Unwrapping: Traveling to the Past

My darling hubby gave me PRIDE AND PREJUDICE on Blu-Ray and I couldn't be happier than a pig in mud! I love the book immensely and adore the 2005 version even though it doesn't have Colin Firth as Darcy. My DH knows I can watch that film over and over and never tire of it so he was thoughtful enough to get it for me.  He even came in and joined me while I was watching it the other night.

While watching the movie, he commented that it would be cool to travel back to Jane Austen's time if even for a little while. When I reminded him that there was no toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and bathing wasn't exactly a routine behavior for the times, he quickly changed his mind. I laughed at how quickly the idea lost its appeal once he knew all those things we take for granted wouldn't be there.

While preparing for Christmas, wrapping gifts for 14 homeless kids, baking goodies to share with friends and family, I watched LOST IN AUSTEN which I had recorded when the episodes were re-aired over two days. I had forgotten how strange it would be for a 21st Century woman to be suddenly transported into Regency England. 

My favorite part was when Amanda Price suddenly found herself back in 21st Century London. She found her way home and immediately went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth. Having not been able to properly brush her teeth the entire time she was gone had not left her in a good mood! 
                                                                        
 UGH! Just the idea of using chalk makes me immediately want to rinse my mouth!

Anyway, consequently when her boyfriend commented that her "bum had gotten big", she replied through minty suds rather snarkily, "my bum isn't bigger, it's the dress that makes it look that way!"


And then there was the clothes! Personally, I love the style of dress with its empire waists and Spencer jackets... they may have looked a tad bit chunky in them but they certainly looked elegantly tall, too! But then again, would we really be comfortable in so much cloth with only the occasional bath?  I somehow doubt it.     

So I'm wondering, if you had the opportunity to travel back through time, as Amanda did, would you go and if so, what creature comforts would you bring that you know didn't exist yet? And don't just think about chocolate and how it's sooo much better now!

I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Gaelen for allowing us some time with her.  Wednesday here at UNWRAPPING ROMANCE was so much fun. For those of you who weren't able to make it on Wednesday, please feel free to look in on the celebration of the release of MY RUTHLESS PRINCE and it's not too late to enter to win a copy of MY WICKED MARQUESS being given away by Gaelen to one lucky commenter. Please be sure to read the rules of the Giveaway. If you're interested, please click here.

Happy Reading or Movie watching Everyone and I'll see you next year!
Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and only the best in the New Year, 2012!

                                                         

Unwrapping: Wacky Wednesday - Miss Jane's Eye Candy

I've been feeling much the way Jane felt when she fell ill at Netherfield Hall and have been fighting some kind of bug since Friday which gives a whole new meaning to Black Friday for me. But I took some meds this morning that actually have my head unstuffed enough to think so I'm going to get this post done before I fall into another fog.  : )

The other day I enjoyed a delightful discussion on another blog about who was the better man, Mr. Darcy or Captain Wentworth ... personally, I think they are both lovely but have a special affinity for Mr. Knightley.  My likes and dislikes of an Austen man come from the books but I do have to admit that with the onslaught of productions made, my likes and dislikes have been greatly reinforced by the male who plays the part in the various visual versions.

Take Mr. Darcy ... we all nearly agree completely that Colin Firth is THE Mr. Darcy that we now imagine when we read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE but there have been others who haven't been too hard on the eyes or the heart.

                                                         

But when Matthew MacFadyen stutters his words and declares, "you have bewitched me body and soul." I melt completely away!!!

Then there's Elliot Cowan from LOST IN AUSTEN who isn't anything to toss in the trash although I suspect he might have made a better Heathcliff but then that's a different genre.


As for Captain Wentworth, I personally feel the eye candy is not quite as sweet but I certainly wouldn't turn any down.  I've always felt that the Captain deserved a better look when it came to casting the role after all, the man is charming, dashing and easily caught the eye of many a female.   Rupert Penry-Jones, I think has caught the eye of the viewers --

 

But I've always felt that Ciarán Hinds might have had more the look of a man who had ridden the seas and seen battle.

 

If ever someone decides to make another production of PERSUASION, and I hope they will, I hope they consider someone like Philip Winchester - now there's an American, who can do British and would make a very good Captain Wentworth - in my opinion, of course.

And then there's my favorite Mr. Knightley -
It goes without saying that Jeremy Northam is probably my ideal sweet George but other's have done the job well, too.

 

Mark Strong played the role quite well and brought out the country gentleman in Mr. Knightley to Kate Beckinsale's so-so Emma.





My least favorite George Knightley was Jonny Lee Miller's portrayal but he would do in a pinch so I'm not going to throw him out.  : )

Oh, my word but there are so many more delicious Austen men to choose from but since I'm beginning to get a bit foggy again, I think I'll save the others for another day. If you have any Austen men that you are particularily fond of, I'd love to know about it.

If remakes were made of all of Miss Jane's works, who would you like to see play your favorite heroes?

Till next time - Happy Reading Everyone!

Unwrapping: Life in Regency England - All Elegance or Perhaps Not?

Happy Friday!

My Thursday was a very long day and I was very late getting to work on this post.  Even as I am writing this, I'm tempted to just go to bed but since I guess I'm just a glutten for punishment, I'm going to stay awake long enough to do this - for you - my readers.  : )
Please forgive if some things sound strange, you'd be surprised what you write when you nod off and continue typing.  ; )

The other day, I was watching the movie PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, the rather less than elegant, Keira Knightley verson not the lovely bright and more elegant, Colin Firth- BBC version.

It's a toss up as to which version I like better but I actually lean toward the Keira Knightley version because it just seems more realistic - imagine if it had been made when Colin was Darcy.  [sigh]

I thought about Keira Knightley's Lizzie with her less than perfect coif, her mutely colored dresses and the mud she seemed to have to muck through on a daily basis. I mentally compared her Lizzie to the BBC Lizzie whose hair was always perfectly coiffed and her light colored, usually brilliant white, dresses and began to wonder which was more closely accurate to the truth of life in Regency England.

There was Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy with his fine dress and slightly tossled wavy hair but always looking grand and proper - that seemed natural, too. After all, he dove into a pond in his fine clothes and still managed to look like a proper gentleman soaking wet.

Of course, as a man, he was allowed to take off his outer clothing so that he only got his breeches and blouse wet. Whereas, poor Lizzie ended up soaked to the skin wearing layers of clothing and mud caked to the bottom of her dress. As Caroline Bingley sniped upon seeing Lizzie's dress, "positively medieval."

One of the things I noticed most when comparing the two productions was the surroundings. Oh, the Pemberley of Keira Knightley's P & P was the grandest Pemberley of any of the P & P productions but the poor Bennetts lived in a comparative shack in comparison to the much grander setting in the BBC production.

 

The Keira Knightley production had dull, paint-washed walls, the outside of the house was in desperate need of paint or plaster, the windows paint was cracking and peeling. Inside the house, the hallways were dark and gloomy. Even in the drawing room which appeared a little brighter with its tall windows, there appeared to be sheets or something akin to them thrown over the settees. Whereas the BBC production was much lighter, brighter, neater, better kept and far more elegant. Both the ladies and their house were obviously cut from a better piece of society. 

The BBC production Bennett house was much more elegant and sedate with manicured lawns and painted trim on the house. Their clothing was more elegant almost to the point of be extravagant for a large family of their meager means.

The ladies always appeared to be ready to head off to a ball or some other social gathering with only a moment's notice.

BBC Bennett Drawing Room

Whereas, in Keira Knightley's, their clothing seemed simpler, plainer and in comparison dowdy but these may well some of the reasons I prefer this one to the other. Although, the BBC production does have Colin Firth.  ; )

When I think of the hygiene of the era, it wouldn't matter which style of living was had by the Bennetts or Mr. Darcy because ... well, think about it ... no toothpaste, no mouthwash, no real shampoo and heaven forbid you take a bath more than say, once a month. Water had to be heated over a fire to a temperture sufficient for a bath and with knowing that, you have to wonder how often a young lady washed her hair. I suppose the old "I'm washing my hair tonight" wasn't used much to get out of accepting a date from say, Mr. Collins.

I suppose that if everyone had that 'worn these clothes for more than once dance' smell about them then most gals wouldn't be offended by bad breath, dirty teeth and unwashed hair.  Ewwwwww!

Then again, being able to sit under a spectacularly gorgeous ancient tree near the most beautiful estate on the planet might not be so horrible afterall if you can ignore the other things.

I'd like to pose a question to you:

If you could travel back in time to Regency England and become a member of the Bennett household, would you prefer to visit in the darker, plainer Keira Knightley production of Pride and Prejudice?  OR would you prefer to visit in the somewhat brighter, more elegant setting as perceived by our friends from 'across the pond' at BBC??

Also, all things considered - if you were allowed to bring only three (3) items from the future into the past, what would they be?  Please don't say,  toothpaste, toothbrush and mouthwash, that's too obvious.

I'm thinking that I would bring a nice delicious smelling soap, definitely my favorite shampoo and since I still won't be able to take a bath or shower when I want - definitely deodorant. How about you?

By the way, which production of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE do you prefer?

Have a great weekend and Happy Reading Everyone!

                

Unwrapping: Regency Romance - The Beginning

19th Century England - Regency Romance conjures up images of ladies and gentlemen in fine clothes strolling the streets or attending a ball, all good manners and propriety. As Jane Austen potrayed it, the men would have been properly attired, displayed impeccable decorum around the ladies and the ladies would also have been properly attired with gloves at all times and displayed proper manners in regards to the gentlemen neither desiring nor ignoring their attention.
And so goes the way of the ton - which comes from the French term, le bon ton - pronounced more like tone than ton as in the measurement. The phrase le bon ton, meaning good manners or "in the fashionable mode" were characteristics held as ideal by the British ton. The ton dictated all that was acceptable in regards to fashion, etiquette, manners, social customs and nearly every aspect of social life among the aristocracy of 19th Century England including the monarchy.

A young lady would have been presented to society, usually at a ball, and only danced with respectable gentlemen who had been approved by her parents or guardian. She would have worn white in proper manner and gloves so that she never touched the skin of any gentleman to whom she was introduced or partnered with for a dance. Such were the rules of social interaction between single men and women under the watchful eye of the ton. 

Jane Austen was without a doubt the inspiration for all Regency Romance Novels written today for hers were the first and foremost in Romantic Literature stemming from the 19th Century. She lived that world and wrote about it. She created characters like the Bennett sisters as well as other strong female characters with whom every female reader could relate on some level and gentlemen like Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Wickham with whom every male reader could reflect upon to emulate or despise.

As we journey through the world of Regency Romance Novels, we will be reminded of the works of Jane Austen even though the writing is very modern in comparison. Today's Regency Romance writers give over to the audience yet take into consideration the landscape of the story. After considerable research and reading of their own, these wonderful and talented writers have created an environment that feels like Regency England.  The dialogue retains the sound of the era. The description of the clothing, the surroundings and in many cases, even what's served for dinner all lend to transporting the reader back to a time of elegance and societal reserve just as it was in Jane's time.

If you haven't read Regency Romance but are a fan of history, period piece movies, or just good stories, I hope you'll stay with us over the next month as we explore the elegant, well-mannered, yet under the surface steamy, world of Regency Romance Novels. I promise, in addition to beautiful romance stories, you'll also meet spies, rakes and men you'll find yourself imagining in your daydreams. Oh, fellas, if you're willing to take a ride with us, you'll meet some sword wielding, gambling, always ready for a fist fight kind of guys who might make you rethink the genre as well.  There are even some comedic moments that will have you laughing out loud.

Join us next time when we meet one of those Regency Romance writers who will have you rushing to upload or rushing to your bookstore to get a copy or two.  In the meantime, I'm wondering which of Jane Austen's works is your favorite?

I love all of Jane's works and even though PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is one of my favorites as I'm sure it is for most of us as we all wish to be as outspoken as Lizzie Bennett - I have a special place in my literary heart for EMMA. Perhaps because it was Jane's last completed work or because I seem to relate to her the most of all of Jane's ladies.

Emma was convinced that she had no real need for a man in her life for as she put it, "never, never could I expect to be so truly beloved and important; so always first and always right in any man's eyes as I am in my father's." After meddling in others' love lives, she found love in the most unexpected place, right at her side. When she was looking least to fall in love, she realized that she had already fallen in love with the man most suited for her, her best friend and the one whose opinion she regard most highly.  "She saw that there never had been a time when she did not consider Mr. Knightley as infinitely the superior, or when his regard for her had not been infinitely the most dear."

So which of Jane's Austen's works is your favorite? I hope you'll share your choice and reason with us - if not for us then for Emma ... I'm sure she would be delightfully amused.

Happy Reading Everyone!