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.

Oh, fascinating theory, Kesstrel. To build on that, if we wonder how Aspergers might have presented itself among people in that society, does it not seem possible that an obsession with rank could have been part of it? Aspie people often like rules and feel very anxious about following rules, and social rules of hierarchy would have been very significant, so it's not impossible they could have become a focus for someone with AS which would result in what we understand as snobbery.

I SEND NO COMPLIMENTS TO YOUR MOTHER YOU DESERVE NO SUCH ATTENTION

Love that one! Grumpy Lady C really is fabulous.

I also like 'If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.' That can be used in many situations!

I also though Mrs Bennet was being practical and shouldn't have been sneered at quite so much.

Married improved her life prospects and given the limited other options in their society what else should she have aspired for her children. It's similar to the sneering you get about education and pushy parents I suppose - it can be taken to far but the focus behind it surely isn't bad.

I always though Charlotte was more than capable of managing/manipulating her husband to behave how she wanted - though I wasn't surprised she might be pg as that what everyone would expect would cut of the entail and children would be a good joint interest for her and her husband to have in common.

'I'm sure you know it's shades of Pemberley though she does live at Rosings'

Oh I do know it's Pemberly but as the alleged dominatrix shenanigans (!) took place at the Collins' house I decided to adapt it.

YES!!!!

AND SO WOULD ANNE!!!!

Mrs B did have quite a few admirers amongst the Officers in (Colonel Forsters?) regiment too - so it is possible that she may have been a beauty in her day.

I like your thinking Kesstrel about the origins of Mr Collins. (I have an aspie in my household! and we are big fans of the Big Bang Theory too). Science and regency - I am a strange mix....

Not noticed it either. My elderly mum who is very poorly and is also a p&p fan will love to discuss it with me. Thanks for the spot.

D'oh my post follows on from your last one.

kesstrel as I was re-reading P&P I thought to myself 'I bet someone will have diagnosed Mr Darcy as being autistic'. And sure enough when I googled someone had written a book on it!

I never though about Mr Collins though.

Poor Anne. Whatever became of her. She probably spent the rest of her life sitting in a formal drawing room with her mother sniffling and feeling miserable.

And it was probably just a dust allergy from the tapestries.

Forever depriving the court of St James! Alas!

She probably spent the rest of her life sitting in a formal drawing room with her mother sniffling and feeling miserable

Yea but I think she would have enjoyed herself once her mother passed on. I image she might have had had quite a scandalous middle age.

Darcy obviously, I always thought that was the point of the union they planned in the cradle, keeping the money in the family.

Fitzwilliam tries it with Georgiana in Death Comes To Pemberley - it's gross.

Squoosh

It was that one sentence that I quoted, about numbering the fields. It just jumped out at me, and I started thinking.

Countess Yes that's a good point about liking rules. The social hierarchy of the day provided a lot of quite rigid structure and expectations. His anxiety about behaving correctly when visiting Lady Catherine, or when Anne stopped by in her pony carriage, would also fit into that.

P&P quotes are a regular occurrence in this house too, also dh does a marvellous impression of the David Bamber Mr. Collins.

I frequently reprise the "unfeeling gal" quote of Lady Catherine as it sounds just like my old headmistress - we were not 'girls' but 'gals'.

My life would be complete if only I could lay claim to a small summer breakfast room!

“You have delighted us long enough” is a great favourite in the Gap0de household.

Oh emotionsecho one would have to ensure that the windows were not FULL WEST.

Maryz Wildfell Hall is really worth a go, I view it as the first feminist novel.

Charles Kingsley (Water Babies) said : "Every man should read it and every man should prevent his wife from reading it"

It's literally centuries ahead of its time. The reason it gets less attention is it was buried for years after publication after Anne's death because it was so controversial and Charlotte hated it.

One of my Aunts used to claim they'd had the Queen Mum stuffed.

That was probably Lady C's deathbed wish

I did think Lady C would be the first to be taken in by a smooth talking cad with the right background who could then gamble the fortune away.

Maybe if she doesn't die Ann escapes that way - out of the pan and into the fire.

Loving this thread.

I too despise Mr Bennett slightly more every time I read the book or watch the adaptation. How careless he was of the longer term welfare of those he was supposed to love best. And remember that he was the only one who had any means whatsoever of doing anything about it - women had no economic agency at all.

He allows Lydia go to Brighton even when he knows full well that letting her loose in a town full of soldiers is asking for trouble.

It's an oldie but very worth a read: Fay Weldon's 'Letters to Alice' first gave me an insight into alternative views of Jane Austen's characters.

I have read TTOWH - and I remember virtually nothing about it, other than the edition I read had a purple border on the cover. This may not be the key point of the book....