Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix

Gr 8 Up–As the second eldest, the clock is ticking for Oliver Bennet to find a husband. He refuses. Forced into gowns, Oliver is wrongfully assumed to be another Bennet daughter. While dressed in trousers that validate his identity, Oliver visits a gentleman’s club for the first time. An initially tense connection between Oliver and Fitzwilliam Darcy slowly blossoms into something more. With Darcy, will Oliver finally get to kiss a boy as a boy? Novoa’s interpretation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a testament to the power of queer spaces and community. Oliver and Darcy’s push-and-pull relationship is magnetic as they navigate societal challenges in 1800s London. Though Oliver is constantly deadnamed, the narrative itself is respectful. A historical note offers important context about some creative liberties.