Jane Austen's Emma airs tonight! Plus P&P Question-a-Day 4

I loved some of your answers yesterday. Wet shirt = washing?! That pulls Colin Firth down a peg or two! Some complex answers in there too. I have to say, apart for the eye candy, I do think the scene works so well for other reasons. As Emily puts it, it mirror the changes that have occured from within. The intimacy, the fact that it is startlingly private is in stark contrast to the Meryton assembly. It does give us a different glimpse of Darcy (the "uncivilized" side as South Bay Ladies Tea Guild points out), whom we haven't seen since Netherfield. I read somewhere that it puts both characters at a disadvantage. Elizabeth is very embarrassed at being caught ogling Pemberley, and of course, he's extremely embarrassed to be seen this way by a lady he wants to impress. It's also an unusual scene because he's half undressed (extremely improper) whereas she's fully clothed. The scene has many interesting angles to it.

I'm settling in tonight to watch the first episode of the new production of Emma. I've been looking forward to it since it was announced some time ago, so I hope it won't be a disappointment.

In anticipation of the production, I set out a few weeks ago with my family to visit the tiny village of Chilham, Kent where part of the action was filmed. On the way we passed by Canterbury, which we had visited before. I was very tempted to stop, since it's such a lovely place. But as dark rainclouds were threatening, we decided to press on.

We parked in the parking lot and took the steep lane up the hill and into the village. Although I knew the village would be tiny, I didn't expect it to be so miniature. It consists of four narrow lanes that lead into a square surrounded by black and white Tudor half-timbered houses. On one side is an old 12th century church, and on the other, visible through the gate, the impressive structure of Chilham Castle.

I peered through the wrought iron gates at Chilham Castle (1616) to try and catch a glimpse of the gardens designed by Capability Brown. I eyed the Bed and Breakfast set up within the castle walls, and promised myself I would stay there some time. I strolled through the village, peering into the small shops and snapping away with the camera (which was difficult, as cars blocked the way). There was something picturesque in every corner.

I planned to go on one or two of the walk around the village, on Pilgrims Way (the old way to Canterbury) or North Downs way with their woodlands and views of the river Stour. Not all the way, of course! I was thinking of Chaucer and wondered if any of his characters had walked that way. The village of Old Wives Lees struck a particular cord in that respect.

I was also tempted by the idea of walking though the apple orchards, but it all came to nought. As we passed through the village and entered the old churchyard, it started to drizzle. I stopped to examine an old yew tree carefully protected behind iron rails. I just managed to go into St Mary's, and to sign my name in the guest register. When I emerged, the landscape was awash with rain.

As water poured down in buckets, we took urgent refuge in a teahouse in the village. There, I asked the woman who waited on our table about the production. Clearly, this was a question she was used to. She was more than ready to tell us about it, and explained how the facades were changed to fit in with the film.

 

"That there was a butcher's shop," she said.

 

I peered through the rain to look at a shop and tried to imagine it as it would look in the film.

 

She then whipped out an envelope with all sorts of photos of the actors in costume.

 

"So was it very exciting so see how the whole thing worked?" I asked her after salivating over them and wondering if it would be horribly tacky to ask if I could buy one or two of them from her.

 

"It was at the beginning, but I was glad when we got back to normal again."

 

I can imagine. With the village as small and tranquil as this, the arrival of all the hustle and bustle of crew and cast must have caused quite a disruption.

And now for:

Pride and Prejudice Question 4

Why does Wickham pay so much attention to Elizabeth, and why does he choose her in particular to "confide" to about his past with Mr Darcy?