Pride & Prejudice - Thoughts On Mr. Darcy

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Pride and Prejudice - Opening sentence of novel, Chapter 1.

There are few classic novels that have had quite the far-reaching impact that Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice has had, and it continues to be a favorite read for every succeeding generation - remaining among the top books included on almost every “Best Loved” and “Books You Should Have Read” list.

Why the continuing popularity?  And more importantly - exactly why do we all love Mr. Darcy?

My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.

Pride and Prejudice - Darcy, Chapter 11.

What other male character in classic literature has had the romantic impact of Mr. Darcy, has been compared to more heroes and, frankly has been found more lacking in our initial perception of him.  He has remained an icon of devotion and love, despite his haughty and inauspicious beginning in the story.

She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.

Pride and Prejudice - Mr. Darcy to Mr. Bingley about Elizabeth Bennet, Chapter 3.

We are never given any very clear description of Mr. Darcy, other than - tall, handsome features, noble mien, clever, haughty, reserved, fastidious…  But we are given Elizabeth’s close observations and brief glimpses into his heart through the events in the novel that show his developing devotion toward her.  

Is that what pulls us in and makes us love his character?  That his rigid reserve melts?  That it is her character and personality that changes him?

The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

Pride and Prejudice - Other characters' reaction to Mr. Darcy, Chapter 3.

It isn’t just Elizabeth’s perception of Darcy that changes as the storyline progresses. Our own understanding of him becomes deeper and more appreciative.  Throughout the novel we learn that the people closest to Darcy - Bingley, Georgiana, his housekeeper - all have the utmost respect for his loyalty, kindness, generosity and affection.  

Let’s face it - all of the stable and worthy characters of the book all value Darcy.  

Elizabeth’s journey through her first year of knowing Mr. Darcy reveals the same thing in the end.  His proves to be the heart that is worth knowing long and knowing well.

There are so many memorable characters in Pride And Prejudice - ones that stay with you long after you finish reading and that we love to revisit with each rereading.  Both Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet have proven to be two of the best known and well-beloved characters in literature.  

Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger.

Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 10.

Elizabeth’s father described her as being more quick to understand than her sisters. Her mother described her as half as handsome as her older sister and half as good humored as her youngest. But Darcy’s blossoming impression of her draws more fine detail - a face rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes and a figure that was “light and pleasing”. Her manners were “not those of the fashionable world” but nonetheless he was drawn by her “easy playfulness”. 

Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of this she was perfectly unaware; to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.

Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 6.

According to most timelines that you find for Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice, the novel begins in September of 1811 (Mr. Bingley agreed to take possession of Netherfield before Michaelmas or before September 29th) and ends in October of 1812 - a time period just over one year.

When you ponder over such a timeline, it’s amazing to realize that the many vital events of the novel play out within such a short time period. The carefully crafted storyline that takes us from Darcy’s initial indifference to Elizabeth to his desperate proposal in Hunsford, spans only six event-packed months.  Through the framework of a single year -  and the events that lead to the book’s conclusion -  Jane Austen was able to unfold a masterpiece of intricate pacing.

I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.

Pride and Prejudice - Elizabeth about Darcy, Chapter 5.

It is indeed a striking feature of our current read, Pride And Prejudice, that this single year of profound self-discovery and life-defining events for a young twenty-year old in Regency England continues to be relatable to readers across many cultures.

I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.

Pride and Prejudice - Darcy to Elizabeth who asked him to account for having fallen in love with her, Chapter 60.

We continue with our beloved Jane Austen with our Winter Book Lunch choice of Pride And Prejudice. Take some time to ponder why the “Darcy Appeal” continues strong through 200 years of readers. We will be discussing this book over a delicious breakfast on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

Nicholas was one of those whose joy is incomplete unless it is shared by the friends of adverse and less fortunate days.

Charles Dickens (Nicholas Nickleby)

Born Charles John Huffam Dickens in Portsmouth, England on February 7,1812, Charles Dickens was the 2nd of 8 children born to John and Elizabeth Barrow Dickens. 

His childhood was not without difficulty. John Dickens lived far beyond his scant means and was incapable of supporting his large family, His father’s poor head for finances led to his imprisonment for debt in the Marshalsea Prison and ultimately forced 12 year old Charles to begin work at at Warren’s Blacking Factory. These early formative years became a taboo topic for discussion with Charles Dickens but found wonderfully creative expression in each of his literary works.

Because of personal experiences in these early years, Dickens was also a dedicated campaigner for children’s rights, education, and social reforms — including his stance as an outspoken proponent for copyright law and the protection of intellectual property. 

Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes.

Charles Dickens (Nicholas Nickleby)

Charles Dickens was an incredible creative force during his lifetime.  He wrote 15 novels, 5 novellas and hundreds of short stories and non-fictional articles. He gave lectures, was a prolific letter writer and edited a weekly journal for almost 20 years. But above all Charles Dickens was most celebrated and beloved for his pioneering of the narrative serial novel. Not only did he capture the imagination of millions during his writing career, but he also had an intense gift for a deep portrayal of a time period and a way of life in the world in which he lived.

Mystery and disappointment are not absolutely indispensable to the growth of love, but they are, very often, its powerful auxiliaries.

Charles Dickens (Nicholas Nickleby)

I love to read Charles Dickens.  He’s not always an easy read - his books are usually very lengthy works and there is a different rhythm to reading them…  You don’t finish a Dickens novel in a night or even two nights and you need a fully engaged mind.  They are made to settle into - to invest in with your time and attention — but they are so worth it with their rich, colorful characters and memorable storylines.

Our current read - Nicholas Nickleby — or The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Containing a Faithful Account of the Fortunes, Misfortunes, Uprisings, Downfallings, and Complete Career of the Nickleby Family — is Dickens’ 3rd full-length novel and was originally published in serial form from March 1838 to October 1839 with a book form releasing in 1839.

In short, the poor Nicklebys were social and happy; while the rich Nickleby was alone and miserable.

Charles Dickens (Nicholas Nickleby)

One of the important plot focuses in Nicholas Nickleby involves Nicholas’ teaching position at a Yorkshire boarding school, Dotheboys Hall. Charles Dickens was aware that he could direct public attention and reform by exposing current issues and possibly affect change in people’s attitudes and governmental thinking.  There was a boarding school industry in Yorkshire that involved inhumane treatment of children and Dickens used Nicholas’ teaching experiences to direct a spotlight onto this issue of the time. Unwanted children were being sent to boarding schools where they were kept without vacations or visits home and often lacked basic medical care. As a result of the novel, Nicholas Nickleby, Charles Dickens was a key force in bringing down the Yorkshire School Industry.

But the novel also includes a wealth of memorable characters and twists and turns in storyline.  It is perfect to be paired with hot apple cider and a fireside for a chilly Autumn read.

We will all be able to share our thoughts and ideas on this wonderful novel as we meet for an Autumn Book Breakfast Buffet on Saturday, October 11th, 2025 to discuss Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. There is still plenty of time to read this one but you may want to get started soon - it is worth the effort!

The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.

Charles Dickens (Nicholas Nickleby)

Wives And Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

A reread on an Elizabeth Gaskell classic for July 2025...

“To begin with the old rigmarole of childhood. In a country there was a shire, and in that shire there was a town, and in that town there was a house, and in that house there was a room, and in that room there was a bed, and in that bed there lay a little girl;” 
― Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives And Daughters

Elizabeth Gaskell’s fifth and final novel, Wives And Daughters begins in the small English town of Hollingford in the early 1820/30s and focuses primarily on the bright and loving Molly Gibson. It was first released in serial form in the Cornhill Magazine from August 1964 to January 1866 and released as a book in 1866 by Smith, Elder And Company.

The Cornhill Magazine was a monthly literary journal which peaked in circulation under editor William Makepeace Thackery in the 1860s. It specialized in serializations of new and current novels and articles of interest on many differing subjects to interest the Victorian reader of the time and was a rival publication of Dickens’ All The Year Round. Works included in The Cornhill Magazine included such important novels as Washington Square by Henry James, Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy and Wives And Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell.

“I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it was not me.” 
― Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives And Daughters

The town of Hollingford was richly representative of a common country community and was based upon the real life town of Knutsford in Cheshire where Elizabeth Gaskell spent her childhood. Knutsford was a place that had provided a wealth of stories and characters for Elizabeth Gaskell, including her much beloved Cransford stories - Mr. Harrison’s Confessions, Cranford, Round The Sofa and My Lady Ludlow.  

Gaskell’s Hollingford has a large caste of characters - its respected resident aristocracy in Earl & Countess Cumnor, its respected country doctor, its conservative spinsters and its small shops where news is exchanged and not-so-current fashion items are purchased. The rural life lives closely and comfortably with town life and everyone moves on with the secure sense that others have lived just so for many years before. In Hollingford we have a wonderfully deep and accurate sense of small town life during Victorian times - the old ways versus encroaching change and the class system and its changing sensibilities.

“How easy it is to judge rightly after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly.” 
― Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives And Daughters

There is also much to enjoy in Molly’s story - banter between herself and her country doctor father, her affectionate relationship as a motherless young woman with Mrs. Hamley, the squire’s wife and her eager anticipation of a relationship with a new step-sister. There are also the many moments in life for her that challenge her temper and her best feelings of kindness. This book may be set almost 200 years in the past - but people ring true and current. The language may be more formal. Social mores may be more strict. But there are the same fears and hopes that are familiar to us all. And the pitfalls that beset them are not all that different.

“But fate is a cunning hussy, and builds up her plans as imperceptibly as a bird builds her nest; and with the same kind of unconsidered trifles.” 
― Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives And Daughters

Elizabeth Gaskell does what she does best in Wives And Daughters. We have a fertile storyline that touches on the joy of the common person and presents both the kindnesses and oblivious selfishness of the upper class aristocracy and the inter-house competitiveness that they held for each other.

“All sorts of thoughts cross one's mind—it depends upon whether one gives them harbour and encouragement” 
― Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives And Daughters

While writing Wives And Daughters, Gaskell passed away suddenly in 1865 after suffering a heart attack land so she left her last novel as an incomplete work. Gaskell’s editor, Frederick Greenwood - knowing what Gaskell was planning to write - completed the novel. 

There is much to discuss in the lengthy but enjoyable Wives And Daughters. Start reading now! We will meet to discuss this last work of Elizabeth Gaskell on Saturday, July 12th, 2025 over an early Summer Book Lunch. 

“Pooh! away with love! Nay, my dear, we loved each other so dearly we should never have been happy with any one else; but that's a different thing. People aren't like what they were when we were young. All the love nowadays is just silly fancy, and sentimental romance, as far as I can see.” 
― Elizabeth Gaskell, Wives And Daughters

Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

She was a fine and handsome girl—not handsomer than some others, possibly—but her mobile peony mouth and large innocent eyes added eloquence to colour and shape. She wore a red ribbon in her hair, and was the only one of the white company who could boast of such a pronounced adornment.
Narrator - Tess of the d’Urbervilles

Author Thomas Hardy was born June 2, 1840 in a small hamlet called Higher Bockhampton, which is located in the southwestern English county of Dorset. His childhood was filled with a wealth of the deep influences of culture and locale. 

From their two-story brick and thatch cottage, Thomas Hardy naturally absorbed a love for literature from his mother, who although she had only served as a maidservant and cook, loved to read Latin poets and translated French romances.  Hardy had a deep love of poetry and even as a renowned author of novels, primarily thought of himself as a poet.

Thomas Hardy’s childhood very much revolved around literature, music, the local church and life in a rustic rural setting – all of which translated into the body of work that the author became renowned for and for which he was much loved by his devoted readers. His father, a self-employed master mason and building contractor, had descended from an old Dorset family tracing back to the Isle of Jersey in the1400s and was an avid violin player who passed along his love of music to young Hardy.

The irresistible, universal, automatic tendency to find sweet pleasure somewhere, which pervades all life, from the meanest to the highest, had at length mastered Tess.
Narrator - Tess of the d’Urbervilles

Years ago when I was finally able to put aside the college textbooks and night times taken up with study and homework, I set out on a personal journey to read through the classics… All the ones I felt that I had missed while locked into a “school system plan” that unfortunately was a fairly Austen-free zone. Now that my reading choices were my own I delved into the Brontë sisters, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, of course – Jane Austen and… Thomas Hardy.

I didn’t lose my heart to Hardy the way I did to John Keats but the writing style of Thomas Hardy totally captured my mind. His word-crafting is sublime and the wise reader will keep a dictionary handy if your love of words is equal to your love of story.

I long to visit England…  to one day have the chance to travel through Wessex…  to wander the sweet smelling farm where Bathsheba Everdene walked with Gabriel Oak among the pastures and flocks, where Tess Durbeyfield lived her early simple cottage life and the town of Casterbridge, where a mayor’s past catches up with him….

The problem is… there is actually no such place.

A fictitious area that featured as a setting in all of Hardy’s major novels, Wessex was named after the medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom that historically did exist in southwest England prior to the Norman Conquest and it was the area that Hardy himself called home. Using this imagined world gave Hardy a feeling of freedom that enabled him to  translate his social concerns into his fictional works whether it related to class inequality issues, the ruination of many rural communities by new industry and technologies or the troubling gender issues that affected all levels of Hardy’s world.

As Tess grew older, and began to see how matters stood, she felt quite a Malthusian towards her mother for thoughtlessly giving her so many little sisters and brothers, when it was such a trouble to nurse and provide for them. Her mother’s intelligence was that of a happy child: Joan Durbeyfield was simply an additional one, and that not the eldest, to her own long family of waiters on Providence.
Narrator - Tess of the d’Urbervilles

Thomas Hardy wrote six novels that were an achievement of great British literature - Far From The Madding Crowd (1874), The Return Of The Native (1878), The Mayor Of Casterbridge (1886), The Woodlanders (1887), Tess Of The d’Urbervilles (1891) and Jude The Obscure (1895).

These Wessex novels are outstanding works that continue to give us a wealth of unforgettable characters -  one of which is most definitely Tess Durbeyfield.  

“Don’t you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the d’Urbervilles, who derive their descent from Sir Pagan d’Urberville, that renowned knight who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, as appears by Battle Abbey Roll?”
Parson Tringham - Tess of the d’Urbervilles

The next read for The Jane Austen Tea Society in our current reading plan is Tess of the d’Urbervilles - the twelfth published novel by Hardy. It was originally released in the illustrated British newspaper The Graphic July through December of 1891 but in a censored version. A three volume edition then released later that year with the subtitle A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented. It was a controversial novel for late Victorian Britain with a lower rural class focus and interwoven treatments of religion and sexuality. But its vivid depiction of a woman’s struggle within the limits of society and her little sphere are deep and emotionally memorable.

Tess Durbeyfield at this time of her life was a mere vessel of emotion untinctured by experience.
Narrator - Tess of the d’Urbervilles

There is much to discuss in our current read, Tess of the d’Urbervilles  — it’s a good one!  We will meet to discuss this much-loved work on January 25, 2025  over an early Spring Book Lunch.