To have just realised that Mr Collins got Mrs Collins in the family way.

[squoosh]

Have just re-read Pride & Prejudice for the first time in yonks and at the end Mr Collins mentions 'dear Charlotte’s situation, and his expectation of a young olive-branch. How had I not noticed that before?

I'd always imagined dear Charlotte avoiding that messy business by keeping him occupied with his sermon writing and his gardening and his pash on Lady Catherine.

But she was a woman who knew what she wanted so I wouldn't be surprised if she was the one who took conjugal matters in hand.

Good old P&P, the book that keeps on giving.

Gosh, it's nice to know that not everyone thought CF was a good Darcy. I didn't even watch it because I couldn't bear the idea of Darcy looking like that.

I love JA, my favourite being Persuasion.
Not so keen on the Brontes.
Haven't read TTWH, but may actually do so, due to this thread.

I shall definitely be reading JA's history, it sounds great fun. I reread Northanger Abbey so etime in the last couple of years, and ha forgotten how funny it was!

TTWH is good so far. Full of lust and rebelliousness and fallen women! I was put off and Bronzes for ages after reading Wuthering Heights as a romantic girl and realising how horrific they all are! I was expecting a nice romance!

I love this thread.

I also hadn't noticed that Charlotte had done her bit for England. Obviously due a reread. Thankfully they're all on my Kindle so I can read them while nursing the baby in a few weeks' time.

Did you know that all of Austen's novels are being re-written by contemporary authors?

I knew Curtis Sittenfeld had her version of P&P coming out. But I didn't know this was part of a bigger project where Joanna Trollope rewrites Sense and Sensibility, Val McDermid (!) rewrites Northanger Abbey and Alexander McCall Smith rewrites Emma!

Is this really necessary?

It is so unnecessary but I am actually more than a little interested in Val McDermid's take on the Gothic.

She'll have bloodied corpses everywhere!

Aren't all those rewrites already out?

Utterly no interest! (I wish we had a snooty face emoji)

raisedbyguineapigs I had the same reaction to Wuthering Heights - it's a horror, not a romance, and everyone in it is despicable!

And EverySongbird I agree - genuine sexual confusion at finding that Mr Collins hot!

Haven't finished the whole thread damn work but I hope someone has posted this majestic musical reaction to Mr Kohli (Mr Collins) from the brilliant Bride & Prejudice

Also I think Mrs B must be past the menopause for them to have so thoroughly given up on her having a son. There's a pretty harrowing novel by Wilkie Collins called No Name which deals with what happens when a woman gets pregnant much later in life, after her other children are grown up. (Spoiler - nothing good)

Those saying Mr B only married because Mrs B was fit - it does say this outright:
"Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her."

I think to JA (she said, presumptuously) both the Bennet parents are equally "bad" characters, in their own ways. But Mr B comes out just ahead because he's actually aware of his own faults, he apologises to Lizzy for ignoring her advice, and on other occasions it's clear that he knows he's been a prat. He regrets not saving up, for example.

In fact, thinking about it, lack of self-awareness is pretty much the number 1 crime in JA. Mr Collins definitely suffers from it, Mrs B does, Lady C does too in a magnificent sort of way. (She can't think, for example, why pissing HER off shouldn't matter at all to Lizzy.)

Also can anyone help - I seem to remember Jane and Lizzy having a chat at Mr Collins's vicarage, where J basically explains how she can stand living with him. Is that actually in the book? I can't find it now. Or just put into one of the adaptations.

I have only been reading and enjoying this thread, but i will just butt in to say
yes , the rewrites are all out ( retired bookseller here! ) but can't say I have heard good reviews. After reading Death Comes to Pemberley ( dire) I couldn't find the will to try Joanna Trollope and the others.

He regrets not saving up but not enough to bother trying now! I mean, he could be early 40s easily enough during the book and probably isn't 50. He could easily have lived into his 70s, life expectancy was lower then but if you got through childhood and, if female, childbirth, lots of people lived to a fairly ripe age. He wasn't exactly going to die from a mining accident or lack of food.

The chat in the vicarage, I can't remember if it's just implied in descriptors, I think it is and they co-opted it in. And it's CHARLOTTE (how very dare you indeed)

Another Get Out worthy comment???

Really sorry, was writing in a terrific hurry as I heard a visitor approaching and had to hide my computer.

Really sorry, was writing in a terrific hurry as I heard a visitor approaching and had to hide my computer.

It's worthy of hiding.....

JANE AUSTEN PORN FAN????????

Despite the horror and lack of romance there is something about the intensity of Heights that hit me hard :

"Be with me always....take any form...drive me mad....only....do not leave me in this place were I cannot find you, oh it is unutterable, I cannot live without my life I cannot live without my soul"

Apols if not exact quoted from memory

But.... to feel THAT for someone to have THAT felt for you

It is oft overlooked that Heathcliff is essentially a DV dog killing rapist thats why TTOWH was written in the first place to expose the lunacy of romanticising that. Anne/Charlotte v disturbed by Heights but Charlotte much more disturbed by the sheer realness of Tenant

I see what you mean about the intensity but I have tried several time and just cannot get on with WH. I can't feel any empathy for any of the characters as they're all pretty horrible so don't like the book at all. I've only read TTOWH once and did like it so will give that another read soon.

Songbird If you had to live with someone irl who actually felt that for you, it would be terrifying, especially if they were as sadistic and abusive as Heathcliffe. I must have read it 20 years ago, yet it is still etched in my memory, so a sign of a good book, I suppose!

asking I thought she explained it too. She basically sent him off into the garden! In my head, I'd th I nk Charlotte would have loads of children. She'd have to endure him in her chamber for a few nights of bumping uglies, have about a year off for pregnancy and confinement, then a few days work again, a year off...It would also keep her busy and out of his way if she had loads of kids.

But she feels the same, everything he feels she feels.

"I am Heathcliff"

She's quite clear on that

Yeah I know, but it just sounds very suffocating. But they were as bad as each other. Their love was very selfish don't make me read that again it really traumatised me

The Ladies Genteel Club will surely have to read it at some point but theirs loads to read before that

there's