List of Pride & Prejudice Fan Fiction Tropes
Here’s a long list of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice fan fiction tropes, such as the classic enemies-to-lovers, or a forced marriage.
I thought I’d share a master list of Pride & Prejudice fan fiction (variations) tropes.
Most historical/regency romance novels have a lot of the same tropes: a forced/arranged marriage, or enemies-to-lovers, or a second chance marriage.
But did you know there are tropes that are specific to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice variations?
For example, both of my currently published variations (which are A Look Behind the Mask and The Sins of Their Fathers) fall into the trope of having a nice Mr. Collins.
My current WIP (work in progress) “When Summer Never Came” is under the trope where Elizabeth and Darcy are friends; Darcy apologizes immediately for his insult at the Meryton Assembly.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different P&P fan fics out there – which means this unique category has its own set of tropes!
Some readers refuse to finish one of my books because they don’t like the pairing of two of the characters (shhhh, no spoilers!). And that’s fine! I have some tropes that I don’t enjoy reading as well (which I’ve included in the list because others like them).
I also don’t enjoy any books that are sexually explicit – even in marriage – but I know that isn’t the most popular opinion. I try my best to keep the ones I write clean.
I decided to make a list of the most common tropes for Pride & Prejudice variations. Many books I’ve read actually have more than one trope!
If any sound interesting to you, you can see them on Amazon here. Many of them are free to read with Kindle Unlimited! And any that are linked mean I wrote a blog post with a list of my favorites.
- Forced marriage (due to compromise)
- Arranged marriage
- Bennets are secretly wealthy/titled
- Second marriage for Darcy and/or Elizabeth
- Darcy is really impoverished/a second son
- Darcy’s family is supportive
- Elizabeth refuses the Hunsford letter
- Darcy’s parents are still alive
- Wickham actually elopes with Georgiana
- Jane isn’t as good/nice as she seems
- Georgiana is awful, bratty, or evil
- Anne de Bourgh and/or Georgianna are more prominent
- Lydia doesn’t elope
- Elizabeth is a governess or otherwise employed
- Elizabeth and Darcy are in forced proximity
- Elizabeth falls in love before Darcy
- Someone is kidnapped
- Darcy and Elizabeth fall into lust almost immediately (I don’t enjoy these)
- Elizabeth isn’t really a Bennet
- Bennets have a son
- Mr. Collins marries a Bennet daughter (not Elizabeth)
- Mr. Collins marries Elizabeth
- Darcy rescues Elizabeth from having to marry Collins
- Fantasy/supernatural
- Darcy is truly awful (I don’t enjoy these)
- Elizabeth learns about Wickham much earlier
- Elizabeth accepts Darcy’s first proposal
- Meryton assembley insult doesn’t happen or is apologized for immediately
- Natural disasters occur
- Fires occur
- Pandemics/epidemics occur
- LGBTQ+ (I don’t enjoy these)
- Amnesia suffered by Darcy or Elizabeth
- Darcy/Elizabeth don’t end up together (I don’t enjoy these)
- ODC (our dear couple, aka Darcy & Elizabeth) meet as children or prior to the Meryton Assembly
- Darcy immediately apologizes for insult at the Meryton Assembly
Which ones are your favorite to read? Did I miss any on this list?
Feel free to comment below and let me know what you’d like to see a story about!
Forced or arranged marriage.
Fantasy/ supernatural
Lizzy accepts Darcy’s 1st proposal
Jane or Mrs Bennet aren’t nice
Besides the situations of Forced marriage (due to compromise), when both are kidnapped are my favorite stories because to save themselves Darcy and Elizabeth need to join forces and work together and both are not only stubborn but intelligent and also need to be creative.
PS: I dislike exactly the same topics as you.
Hello Tiffany,
I like those books where Mr. Bennet leaves his library and takes charge of his family’s shortcomings in time before desaster really strikes (I think I have read at least three of those). Also, I like it very much when he and his wife reconcile in the end – with or without producing a male heir – , though this is of course not a trope which would carry a whole book / story (or would it?). In general I love it when the whole book is going continually into a better direction and is not presenting the “solution” only in the last chapter.
Kind regards,
Ute
I would enjoy reading more stories where Charlotte does not marry Mr. Collins but someone else instead. I also like it when Jane has the good sense to not accept Bingley when he tries for a second chance – he does not deserve her! I’m tired of Wickham ruining Lydia. I’d rather she “learn her lesson” another way. I generally do not like the forced marriage trope where Elizabeth is forced to marry Darcy. Those stories tend to have too much angst for me…too many misunderstandings and misinterpretations, too much said or unsaid, too many pages and chapters until they have their HEA…very frustrating to read IMHO (in my humble opinion).
Thank you so much for sharing your time and talent. I really enjoy your stories!
I’m sure you know about this, but https://jaffindex.com/ is a database of Jane Austen fan fiction with various search features, one of which is by trope. I’ve found it very helpful when looking for specific stories I’ve forgotten the title to or to find new books to read. A short plot description of the story is included.
Thanks again!
Yes, I love using JAFF index!!