book being published… If I’m honest it has now made me less likely to buy it immediately….
I know, they should have kept it secret because it’s put so many people off from reading it!
I had no idea that that was what Bridget Jones was a bout! I’ve never seen it, and I’m not the biggest Jane Austen fan, but now I’m intrigued. I may have to track this movie down just out of sheer love for Colin Firth. Swoon.
It’s a hilarious movie but you are completely right- I would just watch it for Colin Firth too!
I am really annoyed about this! Not also that Mark Darcy dies, but that this information was leaked! It completely spoils the book for me, I would rather read it and then gasp in shock when I find out! (Still going to read it though) 🙂
That’s exactly what I thought when I stumbled across the article, it should have been a surprise!
I already lost interest in these books after “Edge of Reason”. I didn’t read the book, but the movie killed it for me. She finally gets the perfect guy in “Bridget Jones’ Diary”, and she still waffles between Mark Darcy and the Hugh Grant character? So this new book just clinches it for me. I will definitely pass.
Haha yes I completely agree with you there! As if you would ditch the wonderful Mark Darcy for slimy Daniel Cleaver..
I think there’s definitely too many Bridget Jones books but I was just totally shocked when I heard about Mark getting killed off! It’s a romantic comedy – I want a happy ending! I actually ended up having a bit of a rant on my blog about it! lol
Hi Jan, oooh I will have to have a little read!