Victorian Novels Thread

[T.o.b.y]

Hurray, so I'm not the only one who has a liking for old English novels:

 

Regarding Jane Eyre, you have to cheer when she goes back to Rochester, particularly after St John Rivers told her she was "fashioned for labour, not for love." (His marriage proposal must be one of the worst in any literature.) Bad idea, though, to marry a man after you've found his first wife in the attic.....

I don't read a lot of Dickens - I acknowledge his genius, but there is something cruel in his writing that disturbs me - but I love Jane Austen. Such a gift for characterisation and what a dry, sly wit. I think Emma might be my favourite but, of course, you have to love Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. I would like to see Benedict Cumberbatch play the roles of Mr Rochester and Mr Darcy. Can't you imagine his beautiful baritone voice growling at Jane when they first meet, or trying to talk her into becoming his mistress after the wedding fiasco? And that rather lovely, old-fashioned face would be perfect for Mr Darcy.

 

I love Jane Eyre. The character, I mean. The book has some problems - melodrama and improbable coincidences alert! - but the woman is great. What I like best about the story and what makes it my overall favorite romance is that it looks like it's going to be a classic Cinderella story, but then the poor governess rejects the "prince" and his riches because

- he was trying to turn her into something she could never be, i.e. a princess

- they were not on equal footing, he dominated her and tried to "rule" her

- she discovered he was trying to make her an accomplice in something that went straight against her strong moral principles

She then goes off to become her own woman, finds a family, a job, makes peace with those who ruined her childhood, stands up to yet another dominant male who, this time, wanted to engross her moral / religious and not her emotional self. And only then, when she has grown just as strong and independent as he, does she go back to Mr Rochester and finally marry him out of her own free will. Their union can only work after they have become equals. And this book was written in the 19th century! Feminist issues aside (and those are not all unproblematic in this book, either), Rochester is just such a satisfying romantic hero. I love every scene he's in and I can completely understand why Jane falls in love with him.

 

As for Jane Austen, my favorite is Mansfield Park. I love Fanny Price. I think she's probably the least popular of all Austen heroines, but she is the only one I can truly identify with and feel for.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I have a younger sister who have read these books, me, not so much. Romance went out of my life very early on.  But I can absolutely relate to a woman who is strong enough to stand up to the domineering men of the world. To many girl's and women's lives have been destroyed because they could not find it within themselves to walk away from an abusive domineering man.  Good for Jane. Maybe have to break down and read these books.

[aely]

All the female members of my family have cried over Helen Burns and as we all read my mum's copy of the book first, now the pages have gone a bit strange in that part...

[Pawse]

Do you know, I've never read Jane Eyre or Jane Austin.

[T.o.b.y]

What?!

 

If you like sense, cleverness and humor, try Jane Austen. If you're more into melodrama, die-hard romance and dark tormented heroes, go with Jane Eyre. And if you don't like books without battle scenes or a good murder, don't bother...

[Arcadia]

And if you want both cleverness AND mayhem, you could try "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." It's funnier if you read the original first, tho!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Someone has written a murder mystery "Pride and Prejudice" style called "Death Comes to Pemberley".  It's not a bad story at all.

 

 There is another one out called "The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy". I have read the blurb but won't give it away.  Hehehe.