Literary Heroine Blog Party

Hmm, I've had this post all ready to publish for days. I've just been waiting to get the pictures organised - but I can't do that because my computer is out of order at the moment! So you can just have the post without the pictures, LOL.

How delightful - a Literary Heroine Blog Party! Please join in, if you feel so inclined.

~ The Questions ~

Compiled by Miss Kellie and Miss Natasha

What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? A true heroine should be someone who I can relate to and admire. A true heroine should be strong, yet feminine.

Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. Oops, I've just realised that I used those two words in my first answer, above! Oh well. . . Okay, four heroines who I admire and relate to:

~Fanny Price from Mansfield Park. I first read this when I was about 14 or 15. I think I was even more painfully shy then than I am now. I don't have Fanny's moral strength and steadfastness, but I sure could relate to her quiet nature and sometimes crippling shyness!

~Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey. Perhaps there isn't much to admire about Catherine, aside from the fact that she is a genuinely sweet, good-natured girl, but she's probably the Austen heroine to whom I can most relate, aside from Fanny. I found it so lovely and refreshing to read a Jane Austen novel with a heroine who was. . . well, just an ordinary teenage girl, who I could identify with! Young, a bit silly, very gullible and naive, a great bookworm, part of a big and happy family, totally in love with Mr. Tilney. . . Yep, Catherine and I have a lot in common!

~Emily Starr from the "Emily" books. Emily has always been the L.M. Montgomery heroine to whom I could most relate. More on this when I get to the letter "E" in my fave books series. Much as I adore Anne, we're almost complete opposites, in terms of temperament, LOL.

Oh, and I just remembered my "Top 15 Heroines" post that I did a while ago - I'll refer you to that post for more of my favourite heroines!

Five of your favorite historical novels? Historical as in historical fiction or historical as in books that were written a long time ago? Oh well, I'll assume it's the latter. I've picked these at random; these are five OF my favourites, not my five favourites.

Rose in Bloom - Louisa May Alcott
North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell
A Girl of the Limberlost - Gene Stratton-Porter
Our Mutual Friend - Charles Dickens
The Enchanted April - Elizabeth Von Arnim

Out of those five books who is your favorite character and why? Hmm, I'm going to say John Thornton from North and South. Because he's one of the sweetest, kindest, manliest heroes. . . ever! He's even nicer in the book than he is in the miniseries.

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? The British Isles. I'd visit as many castles, stately homes and historical sites as possible. :D

What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? Ummm. . . I like reading about ALL different historical periods and cultures! Oh well, I'll say the Regency Era for now.

You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? (!!!) Well, NOT singing. I couldn't do comedy. Maybe recitation. Or perhaps I'd play something on guitar.

If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? Lady Percy Blakeny!! LOL, that was just the first thing that popped into my head. I recently read The Scarlet Pimpernel for the first time, and am going through a second phase of SP fandom. . .

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? I can live without it, but. . . I do like it. :-) Dark, but not too dark (i.e. not the 85% cocoa variety). I like most chocolate things too (cake, brownies, etc.), but generally not chocolate ice cream.

Favorite author(s)?
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Jane Austen

Okay, okay, let's try that again. . .

Jane Austen | Charles Dickens | C.S. Lewis | J.R.R. Tolkien | L.M. Montgomery | Elizabeth Gaskell | Charlotte Bronte | And many more. . .

As a small, imaginative, red-haired damsel might query; would you rather be divinely beautiful, dazzlingly clever, or angelically good? Why? I'd say "angelically good", except that the phrase somehow smacks of hypocrisy and goody-two-shoes-ism. And I'd pick it for partly selfish reasons, I'm afraid. I think being truly "good" would be more likely to help me find happiness and contentment than being beautiful or clever.

In which century were most of the books you read written? 19th century. . .

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… It's a toss-up between Henry Tilney and Sir Percy Blakeney.

Describe your ideal dwelling place. Hm, hard! Umm. . . wherever my family is!

Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? Yes, sometimes.

In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... Oooh, another hard one! I can't pick just one, but here are a few: Rigaud, Carver Doone, Chauvelin, Heathcliff. . .

Three favorite Non-fiction books? The BIBLE, So Much More, Castles of Friuli.

Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? Reading, of course!

Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. Oh, I don't know. . . something broad-brimmed and utterly romantic. :-)

Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. 1. Our big road trip last year. 2. My 18th birthday (not so much the day itself, just. . . getting older).

Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently. God's and Moses' admonitions and encouraging words to Joshua in the book of Joshua, and towards the end of Deuteronomy.

And lastly, as I am a rather businesslike hostess, may I ask you your views regarding those adorable little items - namely pin back and mirror back buttons? 1). Where would you choose to display a button badge to best showcase your unique style? 2). What image and/or sentiment would most make you smile were it inscribed on your very own compact mirror? 1). I'd proudly wear it on my shirtfront, to declare to all the world my passionate love of books! LOL. . . Seriously, I don't really know. But I do think they're adorable. I especially like the "Bibliophile" badge. 2). I don't know! I do love the design on the compact mirror in the giveaway, though.

Top Costume Drama Heroes: Part II

Right! Since writing this post ages ago (was it really only last year?), I have seen various new (for me) period films, and discovered many wonderful new heroes. Plus, there are several heroes who didn't make it into my original Top 10, but who deserve to be recognised!

So, without further ado. . . 

Top Costume Drama Heroes ~ Part the Second

(And I think there may even have to be a "Part the Third" sometime, too ;-)

The Scarlet Pimpernel aka Lord Percy (Anthony Andrews - The Scarlet Pimpernel 1982) is sitting pretty with Henry Tilney at the top of my list of all-time favourite heroes! Lord Percy is awesome beyond awesomeness; his awesomeness defies description. (Yes that sentence is cringeworthy - forgive me, I'm an SP fangirl.) The ultimate superhero - the original "superhero" in fact - and the ultimate romantic hero. And guys, I still haven't gotten round to reading the books or watching the 1999 series, but I'm convinced Anthony Andrews (of SP 1982) will forever be the Scarlet Pimpernel, as far as I'm concerned.

Arthur Clennam (Matthew Macfadyen - Little Dorrit 2008) is a different kind of Dickensian hero. Many of Dickens' best-known heroes (think David Copperfield, Pip) tend to be young, earnest, and idealistic. Arthur is considerably older - approaching 40 - and has experienced great sadness and rejection. He has had almost no joy or light in his life. But in spite of all this, he remains tenderhearted and compassionate, rather than growing embittered with life and with others. A gem of a hero. 

Westley aka The Man in Black aka The Dread Pirate Roberts (Cary Elwes - The Princess Bride). Westley rivals Errol Flynn's Robin Hood and Anthony Andrews' Lord Percy for pure swashbuckling awesomeness. Westley epitomises courage and heroism. 'Nuff said.

Eugene Wrayburn (Paul McGann - Our Mutual Friend 1998). Eugene, Eugene! Not really a hero - more of an anti-hero. A troubled soul who comes good in the end. For the first 20-odd years of his life, Eugene is aimless, lazy, purposeless - until love jolts him out of his apathy. I'd always had a great deal of sympathy for Eugene, but I had never thought of him as being a truly - well, deserving hero. *SPOILER WARNING* I mean, his intentions towards Lizzie were undecided and potentially less than honourable. If he hadn't been bashed almost to death by Headstone, his relationship with Lizzie would probably have ended in shame and heartbreak. Well, I put all this to my blogging friend Lizzy, and her response was an interesting one! (See the comments section in linked post.) In the end - Eugene didn't deserve Lizzie's love, and he did not deserve to live happily ever after with her - but he did. He was undeserving, but he was redeemed by unconditional, selfless love. Sound familiar? :-) 

John Harmon's (Stephen Mackintosh - Our Mutual Friend 1998) and Bella Wilfer's romance is perhaps a little more conventional and predictable than Eugene and Lizzie's, but it is none the less beautiful. John Harmon is a wonderful hero - strong, patient, good-hearted, yet also with a vulnerable side that endears him to the reader/viewer. Stephen Mackintosh gave an excellent perfomance as John in OMF 1998.

Faramir! (David Wenham - The Two Towers/The Return of the King) I disclosed in my earlier post that I've always had a soft spot for Boromir - essentially the "tragic hero" of The Lord of the Rings (the fact that he was played in the films by the amazing Sean Bean doesn't hurt, either ;-). But Faramir certainly doesn't suffer by comparison with Boromir - in fact,  Faramir is arguably the more truly heroic of the two characters. Boromir is a great warrior and leader - strong, courageous, charismatic. Faramir is at heart a man of peace, not of war - though he still has courage and valour in bucketloads! And ultimately, he showed more true strength of character than his brother. Faramir's and Eowyn's romance is possibly one of my favourite love stories in literature. 

Mr. Knightley (Mark Strong - Emma 1996). Mr. Knightley (it is impossible to call him anything else; "George" doesn't sound right, and one daren't call him "Knightley" for fear of being thought an upstart, vulgar being) has legions of female admirers - indeed, he is probably Fitzwilliam Darcy's closest rival in the Most Universally Adored Jane Austen Hero stakes, and deservedly so. He is the nicest, kindest, most honourable. . . in fact, he's almost Mary Poppins-ian - er, practically perfect in every way. (Actually, I'm curious - can anyone think of any fault in Mr. Knightley's character?! If you can, please leave a comment!) I loved both both Jeremy's Northam's and Mark Strong's Mr. Knightleys. Jonny Lee Miller. . . hmm. . . yeah. . . maybe he'll grow on me. I still haven't re-watched Emma '09, so we'll see.

John Ridd (Richard Coyle - Lorna Doone 2000). Gentle giant, and hero of R.D. Blackmore's epic Lorna Doone. Contrary to its title, Lorna Doone is really John Ridd's story - it's almost a coming-of-age tale, really. Richard Coyle's John differs considerably from the book's John - he is physically smaller (in the book he's a giant of a man, and a champion wrestler), and mentally quicker. However, he still captures the basic essence of John Ridd's character - a genuinely good, decent, big-hearted man.

Gabriel Oak (Nathaniel Parker - Far From the Madding Crowd 1998). Gabriel must surely win the prize for being the most patient, long-suffering hero in literature! He is infinitely kind and good; the only stupid thing he does in the entire story is fall in love with Bathsheba. Why, why, why?! Oh well. . . if Bathsheba Everdean is one of the silliest, most frustrating "heroines" in English literature, Gabriel has got to be one of the nicest, most amazing heroes. He also has the decided advantage of being in one of the very few Thomas Hardy novels that actually has a happy ending! So he gets the girl in the end - without either of them dying or committing murder or suicide or anything like that. I found Far From the Madding Crowd 1998 a frustrating story at times (if there's one famous 19th author I don't like, it's Thomas Hardy), but Gabriel makes it all worthwhile. And Nathaniel Parker. . . wow! :-D

James Percy (Thomas Gibson - The Inheritance) Once again, the film and the book incarnations of this character are somewhat different. Thomas Gibson's James Percy in the 1997 TV movie is a dashing, handsome, lively young (well, young-ish) man. James Percy in the book (actually, he's referred to as Lord Percy - Louisa May Alcott's book, written when she was seventeen, is set in England at some indefinite period in the 18th or early 19th century) is "old" (35 or so), quiet, and plain. If anything, I think I prefer the book's version - he's such a lovely, Colonel Brandon-ish sort of character.

~o0o~

Whew! And that rounds out the sequel to my Top 10 Heroes post! This has been a fun post to write. . . I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did! 

Please share your thoughts on any or all of these characters in the comments section! Or tell me who some of your favourite costume drama heroes are, and why.

"Sink meh!"

Anthony Andrews as the eponymous hero of The Scarlet Pimpernel

I think I have a new favourite movie - not to mention a new favourite hero. I'll have to go back and revise my Top 10 Heroes post sometime, eh? Not sure if Sir Percy knocks Henry Tilney off the No. 1 spot, but he's definitely right up there.

Several of you were amazed that I had never seen The Phantom of the Opera until the other day. . . shockingly, I hadn't seen The Scarlet Pimpernel either, until now! I myself am amazed. . . how on earth has it taken me this long to discover this gem? I've heard that the books were good, and have been meaning to read them since forever. I also knew that there were a couple of movie adaptations, but I had no idea that this particular one (the 1982 version) was THIS GOOD!!

Right, I'll try to write a review of sorts. I find it's easiest to write reviews of movies that I somewhat dislike, since there are always lots of things for me to criticise (bad Jane Austen adaptations are a prime target) - or even just movies that I like, but don't love. Writing a post about a film that I LOVE is always a challenge, because I constantly have to rein myself in, in a lame attempt to not sound completely like a giddy fangirl. (OMG I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! etc.) As you may have gathered, I love this film (bad). And I love the hero (much, much worse!). This does not bode well for my review, but I'll try to write it anyway. . .

~~~~~

The setting is Paris, in the late 18th century. The Reign of Terror is at its height, with countless "enemies of the Republic" losing their heads to the guillotine everyday. One man has been smuggling out victims earmarked for the guillotine - and doing so from practically right under the executioners' noses, saving lives and defying the Republic. He is known only as The Scarlet Pimpernel - his true identity is not known, though it is thought that he is English.

Ahem - his true identity is not known to the French authorities, but it is known to us, the audience. Sir Percy Blakeney, baronet, foppish, filthy rich, and generally regarded as something of an idiot by most of his acquaintance. Little do they know that behind the silly, dandified exterior, lies a scheming, highly intelligent mind, and the courageous saviour of many lives - in short, the Scarlet Pimpernel.

It's essentially the forerunner of the modern superhero story - superman, batman, et al. . .

Jane Seymour as Marguerite St Just

While in Paris, Sir Percy meets and falls for Marguerite St Just - one of the most celebrated actresses and beauties in France - and she in turn falls totally and unequivocally for him (ha, who wouldn't!). They get married. Marguerite still knows nothing of his second identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel. 

Marguerite had previously been romantically entangled with Citizen Chauvelin - an agent of Robespierre. Chauvelin is very much in love - and needless to say, when he learns of Marguerite's engagement to Sir Percy, he is not happy - even though he does not yet know that Sir Percy is the Scarlet Pimpernel. When he does find out, he is. . . erm, even less happy. Marguerite finds herself caught between the two men - suspected by one, blackmailed and manipulated by the other.

Anyway, it's all extremely interesting and exciting.

It's a hugely enjoyable movie, but beyond any doubt, the best thing about it has to be Anthony Andrews, who is brilliant as Sir Percy/The Scarlet Pimpernel. He absolutely nailed the part, playing both the foppish fool and the dashing hero to perfection. 

The rest of the cast were good too, though they were all totally eclipsed by Andrews whenever he was on screen. Jane Seymour was very beautiful as Marguerite - but am I alone in feeling that Marguerite didn't quite deserve Sir Percy? I dunno. . . she was awfully nice, but surely such a hero deserves a truly exceptional heroine. . . Maybe it was just Jane Seymour's performance. I'd better read the books to get a fuller picture of all the characters.

Sir Ian McKellen as Chauvelin

Ian McKellen was excellent as Chauvelin, and I had a lot of fun spotting familiar faces from the old Austen and Bronte adaptations done by the BBC in the early '80s - including Tracey Childs (Marianne in S&S 1981, Georgiana Reed in Jane Eyre 1983), and Christopher Villiers (Tom Bertram in MP 1983). Also, Julian Fellowes - the acclaimed screenwriter of The Young Victoria, Vanity Fair and many others - is hilarious here as the Prince Regent.

The production values are outstanding! A 1980s TV movie. . . it didn't sound promising, and I wasn't expecting much, but I was very pleasantly surprised - the costumes, sets, cinematography and score are all absolutely gorgeous. The filming locations are also lovely to look at - many of the exteriors were shot on location at various stately homes around Britain.

Problematic content: there's not a whole lot, but I'd still only recommend this film for ages 12+ or so. The guillotine scenes are not graphic, but they'd still be a bit much for small children. There is also some language, and one instance of a man and woman living together out of wedlock. See also the Charity's Place review.

I haven't seen the 1999 version of The Scarlet Pimpernel yet. To be honest, I don't really want to - I liked this adaptation so much. What do you people say - is the 1999 series worth bothering with? I will try to read the books sometime (another heap of books to add to my mile-high mental stack of "books I need to read").

More on this film:

Eras of Elegance
IMDb
Gallery (where I got most of the pics for this post)

Any other fans of the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel?