He's the fascinating romantic lead in what is perhaps the most enduringly popular novel in the English language. Yet Jane Austen reveals tantalizingly little about him, nor does she ever give readers insight into his take on the action of the book. And so the question has long remained: who is Fitzwilliam Darcy?

In the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy, Pamela Aidan vividly imagines the world of Fitzwilliam Darcy- a world of which Jane Austen offers only a few tantalizing glimpses in Pride & Prejudice. In An Assembly Such as This-the first book of her trilogy-which culminates with the disastrous ball at Netherfield Park, Aidan allows us to see the Bennets and the Bingleys through Darcy's eyes. As we learn about his complicated past, we begin to understand how such a seemingly arrogant man could be transformed into Elizabeth's ideal husband.

Set vividly against the colorful historical and political background of Regency England, Aidan adds her own characters to Pride and Prejudice's beloved cast, weaving a rich tapestry from Darcy's past and present that will leave readers on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the next installment of the trilogy.