Yes, I have finished it and I promise this will be the last of the Darcy posts (here and here) unless of course you like them that is. Well, then I could probably go on all day about him.
Anyway, yes, have finished. I will say it was hard work. The language is incredible and I was sometimes so lost in conversations that I would need to go back and re-read 5 pages to realise who was speaking to who and which dialogue belonged to which character. Also, I continued to wonder “Why is Jane always referred to as Miss Bennet, when the other sisters aren’t?” and “what does &c. mean at the end of all their letters?”. Mind boggling to say the least!
Now, while I did enjoy Mr Darcy, I have to say I don’t believe I ever swooned. I’m still surprised there isn’t more Bingley or Wickham love. Darcy was more of a nagging thought that a physical being. I think I’d have loved to read the book in Darcy’s point of view… is there such a book because I think it would be highly entertaining? Possibly filled with much inner dialogue and the continuous reminders and I imagine they’d going a little something like this: “Stay calm! Yes, they’re all so very stupid but just… stay… calm. You can leave in 10 minutes. Yes, leave in 10 minutes! Oh, what a thought! I don’t think I could bear another minute with this ghastly Mrs Bennet! How does Miss Bennet and Elizabeth do it? Honestly! Oh, here she is again! Stay calm… you can do it Darcy!”
… it had to be said.
I do love him I think though, he is just such an adorable man with high morals and overly just shy. So, while I don’t swoon I’d have no objections to being Elizabeth 🙂
Now, finally I can close the book and return this unsightly edition back to the library. I am considering buying it actually. I went to the local second hand today who didn’t have an individual copy but did have a Penguin Classics Austen boxset! It was all very exciting. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford it at the time but soon…
… although perhaps I should read some more Austen before making that decision. Maybe I’m tainted by Wickham and Darcy.
6 responses to “Oh Darcy, you lovely man!”
The oldest daughter of the family is always referred to as miss (insert last name here) because of politeness reasons. Of course, if you have five daughters it would get confusing if they were all miss (insert last name here), that’s why they are referred to by their first name 🙂
‘&c’ is the old version of etc., so in a letter it could mean ‘and others’ if it’s after a name or it could mean ‘and so forth’.
you can take my affy link off cause i moved quotecake to the forum.
I’m glad you enjoyed the book. I really should pick it up one of these days.
If you’re going to wade into another Austen, I recommend Sense and Sensibility. It’s probably the one most like Pride and Prejudice and I think it’s a great story. Emma is a lot longer (and feels it), and Persuasion has a really different feel (though I love that too!).
Just the passing thoughts of an Austen tragic!
I’ve never actually read Pride & Prejudice before so I can’t really say much. I had to read it for my English class & I totally dreaded it because I thought it was so boring. I kind of don’t like the bronte sisters. What book was it..ah yes, Jane Eyre..I hated that book. I know a ton of people who love it, but I absolutely hated it. I was forced to read it in English & I didn’t find the story thrilling nor exciting in the least bit. I didn’t find women to be the best writers back in the day. But, however, I did enjoy reading Dracula & Frankenstein. Those were awesome!
Hrm I can’t answer the questions you pose, but I think someone else did! I’m sure a guy’s point of view is more interesting/entertaining than a woman’s in this book anyway. ahhahaa. I’m sure he was probably struggling with the whole thing. would’ve been funny if he was thinking, “MAN I WANT TO TAKE HER INTO MY ARMS & SWOOOOP HER OFF HER FEET..boy would I like to see that underskirt…mm…okay boy, keeep it in your pants. must not touch her unless i want her to be my wife..” hahaa