Books in A Ballroom

Poll Results: Social interaction tops Jane Austen fascination

2011-12-26T15:12:00.003Z

The result of the polls are here. Well, we all knew that Jane Austen's gentlemen are bound to win out, but in fact the poll reveals that the gentlemen have competition.

In answer to the question: What do you think is so appealing about Jane Austen's world? The top choice is split two ways, with an even 50% each
The gentlemanly behavior of the heroes
and
The rules of social interaction
In answer to the question: What do you like most about Jane Austen? The top choice with an overwhelming 75% was
Her characters
Followed by 50%
Her sense of humor
Thanks to those of you who participated. What do you think of the results?

Merry Christmas, and to all good cheer

2011-12-25T15:15:00.004Z

Hope your Christmas is full of joy
Meanwhile, here's a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Christmas Poem

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;

The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Jane Austen Lives! Happy Birthday!

2011-12-16T00:10:00.011Z

Think about it. How many people – men or women – have birthday celebrations 236 years after they were born?? Yet today blogs all over the Blogosphere are celebrating Jane Austen’s Birthday.

For Jane Austen’s Birthday, and to remember the wonderful joy she has given us, here are a couple of polls for you to vote on.

Dinner with the Indomitable Dominique Raccah

2011-12-05T13:51:00.006Z

Dominique

The exclusive world of Gentlemen’s Clubs was invaded by a most wonderful group last night – the Sourcebooks British Book Brigade, which was almost exclusively female. Of course the Reform Club is no longer exclusively male, but looking around, with Henry James and Thackeray’s portraits – to name just two former members -- staring down at us, we could be excused for thinking so. During the Victorian period it would have been sacrilege to pass through these doors, yet here we were, with the Indomitable Dominique Raccah as our fearless leader. It’s a fitting image for the publishing world itself – with pioneers like Dominique heading publishing companies that have traditionally been male-dominated.

Being at the Reform club inevitably brings up snippets from the past. Virginia Woolf wrote about “so audaciously trespassing” as a woman on university turf, and being stopped by a Beadle : “he was a Beadle; I was a woman. This was the turf; there was the path. Only the Fellows and Scholars are allowed here; the gravel is the place for me.”

If you’ve seen the film Out of Africa I’m sure you’ll remember the scene where Karen von Blixen (author Isak Dineson) is escorted out of the exclusive gentlemen’s club.

Thackeray looking bemused at this group of female authors

The dark polished wood, the gilt-edged panelling and the male portraits everywhere brings up in me these and other images from women's past. I can’t help thinking of the past because the Reform Club is a spectacular reminder of bygone times. But of course it’s also a tribute to reform, as its name testifies. It was here that great politicians and thinkers of the last two centuries discussed their plans to re-make history and re-imagine the world – from figures such as Gladstone, to J. M. Barrie, E.M. Forster and H.G. Wells.

Being able to step onto that “turf” from which we as women were once barred is a wonderful thing. It makes being in the Reform Club as a member of Sourcebooks, a publishing company committed to women writers, a very special thing. What a wonderful space to celebrate the achievements of women since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Phillipa Ashley and Francesca Simon

Gabrielle Kimm, Jane Odiwe, Amanda Grange

Though I’ll admit it. This wasn't the only thing on my mind yesterday, as the champagne flowed, the fireplace flickered, laughter rang out and conversation danced merrily around the table.

The End of Spooks

2011-10-28T19:36:00.000+01:00

Was so upset at the idea that we had reached the last-ever Spooks episode that I actually relinquished my Sunday evening date with Downton Abbey to watch Spooks instead. Imagine that! Those of you who know me are probably quite surprised at this since I'm not at all into spy films, and generally don't go for the James Bond type action drama if I can choose something else.

Yet the end (and ending) of Spooks left me heartbroken. Even the much-awaited (re)appearance of Matthew Macfadyen as Quinn failed to compensate for the fact that it was all over.

The only consolation is that since I didn't see the first four seasons, which I am told were the best, I will now be watching the whole thing from the beginning on DVD. That way I will get the opportunity to relish the wonderful cast -- and period drama favorites -- that take turns to play MI5 agents. Apart from Matthew Macfadyen, I'm looking forward to seeing Rupert Penry-Jones and Richard Armitage (although I did see Armitage play Lucas).

Official Launch of Jane Austen Made Me Do It Tomorrow!

2011-10-10T14:15:00.002+01:00

It’s finally happening! Tomorrow is the official launch of Jane Austen Made Me Do It!

“Nothing Less Than Fairy-land,” by Monica Fairview
In this gently humorous story inspired by Jane Austen’s novel Emma, the day has come for Mr. Knightley to move into Hartfield, but Mr. Woodhouse is still not reconciled to the marriage. Trouble looms on the horizon, unless Emma can quickly come up with a way to convince her papa to accept Mr. Knightley’s presence.

A Unexpected Encounter with a Victorian Gentleman

2011-10-05T10:36:00.002+01:00

Sometimes a visit to a park can have unexpected consequences. So imagine my surprise when I went to an Apple Day at Morden Hall Park and – quite literally – bumped into an exceedingly fashionable young gentleman! My mind reeled as I tried to work out if he was real or the ghost of Mr.Gilliat Hatfeild, owner of the Park in the 1800s. Then my young daughter shouted out “Mr. Darcy! Take a picture, quick!” and I am happy to say I obeyed.

Morden Hall does have an intriguing history. It’s a National Trust property that used to be a former snuff mill, complete with waterwheel, picturesque canals and a mulberry tree that reportedly was planted by Huguenots. I won’t go into it now, but I promise a future episode on this lovely historical park.

Isn't he a handsome specimen? It just shows. You never know when (or where) you could run into your Mr. Darcy!

For Love or War: The Downton Abbey Experience Episode 1

2011-09-19T16:03:00.003+01:00

The drums of war beat, and the drama rolls. The first episode of Downton Abbey begins with a bang as we are treated with an unsentimental view of the First World War. Times are a’changing, but not for the better certainly, as a generation of young men ge
ts decimated. Still, Downton Abbey drew the heavy guns as it not only managed to divert viewers’ attention away from Spooks, which was airing at the same time, but also captured four Emmy awards as well, the very same night. What fanfare!!
It was wonderful to be back in the world of Downton Abbey. The cruelty of war features heavily in this episode, not only to those who go to fight, but to those who are left behind who are made to feel inadequate because they are not fighting. One of my favourite scenes – nicely underplayed – involved a White Feather Girl who give Branson a white feather (symbolizing cowardice).
Still, this episode of Downton Abbey isn’t just about the havoc wreaked by the WWI. It’s about the same problems and the same people we got to know in Season one. Needless to say, love is trembling on the lips of more than one character, even if not on Matthew’s, who is engaged to be married to a certain Lavinia Swire.
Blackmail and the threat of scandal still hangs over the Abbey like a giant crow, and those who were nasty last season are still as deliciously nasty as ever. Without giving away any spoilers for my friends in the USA, I can promise them that the drama continues much as it did last time, with Mr. Bates playing the sacrificial victim, Lady Sibyl as restless and unconventional as ever, and the indomitable Dower Countess as — indomitable as ever.
A very satisfying beginning, with lots packed in. Bring on the next one.

It boggles the writer's imagination

2011-09-12T12:04:00.002+01:00

Loved this picture at Just For Social Networkerz so had to re-post. It appeals to my writer's imagination. It seems like a map of my mind -- with all the gaps in it that I'm always wanting to fill.

borrowed from Just for Social Networkerzzz

I love those empty spaces -- the in-betweens, so to speak (nothing to do with the film by the same name) -- the ones you have to work to bridge. Because that's what writing is all about. It's about seeing something missing it, and wanting to fill that void with pictures or images. That's how Jane Austen sequels work. We spot something missing in Jane Austen's narrative, or we want to take a character further, or we are struck by something that a character didn't say or articulate fully, and we want to furnish it ourselves.

Jumping across empty spaces has its pluses. But the writer is like a chivalrous gentleman who offers his cloak to enable the lady to cross the puddle without getting wet. We weave something to fill the gap and enable others to cross enjoyably.

Okay, this is very fanciful for a Monday morning. So I'll just say I really loved the photo and leave the rest to your imagination.

Austen Authors Celebration

2011-09-04T16:25:00.002+01:00

AUSTEN AUTHORS

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

On September 6, 2010 Austen Authors officially launched.

Our group blog has continued to grow ever since and now we are approaching our first birthday.

In the tradition of all great celebrations, we plan to party!

Not for one day, not for two or three, but for….

SIX WHOLE DAYS!

From Monday September 5 all the way through Saturday September 10 we will be serving up the virtual treats and lighting the virtual fireworks.

The itinerary is jam packed with fun blogs and awesome prizes.

Don’t miss out on the fun!! Ask others to join in!

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The Other Mr Darcy Now available on Kindle UK

2011-09-03T19:08:00.001+01:00

I'm pleased to announce that The Other Mr Darcy is finally available via Amazon.co.uk. I know many of you have been waiting for this moment!

This is the Hale edition that has been published through The Faber Factory. I'm thrilled to be part of this project.

More Lavender for your senses

2011-08-15T09:20:00.002+01:00

As you enjoy the pictures (below), you can also listen to a song that will sound very familiar, performed by English folk singer Jackie Oates at Gloucester Cathedral.

Isn't her voice enchanting? It shows what you can do with a simple melody. I wonder if Jane Austen used to wander around as a child in the Surrey lavender fields and hum this melody to herself?
Now that both vision and hearing have been stimulated, let's move on to the olfactory buds that are clamoring for attention.
Here's a recipe for Lavender Shortbread Biscuits (Cookies) that someone recommended to me. I've loved shortbread biscuits since I learned how to make them at school. My favorite part of making shortbread was the magical moment when the dough finally turned into breadcrumbs. It gave me a sense of remarkable achievement. I thought of myself as an artist, a creator, transforming clay into something else. Never mind that the "breadcrumbs" themselves weren't much to look at!
I like the fact that the recipe calls for both mint and lavender. I love both, which makes the recipe especially appealing.
Let me know if you try them before I do.

LAVENDER SHORTBREAD BISCUITS (COOKIES)
from Maryeileen

350g butter, softened
125g caster sugar
4 tablespoons sifted icing sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh lavender
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
325g plain flour
65g cornflour
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, caster sugar and icing sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the lavender, mint and lemon zest. Combine the flour, cornflour and salt; mix into the butter and sugar mixture until well blended. Divide dough into two balls, wrap in clingfilm and flatten to about 2.5cm thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 1hour.

Preheat the oven to 170 C / Gas mark 3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 6mm in thickness. Cut into shapes with scone or biscuit cutters. Biscuit stamps will work well on these too. Place on baking trays.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, just until biscuits begin to brown at the edges. Cool for a few minutes on the baking trays then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Click on the image below to go to the website of Mayfield farms and read the fascinating story of how the field was revived.

Are you fond of lavender, as Jane Austen's friend Martha Lloyd was? What do you use it for?

Lavender Fields Forever

2011-08-13T10:15:00.002+01:00

It's the height of the lavender season and what a relief it is to spot a sea of flowing blue-purple on an undulating hillside not too far from Croydon, which achieved notoriety in the news this week as fires raged and looting and rioting became the order of the day.

The Surrey Downs (the foothills, not the real downs) are an ocean of calm after the nervous tension of the week. There is something hypnotic and heady about walking about with lavender surrounding me as far as my eye can see. A magnificent calm descends over me. Sight and aroma combine to cast a much needed soothing spell, smoothing away the jitters. I weave in and out of the neat rows, smiling at others who clearly feel the same.

This is one of the charms of the English countryside (even if this field is more urban than country). A sign points to the field with the words Public Footpath (or it could have been Bridleway, same thing, since I don't ride). This means, ultimately, that you're allowed to ramble all over the place.

There's some comfort, too, in knowing that lavender grew in the same location through the 18th and 19th century right until the late Victorian era. In fact large segments of the area I live in were once swathed with lavender fields. What a sight it must have been!

My gran's knitted hanger w/lavender. Her own lacework

Unfortunately, with the growth of the perfume industry, the simple aroma of lavender was rejected as too homegrown and simple. It came to be associated with the Victorians (and the Edwardians) and times past, conjuring images of old fashioned cupboards, knitted hangers with lavendar bags. Or posies and handkerchiefs sprinkled in lavender to cover the rank smell of sewage when heavy rain flooded the streets of the old industrial cities. My grandmother -- who died last year at the grand old age of almost 101 -- certainly used them to ward off moths.

As civilization grew more complex and sophisticated, simple perfumes like lavender were regarded with contempt. With advertisements hawking expensive perfumes to stimulate your sexual appeal , poor lavender with its association as a moth repellent (even more old-fashioned than moth balls) didn't stand a chance. Lavender was consigned to a dusty and forgotten attic. The lavender fields all but disappeared into the history books.

Luckily, a very few persisted, indifferent to the coming and going of fashions, and a few were revived. Mayfield is one, as is the Carshalton Lavender Project, which is working to bring back Carshalton Lavender to its former glory. Carshalton Lavender is considered once of the finest lavenders in the world.

Which is why I was able to take a friend visiting from the US to see the glorious (and organic) Mayfields, lying in a blaze of purple on a small hillside.

Perspectives on Mr. Darcy

2011-08-06T16:20:00.001+01:00

Click on image above to visit the Extravaganza

As part of the month-long Austenesque Extravagnaza over at Austenesque Reviews, I've written a post for Spotlight Saturday along with a small challenge for those of you who like to see Mr. Darcy from different points of view. I'd be very happy to see you there -- I'm sure you can contribute a great deal to the discussion.

Return of the Native -- I'm back!

2011-08-03T22:14:00.002+01:00

There's something to be said about coming home.

Of course, I haven't left my wonderful friends at Austen Authors behind. On the contrary. After almost a year together I couldn't do without them. You can still find me there, but I'll be travelling hither and thither, dipping a big toe here, a big toe there (and some little ones, too).

Not much of a landscape

I haven't chosen my toes metaphor randomly. In fact, toes are rather important to me at the moment, since I broke my leg and had it suspended in a cast right in front of me for a long time. This gave me time to contemplate the universe and the nature of toes. It was the first time I wondered why we have toenails (other than for something to paint), and why they didn't disappear some time during our evolution, since we hardly hang by our toenails any more. Nor do we use them to fight (like claws), to dig the ground for grub, or make holes to bury our cache of nuts. You'd think nature would have done away with them by now. After all, if our tails -- which were considerably bigger -- could drop off, why not our toenails?

Not my toes, alas!

I suppose they may function as protection. Remember the last time you dropped that hammer on your toes? Lucky you had toenails or it would have been a lot worse.

Still, they weren't any use when I broke my leg, so we're back to the original question.

As you can see, during my absence I have been engaged in extremely profound reflections.

Austen Authors Invitation

2010-09-02T16:22:00.002+01:00

Writers of Jane Austen fiction

cordially invite you to the

Launch

‘Austen Authors’

and to share in our passion for her world

... because there’s never enough Jane Austen.

We look forward to the pleasure of your company on

Monday, September 6, 2010,

and daily thereafter.

Migrating to new blog

2010-08-30T10:25:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone. I haven't been updating for several reasons. One of the main reasons is that I've been inundated with spam messages that keep coming in, which has been extremely frustrating. Thank goodness I set up the blog to intercept the comments!

The good news is that I've now joined a new blog especially set up for Jane Austen sequel enthusiasts, which includes many of your favourite Austenesque Authors (at least, it includes quite a few of mine). This means I'm going to be migrating over to the new blog, though I'll keep this blog here for the time being. We'll be coming live on September 6th, so make sure to drop in on that day to see what's in store for you! I'm sure you'll find everything your Austenesque heart could wish for.

Jane Austen inspired Anthology to be published by Random House

2010-05-05T10:28:00.002+01:00

I am very pleased to announce that I will be participating in an anthology of short stories inspired by Jane Austen to be published in 2011 by Random House.

Of course, I won't the only one. I'm listing the participants below. If you enjoy Austen parliterature, I'm sure you'll recognize quite a few names here.

Pamela Aidan (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman Trilogy)
Elizabeth Aston (Mr. Darcy’s Daughters, & Writing Jane Austen)
Stephanie Barron (A Jane Austen Mystery Series, & The White Garden)
Carrie Bebris (Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries Series)
Diana Birchall (Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma, & Mrs. Elton in America)
Frank Delaney (Shannon, Tipperary, & Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show)
Monica Fairview (The Darcy Cousins, & The Other Mr. Darcy)
Karen Joy Fowler (Jane Austen Book Club, & Wits End)
Amanda Grange (Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, & Mr. Darcy’s Diary)
Syrie James (The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, & The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte)
Diane Meier (The Season of Second Chances)
Janet Mullany (Bespelling Jane Austen, & Rules of Gentility)
Jane Odiwe (Lydia Bennet’s Story, & Willoughby’s Return)
Beth Pattillo (Jane Austen Ruined My Life, & Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart)
Alexandra Potter (Me & Mr. Darcy, & The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather: A Novel)
Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino Bradway (Lady Vernon & Her Daughter)
Myretta Robens (Pemberley.com , Just Say Yes, & Once Upon a Sofa)
Margaret C. Sullivan (AustenBlog.com, & The Jane Austen Handbook)
Adriana Trigiani (Brava Valentine, Very Valentine, & Lucia, Lucia)
Laurie Viera Rigler (Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, & Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict)
Lauren Willig (The Pink Carnation Series)

There is still room for one more participant, to be chosen in a competition run by The Republic of Pemberley.

For more information about the anthology and the competition, please visit Austenprose, since Austenesque reviewer Laurel Ann is the one who put this fantastic anthology together.

Thoughts on Bright Star: Between romantic poetry and Jane Austen

2010-04-23T11:01:00.004+01:00

Laurel Anne's post on Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine reminded me that Bright Star had been sitting on top of my tv for some time, and that it was time to watch it. Bright Star is the story of the doomed poet John Keats' (Ben Whishaw) relationship with his next door neighbor Frances/Fanny Brawne (Abby Cornish).

Having seen Jane Campion's The Piano some years since, I knew this was not going to be steamy fast-moving romance. The music of the opening credits sets the tone of the film, and that never wavers: quiet, dignified, beautiful and poignet.

For those of us used to watching Jane Austen adaptations, the film is a feast for the eyes -- particularly at the beginning when Fanny channels all her creative instincts into creating one lavish costume after the other. The outdoor shots are heavenly (literally, if we are following Keats' poetry) particularly the spring shots. They are especially delightful when we see things through Keats' eye: whether it's 'Ode to a Nightingale' as we hear birds sing, "My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains/My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk," or the superb shot of Keats "floating" on a tree full of blossoms.

There are echoes of Jane Austen in the film. Fanny's supreme self-assurance at the beginning is reminiscent of Gwyneth Paltrow's Emma, and I couldn't help comparing Margaret/Toots (Edie Martin), Fanny's sister, to another Margaret in Sense and Sensibility. (Is it just me, seeing Jane Austen everywhere, but doesn't the still on the left remind you of Jane Austen's portrait?) The restraint of the lovers is also reminiscent of Jane Austen, though there is no smouldering Mr Darcy here. This is where the film departs from Austen. The romance itself is not played out Jane Austen style. After all, it's about a Romantic poet, and the poetry speaks for itself

In this sense the film captures beautifully the often confusing tension in Regency England between the new wave of Romanticism -- the cult of nature and stormy passion -- and the ideals of Reason and Wit which were still highly valued by society, and which Jane Austen embodies to a large extent.

Jane Campion makes this explicit by having Fanny argue at the beginning that she is more interested in wit than in poetry. The transformation that comes over Fanny as she moves from one to the other is reflected in her costumes; her elegant, crisp, and carefully crafted outfits gradually become looser, with large floppy shirt collars, looser hair and more down-to-earth clothing.

(I'm wondering if the hat that gave Georgiana so much grief in The Darcy Cousins wasn't something like this?)

Jane Campion also captures a specific aspect of Romanticism that is reflected in many of the romantics' works -- their obsession with death, a particularly poignent aspect of their writing since several of the major romantic poets died young: Keats at 25, Shelley at 32, Byron at 36.

Most moving, I thought, was how the film doesn't shy away from showing the raw and absolute nature of poverty. However much we might want the lovers to be together, we know that the grinding poverty John Keats faces is a destructive force, and very different from the genteel 'poverty' Fanny is used to.

A film well worth seeing for the wonderful way it converts the Romantic sensibility into images, and for a love story that will cost you a box of tissues.

Click to see a trailer of Bright Star.

The Other Mr Darcy now available on Kindle, and Volcanic Ash

2010-04-16T12:46:00.001+01:00

Just discovered that The Other Mr Darcy is back on Kindle again. I know some of you were asking about that. The Darcy Cousins, by the way, is already on Kindle.

The big story in the UK now is the Volcanic Ash that is descending upon us. It's certainly ironic that this happened just after my last post! I promise you I can't predict volcanic eruptions, though I did once have an incident in which I "predicted" an earthquake.

I was living in Corvallis, Oregon, at the time. I was supposed to meet a friend of mine for our regular brisk walk, but when she called me to agree on the time, I told her I wasn't up to it.
"I don't know what it is," I said. "I feel kind of shakey, as if the ground is unsteady under my feet. I don't feel good at all."
My friend laughed. "That's the worst excuse to get out of exercise I've heard yet!"
I protested that it was true, but I couldn't quite explain it.

That night when I was sleeping, I woke to the sound of rattling objects. I turned on the light. My books on the shelves had moved, and several of them had fallen (of course, I'd look at my books first!). I was puzzled, but since nothing else happened, I shrugged and went back to sleep.

The next day my friend woke me up with a excited phone call and told me there had been a mild earthquake the night before. "I can't believe it! You know, you can make a fortune, being able to predict earthquakes before they happen."

I don't know if I can, since I've never been in an earthquake again, very fortunately.

Meanwhile, I'm daily awaiting one of two things: the ash itself, which has already fallen on numerous communities in Scotland, and the spectacular sunsets painted by Turner and featured in The Darcy Cousins.

It's oddly silent outside. There is the constant rumble of traffic, of course, but I didn't realize how much the thundering of airplanes intrudes on the corner of our consciousness. I live about 45 minutes from Heathrow and about 20 minutes from Gatwick, and although planes rarely take a direct route overhead they're still always there, somewhere in the distance. Now with all the airplanes grounded, the skies are soundless. When there are no cars passing by, the silence is eery, reminiscent of by-gone times.

I wonder how many other things intrude on our consciousness without us noticing, and we become aware of them only when they're absent? That's if we don't think of all the unseen and unheard things that pass through us and around us -- microwaves, satelite signals, ultraviolate rays, and all the sounds that are just beyond our hearing.

Meanwhile, I wait for the ash to descend, and for the airplanes to ascend again. Their absence seems like a loss. I want them again, hovering above me like great birds, taking people across the world to their various destinations -- holidays, new beginnings, escapes, tragic events, and mundane business trips -- the spectrum of human emotions flying above us like self-sufficient worlds.

The Day the Planes Stood Still.

Snowy Peaks and Volcanic Eruptions: The Year Without Summer

2010-04-10T19:24:00.000+01:00

I heartily beg your forgiveness for this lamentable lapse in blogging. I would like to remind you that though I am not blogging here, I am blogging elsewhere, so you can still enjoy my insightful and witty remarks ;-) if you follow my blog tour (dates and locations on the right).

Meanwhile, I'd like to share some photos from a trip I made to Switzerland (you may remember that I have a 100 year old grandmother that lives there) since I can't resist it. Nothing to do with Austen, though there is a strong Regency connection, since Byron and the Shelleys spend the summer of 1816 in Switzerland.

Unfortunately, it was a very unpleasant summer because it was the notorious "year without summer". A cold spell hit the northern atmosphere after Mount Tambora erupted in 1815, sending debris into the atmosphere resulting in weather chaos. Crops failed, leading to food shortages, famine, and riots. The flooding and the cold led to the spread of disease as well.

It was in Switzerland, on a dark and stormy night, with the gloomy weather preying on her, that Mary Shelley penned her famous Frankenstein. Imagine Frankenstein's famous monster in the cold snowy peaks above. They look quite beautiful now, don't they? At the time though, the snow was a source of misery for thousands, not only in Europe, but in the Northeast of America and Quebec as well, where thousands of farmers faced financial failure and were forced to migrate.

It is certainly a very good thing The Darcy Cousins is set the year before, otherwise it would have been quite impossible for Georgiana and Clarissa to enjoy rowing on the river or visit the ruins of Waverley Abbey.

The Year of the Hat 1814

2010-03-26T21:56:00.003Z

One could call 1814 the Year of the Hat. The fashionable young lady of the time was quite spoilt for choices, some of them quite extreme. There was always the turban, which was still in, though in lighter materials. But if you really wanted to be all the rage, then you had to be aware of two things. The first is that height was important – some of the hats could easily compete with a man’s top hat for height. The second was that elaborate trimmings were essential. If you were able to combine flowers with lace with different coloured silk, then you could count yourself successful. (Image from Clarmont College Collection)

Which leaves young ladies such as Georgiana Darcy with a difficult choice. Should she be fashionable, or should she not? Her cousin Clarissa advocates that she needs to take more risks with her outfits, and convinces her to buy a rather conspicuous hat. But is it the right choice? The following excerpt from The Darcy Cousins illustrates the difficulty of making such onerous decisions.

“We have bought ourselves new hats,” said Clarissa, glancing sideways at her reflection in the window. “You must tell us what you think. You must be perfectly candid, mind.”
“I congratulate you on your choices, for you look very dashing indeed,” said Mr Channing. “You, too, Miss Darcy. Your hat is charming, but of course, so is its wearer.”
His eyes lingered on her face. She had intended to give him a dazzling smile, but her smile wavered under his intense scrutiny. He continued to gaze at her until Clarissa thanked him very prettily, and he turned to respond to her.
Still, Clarissa could not be satisfied when the other gentleman in the carriage had not yet expressed an opinion.
“Mr Gatley, you have said nothing.”
“I think your turban very pretty. It suits your character well, and it is exactly what I would have expected you to wear. I cannot make a judgement on Miss Darcy’s hat, however, for it is too modern for an old-fashioned gentleman such as I.”
Considering the exquisite and expensive tailoring of his navy waistcoat, matched with a cravat that was a masterpiece of white perfection, one could be forgiven for thinking him more concerned with fashion than he admitted.
Georgiana understood his comment as a rebuff, and turned her face to hide the conflicting feelings which were surely branded on her face. On the one hand, she was chastised, for she knew she should not have allowed Clarissa to convince her to buy the hat. She should have trusted her own judgement. On the other hand, she – very naturally – resented the slight.
“Look at what you have done now, Mr Gatley,” said Clarissa, “you have made my cousin sad.”
“Come, Gatley, must you be so thoughtless?” said Channing. “Surely you can do better than that.”
“I am not as skilled at flattering ladies as others of my acquaintance are,” he said, his colour heightened. “I never study my compliments. When I pay tribute to someone, it is because I mean it.”
Georgiana, further annoyed now by Clarissa’s interference, deemed it time to speak, if only to show how very little Mr Gatley’s opinion mattered to her.
“Some gentlemen seek to stand out from the crowd by professing to be harsher than others, and so lay claim to the higher moral ground. That is how they assert their own superiority,” she said, in a light, dismissive tone. “In such cases, I believe, it is far better not to give their remarks too much importance by taking them seriously.”
“How so, Miss Darcy?” cried Gatley, “When I am endeavouring to be as sincere as possible?”
“By George!” said Channing, bursting into laughter. “I think she has your measure, Gatley!”

© Monica Fairview. This text may not be reproduced except with the express permission of the author.

12 Days to Launch: Darcy Cousins in the US

2010-03-19T22:54:00.002Z

I can't believe there are only twelve days left for The Darcy Cousins to come out. And of course it's always thrilling to start reading the reviews and see all the different perspectives people bring to your writing. I've already had two reviews that I enjoyed very much -- Laurel Ann's over in Austenprose, and Jean Wan's on All About Romance.

Meanwhile, I've been having a great time reading Jane Austen's Sanditon with the group read, and following the guest posts on Austenprose. I've certainly learned a lot about the fashionable resorts of the time, what ladies wear to promenade, and Jane Austen's attitude towards the world of taking the waters.

I particularly enjoyed learning that Colin Firth's modesty in Pride and Prejudice's wet shirt scene was actually historically inaccurate, since males at the time generally bathed nude in lakes and rivers. Well, the filmakers missed their chance...

Swan Protest

2010-03-13T14:41:00.001Z

My attention was captured today by the picture on the left, especially because I loved the caption The Guardian attached to it:

‘This brave creature made a one-swan sitdown protest in the middle of Kew bridge, south-west London, causing traffic chaos for over an hour before it remembered that is was mute and therefore incapable of communicating its demands or having them met. Whereupon it flew gracefully away. And the Daily Mail Scoffs: As excuses go, it sounds unlikely - 'Sorry I'm late, I got held up by a swan'.

The picture resonated with me in several ways. The first was that it reminded me the flock of geese that impeded Caroline Bingley on her way to Pemberley in The Other Mr Darcy. She certainly had the excuse: ‘Sorry I’m late, I got held up by a flock of geese’.

It also resonated with my new novel, The Darcy Cousins, in which swans are featured as a centerpiece -- so to speak. Both editions of my novels have swans on the cover, a reference to a boating trip Georgiana Darcy takes on the river Thames. And of course Kew Bridge is down the road – or river – from Richmond, where an important scene in the novel occurs.

Fortunately for Georgiana and her companions, she did not take her boating trip in the third week of July, otherwise she would have found the river rather crowded, since that’s when Swan Upping takes place.

Swans have been part of the Thames landscape since at least the 12th century. In the 15th century, a Royal Charter established Swan Upping, in which a swan census is taken and young cygnets are marked. By this Charter, the swans on certain areas of the river were divided up between two Livery companies and the Crown, the “Seigneur of the Swans.” Accordingly, three different groups of skiffs round up the swans on the river and mark them: those collected by the Dyers (cloth dyers) are marked once on the bill, those collected by the Vintners’ (wine merchants) are marked twice, and those caught by the Queen’s skiffs are left unmarked, since by law all unmarked swans in a certain area of the Thames belong to the monarch (the marks have been replaced by identity markers). While originally this was done because swans graced the royal table, this has not been the case for a long time, and the ceremony now serves an environmental purpose, which is the protection of mute swans.

This ceremony takes place only in specific areas of the Thames. Traditionally, the swans in other areas had other owners, and were marked in various ways to indicate ownership. To see the markings that were still registered in Georgian and Regency times, follow this link.

Mute swans have for the longest time symbolized harmonious love, since they mate for life, and their lives in the wild can be as long as twenty years. Male and female swans also share equally in taking care of their nest and their young cygnets.

And then there is of course the story of ‘The Ugly Duckling’, in which an ugly duck that ostracized by its fellow ducklings because it doesn't fit in grows up to become a beautiful swan. In the novel, Georgiana’s tries so hard to fulfill Society’s expectations, yet feels somehow that she doesn’t belong. The swan plays an important role in her understanding of who she is and what she wants.

All this to explain why I loved the picture of a swan sitting in the middle of the road, asserting its existence, and daring anyone to deprive it of its right to be there!

The Darcy Cousins: Official Launch Day Today!

2010-02-28T22:34:00.002Z

Today's the day! The official launch day of the UK hardcover edition of The Darcy Cousins!

Between you and me, The Darcy Cousins feels rather special to me because I had a good time writing it. The Other Mr Darcy was a book that required toil and a lot of energy. Getting into Miss Bingley's mind wasn't easy, and it was also a challenge to show Robert Darcy entirely from her viewpoint. I was determined throughout not to show things from the hero's perspective, because that's what Jane Austen did with Mr Darcy, apart from the famous letter, of course. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't an uphill struggle by any stretch of the imagination, but it required sustained effort.

By the time I got to write The Darcy Cousins, I began to work out how Jane Austen really did that. Her sly style is very deceptive. She doesn't show his point of view, but because of the omniscient narrator there's a great deal that gets slipped in so that we don't miss his point of view at all. I had fun with that idea. I also had fun with having Georgiana and Clarissa interacting -- two very different young ladies with very different ideas about how to approach attractive young gentlemen. And I really enjoyed writing about Lady Catherine, who takes her villainy a step farther. Plus I was able to write about Mr Darcy as a brother, and to give some insight into the Darcys' happy marriage from a different perspective.

In other words, there was a great deal of fun to be had.

Of course all writing is labour intensive, so I should add that the notion of 'fun' is relative...

So here it is -- the one and only: The Darcy Cousins, now available for purchase at Waterstones, Amazon.co.uk and for my international audience, from The Book Depository.

I hereby cut the ribbon and launch the new publication.

I will however have to excuse myself immediately because I hear champagne flutes clinking in another room. Could they possibly have opened the bottle without me?

An Improper Suitor: New Paperback Large Print Edition

2010-02-15T08:00:00.001Z

My Regency novel, An Improper Suitor, has now come out in a paperback Large Print edition by Camden Press/Chivers. This is very reasonably priced and is available in the UK from BBC audiobooks. The original release is still available from The Book Depository with free international shipping.

Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott: pioneers of the novel

2010-02-05T12:59:00.000Z

I have a new blog up on my group blog, Historical Romance UK, in which I talk about how novels were perceived during the time of Jane Austen. So if you'd like to head over there and tell me what you think, I'd love it.

See you there!

The Other Mr Darcy named Buried Treasure 2009 on All About Romance

2010-02-02T23:20:00.001Z

Senior Reviewer Rike Horstmann at All About Romance selected The Other Mr. Darcy as her Buried Treasure pick for 2009!

I'm really thrilled to see my name up there on the list. It really is an honor, since this means it's one of only 16 books from smaller publishers or new authors that has been highlighted as deserving special attention. Hurray!

The Other Mr Darcy now available on Kindle

2010-02-01T23:07:00.004Z

Unfortunately, The Other Mr Darcy has been temporarily removed from Kindle. I'm not sure about the reason, but I believe it is being sorted out. I hope to be able to announce that it is back up again soon. Many apologies for the inconvenience!

Previous text:

Just wanted to let those of you who are in possession of this marvelous space-saver that The Other Mr Darcy is available internationally on Kindle. This means that those of you who own Kindle can now download it wherever your are, so I no longer need to talk about US editions and UK editions, which is far more democratic, in my mind.

Click here to see more about the Kindle edition of The Other Mr Darcy.

Of course, Kindle isn't exactly a freebee...

Proofs and Covers for The Darcy Cousins

2010-01-18T18:04:00.002Z

Today I received the proofs for The Darcy Cousins, my second book in the Darcy Cousins series, and I'm thrilled, as it means it will soon be time for the novel to be released in the USA. The date is set for April 1st, which isn't an April's fool trick (I hope).

Here's the Sourcebooks cover:

Quite a change from The Other Mr Darcy, isn't it? I love the young lady in the foreground. She has very expressive eyes.

Many people are under the mistaken impression that writers decide what they want on their book covers. The truth of the matter is that many writers have little control over what goes on the cover of their books.

At Sourcebooks, however, I was lucky enough to have had some imput, which is why we now have a young lady on the front. The original cover was like this:

I must say, this cover is quite lovely. It captures the playfulness of the novel really well. I especially like the colors. But the costumes weren't right.

Since it would have been impossible to redesign the cover entirely at this stage (and in the book industry, time is always short) the thoughtful young lady was introduced.

The Robert Hale version (UK) of the novel couldn't be more different. This cover uses original artwork from the artist/book designer:

Isn't the piano wonderful? And I love the sense of conspiracy between the two young women, with the young regency gentlemen strolling casually in the background.

Both covers are based on a scene in the novel where a group of young people go for a boat ride on the Thames at Richmond.

What do you think?

The Most Romantic Character Is:

2009-12-03T11:39:00.004Z

I popped in to see the results of the poll conducted at Laura's Reviews for the most romantic male character in literature, and discovered that Jamie Fraser (Outlander) was the winner, followed by Rochester (Jane Eyre), with Mr Darcy as third.

Somewhere at the bottom of the list was Sharpe (Sharpe's series), which puzzled me, living in the UK as I do, since Sharpe is very popular over here, and Bernard Cromwell's books are just about everywhere. Then Laura mentioned that she hadn't seen the series and I realized that perhaps people in the US haven't had as much exposure to it.

I confess I haven't read many of the Bernard Cromwell novels, mostly because I have so many other books I want to read first, but the few I have read are goldmines of information about the everyday realities of the Napoleonic wars from the point of view of an ordinary soldier, albeit a very "heroic" one. However, I did devour the Collector's Edition, which is 14 episodes from the series, often going through two or three episodes in a row.

Sharpe is a commoner who manages, through a combination of intelligence, courage, foolhardiness, good humour and luck, to rise up through the ranks, but the struggle between him and the "gentleman soldiers" and officers who have bought their way to the top is very much a reprentation of an eternal class struggle. Played by Sean Bean, Sharpe comes across as a perfect mix of sensitive and caring along with tough and doggedly enduring. Along with his constant companion, the Irishman Harper (Daragh O'Malley), who has to endure all kinds of attacks and slurs because of his origin, he refuses to accept the limitations placed upon them, and stubbornly insists on holding his own no matter what is thrown at him.

Note that Sharpe and Harper here aren't wearing the red uniform the younger Bennet sisters are so enthusiastic about. Sharpe does wear the red uniform earlier in his career, but later becomes one of the elite Riflemen whose uniforms in "rifle green" were designed by their founder Coote-Manningham to provide more camoflage than the very distinctive red!

It's not a coincidence that Bernard Cornwall "frees" Sharpe later from the red infantrymen uniform, as he gives us a very unromantic image of it, particularly in the context of India. Here's his description: "Their coats were wool, designed for battlefields in Flanders, not India, and the scarlet dye had run in the heavy rains so that the coats were stained white with dried sweat. Every man in the 33rd wore a leather stock, a cruel high collar that dug into the flesh of his neck, and each man’s long hair had been pulled harshly back, greased with candle wax, then twisted about a small sand-filled leather bag that was secured with a strip of black leather so that the hair hung like a club at the nape of the neck. The hair was then powdered white with flour, and though the clubbed and whitened hair looked smart and neat, it was a haven for lice and fleas." (Sharpe's Tiger) Of course the sweat and lice were not an issue with the officers stationed in Meryton.

Fortunately, in the section of the series I saw, Sharpe didn't have to deal with the restrictions of that uniform, though he is constantly in conflict with his superiors (especially the titled nobility who do little fighting themselves) over what constitutes a sensible uniform for a serious soldier.

The only thing I don't like about the series is the inconstant nature of his "love" relationships, since he seems to have the capacity to fall in and out of love a bit too often for my taste. But that's the nature of a series, which compresses the novels and has to choose what to focus on. Besides, I suppose -- and I can just see the producers saying that -- how is Sharpe to be a real hero without having women throwing themselves at him? Though admittedly he does tend to go for the stronger, more independently-minded women, such as the Spanish resistance fighter Teresa (Assumpta Serna), which is a point in his favour.

Other than that, the Sharpe series is a wonderful way to find out more about Regency society outside the ballrooms and enclosed spaces of London society.

I didn't vote for Sharpe in Laura's Review, mind you, because of course my first vote goes to the Darcys -- Mr Darcy (the original, of course, even if I love my Robert) and Mark Darcy from Bridget Jones' Diary. But really, if you're looking for a bigger than life, shrewd, and ruggedly handsome hero, then Sharpe's the one.

National Novel Writing Month productive, but rain, rain, please go away...

2009-11-30T10:22:00.001Z

I've been trying to catch up on my writing, so I haven't been here as often as I like. As NaNoWriMo winds down, though I haven't met my goal of 50,000 words in a month, I'm satisfied that it's been a productive experience. My emotional pendulum swings between disappointment and a sense of achievement.

There's always next year.

In the meantime, I haven't been visiting any National Trust or historical properties for a long time because the weather has been so atrocious. I really jinxed myself (and the whole of England with me) when I wrote that piece a while ago about the myth of rain here in England. Just to prove me wrong, it's been pouring almost continuously for what seems like months now, though I know it must only have been a couple of weeks. Everything is growing damp and moldy, though the famed English verdure is magnificent -- the grass looks almost edible, it's so crisp and fresh. The sheep must be grazing very happily. I wonder if they're bothered by the rain?

I can afford to joke about it, because it's just been an inconvience for me. But for people in Cumbria, the rain is far from just an inconvenience. The flooding has been devastating, destroying many traditional businesses in hard-hit Cockermouth as bridges collapsed and water took over the streets.

I was particularly heartbroken by the plight of a bookshop owner in Cumbria, Catherine Hetherington, who returned after being evacuted because of the flooding, only to find all her books completely destroyed.

Despite its name, the New Bookshop has been in Catherine's family for 40 years, and was just renovated last year.

Men in (Casual) Regency Regimentals, and news snippets

2009-11-17T22:17:00.003Z

For a fun thing today, I thought I'd redirect you to Regency historical writer Jo Beverley's website, where she has photos with young men in (admittedly casual) Regency-era Regimentals, just to give you a sense of what Lydia Bennet was ogling when she was chasing after the officers in Meryton. Can't blame Lydia, really.

Some news items

I'm very pleased to let you know that The Other Mr Darcy was number one in the category Regency Romance on Amazon.ca yesterday. I should add that Amazon represents a very small share in book sales, but still, I'm really amazed (no pun intended)! (Please wait as I do a little jig)

There is still a chance to win a copy of The Other Mr Darcy out there at Mary Simonsen's blog. Mary Simonsen is a long term Jane Austen fan fiction writer whose Austen inspired novel Searching for Pemberley will be published by Sourcebooks in December 2009. I encountered Mary several times here on my blog during the Jane Austen discussions last month.

Meaning of a Jane Austen Quotation

2009-11-15T11:45:00.001Z

"Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way." Emma

I was looking at this quotation yesterday, wondering what it means, and thought I'd put in up for people to share their thoughts about it. I rather think of it as a tongue twister but for the brain -- a brain twister. You have to slow down and think about it for your mind to be able to follow its twists and turns.

So what do you think it means? Is Jane Austen supporting impudence, and saying that if you're impudent you can carry off anything, and she admires impudent people for it? Or is it the opposite? That silly things are still silly, even if it's sensible people do them? Or is she condemning the fact that sensible people can get away with silly things because of people's perceptions that they are sensible? Or is she laughing at us and talking about herself?

Let me know what you think Jane Austen is saying here.

Newsflash! The Other Mr Darcy is a Desert Isle Keeper on All About Romance!

2009-11-13T11:58:00.002Z

Just wanted to share this exhilerating news with everyone:

The Other Mr Darcy was given the much coveted title of DIK (Desert Isle Keeper) on the romance site All About Romance, along with a super-great review.

If you want to see one reader's visual interpretation of Robert Darcy, check out Laura's at The Calico Critic. I love it!

Her blog is also one of the few remaining opportunities to win a free copy of The Other Mr Darcy. Only three days left!

I'd also like to thank Laura for the Creativ Blogger award she gave me (on the right) for the Pride and Prejudice month-long questions. I'm very flattered.

London Fog?

2009-11-09T11:25:00.002Z

Today we woke up to find a thin mist spreading over everything. It's the first "fog" we've had here in southeast London this autumn. Fog is unfamiliar enough that my daughter looked out of the window with shining eyes: "Jack Frost is here!" she exclaimed. "It means it's almost Christmas!" There wasn't a trace of frost anywhere, so clearly this strange weather event is very unfamiliar.

Which got me thinking about the famed London fogs. What happened to them? My father described fogs in the fifties so thick that you would lose your way home, wondering around and around for hours without being able to see further than your hand. Even allowing for some exaggeration, we know London is notorious for its fogs. Jack the Ripper would not be the same without the swirling fog, and where would Sherlock Holmes be without the London fog? What of the famous pea-soup fog or pea souper? Or, as it was called in the 19th century, the London Particular? There are so many descriptions of yellow-green fog in literature that I can only puzzle over the current day absence of this natural phenomena.

A little research reveals that, far from being an exaggeration, my father's description of the fog was in fact understated. In December 1952, over a period of four days, the fog was so thick that people claimed that they could not see their shoes. It was virtually impossible to go anywhere. People abandoned their cars on the road. Not only that, but thousands of people who suffered from respiratory diseases died, their lips turning blue from lack of oxygen.

But far from being a natural phenomenon, the yellow London fog was made up of sulpher compounds resulting from the burning of coal in factories and households. After the Clean Air Act of 1956, which introduced smokeless zones and limited the use of coal particularly for domestic purposes, the pea soupers disappeared.

Which is why my daughter, a couple of generations later, can look out of the window in south east London and fail to recognize the real natural phenomenon called fog.

Pride and Prejudice Contest Winners!!!

2009-11-01T10:41:00.002Z

Just an update on two more suggestions for actors to play Darcy and Elizabeth:

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison when they're older

and Audrey Hepburn with Richard Harris when they were younger

***
Well, all good things must come to an end (sniff).

I've very much enjoyed our month-long exploration of Pride and Prejudice, and was delighted that we had so many diverse opinions. I got to know some of you pretty well after a month of reading your posts (the extra long posts, complaints about Friday mornings, NN (who shall remain unnamed) who liked to come in right at the end) and I have to say it was a pleasure. Amazingly, some of you posted almost every time. Big applause to you!

For those of you who added your opinions later when you discovered the blog or found the time, glad to see you here! For newcomers, there's always time to go back and voice your thoughts. The questions are in the archives, and you can add to them any time if the mood strikes you. Alas, no prize as a reward, however.

Now for the moment you've been waiting for. I wish I could send you all copies of the book, especially those who faithfully came in almost daily to answer questions.

I need to thank Danielle Jackson at Sourcebooks for very generously agreeing to support this contest. I also need to thank you all for making it really fun and worthwhile.

I did the draw the old fashioned way. I put the name for each seperate entry on a piece of paper, and put it in a box. I then gave the box to my daughter who had a lot of fun pulling out the names and reading them out to me.

The four runners up receive a copy of The Other Mr Darcy:

The winners are:

Elizabeth B
MarySimenson
Lori
and
Laura's Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

The lucky Grand Prize Winner receives a copy of The Other Mr Darcy plus a box of chocolates:

The Grand Prize goes to

Kt

Congratulations to all the winners! I hope you enjoy reading the novel. For everyone else, The Other Mr Darcy is available here. And don't forget to come back and let me know what you think.

Winners:
Please make sure to contact me at monica dot fairview at googlemail dot com to let me know your e-mail and address.

Halloween and... our last Pride and Prejudice question

2009-10-31T11:41:00.002Z

Well, it's Hallowe'en, and apart from the spooky stuff, this is also the night when the barrier between the future and the present is at its thinnest, and you can try and divine who your future life partner will be. At the turn of the 19th century, there were many different traditions to determine this. Here's one of them, from Robert Burns' 1786 poem, Halloween. Jane Austen may well have read this poem, since we know she read Burns' poetry.

Burning the nuts is a favorite charm. They name the lad and lass to each particular nut, as they lay them in the fire; and according as they burn quietly together, or start from beside one another, the course and issue of the courtship will be.-R.B.

The auld guid-wife's weel-hoordit nits

Are round an' round dividend

An' mony lad an' lasses' fates

Are there that night decided

Some kindle couthie side by side

And burn the gither trimly;

Some start awa wi' saucy pride,

An' jump out owre the chimlie

Fu' high that night.

The Jane Austen's Centre Online Magazine has a great article on All Hallow's Eve. Click here to view.

By the way, traditionally, turnips and not pumpkins were carved, but were quickly abandoned once people discovered how much easier it was (?) to carve pumpkins.

Once the candle is lit, the result is apparently much more eerie than a pumpkin

Instructions for carving turnips

Pride and Prejudice Question 31

Jane Austen presented herself very modestly and famously as a miniature worker on her "bits of ivory". Subsequent Victorian biographers entrenched her image very firmly as Auntie Jane, a secluded spinster who scribbled her little books on a little table and consequently was confined to writing about the domestic matters of women.

How would you account for Jane Austen's appeal today? Do you agree with this assessment of her as an author? Does the rise of Chick Lit (significantly, beginning with Bridget Jones' Diary) have anything to do with her current popularity?

How much of that image is true?

(PS You may rant and rave if you wish, it's your last chance!)

Pride and Prejudice's Popularity, and question 30

2009-10-30T09:53:00.001Z

We have one additional contender so far for Mr Darcy: Eric Dane. What do you think? I picked an image where he could well be Darcy at his most arrogant.

I hope people will continue to post some other ideas for either Elizabeth or Mr Darcy so I can put up the photos.

Meanwhile, there was some great answers as to why more people tend to gravitate towards Pride and Prejudice rather than Jane Austen's other works: the timeless and archetypal love story which is at its centre, the witty remarks, Mr Darcy as a hero who drives the plot, the multiple themes of the novel, Elizabeth as a strong heroine, amount of exposure, its youthful energy and vibrancy, its realistic events.

At the same time, in answer to the original question as to whether sequels to other novels could be successful, a number of people said that they would be very happy to read sequels to other Jane Austen novels.

We're down to one more question after this one. I will be announcing our 5 winners on Sunday 1st November. If there are people out there who have been following the discussions (I know there are quite a few of you) but haven't pitched in, you're running out of time.

Pride and Prejudice Question 30

We haven't talked at all about Jane and her relationship with Bingley on the novel, though we touched upon it briefly. Was Charlotte Lucas right when she said Jane should show her affection more openly? What do you make of the fact that Bingley is so willing to listen to Darcy?

Do you agree with Mr Bennet's assessment: "You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income"? How do you think Jane Austen meant us to see this couple?

Alternative Mr Darcys & Elizabeths, and Pride and Prejudice question 29

2009-10-29T11:10:00.001Z

Well, we had some fun suggestions for Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, though I think we need new blood. The idea was that it would be younger versions of some of these actors that played the roles.

New input would be welcome. If you can think of other actors that would work, please don't hesitate to make suggestions, and I'll put them up on a later blog.

So here's what we have for Elizabeth Bennet: Zooey Deschanel, Scarlet Johansson, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet

For Mr Darcy we have Jude Law, Liam Neeson,

Adrien Brody, Richard Armitage, and James McAvoy.

Pride and Prejudice Question 29

Publishers tend not to publish too many sequels that are not Pride and Prejudice, because they say they don't sell as well. Why is it that people generally seem to prefer Pride and Prejudice to Jane Austen's other novels?

Marriage in Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice question 28

2009-10-28T10:25:00.001Z

The general consensus yesterday about Jane Austen's concept of marriage was that, though sad, it's true that Jane Austen would not encourage her heroines to marry for love if there was no money. Poor Mr Darcy may never have had the chance to marry Elizabeth if he wasn't fabulously rich, though I'd prefer to think she would have loved him anyway.

It's hard for us to understand this now, when there are career opportunities out there for people who are determined to improve their lot in life (though with the economic crunch, there are certain limitations), but in Jane Austen's world, few people could aspire to move beyond their class. People like Captain Wentworth are all the more "heroic" because they actually succeeded. The general objection to the Navy was that people could rise from the ranks and advance despite not having the backing one would need in the army. (If you haven't seen/read Sharpe, that's a great place to see how hard it is to become an officer if you're a commoner). With the prize money involved during war time, you could accumulate a fortune. Otherwise, if you did manage to make money some way or the other, it was considered "trade", which automatically excluded you from the ranks of the gentry. Luckily, with the industrial revolution, the middle class became much bigger, and the kind of social structure we know today grew out of it. Certainly for women marriage is no longer one of the few possible options. But in Jane Austen's world, it was a given. You had to marry well, and marrying for love was a luxury few could afford, if you happened to love the wrong person.

Well, we're almost at the end of this wonderful month of questions. Three more questions, and I'll be announcing the winners. Make sure to tune in on the 31st to find out if you're one of the five winners. You might have a book and a box of chocolates coming your way!

Pride and Prejudice question 28

Today's question is a film question: Setting aside previous actors who have played these roles, which actors would you like to see in the roles of Elizabeth and Darcy? Why would they be good in these roles?

Pride and Prejudice question 27

2009-10-27T14:53:00.000Z

I enjoyed all your posts yesterday. You've pinpointed yet another example of Jane Austen's independence of spirit and refusal to give in to what was fashionable at the time. Her refusal to allow sentimentality to cloud her characters' relationships sets her aside from earlier writers such as Richardson, whose works were a mix of lustfulness and morality, and from the Gothic writers of time, with their fainting and terrified heroines beating off evil villains, and from the Brontes with their brooding dark heroes, and even from those of our contemporary romances "teeming with throbbing passion" as Elizabeth B puts it. If Elizabeth and Darcy are soul-mates, it is only because they have changed and learned to adapt to each other, as Laura's Review points out, not because they are consumed by passion. Or, as kt says, Jane Austen isn't concerned with the "drama" of love, she's concerned with the practicality of it.

My question today springs directly from what you have said. Feel free to object strongly to the question.

Pride and Prejudice question 26

What is Jane Austen's concept of marriage? She describes in some detail the economic status of each of the eligible gentlemen, while she says very little about their physical attributes. Is that an indication of her own view or society's? Would Pride and Prejudice work as well if Darcy were poor? Does the practical streak she brings to love go so far as to have a woman reject a suitor if he couldn't support her?

BBC Emma Episode 4 and Pride and Prejudice Question 26

2009-10-26T09:56:00.002Z

Well, the new BBC interpretation of Emma is over. Just when I was really getting into it! As I don't want to introduce any spoilers (as if everyone doesn't know what happened!) I won't talk about it in any detail except that I found it very satisfying. Jonny Lee Miller could never rival Mr Darcy for romance, but he plays his role as Mr Knightley admirably. Certainly this is the most romantic production of Emma I've seen. I really loved the way Garai's Emma developed gradually from a really naive, overconfident young woman into a responsible adult who recognizes that people's lives are not to be trifled with, and realizes the very serious consequences of doing so.

I can't help marvelling at the versatility of Sandy Welch, who can move from the dark grit of Gaskell's North and South and the intensity of Jane Eyre to produce a light and airy piece like Emma.

My overall evaluation: Too slow at the beginning (personally, I'd cut the first 20 minutes), and perhaps too rushed at the end, but a very memorable production and one that I know I'll be watching a few times! I learned a lot about Emma from it. This is a very cheerful and heart-warming interpretation, not for the stricter Jane Austen purists, perhaps, but nevertheless a very original and insightful approach.

Pride and Prejudice Question 26

Speaking about romance: It’s been said of Jane Austen: “she refuses to romanticize romance”. What do you think of this statement? What does it mean? Do you agree with this perspective?

Pride and Prejudice Question 25

2009-10-25T16:04:00.000Z

We're almost at the end of a long month of quite challenging questions. For those of you who've been following along, great job! We're in the home stretch! Don't lose energy now! For those of you who're just joined us -- feel free to jump in!

Pride and Prejudice Question 25

What role does Lady Catherine play in Pride and Prejudice. Would you call her role positive or negative?

Elizabeth Bennet's Endearing Qualities, and Pride and Prejudice question 23

2009-10-24T11:47:00.001+01:00

Well, there was no disagreement about Elizabeth being a very likeable heroine!

I would have been shocked if there had been. Among her positive qualities people named her affection towards her sister (Laura's Reviews), her determination and ability to stand up to society and marry for love (Meredith), her lack of self-consciousness (Tracygrrrl) and her ability to laugh at her mistakes and move on (Elizabeth B).

Can you think of other qualities which make Elizabeth so endearing? You can add to the answers any time.

Well, it's raining here in South London. You may think that's the norm here, but in fact it always seems to take us by surprise. People turn very surly on rainy days. It's not at all like when I lived in Oregon, where there would be long stretches when you didn't see the sun at all. Over there, you get used to the on-off drizzle, and of course you have all the jokes about moss growing between your toes, and about recognizing people who weren't from Oregon by the fact that they bother with umbrellas.

In London rain seems to be an insult. People are at their worst when it rains. It's certainly a conversation starter. For while the myth of rainy London doesn't seem hold (but perhaps I have a skewed view of things, having lived in the American Northwest for three years), the legendry conversation about the weather typical of the English definitely does. But this is because the weather shifts and changes constantly. It's very unpredictability leads to good conversations. If it rained constantly, there wouldn't be much to say, would there?

It's time for the question of the day, which hopefully is an easy one for the weekend.

Pride and Prejudice Question 24

What makes Mr Darcy a hero? (If you wish, you can compare him to other heroes of 19th century novels)

Pride and Prejudice Question 23

2009-10-23T10:24:00.000+01:00

I won't post a response to yesterday's questions here, as I posted an exceedingly long comment already.

There isn't any consensus about whether Elizabeth sees Caroline as a rival. In many senses, asking whether Elizabeth unconsciously perceived Caroline as a rival goes against the time period. Since the idea of the unconscious didn't yet exist, JA herself, at least, wouldn't have thought about it that way.

Still, it's fascinating to look back and see if and how writers who are so very skilled at portraying human nature were able to portray this aspect even if the concept didn't exist. I think that's part of why the production of Emma is a bit jarring at the beginning. It's trying to bring in a psychological reading of the novel by giving a background to the characters. I don't think it works initially, but as the play unfolds I can see that it brings a new dimension to the character.

Should we interpret classics using modern concepts? It's a hard call to make, but the argument could also go the other way. Even when we think we're being very objective and historically accurate, who's to say that our twenty-first way of thinking (no matter how accurate we think we are) bears any resemblance to the original? Jane Austen was seen by the later Romantics as very much a part of the old world order, which balanced Neo-Classical concepts such as Wit, Reason, and Order against the cult of Sensibility. We have forgotten these concepts, and we translate Wit as being witty, but there was far more to it than that. It was a whole way of doing things.

This way of thinking is as alien to us as the way we think is to hers. To grasp some of these ideas you have to read Alexander Pope, who lays them out very nicely. But then Pope doesn't have a memorable character anywhere. Jane Austen, on the other hand, was able to create warm blooded human beings whom we can have a crush on in 2009!

I don't know what's up with me today. I seem to be going on and on...

I had better give you my question now, before I start up again. And since there's a general resistance to seeing Elizabeth as "flawed" in any way (though Jane Austen herself famously says: "pictures of perfection make me sick and wicked"), I'll give you the chance to sing Elizabeth's praise.

Pride and Prejudice Question 23

What, in your opinion, (in addition to her fiesty personality and her intelligence) are Elizabeth Bennet's best qualities? What makes us like her so much?

Pride and Prejudice Question 22

2009-10-22T10:28:00.000+01:00

Your enthusiasm is so infectious I think I might rush off and watch Pride and Prejudice yet again, even though I did a marthon viewing just a bit more than a month ago of the Firth version. I'm glad some of you mentioned the Macfadyen version, too. Yes, those gazes are really heart melting, aren't they?

My question for today is something that came up earlier in discussion. A point was raised that Caroline never really took Elizabeth seriously as a rival until the end, despite her catty behavior, because she could never have believed Darcy could be serious about someone like Elizabeth.

At the same time, Elizabeth's flawed viewpoint presents Caroline almost immediately as very disagreeable, despite Jane's protests that they were perfectly nice to her. Putting the two together, here is my question.

Pride and Prejudice Question 22

How much do Caroline and Elizabeth consciously or unconsciously see each other as rivals throughout the story?

Emma Episode 3 and Pride and Prejudice Question 21

2009-10-21T12:18:00.001+01:00

Finally caught up with Emma on the BBC iplayer, and I have to say I really enjoyed this episode. I confess that Emma grows on me. Now that I know where Welch is going with it, I rather like it.

(from Shootastic)

Much as I loved the previous versions of Emma, Garai's makes the most sense. It explains why she's so much into matchmaking: tied down to her father and his ailments, unable to travel and see the world, having few young people in Highbury to associate with. This is most definitely an aspect of Emma that is brought to light. The fact that she is childish and in need of guidance, too. In the past, I always wondered what she saw in Knightly (sorry, Knightly fans). But now I can see that she does need someone to keep her in check, and Knightly is perfect for her. The romance blossoms, by the way, and Knightly redeems himself as a hero.

I also loved the dancing. This is the first time I've actually seen the illustrations of Regency dancing put into practice, and I was delighted at the active and energetic dancing that they do. Now you can see why Mr Darcy disapproves of dancing, and why Knightly hesitates to dance. I had a sudden flashback to a scene in The Sound of Music (if any of have seen it) where Maria and Captain von Trapp are dancing a traditional Austrian dance, and they use the same dance move. Which makes sense. I have read about the waltz at the time being very little like our modern version of it, but this finally puts things in perspective.

A very nice scene, even if they don't say the right words. There's no conversation here about being brother and sister. It does come up later, though, when Emma talks about him being an older brother. However, there is the GAZE, and it's very well done indeed! This is the first production I've seen that succeeds in bringing out the romance.

I'm very happy the whole thing is coming together.

Now for my daily question.

Pride and Prejudice Question 21

There’s been a lot of discussion of the “gaze” scenes in P and P 1995, the scenes in which Elizabeth and Darcy exchange glances. Which is your favourite gaze scene and why?

November is National Novel Writing Month

2009-10-20T12:23:00.001+01:00

Well, it looks like things haven't changed that much in two hundred years. You've named most of the characters in Pride and Prejudice as people you could come across today! No one mentioned Mr Collins, I noticed.

The end of November is coming closer, as is the time for the draw. I really can't believe how quickly this month has passed! As a reminder, for copyright reasons, the contest is open only to those in the US and Canada. I'm looking forward especially to seeing who the lucky person is who is going to win that Grand Prize!

At the moment I'm gearing up for National Novel Writing month, a misnomer of course because it's pretty international. NaNoWriteMo, if you haven't heard of it, is a frantic month of writing in which your goal is to produce a 50,000 word novel by the end of November, and is a wonderful goal setting exercise. This will be my third year doing it. I haven't done anything with the "novels" I wrote during this month, but I've used the time to experiment, and to play about with genres that are different from my own, and it's been very useful that way. It's also a wonderful excercise in letting go of my critical self and just letting my creative part take over. It's also a great time to communicate with other writers who are doing the same thing, and to share goals, frustrations, and surprises.

My usual style of writing is very organized. I plan a great deal beforehand, and I write very clear outlines that get updated continuously along the way. In NaNoWrite I do no planning. I just scribble frantically, and let the ideas flow. This year I have a clearer idea about what I want to write, but I haven't outlined because that would spoil the whole thing. I can't wait to start!

But I digress. I'm sure you're much more interested in what's coming up, so here's the question for today:

Pride and Prejudice Question 20:

What role does Mrs Bennet play in the novel? Do you think she deserves any credit for bringing the couples together? Is she actually successful at the central interest of her life, marrying off her daughters?

Pride and Prejudice Question 19

2009-10-19T09:51:00.000+01:00

Well, I do admit it's difficult to pick out just one passage/section out of the book. I would have picked most of the ones you picked, as they're really hillarious. I like this passage, both because it's funny but also it's an unusual moment in which we suddenly see Elizabeth from Darcy's perspective.

"I cannot talk of books in a ball-room; my head is always full of something else."
"The present always occupies you in such scenes -- does it?" said he, with a look of doubt.
"Yes, always," she replied, without knowing what she said, for her thoughts had wondered from the subject..."

Exquisite! A few skilful strokes of the pen, and you have it!

And now to my new question:

Pride and Prejudice Question 19

Jane Austen is often praised for her knowledge of human character. If you had to choose a character in P&P who was the most “human” in the sense of being someone you could easily meet in the world today (and isn’t typical of a particular time or period), who would that character be and why?

These are my favorite things and Pride and Prejudice Question 18

2009-10-18T12:03:00.002+01:00

Today's the end of my official Blog Tour, which ends with a bang (not a whimper) since Fresh Picks have chosen The Other Mr Darcy as an official Pick for today! I'm very flattered because this isn't a paid ad. The Fresh Picks are chosen by a number of readers who vote for the novel.

The Blog Tour has been a great experience, and I'm sure I'll be having withdrawal symptoms. I was having such a good time reading the reactions to my interviews, meeting people, and answering questions. Sigh. Now I suppose I'll have to settle down and actually write!

I still have the Pride and Prejudice contest going strong here, however, which is wonderful. As usual, I loved your answers, which this time seem to be pretty unanimous. The verdict then, is that Elizabeth is every bit as proud at the beginning as she was at the end, but she has come to recognize Mr Darcy's emotional generosity and his willingness to give without return, which is much more "humbling" than her awareness of their limited circumstances. I like that. To me it puts a finger on the essence of the romance that Jane Austen portrays so beautifully.

The question today is completely different, and gives you a break from all the hard thinking you've been putting into your answers. Have fun with this!

Pride and Prejudice Question 18

What is your favorite quote from the films or the novel(s) that best shows Jane Austen's wonderful humor?

Jane Austen's Villains and Question 17

2009-10-17T14:20:00.003+01:00

The reponses to the question yesterday about Wickham overall articulated an issue in Jane Austen that is really fascinating, and that is, her way of depicting her villains, more particularly her male villains. As Laura pointed out, even though they do terrible things that we condemn whole heartedly, they somehow seem to get away with it, perhaps because they continue to be "charming" in spite of being caught out, or perhaps because of the general attitude of Regency society towards bad boys, rakes, and sharps, who were never really held accountable, unless they did something against the nobility, in which case duels were really the only way to respond. There was the legal system, of course, but that was so slow and so public (especially when it came to a women's reputation) that it was rarely the first recourse. In fact, in my novel The Other Mr Darcy, I have a discussion about the issue of making duelling illegal at the time, in which I let my characters have their say. But when you think about it, there was very little you could do in response to someone like Wickham or Willoughby except challenge him to a duel.

I always wonder when we read Jane Austen how much we're actually missing, even though her writing sets out things so clearly that we think we're following along quite happily. But it seems to me there is a whole undercurrent in Pride and Prejudice about social status that is expressed through Lydia and Wickham, and I'd like to set it up as a question for discussion. For, as Mr Bennet says quite hopelessly, "Wickham's a fool if he takes her with a farthing less than ten thousand pounds." Mr Bennet is obviously distraught by the whole episode. It reveals his complete powerlessness to do anything. He is unfortunately aware that the only way he could have forced Wickham to marry Lydia is by physically fighting with him, and of course Wickham would have won. It is only when the powerful Mr Darcy steps in and pays off Wickham that the marriage can take place.

But here is my question:

How much of Elizabeth's dismay at discovering that it was Mr Darcy who rescued Lydia comes from being put into her place i.e. really fully understanding the inescapable difference in their social levels? In other words, did Elizabeth's pride (despite seeing Pemberley and comparing it to Longbourn) and her insistence on their equality as descendants of gentlemen receive a heavy blow? Did Jane Austen intend her to be humbled at this point?

Dancing with Mr Darcy and Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Question 16

2009-10-16T13:21:00.002+01:00

(a collection of short stories inspired by Jane Austen and Chawton House)

Yesterday I attended the launch of Dancing with Mr Darcy at "London's most famous bookshop," which is... Foyles, of course (established 1903). Before the event, I met up with fellow author Jane Odiwe (Lydia Bennet's Story and soon to be released Willoughby's Return) in Leicester Square. I really enjoyed comparing notes and discussing our reasons for choosing less popular characters in Jane Austen's cannon to write about.

We sauntered down full-of-life Charing Cross Road, narrowly avoiding being run over by the abundant bicycle rickshaws (pedicabs) on our way to Foyles. I couldn't help reimagining the scene in my mind, with the rickshaw runners carrying ladies to the theatre or a ball amidst the bustle of carriages instead of cars.

At the entrance to the Gallery at Foyles we were met by Helena Earnshaw, from Honno, the Welsh publishers of the book, and, wine glasses in hand, Jane (Odiwe, not Austen) and I took our seats.

Award winning author Sarah Waters talked to us about the judging process and her rather tough criteria for selecting the entries (I have to say I was quite intimidated), and introduced the winner of the competition, Victoria Owens.

(Victoria Owens)

An excerpt from the winning short story followed, with Victoria giving us a wonderfully dramatized reading of Jane Austen being judged in the afterworld (no spoilers here) which revealed a quirky sense of humour and a wonderfully creative look at JA.

Afterwards, we got a chance to take photos of a number of the authors with stories in Dancing with Mr Darcy.

It was a lovely occasion, with a definite air of excitement prevailing around the room. I obtained signatures from a number of contributors as well as from Sarah Waters, and I also met Tom Carpenter, trustee of Chawton House. There's a picture of Tom with Jane Odiwe on her blog.

And now for the daily ritual:

Pride and Prejudice Question 16

Jane Austen has her share of youthful male villains, from Willoughby (sorry, Jane!) to John Thorpe and Henry Crawford, though generally she tends to underplay their villainy. What do you think of Wickham as a villain? How is he presented?

Mr Darcy's Marriage, and Pride and Prejudice Question 15

2009-10-15T10:57:00.000+01:00

I can't believe it, but we're already half way through the Pride and Prejudice questions, and it has passed so quickly. It's been much better that I could ever have expected. I really didn't think the discussions would be so varied and so ... long(?). Just kidding. I love the long answers. It shows how much you all have to say about Pride and Prejudice, and of course, I have a lot to say.

Of course yesterday's question is in the realm of speculation, and as such there can't be any wrong or right answer because we don't know enough. By and large, most of you discarded Anne, though of course, as kt says, family wishes and duty may have prevailed, given the fact that he was very concerned with family connections when he proposed initially to Elizabeth. He certainly was not happy to have fallen in love and gone against them! He gave no sign of favoring Anne. Yet at the same time, he and his cousin Col. Fitzwilliam did make it a habit of going and staying with her for extended periods of time. As some of you have pointed out, it took Elizabeth to give him a different perspective on things. Clearly, he's embarrassed at the way Lady Catherine talks to Elizabeth, and it's a novelty for him to realize that he, too, has something to be ashamed of in his relations. As Sarah-Wynne points out, Elizabeth opened his eyes to a lot of things. Certainly the old Darcy might have been capable of putting family pride first.

As for his relationship to Caroline, it is very puzzling. I've wrote about it elsewhere on my blog tour, since obviously I've been giving it a lot of though. The fact is, he spends a great deal of time with the Bingleys. He comes and stays with them in Netherfield for weeks on end. Later, after he has been rejected by Elizabeth, he invites them for a long stay in Pemberley. Why does he enjoy their company so much? Enough to want Caroline and Mrs Hurst to spend time with Georgiana? I would have thought that their background in trade, as jnaj notes, would have prevented him from wanting to associate too closely with them. But clearly, as Tracygrrrl says, he regards them as equals in that first Meryton assembly, and refuses to dance with anyone else, and in the early days, before he has fallen in love, he seems to enjoy gossiping with Caroline. I just love the way Jane Austen shows us how he starts to disagree with and move away from the people that he somehow took for granted earlier. Still, even though he now looks at Caroline differently, he does not try to get rid of her. Is it loyalty? Is it habit? Why is Caroline at Pemberley? He could easily have invited Charles without his sisters. I can only conclude that there must have been something positive in them.

But I've gone on long enough (far longer than anyone yet). So time for the next question. Since it's the middle of the contest, and we haven't given people a chance to talk about the actors yet, my next question is:

Pride and Prejudice 15 Hurray! It's the middle of the Contest!

(Cowan)(Firth)

(Macfadyen)

How would you describe Darcy in any of the productions of Pride and Prejudice (not the novel)? You can compare and contrast them if you prefer. (This is a great excuse to go off and watch your favorite production). You can also include Elliott Cowan from Lost in Austen if you are so inclined (I'll admit I would be inclined to do so myself).(Olivier)

Pride and Prejudice Question 14

2009-10-14T09:20:00.000+01:00

A variety of reactions here to Longbourn in comparison to Netherfield, though overall, everyone seems to agree that Longbourn is more chaotic, while Netherfield is more proper and well kept. If you're like Meredith and Laura Hartness, you find that the chaos adds as sense of warm and family. Others, like jnanj, think the chaos as a humorous reflection of the dysfunctional inhabitants. Certainly, as people pointed out, the two households, especially the number of servants, are far apart. I should point out that in the 1995, Netherfield is accurately shown to have a lot of male footmen and servants. Male servants at that time were much more expensive, so they indicated wealth and status.

On to the next question:

Pride and Prejudice Question 14

Knowing Mr Darcy's snobbish attitude before he met Elizabeth, would Mr Darcy have have married his cousin Anne or Caroline Bingley? Why/Why not?

BBC Emma, Episode 2, and Pride and Prejudice Question 13

2009-10-13T13:22:00.000+01:00

On Sunday I watched the second episode of the new production of Emma, staring Ramola Garai. I have to say it's growing on me. The first episode grated. It took such a long time to introduce the characters and set the background (including Emma's mother in a coffin) that I found it difficult to get involved in it.

(Blake Ritson)

This second episode, however, shows a great deal of promise. Two characters in particular stand out. Blake Ritson as Mr Elton provides such a wonderful mix of smooth sensuality (he can certainly use his voice to good effect!) and creepy calculation that I'm beginning to think he's the best Mr Elton so far. And Mr Woodhouse's fretfulness, which I usually find quite irritating, is so well done that I find him adorable. I'm actually looking forward to seeing the next episode.

As for yesterday's question, high scores for those of you who answered yesterday, for originality at the very least. JaneGS, I love your comparison of Pride and Prejudice with Beauty and the Beast. You were careful, of course, not to imply that Mr Darcy was at all ugly, but your argument about his transformation, and Elizabeth's role in it, was convincing. Very nice indeed. Tracygrrl, you're determined to bring up the most outrageous things! Mrs Bennet as a fairy godmother? I love the idea that Elizabeth, instead of being a Cinderella who depends on the fairy godmother's help, is actually strong enough to turn her away and say: "I'll do this my way, thank you very much!" And janj, I liked the idea of pride and prejudice as the obstacles that the fairy tale characters much overcome to reach their goal.
The new Pride and Prejudice Question today is meant for those who have watched any production of Pride and Prejudice. If you've watched more than one, please feel free to compare.

Jane Austen is quite particular about giving us details about the financial and social standing of the main characters in her novel. This is sometimes difficult to translate onto the screen, especially since we don't really know the subtleties of class and status at the time, but one way that we can understand it visually is through the main characters' homes.

Pride and Prejudice Question of the Day 13

In any of the productions of Pride and Prejudice that you've seen, what is Elizabeth's home, Longbourn, like? What does it tell us about the Bennet family and about Elizabeth? How does it compare to Netherfield, the Bingley's home?

Perfect Accord: Elizabeth loves Darcy! and Pride and Prejudice Question 12

2009-10-12T09:27:00.000+01:00

What happened to you all? How did such perfect accord happen? jnaj, what did you do to them? Is it possible that there is absolutely no controversy about the question: did Elizabeth love Darcy??

I suppose, given that Pride & Prejudice provided the blueprint for one of the most basic plots upon which many romance novels afterwards were based, it makes no sense to question whether the hero and heroine really love each other.

So, without much ado, on to the next question, which is related, but which requires a little more work. [I did give you a break].

In my Fallen Angels Review guest blog, I talk about Pride and Prejudice as a blueprint, and compare it to the Cinderella story (scroll down the page to find it). In what way is Pride and Prejudice an archetypal love story, one that we see over and over in romance, and in what other ways is it totally unique? (reading the guest blog will give you a starting point, I hope).

Dinner in St James's, Madam? and Pride and Prejudice Question 11

2009-10-11T12:56:00.002+01:00

To judge by the discussion yesterday, I was (perhaps mistakenly) taking for granted the fact that Elizabeth does fall in love with Darcy. But reading your comments, especially jnaj's, made me wonder if this is something which needs to be discussed. So, at the risk of being a sacreligious here, I'm going to ask this as my next question.

Meanwhile, this has been an eventful week for me. As well as having several guest appearances on blogs as wonderful and diverse as Books Like Breathing, The Burton Review, Bloody Bad Books, Austenprose, The Long and Short of It, and Love Romance Passion, I've had a couple of new reviews.

In her review on Bloody Bad, Katrina picked up on an added dimension of Robert Darcy: his position as an American on British soil during the war, and his reliance on Caroline for the nuances of English polite society. Her conclusion: "just what I needed on a rainy Saturday night."

Marie Burton provides a detailed review of the plot and cast of characters which focuses on some of the twists and turns of the novel, and brings out some of its Regency aspects. She characterizes Robert Darcy "as a sexy, steamy kind of guy" and concludes that the novel is "rollicking fun."

The highlight of a wonderful week was a dinner with my publisher, founder of Sourcebooks, Dominique Raccah. The dinner was held at an exclusive former gentlemen's club, The Reform Club, in Pall Mall, just off St James's, which will be of particular interest to the history buffs among you (well worth googling).

As I entered, I felt transported back in time. Established in 1836, with the current building completed in 1841, it was not Regency, but it was grounded in a history not too far away from it, and certainly captured the sense of power and privlege these gentlemen had. Membership was exclusive to those who supported the Great Reform Act of 1832. This was where some of the biggest reforms of the Industrial Era were discussed and eventually implemented. History was made here. Some famous names that trod those halls were J. M. Barrie, E. M. Forster, Henry James, Lord Palmerston, William Makepeace Thackeray, and H. G. Wells. I was on hallowed ground.

My bubble has since been burst by a friend of mine, who reminded me that the gentlemen in clubs like these were precisely the same type who turned Virginia Woolf away when she walked on the grass in "Oxbridge":

"I found myself walking with extreme rapidity across a grass plot. Instantly a man’s figure rose to intercept me. Nor did I at first understand that the gesticulations of a curious-looking object, in a cutaway coat and evening shirt, were aimed at me. His face expressed horror and indignation. Instinct rather than reason came to my help; he was a beadle, I was a woman. This was the turf; there was the path. Only the fellows and scholars are allowed here; the gravel is the place for me. Such thoughts were the work of a moment. As I regained the path, the arms of the beadle sank, his face assumed its usual repose, and though turf is better walking than gravel, no very great harm was done." Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own.

The Reform Club, despite its reformist tendencies, did not allow women to become members until 1981, and it was the first gentlemen's club to do so.

Alas, (though not surprisingly), I was prevented from taking photos of the amazing interior by a very polite young man who worked there, though no one objected when I took pictures of us in the shining dark mahogany bookroom (very appropriate for us writers), where we had our dinner.

(left to right me, Jane Odiwe, and Helen Hollis)

(right to left: Jill Mansell, Elizabeth Chadwick, Dominique Raccah, and Helen Hollis)

(Elizabeth Chadwick and Jill Mansell)

Attending the dinner were fellow Sourcebook writers Jane Odiwe (who like me writes Jane Austen sequels, Lydia Bennet's Story, Willoughby's Return), Helen Hollis, Jill Mansell, and Elizabeth Chadwick. We had an exuberant evening. Dominique filled us in with very good news about Sourcebooks' current growth and success, and reiterated the Sourebooks policy: "We publish authors not books" which I already feel to be true, though I only recently joined. Dominique and her husband Ray were charming hosts, and conversation flowed round the table as quickly as champagne and wine glasses were filled. The bubbles went to my head, as did being in such august company and in such a historically significant setting.

But time to come down to earth, and the next question in the contest. (bg! How can I ask this?)

Pride and Prejudice: Question 11

Was Elizabeth Bennet in love with Mr Darcy?

Mr Bennet, and Pride and Prejudice Question 10

2009-10-10T16:48:00.002+01:00

What wonderfully diverse answers, as always. You're right, jnaj, I did work you too hard for a Friday. But I'm so glad I did. I love all the different opinions. Meredith, your point about Eliza bottling everything in and perhaps being too independent strikes a cord with me. Funnily enough, that's exactly what Caroline says to Elizabeth in The Other Mr Darcy, at a moment when the two of them bury the past behind them: "I thought you were too self-sufficient," she remarks.

As for Mr Bennet, as several of you indicated, he is quite a mixture of things. Though in many ways he doesn't seems to be the traditional patriarchal figure who rules the household with an iron fist, he enjoys his position of privilege in the household and makes the best of it in many ways. The opening scene where he pretends he will not go and visit Bingley is a typical example. He holds the upper hand, because they are all completely dependent on him paying Bingley a call, yet he pretends he doesn't understand this, toying with Mrs Bennet's feelings, when he intended to go all along.

Having cultivated an amused distance from his wife and children, he maintains it with almost everyone except Lizzy. In many ways, therefore, despite the fact that he is not an authoritarian parent, he is a typical father of the time, keeping aloof from his offspring and escaping into the library (as Lori points out) -- generally male territory in those days -- whenever anything threatens his peace. And he certainly does not go out of his way to do anything for his offspring. As Sarah-Wynne indicates, his refusal to take his five marriageble daughters to London simply because he doesn't like it shows how self-centered he is. It's an irony, therefore, that one of the consequenses of his refusal to go is that he is forced to ride to London in search of Lydia!

The flip side of it, as Serena says, is that all the girls (except perhaps Kitty) are quite outspoken and opinionated, because of the absence of anyone to put them down. Which is a very positive thing, obviously.

You all had very brilliant points about Elizabeth's resemblance to her father, particularly Milka and Cheli's comments about Mr Bennet's indifference to convention, which perhaps is one of his strongest contributions to Elizabeth's character. And of course, as most of you mentioned, Elizabeth shares with her father her intelligence as well as her quickness to judge others and derive amusement from their foibles. I won't repeat all your arguments, but I do recommend that people read through them, because they really provide some orginal insights into Elizabeth's relationship with her father.

Since it's a weekend, and we've had a complaint about working too hard, here's an easy question for today, but one you can have fun with, I hope.

Pride and Prejudice Question 10

"I can comprehend you going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?" Elizabeth asks Darcy very coyly, once they've sorted everything out. But Darcy doesn't ask the question back. So here it is. When did Elizabeth fall in love with Mr Darcy?

Your answer can include any unconscious attraction, paying him more attention than she normally would, or any other signs of interest.

Of Flawed Perceptions, and Pride and Prejudice Question 9

2009-10-09T11:07:00.000+01:00

I was just over at Marilyn Brant's page (author of According to Jane) and spotted a JA quote I didn't know (oh, how did I miss this one?)

"Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not disguised, or a little mistaken." JA

It's so perfect for the discussion, and I think it's crucial to bear it in mind as we're going through Pride and Prejudice.

As for your responses yesterday, what can I say? You're outdoing yourselves. Pretty much everyone brought up something to think about. Of course, Charlotte is the perfect example, particularly since the she and Elizabeth seem to be close friends. You'd think she'd realize that Charlotte needed to get married and wouldn't turn down an opportunity. Which goes along with what Lori and Kt say about Eliza not understanding her mother, either. Mrs Bennet is silly, but she knows how important it is to secure Longbourn, yet Eliza never really "gets" it -- like her father, she dimisses Mr Collins completely. And yes, as Tracygrrrl says, she could have handled this better, and tried to get Mary together with Mr Collins, and tried to solve the problem that way. (However, very likely this wouldn't have worked -- see answers to Question 2 which addresses this).

Serena and Lynnquiltsalot, you're right on target when you talk about Wickham. Because there are lots of signs along the way that she choses to ignore, even when Wickham gets engaged to Miss King, and Mrs Gardiner criticizes Wickham's conduct. Yet Elizabeth obstinately defends him. She ends the conversation with a dismissive comment which has echoes of Mrs Bennet in it (?!):
"I have a very poor opinion of young men who live in Derbyshire; and their intimate friends who live in Hertfordshire are not much better. I am sick of them all."
(Remember Mrs Bennet's exclamation of frustration at the beginning of the novel: "I am sick of Mr Bingley!"?)

As usual when it comes to JA's characters, there's always more complexity to them than you think, isn't there? There's more to Charlotte than meets the eye. Lori and Jnan's discussion about her being the source of information about Darcy's relationship with Eliabeth is one example, as well as her very correct prediction about Jane and Bingley's relationship (kt, Milka and Tracygrrl). In some senses, Charlotte and the Gardners are the voices of common sense in the novel (and to a lesser extent, Jane, as Lori pointed out, though her perception is also flawed). Elizabeth really flounders by herself. Her father, who could have been a guide, is even more clueless (witness his laughter at the very idea that Elizabeth would want to marry Darcy at the end), and he makes that crucial error of judgement about Lydia which, as Serena says, she tries to prevent. Of course, his marriage is the best indication of his poor judgement! Her mother has a certain level of shrewdness, but no common sense. So really, you can see that Elizabeth would have a hard time finding a basis on which to judge others.

Which brings me to my next question, a simpler one this time.

Pride and Prejudice Question 9

What do you think of Mr Bennet as a father? To what extent does he make Elizabeth who she is (pluses and minuses)? What positive or negative qualities of his do you see in her?

Pride and Prejudice Question 8

2009-10-08T11:50:00.001+01:00

Oh, I absolutely loved your responses. Tracygrrl, if you're being dorky, long live dorkiness! Every one of you brings in a slightly different angle, which reminds me again of the complexity of Jane Austen's characters, because even Caroline, who is really generally seen as quite one-sided, does things that can be interpreted differently by different people. Of course, I wrote about Caroline, so I can't possibly think that she's bad all the way through, but I would be blind not to see that Caroline's sneering way of approaching the whole issue was obnoxious. If she meant it in any positive way, she certainly didn't handle it very well! It's almost as if, by telling Elizabeth about Wickham, she accomplished a number of things: she could be "helpful," while at the same time showing Elizabeth how mistaken she is to favor Wickham, pointing out that Wickham's background wasn't good enough for Elizabeth (which is fascinating, because no one objects to the idea of Elizabeth being interested in the son of a steward), imparting "insider" information, and potentially scoring a brownie point with Darcy, as Meredith points out.

My reading of her character is based on a few scenes like this one, where Austen's brilliance shines through. I could spend hours thinking about how cleverly this scene was put together (talk about a dorky!). Caroline approaches Elizabeth with information that is really crucial, but because Caroline presents it in this condescending manner, and because Caroline uses the information to put Elizabeth down (or at least seems to be doing that, because really we're not seeing things objectively), and because Elizabeth feels insecure around Caroline and Darcy, Elizabeth is going to discard the information completely. And Caroline, of course, mentions Wickham's social standing, which is the last straw for Elizabeth, whose own social standing is unclear.

I know I asked the question about Caroline, but there's another aspect to the question, too. Elizabeth's perky self-confidence is one of the things we admire about her. But few people talk about her embarrassment about her family and her sense of her own superiority to them. So I wonder sometimes how much Elizabeth's reaction to her new neighbors is biased by the fact that she is suddenly having to look at herself differently (she is no longer content to be one of the prettiest girls in the neighborhood, knowing how limited that is), and finding herself at a disadvantage. In the scene with Miss Bingley, for example, her heartfelt response to Caroline's snobbish remark about Wickham's descent is particularly strong, and her reaction is to give it the worst possible explanation. "Insolent girl!" [an interesting way of referring to Caroline] said Elizabeth to herself. "You are much mistaken if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as this. I see nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of Mr Darcy."

Which leads me to my next question:

Pride and Prejudice Question 8

Although supposedly told from the third person point of view, most of Pride and Prejudice is presented through Elizabeth. Yet Elizabeth is prejudiced, she is proven to be wrong about a lot of her perceptions (especially of people), and she is also quite embarrassed about her family. We of course sympathize with her and like her, so we accept it. What are some of the examples of Elizabeth's failure to understand other people?

Pride and Prejudice Question a Day 7

2009-10-07T14:20:00.002+01:00

What great responses we had yesterday! It made me want to jump in and make a comment myself. I restrained myself, however.

Funny how we take for granted a term like "passion" when two major writers who are so different have almost opposite concepts of what it is. I really liked the way both Laura and Tracygrrl expressed the contrast between the stormy passions of Bronte and the "uber-polite" world of Jane Austen. But do you really not see Mr Darcy hiding a madwoman in Pemberley? Hmm, I'll have to think about that. What do the rest of you think? I do agree, though, that a common theme in Jane Austen is tempering excess.

Thank you all for your insightful comments. And thank you, jnaj, for your link.

Today's question is about Caroline : )

Why does Caroline warn Elizabeth about Wickham? You would think she would be pleased to have Elizabeth out of the way with someone other than Darcy, so logically speaking, she should encourage the connection and let Elizabeth deal with the consequences. What do you think?

Jane Austen Question-a-Day 6

2009-10-06T11:18:00.000+01:00

Yesterday's question clearly wasn't challenging enough. Too easy. Still, the answers were good. I perhaps should have asked it another way: does Jane Austen create a real character in Georgiana, or is she just a prop intended to show the positive side of Darcy?

This is a discussion question I've encountered a few times, and it came up again recently on a small group I was in, though I can't for the life of me trace it back. It's a general JA question, but since we're discussing Pride and Prejudice, I'd would appreciate examples from the novel. It's a long question, and might elicit some long answers, but hopefully some enjoyable ones.

Pride & Prejudice Question 6

Many people think of PandP as the epitome of romance. Yet Charlotte Bronte's famous criticism is that: "Anything like warmth or enthusiasm, anything energetic, poignant, heartfelt, is utterly out of place in commending these works: all such demonstrations the authoress would have met with a well-bred sneer, would have calmly scorned as outré or extravagant... The passions are perfectly unknown to her: she rejects even a speaking acquaintance with that stormy sisterhood."
Would you agree? How does Bronte's concept of "the passions" differ from Jane Austen's (neither of them are explicit, so it's not that). Do you agree that Jane Austen scorns passion? (For those of you who know both authors well: where was Bronte coming from?)

New Emma production and Pride and Prejudice Question 5

2009-10-05T17:02:00.003+01:00

Yesterday's question was a tough one, but some of you had some very perceptive answers. Well done!

Recognize the village from my previous blog?

I watched Emma last night, as I said I'd do in my last blog. I'll give you a quick summary of how it went, and my general impressions.

The mini series starts with a review of Emma's childhood. We see Miss Bates as a fixture in Emma's childhood, constantly reading out letters detailing Jane Fairfax's accomplishments. We see her as she grows up, with Mr Knightly another fixture. Knightly seems inclined to reprimand both Emma and Miss Taylor. We catch a glimpse of John Knightly and Emma's sister, whose marriage Emma believes she engineered. And then Miss Taylor's marriage with Mr Weston.

The action starts after Miss Taylor's wedding, where Emma is left quite lonely in a big house with her father. Consequently she seeks out a companion, and she chooses Harriet, who is very pretty but quite empty-headed. Knightly warns that no good will come of it. Emma meanwhile, starts her machinations.

The first episode concludes with a big fight between Knightly and Emma, after Knightly learns she has twisted Harriet's arm to reject Mr Martin's proposal.

First I should say that this production deliberately sets out to be a modern interpretation. Consequently, Emma intentionally appears very contemporary. Even her hair and shots of her clothing from certain angles make her seem like someone dressed in current fashions (not all the time, but there is a deliberate attempt to do this, despite the fact that the period costumes are very accurate). One of the ways Sandy Welch brings it up to date in our post-psychoanalytic world, is to deliberately introduce a psychological approach to the characters. We understand Mr Woodhouse as a hypochondriac better, for example, when we know that he fears illness because of his wife's death.

We are also treated to beautiful views and lush landscapes. Mr Knightly is shown to be a very rich landowner, and his house is magnificent.

Romola Garai plays a perky, cheerful Emma, wide-eyed and full of well-meaning innocence. She is resolutely bustling and active, and generally sunny except when she fights with Knightly. She brings a new perspective to the character, emphasizing Emma's youth and her isolation, which goes a long way to explaining her errors in judgement. Sir Michael Gambon as Emma's father is wonderfully expressive. Jonny Lee Miller is so busy being Emma's older brother, the chemistry hasn't kicked in yet. I'll have to wait and see.

I need to defer judgement on the mini-series so far, though. I found it unexpected, but the plus side of it is that the approach is original and very different from any other productions before. There's a lot of new dialogue added. This is in keeping with the characters, but it is a bit disorienting if you know the novel. So far my sense is that it would be more enjoyable if I didn't know the novel (isn't that true of a lot of adaptations?), but there as still three episodes to go.

I'll keep you posted over the next three weeks.

For more images of the production, please visit Robert Morris via The Republic of Pemberley.

Meanwhile, the question you've been waiting for

Pride and Prejudice Question 5

What is the role of Georgiana in the novel? Would the novel have been different if Georgiana wasn't there?

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

2009-10-04T10:06:00.000+01:00

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?

Reviews of The Other Mr Darcy (continued) and Pride and Prejudice Question 3

2009-10-03T09:02:00.002+01:00

As we reach the weekend, I can take a moment to stop and breathe. It's been a very busy week for me on my blog tour, but it's been very enjoyable to see people's responses and interact with so many of you out there. It was great to see the different opinions about Mary and Mr Collins as a couple (Question 2).

The reviewers have been busy, too. Here's a summary of the latest reviews and links to the reviewers' websites. I must say I'm in awe of all the people who have time to read so many books and are able to summarize them so accurately and evaluate them so skilfully.

Barbara at Everything Victorian and More had a succinct but to-the-point review. Well, it really couldn't get more flattering. Barbara's verdict: "This book is so elegantly written, the reader would think they are reading Jane Austen."

mjmBecky at One Literature Nut talked about her process of warming up to Caroline (as a reader), and concluded that she "enjoyed this clean and charming read."

Grace over at Books Like Breathing talked about her initial resistance to reading about Caroline, and her similar reluctance to accepting this other Mr Darcy. Her assessment by the end of the book: "Monica Fairview did a wonderful job creating a likeable Caroline and an attractive new Mr. Darcy."

Speaking of Mr Darcy:

Pride and Prejudice: Question 3

The iconic wet shirt scene in the BBC 1995 mini-series wasn't in the original novel. Apart from its obvious appeal, how does it add to the story? Is it only there for sexual titilation, or is it a good addition in other ways? And, objectively speaking (I admit I'm not objective, but for the sake of argument), why should a man in a wet shirt be appealing? (Image above not wet).

Pride & Prejudice Question-a-Day Contest: Question 2

2009-10-02T11:29:00.010+01:00

I really enjoyed reading everyone's answers yesterday. I hope you enjoyed looking at them as well. You really put some thought into this! Well done, and I'm very happy to see you're having fun with the contest. I think at the end of the month I'll pick out a few answers from the pool and put them up on the blog.

The Other Mr Darcy is already on the shelves in several bookstores. I'm missing the thrill of walking into one and finding the book right there, but I'm making up by having friends send me photos.

Now for the moment you've been waiting for:

Pride And Prejudice question 2:

Opinion: Would Mary Bennet have made a good wife for Mr Collins? Why/Why not?

Launch Time for the Other Mr Darcy! P&P Question 1

2009-10-01T11:19:00.001+01:00

The 1st of October is here, which means The Other Mr Darcy should be hitting the shelves (hopefully not too hard) as of today!

Hurray! I thought the day would never come.

But now, without much ado, since this is what you've been waiting for, I'll cut the ribbon to launch the month-long competition.

Some of the questions I pose this month are about things in Pride and Prejudice that struck me or puzzled me. Others are just fun questions that occurred to me while reading the novel, or just very easy opinion questions, so everyone will get a chance to enter. You can enter as many times as you like, but remember, the answer must must provide a reasonable explanation.*

Day 1, Question 1

Why does Elizabeth react so strongly to Darcy’s initial proposal?

*Contest open to US and Canada residents only

Pride and Prejudice Question-a-Day Contest in October

2009-09-29T10:00:00.061+01:00

To celebrate the release of The Other Mr Darcy, I'm running a month-long contest (courtesy of Sourcebooks, of course) for the whole month of October right here on my blog.

The contest will feature one Pride and Prejudice related question every day. The Question-a-Day will focus mostly on Jane Austen's novel, but there'll be a few questions about the film adaptations as well.

In order to enter the contest, you'll need to answer the Question of the Day (a sensible answer, please, completely wrong answers won't be entered). You'll be entered each time you answer. The more questions you answer, the more of a chance you'll have to win.

There will be FIVE winners, chosen at random, with four runners up and a Grand Prize of THE OTHER MR DARCY PLUS a box of CHOCOLATES to savour while you read. *

Put your P&P thinking caps on and good luck! Feel free to post this information to your blog or a link on your social networking site… And don’t forget to check out my new Austen sequel, The Other Mr. Darcy—in stores October 1, 2009. Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Meanwhile, for even more chances to win a copy of the novel, don't forget to check out my blog tour since many of the blogs listed will be giving away free copies. Scroll down for the schedule of the blog tour in the right column. See you somewhere along the way, and good luck!*

*contest open to US and Canada residents

Monica Fairview Blog Tour starts tomorrow 28 September

2009-09-27T11:32:00.001+01:00

My blog tour begins tomorrow, and I'm very eager to meet you all! Drop in along the way to get a chance to win a free copy of The Other Mr Darcy and to learn more about this unusual Austen sequel.

Good luck with winning!

Scroll down for the full blog tour schedule.

Monica Fairview, The Other Mr Darcy

Sourcebooks Landmark (October 1, 2009)
ISBN 978-1402225130

Positive Reviews for The Other Mr Darcy

2009-09-23T22:25:00.000+01:00

Well, launch time is approaching, and to help me celebrate, I've started seeing some positive and insightful responses. I love the variety of approaches people have. It just goes to show how individualistic the act of reading is.

Becky Laney over at Becky's Book Reviews says it made her smile, and found it "a surprisingly delightful read."

Gayle Surrette from A Curious Statistical Anomaly analyses Caroline's transformation and concludes that The Other Mr Darcy is "a worthy addition" to Austenesque sequels.

Rachel A Hyde at MyShelf enjoyed the historical background, the tone of the novel, and the characters from P&P. "Settle down to enjoy some excellent descriptions of house parties, carriage travel, balls and of course the company of most of the characters from the original novel," she says.

I was also thrilled to discover I've been reviewed in Library Journal. Jane Jorgenson, from Madison P.L., spoke of "the familiar and beloved characters from Pride and Prejudice" that appear in the novel, and found the romance "heart-warming and charming."

The Darcy Cousins, my next Austen sequel

2009-09-20T17:09:00.006+01:00

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Waterstones (UK) and Amazon.co.uk already have the next novel in my Darcy Cousins series up on their website and available for pre-order! I have to say it's a thrill to see it there. I've been so busy with the launch of my US edition of The Other Mr Darcy that I'd put it on the back burner. But there it was, a clear reminder that my next book will be appearing in the very near future.

It's also a timely reminder that I need to be working faster on my third sequel!

Here's the blurb, hot off the press:

What would you do if you had a brother like Mr Darcy? Overprotective, powerful, and full of pride? In this coming-of-age story, Georgiana joins forces with her lively American cousin, Miss Clarissa Darcy, to challenge the expectations forced upon her.

But what starts out as mere playful mischief soon turns serious when Miss Anne de Bourgh suddenly vanishes and the consequences of Georgiana's rebellion become very real indeed...

Will she bring scandal to that pillar of tradition, Rosings Park? Will she survive the tangles of jealousy, suspicion and deceit that result? And, after her disastrous affair with Wickham, will she ever be able to find true love?

We return once again to the world of "Pride and Prejudice" in this youthful dance through the London Season.

The Darcy Cousins will be published in the UK at the end of March 2010.

Mary Travers -- symbol of flower generation?

2009-09-17T10:48:00.002+01:00

This isn't very writerly, but I really wanted to write about it.

I was very saddened today by loss of folk singer Mary Travers from Peter, Paul and Mary.

I don't know the origin of the flower/peace vs war symbolism (and for once I'm not going to research it), but I always associate it with Mary because of her quintessential song "Where have all the flowers gone?".

Her songs were so simple, yet they had the power to influence so many people and move them to action. Not just Peter, Paul and Mary, of course, but Bob Dylan ("Blowing in the Wind", which Mary sang as well), Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and others who were the voices of their generation.

Though to judge by the clip below, Mary Travers looks like she would fit in a glossy magazine today, retro style (Just ignore the guys).

Flower power to you, Mary Travers. May you rest in peace.

Mary Travers "Blowing in the Wind"

New excerpt from The Other Mr Darcy

2009-09-12T18:01:00.015+01:00

It's only 20 days until the book comes out. I've been very busy preparing for the blog tour, and I'm eager to visit all the different sites and get to know people there.

Today I was at a Romantic Novelists' Association chapter meeting in London, in which we got expert advise on web hosting from John Hocking, who had a great deal to say, all of it useful. Of course, there was a great deal to say all around, not strictly speaking useful, perhaps, but all very enjoyable. I do love meeting up with my fellow writer-friends!

Meanwhile, a Search Inside option has been added to The Other Mr Darcy on Amazon.com, so now you can have a brand new sneak preview! Make sure to head over that way for a taster.

Darcy Day: Happy Birthday, Colin Firth!

2009-09-10T10:02:00.007+01:00

10th of September is Colin Firth's birthday, so we have something to celebrate! I'll be indulging myself watching Pride and Prejudice again, guilt-free. Isn't it nice to be able to give in to your addictions?

Of course, ahem, this is work-related. I do have a sequel to write. I'll have pen and paper at the ready to make notes, and I'll be viewing with a professional eye. ;)

Meanwhile, here is one of my favorite scenes, Darcy's first appearance. And Caroline's there, too, which is fun for me. Cheers, Mr Darcy -- I mean Colin Firth!

Monica Fairview Blog Tour Schedule

2009-09-06T10:14:00.011+01:00

My blog tour will be beginning September 28th with Fallen Angel Reviews. Please mark these dates on you calenders, and make sure to follow me on the tour for your chance to win a free copy of The Other Mr Darcy.

September 28: Fallen Angel Reviews *adult content*

September 29: The Review from Here/ScribVibe

September 30: Everything Victorian

October 1: The Good, the Bad, the Unread

October 2: A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf

October 5: Grace’s Book Blog

October 6: The Burton Review

October 7: Bloody Bad Books

October 7: Austenprose

October 8: The Long and the Short Reviews

October 9: Love Romance Passion

October 11: Curious Statistical Anomaly

October 12: Good and Bad Books *adult content*

October 13: Lib’s Library

October 16: Fresh Fiction

I'm looking forward to seeing you on the way!

Let the madness begin!

2009-09-03T13:21:00.008+01:00

Since the American edition of my book The Other Mr Darcy is coming out in paperback in October (Street date October 7th), I'm getting ready for a whirlwind blog tour the end of September, beginning of October. I can't wait to get started! I've been asked to blog on a number of sites I really like, so I'm very happy about that.

Meanwhile, now that I've mentioned October, a smattering of rain hits the window, and the wind bends the tree towards me as if to remind me that it's that time of the year when the leaves change colour. How did the summer pass so quickly? Have you noticed how summers race by?

I'm very much a summer person, though I'm not very much into getting tanned (mostly because I don't tan easily, and then when I do, the tan fades so quickly I might as well not have bothered!). But I love that sense of anticipation in the air, the feeling of openness that comes from being free of coats and scarves and boots. I suppose that's what I like about regency clothing: the airiness, the lightness, the lack of confinement. Winter reminds me more of the Victorian period: all those layers and heavy materials. However did they manage when it was hot. No wonder women kept swooning! It wasn't because there was a particularly handsome specimen around. It was because, when they tried to take a deep breath, they couldn't!

This year I'm very glad October is here, since I really have something to look forward to. I can't wait to see the Sourcebooks copy of THE OTHER MR DARCY.

Jane Austen Sequels, continued

2009-08-26T11:09:00.019+01:00

Apologies for this long break. I was off on a family reunion to celebrate my grandmother's one hundreth birthday (!!)(she's incredible, still full of energy, fun, and determination) , then recovering from the holiday, then frantically trying to catch up on my writing. Now I've re-emerged to join cyberspace again.

To continue the discussion:
3. Myth: Jane Austen is a trembling old Auntie who needs to somehow be protected and sheltered.

Reality: Jane Austen died young. She died at the age of 42 after a debilitating disease, which took its toll in her last year, but not enough for her to stop writing. Despite Victorian attempts to reduce her to a maiden aunt, scribbling away because she was deprived of the joys of marriage, she was a strong, resilient woman. Despite financial pressures, she refused to marry for convenience, and clearly preferred a career to the humdrum existence of the married woman of the time. She had a keen, razor-sharp wit, cutting and almost cynical. She had an eye for human foibles, weaknesses, and absurdities. She wrote about unwedded mothers, the temptations of elopement and premarital sex (Georgiana is tempted, Lydia succumbs) and about unwanted babies (Persuasion), and she wrote about them without moral judgement. We are hardly returning the favour when we speak of her as a maiden aunt.

Virginia Woolf once said: "anyone who has the temerity to write about Jane Austen is aware… that there are twenty-five elderly gentlemen living in the neighbourhood of London who resent any slight upon her genius as if it were an insult to the chastity of their aunts.” You would think our standards have changed a little, and we would have gotten beyond classifying a 42-year-old unmarried woman condescendingly as an old maid, or maiden aunt.

4. Myth: Jane Austen is more sacrosanct than any other literary figure

Reality: Unfortunately, when you reach the status of a Giant in the literary world, chances are that you are going to inspire someone to write something in response, imitation, admiration, disagreement, etc.

The “bandwagon effect” of the current Jane Austen sequels is a mix of a Jane Austen revival through film, the willingness of publishers like Sourcebooks and others to recognize that there is a strong market for the sequels, and – this is the most important aspect – the websites and self-publishing opportunities available for Jane Austen fan fiction/sequel writers.

In the sixties, people read Sartre and Camus and wrote (if they were writers) about existentialism, alienation, and the absurd. It was part of the spirit of the age. You could say everyone jumped on the same bandwagon, but if you were on the bandwagon with everyone else, why would you want to jump off?

Similarly, there is something about Jane Austen that appeals to our consciousness right now. For some, the order and propriety of that world is a refuge or relief from our world’s absence of norms and acceptable rules of behaviour. For others it’s the opposite; those rigid rules and impossible restraints are laughable. To some people, the very idea of those restraints unleashes their fantasy world. Perhaps it’s not even about Jane Austen at all, but about how our world relates to hers.
Whatever it is, there are many readers out there who can’t wait for the latest Jane Austen sequel. And why not? It’s fun to see what people have come up with. It’s a tribute to Jane Austen that she can stir the imaginations of so many different people.

Perhaps the search for a “new angle” in Jane Austen inspired fiction has gone too far. Maybe too many monsters are being let loose upon the orderly world of Jane Austen. Or just maybe the monsters hidden within Jane Austen’s world (like the madwoman in the attic of Jane Eyre) are waiting for someone to let them out.

To Do or Not to Do: Jane Austen sequels and the shaky bandwagon

2009-07-31T22:32:00.008+01:00

I’m “jumping on the bandwagon” and entering the discussion started by Kathleen (Leave Auntie Jane Alone) and picked up very humorously by Diana Birchell, Jane Odiwe and Helen Halstead about Jane Austen sequels and whether they should be discontinued. (I’ll give you the links at the bottom, but I don’t want you going off just yet!). Odiwe’s defence of Jane Austen sequels is so logically argued that I would want to reproduce it here, but since this is my blog and I’m planning to give you my perspective, I’ll send you her way after I’ve added my argument to hers.

“Jumping on the bandwagon,”
is a phrase often used when you tell someone you’re writing a Jane Austen inspired novel. The implication is, of course, that you are in it for the money or because it’s an easy way to be published or something of that sort. Which is an odd kind of logic, because it seems to me it’s a lot easier to write a novel in which you can create your own characters, you can use your own language, and you don’t have to read Jane Austen before you start writing. And if you compare the actual number of Jane Austen sequels to the number of, say, chick lit books being published or detective novels, or thrillers, you’ll see your odds statistically of being published if you write a Jane Austen sequel is a definitely down at the bottom of the imaginary ladder.

In my next two blogs I plan to show that the phrase is no more appropriate to Austensque novels than saying Trekkies are into Star Trek because they want to make money. In my next posts I'll rise to the defence of the Austen sequel by debunking some popular myths about Jane Austen inspired writing.

1. Myth: Jane Austen fans write Jane Austen fan fiction because they want to make a quick buck.
Reality: There are so many fan-fiction sites where people write Jane Austen sequels, fragments, and continuations. Those who write fan-fiction are doing it because something in Jane Austen has inspired them to write. There is something unfinished they want to finish. They disagree with an ending. They want to rework something Jane Austen has done. They are doing it for the sheer joy of it.

2. Myth: There is something unusual, self-serving, or artificial about Jane Austen sequels. Writers who find inspiration in other writers are incapable of being original..
Reality: People have creatively borrowed characters, themes, and plots from other writers/literary masterpieces since the time of Homer. For centuries, poets, sculptors, painters and writers in the West have borrowed from Greek mythology and literature. The most cursory look at the history of literature will show that literary production is essentially cannibalistic (though not necessarily Zombie-style) (I should mention here that I have a degree in Comparative Literature, which is basically all about how writers borrow from each other).

Even good old Shakespeare borrowed (heaven forbid!)
from earlier writers/figures. And in turn, Shakespeare has been rewritten, used as inspiration, and parodied endlessly. Does anyone rise up in arms if somebody writes a new variation on Romeo and Juliet? (I can see that the Tempest has definite sea monsters potential). Did you know that a Shakespeare for families was produced during the Regency period that was purged of anything that could be considered problematic? And that if you lived during the Victorian era you were likely to see a version of King Lear or Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending?

To be continued….

As promised, here are the links:
Leave Auntie Jane Alone with response from Birchell, Odiwe and Halstead

Odiwe’s Defence of Jane Austen Sequels

Monica Fairview Featured on Two Austen Blogs

2009-07-23T10:32:00.008+01:00

I'm having fun these days exploring the world of cyberspace with tweets, faces (why doesn't facebook have a verb? Facebooking? Bookfacing?), and blogs, though I admit my writing is suffering. In fact, my writing is pathetic. Still, it's lovely to be out there, meeting people with similar interests, and puzzling out the diverse and divergent remarks that you encounter. Nothing can be more different than the world of Regency England with its well regulated rules of conduct. On Seesmic, one reencounters the Tower of Babel, a chaos of words flowing through the screen as hundreds of minds share clipets of their thoughts. Yet somehow, we make sense of it all, a tribute to the power of language.

It's an addiction. I will have to withdraw for a while in order to write.

But meanwhile I'm delighted to be featured on not one but two Jane Austen Blogs. The first is as a guest blogger on Jane Austen Today, where I blog about Georgette Heyer's Little Sophy(??)

And then there is the thrilling moment every writer looks forward to once a new book is out: The First Review. This review was particularly exciting because in it I played the role of a fairy godmother to a Cinderella, which is rather a nice role to play, and very appropriate, I think. To work out why I'm talking about fairy tales, head over to Austenprose and Laurel Ann's very skilful review of The Other Mr Darcy.

Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince: Rich Visual Feast, Skinny Characters

2009-07-17T13:54:00.003+01:00

I often think the acid test of a film is what you remember about it the next day. The scenes that stand out in your mind are the ones that are the most powerful, usually, and the process of evaluating the film comes about when you re-evaluate those scenes and put everything together.

So what do I remember most about the Harry Potter film today? Dark, tumultuous clouds, a bridge collapsing, Dumbledore’s blackened hand, Ron Weasley, Malfoy's anguish, and a dead bird.

Oddly enough, when I try to remember Harry Potter himself, I remember: 1) The opening scene with the young waitress. 2) Harry taking Dumbledore's arm 3) Harry hiding under the floorboards in the tower, watching passively as a wand is lifted.

Put all those ingredients together, and you've got an assorted smorgasbord of a film.

Not that it wasn't enjoyable. It was. The cinematography was vivid, the special effects striking. But overall I would have to say that there was something lacking. Motivation, emotional impact, and character (especially when it came to Harry) took the back door to the visual aspect of the film. The two characters who take center stage, if anyone does, are Ron Weasley and Malfoy.

And I have to say I was particularly disappointed in Hermione. Somehow she has been transformed from the spunky little girl full of confidence in the two earliest films into an awkward, diffident young woman whose body language radiates uncertainty.

I can see that the complexity of plot and the abundance of characters in JK Rowling's novels as they get longer and longer become much harder to translate onto the screen. Certainly, this is evident in The Half Blood Prince. The decision to split the next book into two films makes sense. I wish they had thought of it before. The Half Blood Prince would have been much richer (in all senses of the word) for it.

"A Great Deal of Conversation": Romance Writers' Association Meeting in Penrith

2009-07-14T22:21:00.011+01:00

"My idea of good company," says Anne in Jane Austen's Persuasion, "is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company." Add to it, a trip to Penrith, a few well-informed lectures, and one or two roll-on-the floor funny ones (thank you, Rachel and Liz), and your cup overflows. It certainly regenerated the spirit. (I'll admit that there were overflowing spirits, too).

What other group of people would, very good naturedly, consent to dress up in rubbish bags? We did, indeed. And at the other end of the spectrum, listen spellbound to Hugo Summerson, a former MP, speak of flies, cabbages and kings (well, the aristocracy, at any rate)?

We looked at feet, since our smiling chairperson Katie Fforde's shoes feature in a competition, and at hands and heads (required in Liz Bailey's workshop). We were persuaded of the importance of wagon wheels and stop-watches in across-the-ocean favourite Jodi Thomas' heartwarming reflection on the four seasons of writing.

Wonderful as all the talks were, of course it is the in-between part which brings us to the RNA meetings -- the time when the volume of chatter rises up around us like a cocoon, shutting us away from the world outside and enveloping us in the world of words. In that world, we speak incessantly, and indulge in what, paradoxically, brings us together: the love of words, and the romance we have with language.

Next year in Greenwich!

For more on the Romantic Novelists' Association, visit the RNA blog and the RNA website.

The Other Mr Darcy: Excerpt

2009-07-07T11:34:00.003+01:00

I loved writing The Other Mr Darcy. You know how it is when you find yourself writing the kind of book that you'd love to read, only no one else wrote it before you? Of course, it's a bit embarassing to be chuckling at your own story as you're writing away, especially if you're in a coffee shop. I can tell you, people don't smile at you. They give you the type of glare that says clearly: "You might think there's something funny in the universe, but I don't, so if you have a joke, keep it to yourself."

Of course, the real joke is, I'm not keeping it to myself, because other people are going to be reading it, too.

Anyway -- The Other Mr Darcy has its funny bits and its romantic bits. You're bound to get both when you put someone like Caroline Bingley with someone like Robert Darcy, Darcy's irrepressible cousin.

Here's an excerpt, then.

The Other Mr Darcy
Prologue

Caroline Bingley sank to the floor, her silk crepe dress crumpling up beneath her. Tears spurted from her eyes and poured down her face and, to her absolute dismay, a snorting, choking kind of sound issued from her mouth.

“This is most improper,” she tried to mutter, but the sobs — since that was what they were — the sobs refused to stay down her throat where they were supposed to be.

She had never sobbed in her life, so she could not possibly be sobbing now. But the horrible sounds kept coming from her throat. And water — tears — persisted in squeezing past her eyes and down her face.

Then with a wrench, something tore in her bosom — her chest — and she finally understood the expression that everyone used but that she had always considered distinctly vulgar. Her heart was breaking. And it was true because what else could account for that feeling, inside her, just in the centre there, of sharp, stabbing pain?

And what could account for the fact that her arms and her lower limbs were so incredibly heavy that she could not stand up?

She was heartbroken. Her Mr Darcy had married that very morning. In church, in front of everyone, and she had been unable to prevent it.

He had preferred Elizabeth Bennet. He had actually married her, in spite of her inferior connections, and even though he had alienated his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, whose brother was an earl. Caroline simply could not comprehend it.

She had that tearing feeling again and she looked down, just to make sure that it was not her bodice that was being ripped apart. But the bodice, revealing exactly enough of her bosom as was appropriate for a lady, remained steadfastly solid. So the tearing must have come from somewhere inside her. It squeezed at her with pain hard enough to stop her breathing, and to force those appalling sobs out even when she tried her best to swallow them down.

She rested her face in her hands and surrendered to them. She had no choice in the matter. They were like child’s sobs, loud and noisy. More like bawling, in fact. Her mouth was stretched and wide open. And the noise kept coming out, on and on.

On the floor, in the midst of merriment and laughter, on the day of William Fitzwilliam Darcy’s wedding, with strains of music accompanying her, Miss Caroline Bingley sobbed for her lost love.

***

A long time later, someone tried to open the door. She came to awareness suddenly, realizing where she was. The person on the other side tried again, but she resisted, terrified that someone would come in and catch sight of her tear-stained face. No one, no one, she resolved, would ever know that she had cried because of Mr Darcy.

Whoever was on the other side gave the doorknob a last puzzled rattle, then walked slowly back down the corridor.

She rose, straightening out her dress, smoothing down her hair with hands that were steady only because she forced them to be.

She needed to repair the ravages her pathetic bawling had caused. At any moment, someone else could come in and discover her. She moved to look into a mirror that hung above the mantelpiece.

And recoiled in shock...

Monica Fairview, THE OTHER MR DARCY
available from Robert Hale, Amazon.co.uk, Book Depository, Barnes & Noble

The Other Mr Darcy: Four Days to release day!!

2009-06-26T10:05:00.001+01:00

Only four days left until the official launch! Hurray! I've already prepared the champaign bottles, and I'm ready to go!

They're predicting balmy, stormy weather for Sunday 30th. I suppose that fits in with a certain part of the novel when our heroine and hero realise to their dismay that "the rain was hurtling down in heavy torrents, and the ground was a treacherous mire of pools and flowing waters."

There is another part in the novel when it is raining. Lydia complains that the rain will never end.

"I have to agree with you, Lydia," said Mr Bennet, looking up. "I think it very likely that it will continue to rain until the whole world is flooded and we will be forced to ride in an ark. But I wonder if you will be allowed on it?"

How would you feel about being the only person on the ark with the Bennet family?

If you haven't ordered your copy yet, you still have four days to make the best of the pre-release discounts. The Other Mr Darcy is available in the UK with free postage at Waterstones, Robert Hale, and Amazon.co.uk, and for those of you across the world, The Book Depository has a discount and free shipping as well.

Mr Darcy, Vampyre: Interview with Amanda Grange

2009-06-21T17:00:00.022+01:00

In a joint blogcast with my fellow Regency Romance author Elizabeth Hanbury, it’s our great pleasure to welcome historical romance writer Amanda Grange to my blog.

Amanda is the author of adventurous historical romances set mainly in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She also writes Jane Austen-inspired novels from the heroes' points of view, including the best-selling Mr. Darcy’s Diary and Captain Wentworth’s Diary.

Amanda’s new book – Mr. Darcy, Vampyre - is due out from Sourcebooks in August 09. Now without further ado, let’s find out more….

Welcome Amanda! Mr. Darcy, Vampyre sounds very intriguing! Can you tell us a bit about the story?

Hi! Thanks for inviting me. Mr Darcy, Vampyre is a Pride and Prejudice sequel with a difference. It starts on Lizzy and Darcy's idyllic wedding day and follows them on their wedding tour where strange and unsettling things start to happen.

What inspired you to write Mr. Darcy, Vampyre and how long did you spend researching/planning before you began?

The inspiration was really three fold. I used to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer when it was on TV here in the UK and I always hoped they would do a Pride and Prejudice episode, where the characters got sent into the world of the book, with Buffy being Lizzy and Angel being Darcy. I think that was where the idea of Darcy as a vampyre first came from. Then, last year, the title, Mr Darcy, Vampyre popped into my head and I loved it. Around the same time I was reading a lot of Regency Gothics as research for Henry Tilney's Diary (which I was writing at the time, but which is still not finished!) and the plot of Mr Darcy, Vampyre just came to me. Because it had been simmering inside me for so long I didn't spend any further time researching or planning, I just started to write.

It looks like this was something you've been wanting to do for some time. Clearly, you are very well versed in the vampire tradition, since the Gothics you were reading were the beginning of the genre. Some people might be wary of reading a Jane Austen story with a vampire. What would you say to them to persuade them to try it?

As long as they aren't positively set against the idea of a "what if?" story with Darcy as a vampyre then I don't think there's anything in the book that will upset Austen fans. Jane Austen herself liked the Gothic novels of her day, and in Northanger Abbey Henry Tilney says to Catherine, “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe’s works, and most of them with great pleasure."

Lizzy and Darcy are still Lizzy and Darcy in Mr Darcy, Vampyre, but their marriage has more problems, and stranger problems, than most marriages face in the honeymoon period! There's a lot of beauty and romance in the book as well as a lot of secrets and horror and unease, culminating in an epic finale. As the back cover says, this is a test of love that will take them to hell and back.

You seem to be emphasizing the more romantic aspects of vampires. What do you think is the appeal of vampires? Why are they so seductive a concept?

That's a difficult question to answer in a nusthell. Whole books have been written on the subject! I think it's partly the sex / death correlation, partly the thrill of the unknown, partly the attraction of super powers - great strength, speed etc - but mostly the appeal of immortality.

What is your favourite vampire/gothic novel and why?

I think it would have to be Dracula because it's the first full-blown vampyre novel and it gave us all the things we now associate with a vampyre story.

Speaking of going back in time, it’s almost 200 years since Pride and Prejudice was first published and Jane Austen’s novels continue to be enjoyed by each generation. Why do you think Jane Austen’s characters, particularly Mr. Darcy, have such enduring appeal?

It's because her characters are real. We can recognise them because every generation has its cads, flirts, pompous people, lively people, impossibly good people and people who are above their company! Mr Darcy, of course, is the ideal man, not because he's rich and owns a vast estate (although that helps!) but because he genuinely loves Elizabeth. He's a flawed individual but he learns and grows throughout the book, until he's at last worthy of her, and she, too, has to learn and grow before she can be worthy of him.

Many people read Pride and Prejudice because of the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth. How much does Elizabeth feature in your new novel, and how does she like having Darcy as a vampire?

Like Pride and Prejudice, Mr Darcy, Vampyre is told from Elizabeth's point of view. She is blissfully happy on her wedding day - anyone who wants to read about a very romantic wedding day for Lizzy and Darcy should pick up Mr Darcy, Vampyre! - until she catches a glimpse of a look of torment on his face.

From that moment on she becomes increasingly unsettled as her life begins to spin out of control. It begins when Darcy changes their destination, saying that instead of going to the Lake District he's going to take her to Europe (during the Peace of Amiens), and then her familiar world begins to vanish. Only Darcy remains constant, but he is not the man she thought she married . . .

As to how she likes having Mr Darcy as a vampyre, you'll have to read the book to find out!

To return to the twentieth century: out of all the actors who have played Darcy, who is your favourite (or who do you envisage as Darcy when you are writing about him)?Is there someone who hasn't played Darcy who you think would be perfect in the role?

I don't envisage any actors when I write about Darcy, I see the Darcy of my imagination. I like all the actors who have played him in different ways, but none of them are perfect for me. I would very much like to see Jonathan Rhys-Meyer as Darcy, playing him with the sense of entitlement he gave Henry VIII in The Tudors. I think that unconscious arrogance would suit Darcy very well.

Do you think a modern, post-feminist woman would tolerate a Darcy-like alpha male, vampire or not?

I think any woman with a heartbeat would tolerate Darcy!

Well, certainly the success of Mr Dary's Diary testifies to his continued popularity, as do the various sequels that have been published. You've written a number of very successful novels in diary form. Is this one going to be first person as well?

No, this is written in the third person. There's an extract on the Mr Darcy, Vampyre blog

What you think Jane Austen would say in a letter if she read Mr Darcy, Vampyre?

I think she would say, "This is the most brilliant book I have ever read!" Oh, sorry, I went into a dream world there. I don't know. I like to think she would approve. If not, I'm going to have a lot of answering to do when I take tea with her in the after life (accompanied by Mary Crawford playing the harp).

What's next after Mr. Darcy, Vampyre?

Good question. I don't know. Well, I do, but I'm not saying!

Thank you very much for talking to us, Amanda! Elizabeth and I can't wait to read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre.

This joint interview was brought to you by Monica Fairview, author of The Other Mr Darcy , and from Elizabeth Hanbury, author of Ice Angel. Both books will be coming out from Robert Hale (UK) on the 30th of June 2009.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre: Pride and Prejudice with a difference!

2009-06-17T21:00:00.017+01:00

As part of the celebrations for the joint June 30th release of our new books -- THE OTHER MR DARCY and ICE ANGEL -- authors Monica Fairview (that's me, of course) and Elizabeth Hanbury have teamed up to bring you a special announcement and exclusive interview.

Best selling author Amanda Grange has a new novel coming out in August. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is a Pride & Prejudice sequel with a difference!

Monica and Elizabeth have conducted an exclusive joint web interview with Amanda. You can read the full interview here or on Elizabeth's blog from 9pm Sunday 21st June. Amanda gives us some fascinating insights into Mr. Darcy, Vampyre and the enduring appeal of Jane Austen’s characters so don’t miss it!

To whet your appetite, here’s the Sourcebooks press release for Mr. Darcy, Vampyre

SOURCEBOOKS LANDMARK ANNOUNCES NEW MAJOR RELEASE:

MR DARCY, VAMPYRE

NAPERVILLE, IL (June 10, 2009) — Sourcebooks Landmark, the leading publisher of Jane Austen-related fiction, is excited to announce a major release in the category: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by international bestselling author Amanda Grange.

Amanda Grange’s style and wit bring readers back to Jane Austen’s timeless storytelling, but always from a very unique and unusual perspective, and now Grange is back with an exciting and completely new take on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Mr. Darcy, Vampyre.

“Amanda Grange is our internationally bestselling author of Mr. Darcy's Diary,” says Sourcebooks acquisitions editor Deb Werksman, “and we were so excited when she came to us last year with this brilliant vision for an altered Darcy. Amanda starts where Pride and Prejudice ends and introduces a dark family curse so perfectly that the result is a delightfully thrilling, spine-chilling, breathtaking read. A dark, poignant and visionary continuation of Austen’s beloved story, this tale is full of danger, darkness and immortal love.”

Sourcebooks has announced an on-sale date of August 11, and a 75,000 copy first print run.

The Other Mr Darcy is here!

2009-06-17T10:11:00.004+01:00

Just received my copies of the UK edition of The Other Mr Darcy from Robert Hale. Hurray! The book looks very good. I especially like the image on the back cover.

Pity I can't just sit down and read it. Too many spoilers, I suspect...

The official release date of The Other Mr Darcy is June 30th.

For those of you who aren't in the UK, don't forget The Book Depository offers free international shipping, and is still offering a discount.

And in the UK, Amazon.co.uk is still offering the pre-publication discount as well as free shipping.

Writing a Novel: Trials and Tribulations -- it's a job hunt!

2009-06-08T14:00:00.001+01:00

Someone was asking me the other day how long it takes to write a novel. People seem to think a novel is something that just comes to you on the spur of the momet. You sit down, start writing frantically for a few days or weeks, and bingo! There it is.

There are some writers who can produce a novel very quickly, within a few weeks. But those are not the majority by any means. I would say they are a very small select group -- and if they can write that way, I certainly envy them.

Now it's not that I consider myself a slow writer. I can write quite quickly, once I've started to know the characters, and once the general feel of the novel is clear. But the writing part is only a small segment of what goes into producing a novel.

Here's what it's like for me. It's exactly like the process of applying for a new job -- twice. Knowing that if you can't get this job, you can't pay the rent.

1. Sending out applications: You start with several "concepts". You work on each one for a while, and try to see if you can come up with a plot idea. This stage takes some time because it's a process of elimination. You try things, they don't quite work for you, then you move on to the next idea. Then finally something gets through.

Result: Someone likes your application letter.

2. Going for an initial interview: Then you start brainstorming, trying out your concept. You're asked (as they always do in interviews) where you see yourself in X amount of time.
Which is what you need to do with your novel at this point. You have to have a clear vision of where it's going -- a plot or at least some sense of the shape of the novel. The vague plot usually has to be rethought over the process of days and even weeks before it finally takes on the shape. Since my plots depend completely on the characters themselves, at this stage I'm working hard to work out who the characters are, what they want out of life, and in what direction they are planning to take me. Even at this stage, there is the danger of elimination. I have several dead-end novels that ended in the trash and never went beyond this stage. If that is the case, then I'm back to square one.

Result: You don't get the job, or you are invited for a second interview.

3. Going for the second interview: This time, you get a clearer idea of the people you're going to work with. Now is the time to serious. You need to know your characters: to hear them talking to each other, see how they move, know exactly how they will react in certain situations. You work out whether you will fit with them or not. More importantly, they'll figure out whether they want to work with you or not. (Funny things, characters. They can be very uncooperative).

Result: You've been offered the job, on probation. Unpaid. If you prove yourself, you might be offered a postion.

4. You start the new job: This is the part where you give it everything you can. This is the part where you actually write. But remember -- you're still on probation. Things at this stage can still get so messy, you may have to start all over again.

Result: You struggle to prove you can do it.

5. End of probation period: You have a rough draft. You clean it up. Then clean it up again. Then again. Until it's ready. Now you present it. Your boss calls you in, and tells you...
"We like what you're doing..."

Result A: "...but you're not quite what we're looking for, so..."

It's time to apply for a new job: This is when you start sending letters to editors, and hoping someone out there will like the book you've just spend hours and days and weeks and months of your life writing without receiving a single penny for it.

Result B: "... and we love your creative spirit, you're just what we want, so..."

You've been offered a position: You get a three book contract, and you're all set. Until your next book, of course. Because it all starts all over again, and your next book still has to be approved.

Trials and tribulations. You have to really love writing. But more than anything, you really have to love working very hard...

Monica

News of Darcy: The next novel in the Darcy series is finished!

2009-06-07T10:45:00.003+01:00

Phew! It's been a marathon, but I'm on the last stages of editing my next novel in the Darcy series. Hurray!

It will be coming out from Robert Hale in February 2010, and from Sourcebooks in the Spring of 2010.

I can't wait to see the book covers. I only feel a novel is really finished when I see the covers, because then I know it's all real, and not a figment of my imagination... (?).

For my blog Jane Austen: The Queen Teen? please head out to Historical Romance UK.

Monica

The Other Mr Darcy UK edition

2009-05-31T22:13:00.003+01:00

In 30 days the UK hardcover edition of The Other Mr Darcy will be out. For those of you in the USA, don't despair. Sourcebooks will be bringing out a USA edition in October, so you'll be able to get hold of a copy not too long after the first edition comes out. For those of you who can't wait -- because The Other Mr Darcy really provides a unique and new perspective on Pride and Prejudice -- the UK edition is available with free shipping anywhere in the world from The Book Depository. Don't you love them?

Meanwhile, I'm working hard to deliver the next novel in the Darcy series, which will be coming out next Spring 2010.

Pride & Prejudice and the Zombies/Predators: Why?

2009-05-14T20:44:00.004+01:00

Why? That has been the question in my mind for some time.

Why does someone like Elton John, who surely does not need the fame, fund a film to be produced by his company Rocket Pictures featuring Elizabeth and the alien Predators? http://http//moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/02/17/elton-john-introduces-jane-austen-to-aliens-in-pride-and-predator/

And why does P&P and the Zombies have so much appeal that it creeps up very close to number one on Amazon.com? [apart from the writing, of course, and the original idea -- I do like a dagger-wielding Eliza]

And why do I have the feeling there will be more?

I have pondered this question at length, being one of those admittedly (prejudiced) odd people who like P&P because it is calm, soothing, and without monsters of any kind (unless you count Darcy -- OK, OK, just a joke!). Fortunately, I read a review a couple of days ago which does -- sort of -- answer my question http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/04/jane-austen-doe.html. Now I can ponder something else...

Pride and Prejudice: Secret Diary Discovered

2009-05-05T21:48:00.003+01:00

An unexpected fragment has been found which has been proven to be the first page of a diary written by the infamous Miss Bingley from Pride and Prejudice. To find out more about this, head over to my post on Historical Romance UK and check out my blog, which provides more information about this very startling discovery. The full transcript of the fragment is available there as well.

The Other Mr Darcy: Available for pre-order

2009-05-02T21:23:00.000+01:00

Only 59 days to go! I can hardly wait. Here is the book cover. Isn't it elegant? I love the rich colours of the gowns.

If you're hoping to get your copy of The Other Mr Darcy at a bargain price, now's the time. It's available at Amazon.co.uk at 20% percent, guaranteed pre-order price. The Book Depository is offering an even bigger discount, with free worldwide shipping, which is an amazing deal for those of you in the USA and Australia. And of course, you can order directly from Robert Hale Limited, which has the biggest discount, for a limited time in May.

And don't forget to ask your library for a copy. That way, you can always send friends to the library if they want to read the book. After all, you don't want to lend them your own!