Story and History

Mr. and Mrs. Bennet as parents

2012-01-24T08:40:00.000-06:00

When it comes to parenting their five daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet aren't likely to be up for any awards. Both of them play favorites while neglecting to educate their daughters and have chosen an economic course that requires the girls to marry well or face lives of genteel poverty which their upbringings have made them entirely unprepared for. This is something I have referenced in previous

Babes and Babies

2012-01-23T20:33:00.000-06:00

A search of Pemberley.com's electronic texts, shows that the word "baby" appears seven times (Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park), "infant" appears four times in the same novels and "babe" is never used.

Christmas Trees in Jane Austen's England

2009-12-24T15:01:00.000-06:00

The research for this post surprised me a little. It is generally acknowledged that current Christmas traditions largely had their root in the Victorian Era, including the Christmas tree which became popular after a picture of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's Christmas Tree was published on the cover of The Illustrated London News. It turns out, that "became popular" were the key words

Yes, I'm back

2009-11-18T21:13:00.000-06:00

My apologies for the extended departure, all I can say is life has been crazy. I am currently in the process of starting my own law firm, which while very exciting is also very time consuming. However things are starting to settle a little bit for the present and I intend to dedicate a little bit of the additional time to this blog.

Clandestine Marriages and the problems they caused

2009-11-14T18:36:00.002-06:00

The problem of clandestine (sometimes known as Fleet) marriages was resolved by the "Act for the better preventing of clandestine Marriages" more than two decades before Jane Austen was born. However, the results of its resolution can be seen in her novels, though it is possible that many of the characters (if they were living people) would have never given much thought to the reason behind why

A 19th Century word to use on All Hallows Eve

2009-10-31T00:01:00.002-05:00

Vampyrarchy this word, rooted in the word vampire, was coined in the 1820s and refers to a parasitic group of politicians. I found out about this word from my set of Forgotten English Knowledge Cards, which is too bad as a word this apropos should never have been forgotten.

Basic Character Information - Edmund Bertram

2009-05-26T03:48:00.000-05:00

Basic InformationGiven Name: Edmund BertramAge: 16 to 25Primary Residence: Mansfield ParkSpouse: Fanny Price (end of novel)Physical Characteristics: At sixteen Edmund is described as being "very well-looking" and "tall for his age" as well as being "well-grown." As a young man he is handsome enough to attract Mary Crawford's interest.Personality Characteristics: Edmund is the kindest of his

Historical Maps of Europe

2009-05-21T23:24:00.000-05:00

Today, The Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide to the 18th Century posted on the differences between the political map today and in the 18th Century, explaining why German royal consorts were never the princess of Germany among other things in the post "What a Mess." Including a great link to a historical atlas that shows European political boundaries at the turns of the first to the

Why I don't like the end of the 1940 Pride and Prejudice adaptation

2009-05-20T01:14:00.002-05:00

There are actually many things that I dislike about the 1940 Pride and Prejudice adaptation, but the final resolution of Darcy and Elizabeth's courtship is one of the things that really, really bugs me about it. Basically, instead of following the novel (and I admit to being a purist when it comes to novel adaptations) the screenwriter threw out everything after Lady Catherine pays her

Basic Character Information - Fanny Price

2009-05-19T01:04:00.002-05:00

Basic Information:Given Name: Fanny Price, though it is very possible that she was actually christened Frances PriceAge: 10 years old when introduced, 15 when Mr. Norris dies and Sir Thomas goes to Antigua and 18 when the Crawfords come to visit their sister at the Parsonage.Primary Residence: Mansfield ParkSpouse: Edmund Bertram (at the end of the novel)Parents: Frances (Fanny) Price and Mr.

Book Review: Pemberley Shades

2009-05-15T10:24:00.000-05:00

There are lots of sequels to Pride and Prejudice and they are of widely varying quality; Pemberley Shades: Pride and Prejudice continues by Dorothy Bonavia-Hunt is my favorite due to its witty dialogue and faithful portrayals of Jane Austen's beloved characters. The story starts a few years after the conclusion of Pride and Prejudice with the death of Pemberley's rector after "a long life of

Jewelry in Jane Austen's day

2009-04-23T11:37:00.003-05:00

Last month, Jane Austen Today posted a short piece on Regency era jewelry, including a link to The Three Graces, a retailer selling vintage jewelry, including an impressive selection of gorgeous Georgian Era jewelry which inspired me to do some digging and see what I could find out about jewelry fashions in Jane Austen's day.During Jane Austen’s life there was a significant fashion shift from the

Getting a Common Marriage License

2009-04-07T23:12:00.000-05:00

In 1753 "An Act for the better preventing of clandestine Marriages" set forth the rules for being married by the reading of the banns or by a common license, including the method of procuring either of these licenses. Most of Jane Austen's characters would have used a common license as it lacked the public nature of the banns and was easily available to the gentry class. Under the Act, assuming

Charlotte's Choice

2009-03-25T18:46:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite parts of the latest Pride and Prejudice adaptation was when Charlotte Lucas told Elizabeth that she was marrying Mr. Collins. Elizabeth is sitting on a swing when Charlotte comes up. After establishing that engaged to be married is the only type of engaged there is, Charlotte tells a shocked Elizabeth not to judge her reminding Elizabeth, and informing the audience, that she is

Marriage Licenses

2009-03-22T23:24:00.004-05:00

In Jane Austen's day there were three types of marriage licenses available in England; the reading of the banns, a common license, and a special license.The reading of the banns had the advantage of being free and consisted of the minister reading out the names of people who wished to marry during church services on three consecutive Sundays. If no one objected, the bride and groom would then be

Child Custody

2009-03-21T21:34:00.003-05:00

As an addendum to yesterday's post, I am just going to say that under the English common law, a husband had an absolute right to custody of all children born into his marriage. This did not change until 1839 when the Custody of Infants Act, which permitted mothers to petition the Chancery courts for custody of children under the age of seven, so long as the mother was not an adultress.A child

Why Marriage Settlements were Important

2009-03-20T11:44:00.002-05:00

Or, Why George Wickham wanted to elope with Georgiana DarcyThe basic answer is: when a man and woman married, the law considered the wife's legal identity to be absorbed into her husband's, this meant that everything a woman owned before her marriage became the property of her husband, to dispose of as he pleased. This did not change until the Married Women's Property Act of 1882 that married

A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliff

2009-03-19T16:10:00.003-05:00

Northanger Abbey is supposed to be a parody of the Gothic Romances that were popular in Jane Austen's day, and I can say that A Sicilian Romance does lend itself to parody.I picked up my copy of Ann Radcliffe's second novel a few years ago at a second hand book shop, mostly because Ann Radcliffe's books are discussed so often in Northanger Abbey. I will say that I found the book amusing and

Calling Cards

2009-03-18T09:13:00.005-05:00

Today Miss Manners's column discusses an early 20th century calling card that one of her readers discovered in an antique book, inspiring me to write about calling cards in early nineteenth century England.At that time a call was a short visit and calling cards were used both as part of the social ritual of calling. Leaving cards was used as a method of informing one's acquaintences that one

Mrs. Bennet and her place in society

2009-03-17T12:23:00.002-05:00

In Part II of Mr. Bennet and the Entailment I mentioned the fact that the Bennet girls do not have any familiarity with household tasks such as cooking (and presumably cleaning). After further consideration of that point, I have a theory that Mrs. Bennet's sensitivity on this issue could come from the relative difference in social standing between the family she grew up in and the family she

A Brief Explanation of Eras

2009-03-16T13:11:00.007-05:00

Historical eras can be difficult to define, largely because they are typically defined years, decades or centuries after the fact by historians who are trying to create a method of breaking up the past into manageable chunks of time instead of someone sending out a memo to everyone stating that X era is over, vive le Y era and by the way, the rules for Y era are...The time period that I plan to

Jane Austen Fan Fiction Index Link

2009-03-15T20:26:00.002-05:00

No real analysis or historical information today, but I would like to announce that the Jane Austen Fan Fiction Index (JAFF Index from now on) has created a login and password for this site (located on the sidebar). These will allow you to search the index's list of stories that are suitable for teenagers and adults as well as the index's link page.If you ever find yourself looking for a

Barristers and Attorneys

2009-03-14T19:20:00.002-05:00

Lady Catherine is shocked that her nephew will marry a woman whose uncle is an attorney, while we are presented Darcy's great-uncle the judge as yet another sign of his family's prestige. This post isn't going to go into the importance of judges, but I am going to talk about the great uncle's probably previous profession - that of barrister. The differences are primarily that barristers were

Cutting off an Entailment

2009-03-13T09:24:00.001-05:00

In Part I of Mr. Bennet and the Entailment, I mentioned that Mr. Bennet's plan to provide for his family after his death was to have a son who would join with Mr. Bennet in cutting off the entail. This process can also be known as "breaking off" or "barring" an entail and, according to Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, this was done by a deed (written instrument used to convey land) that was

Mr. Bennet and the Entailment, Part II

2009-03-12T07:39:00.000-05:00

In Part I of Mr. Bennet and the Entailment, I discussed some of the flaws in Mr. Bennet's plan to provide for his family through fathering a son. Today in Part II, I am going to discuss some of the steps that could have been taken to mitigate the Longbourn entailment's effect on his family.After Mr. Bennet married, economy was considered "perfectly useless" on the assumption that he would have a

Mr. Bennet and the Entailment, Part I

2009-03-11T07:46:00.001-05:00

Longbourn estate is entailed on the male line. Mr. Bennet, Longbourn's current owner, has no sons. Therefore the Bennet daughters must marry or face a lives of poverty following their father's death.And of course, if Mr. Bennet did have a son, that son would be delighted to financially support his mother and five sisters for the rest of their days. John Dashwood certainly was.The problem with all

What Darcy paid to induce Wickham to marry Lydia

2009-03-10T08:16:00.013-05:00

One of the ways that Darcy displays his love for Elizabeth is when he tracks down Lydia and Wickham following their elopement and pays the expenses for their wedding. We don't know how much exactly he had to spend, beyond Mr. Bennet saying Wickham would be a fool if he took less than ten thousand pounds in chapter 49.[1] However, I think that the actual amount that Darcy paid out would have been

Just a Quick Note

2009-03-09T21:17:00.000-05:00

I am going to but a halt to the character descriptions for the time being. I think I've hit most of the important Pride & Prejudice characters and I want to get to more interesting post topics, such as analysis of those characters and discussions of historical events and practices. If so moved, I may do another novel in a big batch like the one I just did, but I doubt that will happen.Now, I am

Caroline Bingley, Basic Character Information

2009-03-09T07:53:00.001-05:00

Basic Information:Age: Unknown, I would guess somewhere in her early twentiesPhysical Characteristics: Handsome and apparently has a figure worth showing off (or at least thinks she does).Personality Characteristics: Caroline Bingley is not one of Elizabeth Bennet's favorite people, and it is easy to see why. She is described as being capable of being agreeable when she chooses but also being

Charles Bingley, Basic Character Information

2009-03-09T07:40:00.001-05:00

Basic Information:Age: 23 at the beginning of the novelSpouse: Jane Bennet (end of novel)Other Family:two sisters, Caroline Bingley and Louisa HurstPhysical Characteristics: Bingley is described as being "good looking" and "handsome" with a "pleasant countenance." He is shorter than Darcy.Personality Characteristics: Bingley's chief personality trait could be amiability. He is good humored

George Wickham, Basic Character Information

2009-03-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

George Wickham is basically lacking in good character but his bad traits cause enough problems to warrant giving him a profile.Basic Information:Given Name: GeorgeAge: Unknown, but nearly the same age as Darcy.Primary Residence: Where ever is most convenient at the moment.Spouse: Lydia BennetChildren: For their sakes, I hope not.Other Family: Wickham has no known living relatives at the time of

Mrs. Reynolds, Basic Character Information

2009-03-08T10:51:00.003-05:00

Mrs. Reynolds is the housekeeper at Pemberley, a former roommate of mine described her as "the Darcy pimp."Basic Information:Given Name: UnknownPrimary Residence: PemberleyPhysical Characteristics: Mrs. Reynolds is elderly and respectable looking.Personality Characteristics: Mrs. Reynolds is civil to Elizabeth and the Gardiners when they tour Pemberley, particularly after she discovers that

Lady Anne Darcy, Basic Character Information

2009-03-07T08:04:00.001-06:00

Basic Information:Maiden Name: FitzwilliamAge: DeceasedSpouse: Mr. DarcyChildren: Fitzwilliam and GeorgianaWhat to call her:Lady Anne / Lady Anne Fitzwilliam / Lady Anne Darcy - Pretty much everyone who wasn't close enough to call her something else. She would be called Lady Anne as a courtesy title because her father was an earl.Miss Fitzwilliam/Miss Anne Fitzwilliam - if her father did not

old Mr. Darcy, Basic Character Information

2009-03-07T07:53:00.000-06:00

This is Fitzwilliam Darcy's father.Basic Information:Given Name: Unknown, but quite possibly George as he was George Wickham's godfather and it wasn't uncommon for children to be named after their godparents. The fact that his daughter was called Georgiana also supports this theory.Age: Deceased, as of approximately 5 years before the events in the novel.Spouse: Lady Anne FitzwilliamChildren:

Mr. and Mrs. Philips

2009-03-06T08:54:00.001-06:00

Basic Information:Given Names: UnknownAges: UnknownPrimary Residence: MerytonChildren: Unknown, it seems likely that Mr. and Mrs. Philips are childless as no children are mentioned when the Gardiners' children were.Other Family: Mrs. Philips is Mrs. Bennet's sisterOther Information: Mr. Philips is an attorney, he was formerly a clerk to his wife's father (also an attorney) from whom he

The Lucas Family, Basic Character Information

2009-03-06T08:46:00.000-06:00

Basic Information:Members: Sir William Lucas, Lady Lucas, Charlotte Lucas, Maria Lucas, at least two sons and one more daughter, probably more.Primary Residence: Lucas Lodge, near MerytonOther Information: Sir William is known for his very civil manners and was in trade in Meryton before he was made a knight, sold his business and moved to Lucas Lodge. While he apparently had enough money to

Charlotte Lucas, Basic Character Information

2009-03-05T08:51:00.001-06:00

Basic Information:Age: 27, as of the beginning of the novelPrimary Residence: Meryton (before her father became a knight); Lucas Lodge (after Sir William purchased it up until her marriage); Hunsford Parsonage (after her marriage to Mr. Collins); Longbourn (presumably, after Mr. Bennet dies)Spouse: William CollinsChildren: Is expecting at the end of the novelOther Family: Charlotte is the eldest

Mr. Collins, Basic Character Information

2009-03-05T08:16:00.001-06:00

Basic Information:Given Name: WilliamAge: 25 (in November)Primary Residence: Hunsford Parsonage in Kent, after Mr. Bennet's death he will inherit and presumably move to Longbourn.Spouse: Charlotte LucasChildren: He and Charlotte are expecting one at the end of the novelOther Family: Is a distant relative of Mr. Bennet's.Physical Characteristics: Tall and heavy looking.Personality

Pride and Prejudice in Milwaukee

2009-03-05T04:39:00.003-06:00

The Rep Theater in Milwaukee, WI is performing a new stage adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The adaptation was done by Joseph Hanreddy, The Rep's Artistic Director, and J.R. Sullivan, this production's director. Overall I thought it was pretty good and definitely had a fun time at it last night. The scenery was beautifully done, for those of you who aren't familiar with The Rep, the way

Old-fashioned sealing wax

2009-03-04T10:15:00.000-06:00

I recently discovered Nostalgic Impressions, an online retailer specializing in old-fashioned writing implements and accessories. I haven't yet had the opportunity to order anything but plan to do so in the future.What I am currently most excited about is their traditional handmade sealing wax, which is advertised as being "handproduced ... in the same authentic methods of yesteryear" and for

Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Basic Character Information

2009-03-04T07:36:00.000-06:00

Basic Information:Maiden Name: FitzwilliamAge: Unknown, but old enough to have a grown daughter.Primary Residence: Rosings Park, KentSpouse: Sir Lewis de BourghChildren: Anne de BourghOther Family: She is the aunt of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy and the sister of Colonel Fitzwilliam's father and Darcy's mother.Physical Characteristics: Lady Catherine is a tall, large

Anne de Bourgh, Basic Character Information

2009-03-04T07:31:00.001-06:00

Basic Information:Age: Unknown, but somewhere around Darcy's agePrimary Residence: Rosings Park in KentParents: Sir Lewis and Lady Catherine de BourghPhysical Characteristics: Maria Lucas wonders at how "thin and small" she is. Elizabeth sees her as being pale, thin, small, sickly and cross with insignificant (though not plain) features. Mr. Collins describes her as having a "sickly

Colonel Fitzwilliam, Basic Character Information

2009-03-03T16:49:00.003-06:00

Colonel Fitzwilliam, the first nameless younger son of an earl, lacks money and good looks but makes up for it in charm.Basic Information:Given Name: Unknown. In fan fiction he is frequently named Richard.Age: about 30Physical Characteristics: He is not handsome (sorry Studmuffin fans)Personality Characteristics: On the brighter side his person and address show him to be "most truly" a

Georgiana Darcy, Basic Character Information

2009-03-03T15:37:00.000-06:00

Basic Information:Age: 16 as of August, when she is described as being "little oversixteen" in Darcy's famous letter he states that she was "but fifteen" the previous summer. Both of those descriptors make me think that her birthday likely takes in the spring or summer, partially because it makes Wickham all the more evil.Guardians: Fitzwilliam Darcy (her brother) & Colonel Fitzwilliam (her

Gardiner Children, Basic Character Information

2009-03-03T12:54:00.000-06:00

Okay, it seemed fair to round out the Gardiner family by including something on the four children. Basic Information:Given Names: Unknown, however, it is likely/possible that the elder girl shares her mother's mysterious M name and the elder of the two boys is named Edward as Jane Austen frequently named eldest sons after their fathers and eldest daughters after their mothers.Ages: The two girls

Mrs. Gardiner, Basic Character Information

2009-03-02T17:50:00.000-06:00

Mrs. Gardiner is Elizabeth's sensible and intelligent aunt.Basic Information:Given Name: M---. In fan fiction she is frequently named Madeline, but personally I think that is an unlikely choice.Age: Unknown, several years younger than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips.Primary Residence: London, in Gracechurch Street somewhere near Cheapside and within view of her husband's warehouses.Spouse: Edward

Mr. Gardiner, Basic Character Information

2009-03-02T17:45:00.001-06:00

Mr. Gardiner is Mrs. Bennet's sensible and intelligent brother.Basic Information:Given Name: EdwardAge: Unknown, his wife is described as being younger than his sisters, but that doesn't mean that he necessarily is.Primary Residence: London, in Gracechurch Street somewhere near Cheapside and within view of his own warehouses.Spouse: M. GardinerChildren: two girls, ages 6 and 8 (as of July) and

Injury proofing the child

2009-03-01T17:34:00.002-06:00

This post from The Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide to the 18th Century as well as my own recent experience watching my two youngest cousins got me thinking about the things we do to protect children from the world and their own exploratory instincts.The two items that were used in the Regency that I’m going to mention here are leading strings and pudding caps.1

Mary Bennet, Basic Character Information

2009-02-28T00:13:00.008-06:00

Mary Bennet is alone in the middle of her family as her two elder and two younger sisters have neatly paired off together. She is probably the Bennet daughter who gets the least attention.Basic Information:Age: Somewhere between 18 and 20, based on the fact that Kitty is two years older than Lydia, and Elizabeth is less than 21 years old. Of course, Kitty and Mary could possibly be fraternal

Lydia Bennet, Basic Character Information

2009-02-28T00:13:00.005-06:00

Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's youngest daughter, Mrs. Bennet's favorite, a spoiled girl accustomed to getting her own way and described as being a "bar slut" by my high school English teacher.Basic Information:Age: 15/16, June birthdaySpouse: George Wickham (married in August)Primary Residence: Longbourn (beginning of novel), Newcastle (following her marriage to Mr. Wickham)Physical Characteristics: "

Catherine "Kitty" Bennet, Basic Character Information

2009-02-28T00:13:00.004-06:00

Catherine Bennet is almost always called Kitty by those close enough to use her given name and is the fourth Bennet daughter.Basic Information:Age: 17/18, she says she is two years older than Lydia, who turns 16 in JuneSpouse: A clergyman near Pemberley, according to James Edward Austen-Leigh's A Memoir of Jane Austen.Primary Residence: Longbourn, however after the marriages of her two eldest

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Basic Character Information

2009-02-27T21:33:00.000-06:00

Fitzwilliam Darcy is Pride and Prejudice's snobbish but good principled leading man.Basic Information:Age: 28 (probably), he mentions his age at the end of the novel (most likely in the month of October). However since he is referring to a change that began back in April, he could have already turned 29 (unlikely in my opinion) or he could have more recently turned 28.Spouse: Elizabeth Darcy

Why is Jane Miss Bennet?

2009-02-27T00:16:00.000-06:00

Because she is the most eldest, and therefore most important of the unmarried Bennet daughters. Speaking as an eldest child, I see the logic in this reasoning. As Miss Manners explains, the traditional rule was that if you addressed John and Jane Smith as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, you were indicating that they were "THE Smiths -- the heads of the family or its most distinguished members."This

Elizabeth Bennet, Basic Character Information

2009-02-26T21:32:00.000-06:00

Elizabeth Bennet is Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's second daughter in age and beauty, her father's favorite child, and the story's main protagonist.Basic Information:Age: 20 (in March), Elizabeth's Hunsford visit begins in March and on its third day she tells Lady Catherine that she is "not one and twenty."Spouse: Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (at end of novel)Primary Residence: Longbourn (beginning of novel),

Jane Bennet, Basic Character Information

2009-02-26T21:31:00.001-06:00

Jane Bennet is the eldest Bennet daughter; she is kind, considerate, intelligent, beautiful, good with children, and, apparently, each parent's second favorite.Basic Information:Age: 22-23. In the second week of May, Lydia remarks that Jane is "almost three and twenty."Spouse: Mr. Charles Bingley (at end of novel), they were married at some point between October and Christmas.Primary Residence:

Mrs. Bennet, Basic Character Information

2009-02-26T21:30:00.002-06:00

Mrs. Bennet is the matriarch of the Bennet family, having no sons she is obsessed with marrying off her daughters as means of providing support for herself and them following her husband's death.Basic Information:Given Name: Unknown, however P&P2 gave her the first name of Fanny, which is now used quite frequently in the fandom. There is also an argument that her first name could be Jane as Jane

Mr. Bennet, Basic Character Information

2009-02-26T21:30:00.000-06:00

Mr. Bennet is the patriarch of the Bennet family and the owner of Longbourn, at least until his death.Basic Information:Given Name: UnknownAge: Unknown, at the beginning of the novel he is old enough to have been married 23 yearsResidence: Longbourn, located in Hertfordshire near the imaginary town of MerytonEducation: Specifics are unknown, but he is fond of books and is known for his sarcastic

Welcome!

2009-02-26T21:02:00.000-06:00

This blog is intended to help out writers of Regency Era Jane Austen fan fiction by providing an index of information on characters, places, history and anything else I think of that seems relevant. It is very much a work in progress so please, subscribe so you can be up to date with my latest postings.As for me personally, my name is Melissa and I have occasionally posted on Jane Austen sites