Esther Summerson, was there nothing to cover her scars?

[MorrisZapp]

Just rewatching Bleak House. Given how shocking everybody seems to find Esther's smallpox scars, is it realistic that she makes no attempt to use unguents to cover them?

I get that Dickensian ladies can't just nip into Superdrug for a full coverage foundation but wouldn't ladies have had something, anything at their disposal? Especially as they needed to make good marriages etc.

(Little Carey Mulligan as Ada appears to be sporting a full face of Mac's finest but that's by the by)

I'm convinced that's Armani sheer glow on the luscious Ada's appley cheeks. Maybe this should go is S&B :)

Bumping for the evening crowd

Real smallpox scarring is far worse than the way it is portrayed in drama. It could cause really severe disfigurement, which could not be covered up by a thick coat of slap.

Do not Google if you are of a sensitive disposition, there are some very unpleasant images.

But isn't Esther the sort of virtuous woman who would never use make up of any kind?

In Gone with the Wind, Scarlet resorts to using rouge and it is considered shocking - only a prostitute would use make up.

They only really had greasepaint and rouge then didn't they

She'd have looked worse

LOVE Bleak House

It really is brilliant. Every part so perfectly cast. I agree her scars are hardly noticeable in some scenes, and she does wear a veil sometimes too.

The adaptation was excellent but the book is also brilliant

I gave up with the book. I'll try again once DS leaves home.

Even abridged, I couldn't quite grasp the roster of solicitors and street urchins.

I did enjoy watching it post Dickensian though, I had quite a few OMG moments.

I went all sniffy about Dickensian

Couldn't accept the shared universe aspect

It was all wrong

His most accessible novel is David Copperfield in my opinion

Beauty spots were to cover up smallpox scars (then they became a way to draw attention to your best features). Make up came in and out of fashion (don't know exactly when Bleak House was set) so there may have been something available, depending on her position. Georgians used loads of makeup. Shame it was lead based and could kill you.