Is Jane Austen’s character Mr. Darcy the most alluring and lusted after male romantic archetype in literary history? Maybe. There is certainly plenty of evidence to support it. We see his name bantered about in all sorts of references and used as an example of the ultimate male romantic hero. There are not many Janeites out there who would not understand the pop reference to ‘
wet shirt Darcy'. Just Google “Mr. Darcy”, and 906, 000
hits appear! Now that’s Austen power!
Recently I read an amusing article entitled
Beating Darcy Down where blogger Alisa Harris thinks that Darcy’s admirers have taken it to an extreme and placed him on a pedestal. It made me laugh, but also think about what Mr. Darcy has become to his public, (yes, he has a public), and how each of us who admire his brooding charms perceive him differently - often times conveniently forgetting his faults altogether. Yes, he does have faults, even if Caroline Bingley thinks not, “
He has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise.”
The public’s interest in the character of Mr. Darcy can certainly be measured by how many
books have been published recently containing his name. I count over 20, and please correct me if I am wrong. It’s a Darcy epidemic. Next week we will have another Mr. Darcy book to consume entitled
Seducing Mr. Darcy. Hurrah! Every author seems to have their own interpretation. Darcy is a cad to the bone, Darcy is a complete gentleman, Darcy is pious saint, Darcy is a scoundrel and a rogue, Darcy does Dallas. Oops. Typo. Sorry!
I just finished reading Maya Slater’s new book
Mr. Darcy’s Diary. In a field of many Darcy reading options, I was drawn to it because of the positive
reviews it received when it was released last fall in the UK, but criticism online based on the storyline description in the review. Being the inquisitive type, I wanted to draw my own conclusions. You can read my full
review at my other blog, Austenprose. It may, or may not suit your fancy, but I liked it!
CONTEST: So, gentle Austen readers. Who is your personal Darcy? Is the character set in stone, or are you flexible with his life outside of his actions in
Pride and Prejudice? Is Darcy a true Regency man who does manly things like drink and play cards and tumble the housemaid, or is he totally pious and saves his virginity for the marriage bed? Inquiring minds would like to know. Leave a comment and share your Darcy thoughts between July 23rd and August 31st, and you will be eligible in a drawing for a free copy of
Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Maya Slater. The winner will be announced on August 1st. Learn for yourself what all the controversy is about!
Posted by Laurel Ann,
Austenprose
Congratulations go out to Bluestocking and Deb, our lucky winners of one copy each of The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy, by Maya Slater. Please claim your prize by responding by e-mail by July 2nd to Vic and Laurel Ann at janeaustentoday at yahoo dot com with your full name and address. The books will be mailed directly from the publisher.
Hot off the presses this week is the US edition of The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater. In this retelling of Pride and Prejudice through Darcy's eyes, we are privy to his innermost thoughts, feelings and experiences as a Regency gentleman. Here is the publisher's description:
Have you ever wondered what Mr. Darcy was really thinking? Find out his secrets in this captivating novel of love, pride, passion, and, of course, prejudice. Mr. Darcy's intimate diary reveals his entanglements with women, his dangerous friendship with Lord Byron, his daily life in Georgian London, his mercurial mood swings calmed only by fisticuffs at Jackson's-and, most importantly, his vain struggle to conquer his longing for Elizabeth Bennet.
Oh, how lovely! The Jane Austen Centre Gift Shop is having a sale. Please click on this link and look at all the wonderful JA offerings at 10% off if you spend 60 pounds!
Have you joined the Jane Austen Society of America? If not, you might consider doing so. At $30 per year it is a bargain. As a member you will receive JASNA News three times per year and Persuasions, a wonderfully thick magazine filled with erudite articles about Jane Austen. In addition, you can attend the annual 3-day annual meeting, which is in Chicago this year. (See sidebar for details.) No, I won't be going, unfortunately (or fortunately). I had a paper accepted at another conference being held on precisely the same dates in Little Rock, Arkansas. Vocation vs. avocation? Oh, dear. Since my pup eats loads of kibbles and bits, I had to choose vocation.
CONTEST: So, gentle Austen readers. Who is your personal Darcy? Is the character set in stone, or are you flexible with his life outside of his actions in Pride and Prejudice? Is Darcy a true Regency man who does manly things like drink and play cards and tumble the housemaid, or is he totally pious and saves his virginity for the marriage bed? Inquiring minds would like to know. Leave a comment and share your Darcy thoughts between July 23rd and August 31st, and you will be eligible in a drawing for a free copy of Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Maya Slater. The winner will be announced on August 1st. Learn for yourself what all the controversy is about!