Invisible Adjunct

Well then, I must confess that my first thought was Edward Ferrars. I did vote for Darcy, though, and I imagine I probably would have voted for him even if Edward Ferrars was an option because, to paraphrase Mr. Bennett, Darcy is not the kind of man of whom I could say no.

It's interesting that while Edmund Bertram is probably the purest, kindest, and most moral Austen hero, he's doing quite badly.

But then again, I don't like him either. I voted for Darcy too, although I might be influenced by the "Colin Frith" factor.

Can't women be heroes, too?

I voted for Darcy, but that's only because I've never read anything else by Austen.

Are men and women voting differently?

Is Wentworth more attractive to men and Darcy to women? (no-one seems to care much for the others).

Speaking for my wife, Melissa, I submit a vote and a testimonial for Mr. Knightly. Mr. Darcy is imposing, grand, magnanimous, and admittedly, both good and handsome. However, Mr. Knightly is, and I quote, "perfect." He has none of the flaws that Austen gives all of her other male protagonists: unlike Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightly is not proud; unlike Captain Wentworth, he is not suspicious; unlike Edward, he is not boring. Moreover, this perfection extends, in her opinion, to Jeremy Northam's performance in the Miramax version; while she is quite willing to acknowledge the power Mr. Firth's smolder, she thinks Mr. Northam's dashingness trumps it. It's not her favorite Austen adaptation, but she loves (chastely) Mr. Knightly.

Speaking for myself: Where the hell is Colonel Brandon!?!

"Where the hell is Colonel Brandon!?!"

I only had room for 5.

And I can't believe I misspelled Knightly. He is indeed perfect (or near-perfect, anyway): your wife has excellent taste.

Actually, IA, you spelled Knightley right. Melissa just corrected me.

I'd have to vote for Brandon, too. But I picked my next favourite.

My wife is also distressed at the absence of the Colonel.

I didn't realize so many readers would take the absence of the Colonel so hard. Had I known, I might have eliminated poor Bertram in order to give Brandon a space.

I sincerely apologize for the distress.

I agree with the bit about "Edmund Bertram is probably the purest, kindest, and most moral Austen hero" and I briefly considered voting for him, but I thought him a bit slow on the uptake for hero status.

Ugh. But Edmund Bertram spends the whole damn book in love with not-the-heroine and never convincingly falls for Fanny. And I don't think he's as moral as he thinks he is.

I'm a Knightley woman, too. He has a way better sense of humor than Darcy and is generally lovely.

Why couldn't Colin Firth play Col. Brandon? (sigh)

Because he isn't old enough and what's wrong with Alan Rickman anyway? He was the only decent thing about the latest movie adaptation.

Alan Rickman was a great pick for Col. Brandon. Colin Firth is entirely too pretty to be Brandon; they would have had to downplay his looks. While I find Rickman attractive, he was able to very well portray the steady, average-looking, educated, sensitive Brandon. It wouldn't make sense if he were too good-looking.

I just re-watched the BBC Pride & Prejudice this weekend. My husband owns dozens of DVDs; I own one: P&P w/the lovely Colin Firth.