#colonel Fairfax

[greencheekconure27]

Thinking about Elsie Maynard again and how" 'Tis done, I am a bride" ends in

"O weary wives who widowhood would win*

Rejoice, rejoice that you have time to weary be!"

She does get her wish at the end of the play, does she?

Not necessarily a good marriage, but some "time to weary be" i.e. time to find out what could've been/process the changes rather than being thrown from her wedding to a stranger into being the widow of said stranger in the space of an hour.And between this, "Joy-DAY" "some lurking bitter we shall find", the rather negative attitude towards marriage throughout the play, and Fairfax's sketchy behavior, I don't think her ending is necessarily a happy one-but she Does get time to find out who her new husband is & what this marriage is going to be like this time 'round, instead of struggling with the unknown like she did the entire story.**

And losing her co-performer/friend/childhood sweetheart Jack Point is part of that, cutting ties to her past life and taking the leap to become something else, for better or for worse.

*nice alliteration there, Gilbert.

** and maybe "win widowhood" as the play puts it later on. Y'know. Hold Fairfax to his end of the deal 😉💅

[greencheekconure27]

I think this also adds to the interpretation of what has been happening between Phoebe & Fairfax these two days.

Phoebe's situation could be played simply as "girl with an unrequited crush made some wild unfounded assumptions that got accidentally smashed by reality " with a Fairfax who was either completely unaware of her feelings or just trying to avoid conflict with his allies in an already dangerous situation. Except for this.Why lie about this if he had never shown interest in Phoebe? This was a perfect excuse to let her down gently:"Sorry, you're a very nice girl and if the circumstances were different we could've had something, but you see, I'm already married. I don't love her, but duty is duty etcetc."

But he doesn't does he? And lies to her father about it too. Which makes me suspect he WAS courting Phoebe behind the scenes and Sgt.Meryll was aware of it.

Because yeah, telling the man on whom your life currently depends that you've purposefully led on his beloved daughter while being married all this time might cause problems.

This is when it Flips. The first blatant slip that Fairfax is not some Normal Guy who only wants things to turn out well. There was no possible good motive to conceal the situation from Meryll, especially in light of how he uses this concealment later.

There's definitely some foreshadowing when he flirts with Phoebe despite knowing he's married and never showing further interest in her, but I'd say this is where the mask truly comes off.

[ms-march]

Luck Be a Lady: Chapter 35

Woooo!!! This is the best chapter of LBL that has ever been published. I’ve been sitting on this chapter for about two years now, and I cannot WAIT for you guys to read it! And please excuse the dramatic shift in writing style from the last chapter. One day, I will edit previous chapters because I will have the time to do that... As always, if you enjoy it, like, comment, and/or reblog, PLEASE!!!!

“What if I want to make the next miserable decision myself?” Adrienne said bitterly before turning to head indoors, “at the very least, he is a gentleman’s son.” With the last of her words, the blonde slipped back through the door in the same manner she had come, leaving him alone, out in the cold for it to nip at his nose and heels and very bones, but none of that seemed to matter to him. “I am a gentleman’s son.”

Thank you to @tallmadgeandtea for reminding me that this line exists at least once again. He truly is the only man ever.

[kajaono]

Buying your destituted love a piona is Austen love language

[mellpenscorner]

A Ranking of Jane Austen Heroines, in Ascending Order of Culpability

Fanny (Mansfield Park): Has done nothing wrong ever in her life (but would never say this as she is far too humble).

Elinor (S&S): Must have scoliosis from carrying the whole weight of the Dashwood family at the ripe old age of 19. Should probably have asked for help by now, but who's she going to ask? Her mother? Unlikely.

Anne (Persuasion): Pros: is the only functioning member of her family. Cons: took some really bad advice when she was 17.

Elizabeth (P&P): So dead-set on hating Mr. Darcy that she falls hook-line-and-sinker for the lies Wickham tells her with no questions asked. Otherwise has good sense.

Marianne (S&S): Throws herself headlong into the Romantic Experience™️ and gets her heart broken by a playboy when Colonel Brandon is literally RIGHT THERE. 

Catherine (Northanger Abbey): Good-hearted, but easily led astray. So obsessed with Gothic novels that she kind of accuses Mr. Tilney's father of murdering his wife and burying her in the basement.

Emma (Emma): Tells Harriet to refuse the nice guy she likes, too prideful to see that Mr. Elton is pursuing her instead of Harriet, gossips about Jane Fairfax, feels like the rules don't apply to her, won't listen to Mr. Knightly. Is a menace.

[bethanydelleman]

Could you rank the Austen main couples from the least to the most likely to have sex before they are married?

Least to Most Likely:

Edmund Bertram & Fanny Price: It is all very proper. They probably have sex with their clothes on after the wedding.

Fitzwilliam Darcy & Elizabeth Bennet: She would have been down, he wasn't. He later congratulates himself on his excellent self control.

Edward Ferrars & Elinor Dashwood: There were definitely smooches, but after that roller coaster of a courtship, Elinor wants things legal and in writing. Also, just because something feels good doesn't make it right, MARIANNE.

Henry Tilney & Catherine Morland: he is a gentleman, but it was really the long distance relationship that prevented them from doing anything. Was there some racy content in those letters? I'd love to know...

George Knightley & Emma Woodhouse: Donwell is right there. You can walk right over...

Charles Bingley & Jane Bennet: "Bingley, who wanted to be alone with Jane" I see your intentions, sir. I see them!

Colonel Brandon & Marianne Dashwood: "I have feelings," said she, "let's indulge them." If something feels good, that makes it moral, right? Romanticism says yes, ELINOR.

Captain Frederick Wentworth & Anne Elliot: Do not care about anything except getting married as quickly as possible. Banns take far too long when you've been waiting 8 years and Napoleon just escaped from Elba. Let's get this DONE.

BONUS:

Lucy Steele & Robert/Edward Ferrars: No way in hell with either of them. She's too cunning to give up her best card before she has the man secure.

Frank Chuchill & Jane Fairfax: Not in a million years, no matter how many times Frank makes puppy eyes.

Robert Martin & Harriet Smith: Abbey Mill farm is like, right there. You can walk over. It has a hay barn...

Related: First Kiss for each Austen Heroine Couple

Also, marriage and birth records show that premarital sex was pretty common. Or else the Regency era had magically good premature baby care 😉

[thatscarletflycatcher]

Inspired by @kajaono's post the other day about Victoria Hamilton, JLM and Austen adaptations, have a list of the actors that have been in at least 2 Austen adaptations:

Hat trickers:

Victoria Hamilton played Henrietta Musgrove in Persuasion (1995), Julia Bertram in Mansfield Park (1999), and Mrs. Foster in Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Johnny Lee Miller played one of Fanny's brothers in Mansfield Park (1983), Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park (1999), and Mr. Knightley in Emma (2009).

Doubles:

Joanna David played Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility 1972; she also played Mrs. Gardiner in Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Samantha Bond played Maria Bertram in Mansfield Park (1983); she later on played Mrs. Weston in Emma (ITV, 1996)

Bernard Hepton played Sir Thomas Bertram in Mansfield Park (1983); he later on played Mr. Woodhouse in Emma (ITV, 1996)

Sylvestra Latouzel played Fanny Price in Mansfield Park (1983); she later on played Mrs. Allen in Northanger Abbey (2007)

Nicholas Farrell played Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park (1983); he later on played Mr. Musgrove in Persuasion (2007)

Irene Richard played Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice (1980); she then played Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility (1981)

Robert Hardy played General Tilney in Northanger Abbey (1987); he later on played Sir John Middleton in Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Sophie Thompson played Mary Musgrove in Persuasion (1995), and then the following year she played Miss Bates in Emma (Miramax, 1996)

Kate Beckinsale played Emma Woodhouse in Emma (1996); later on she played Lady Susan in Love and Friendship (2016)

Blake Ritson played Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park (2007) and later on Mr. Elton in Emma (2009)

Jemma Redgrave played Lady Bertram in Mansfield Park (2007); she later on played Mrs. DeCourcy in Love and Friendship (2016)

Lucy Robinson played Mrs. Hurst in Pride and Prejudice (1995); the following year she played Mrs. Elton in Emma (ITV, 1996)

Carey Mulligan played Kitty Bennet in Pride & Prejudice (2005) and then Isabella Thorpe in Northanger Abbey (2007)

Lucy Briers played Mary Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1995); she also played a minor role as Mrs. Reynolds in Emma (2020)

If we include Austen-adjacent pieces:

Hat tricks:

Hugh Bonneville played Mr. Rushworth in Mansfield Park (1999) and later on played Rev. Brook Bridges in Miss Austen Regrets (2007) and then Mr. Bennet in Lost in Austen (2008)

Doubles:

Olivia Williams played Jane Fairfax in Emma (ITV, 1996); she later on played Jane Austen in Miss Austen Regrets (2007)

Also, Greta Scacchi played Mrs. Weston in Emma (Miramax, 1996) and went on to play Cassandra Austen in Miss Austen Regrets (2007)

Guy Henry played John Knightley in Emma (ITV, 1996), and later on played Mr. Collins in Lost in Austen (2008)

Christina Cole played Caroline Bingley in Lost in Austen (2008) and then Mrs. Elton in Emma (2009)

Anna Maxwell Martin played Cassandra Austen in Becoming Jane (2009), and then went on to play Elizabeth Bennet in Death Comes to Pemberley (2014)

JJ Feild played Mr. Tilney in Northanger Abbey (2007) and later on played Mr. Nobley in Austenland (2014)

If we include radiodramas/radioplays:

Hat tricks:

Blake Ritson gets it as he played Colonel Brandon in the 2010 S&S radio drama

Doubles:

Amanda Root played Anne Elliot in Persuasion (1995); she also played Fanny Price in the 1997 radio drama for Mansfield Park

Felicity Jones also played Fanny in the 2003 radio drama for Mansfield Park, and later on played Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey (2007)

Robert Glenister played Captain Harville in Persuasion (1995); he also played Edmund Bertram in the 1997 radio drama for Mansfield Park

Amanda Hale played Mary Musgrove in Persuasion (2007) and later on Elinor Dashwood in the 2010 radio drama for Sense and Sensibility.

David Bamber played Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice (1995); he later on played Mr. Elton in the 2000 radio drama for Emma

Robert Bathurst played Mr. Knightley in the same adaptation of Emma; later on he played Mr. Weston in Emma (2009)

Also in that adaptation, Tom Hollander played Frank Churchill; he later on played Mr. Collins in Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Juliet Stevenson played Anne Elliot in the 1986 radio drama for Persuasion; later on she played Mrs. Elton in Emma (Miramax, 1996)

And I'm very likely still forgetting someone.

[anghraine]

Entertaining myself with a very serious poll during The Sickness:

[cromwellrex2]

The Last Days of Oliver Cromwell, 1657-1658: ‘a larger soul, I think, hath seldom dwelt in a house of clay than his was’

The Death of the Protectorate Monarch

Death of Cromwell. Source: Alamy Stock Photos

THERE WAS no immediate crisis as a result of Cromwell’s decision to turn down Parliament’s offer of the Crown. Cromwell continued as Lord Protector; the Council of State continued to meet and even the Second Protectorate Parliament peacefully concluded its term in June 1657, the first Parliament to do so since the reign of James I. In fact Cromwell was so content with the work of the Parliament, he ordered it to reconvene in January 1658. When Parliament did reassemble, it was however a different body to its predecessor. As agreed with Cromwell, it quickly passed all the requirements of the Humble Petition and Advice, with the exception of the restoration of the monarchy. The most significant of these changes was the reintroduction of an Upper House of approximately 70 appointed members, thus recreating all the aspects of the previous Stuart constitution with the exception of a unified Church of England. Crucially however, the new Parliament invited back into the Commons all those MPs who after the elections, had been excluded by the Major-Generals on the grounds of potential hostility to the regime. Adopting the Humble Petition as essentially England’s second written constitution after the Instrument of Government, the “new” Parliament then set about attempting effectively to undermine it to assert the primacy of Parliamentary authority over all others - principally the Upper, or “Other” House, the Council of State and, of course, the New Model Army. The ultimate authority of the monarchical Lord Protector was recognised but the notion of shared power with any other body was anathema to the radical Parliamentarians who, from their perspective, had been fighting for this settlement since the 1630s.

Cromwell could see trouble ahead and, despite his speeches to the Commons calling for political unity and respect for the Humble Petition, MPs simply listened politely before drawing up a further petition that called on the Lord Protector to grant Parliament supremacy in all things including primacy over the Other House and the Army; exclusive authority for tax-raising powers and control over appointments to the English civil service. The petition claimed that only by establishing unambiguous sovereignty within an elected Parliament, could any potential drift to tyranny as in the days of Charles I be prevented, and the prospect of military rule be permanently blocked. For Cromwell, wedded to the concept of shared power and what we would today call “checks and balances”, the petition had about it the smack of the rule of the mob. For the Huntingdon squire and cavalry colonel, this was unacceptable. The petition was due to be presented to him formally by a delegation of MPs on 4th February 1658, so the Lord Protector attended the Commons before that date and informed Parliament its services were at an end. Just over a month after it was reconvened, the Second Protectorate Parliament was dissolved and absolute power resided, yet again, in the hands of Cromwell.

This constitutional crisis, and the events leading up to it, breathed hope into the Royalist Court of the exiled King Charles II, now based in Spain. A number of Parliamentarians were concerned at what they viewed as increasingly arbitrary rule by Cromwell. These included William Waller, the Earl of Manchester and even Sir Thomas Fairfax. All three received overtures from the Stuart court, asking for their support for a Spanish-backed invasion of England, aimed at restoring Charles to the throne. However, these veteran Parliamentary commanders told the Royal envoys they would only support a Stuart restoration on the basis of the settlement Charles I had agreed at Newport with Parliament in the aftermath of the Second Civil War: namely the independence of the Army, the regular calling of Parliament, the introduction of a Presbyterian national church across the three kingdoms and Charles II’s acceptance of the permanent abolition of episcopacy. This the Royalists could not accept and the overtures therefore went nowhere. In the meantime, the Commonwealth had allied with France in a war against Spain and in the summer of 1658, the Army helped the French capture a number of Spanish possessions in French territory, including the town of Dunkirk, which the young Louis XIV then bequeathed to the English Commonwealth. As a Spanish-controlled Dunkirk was the only feasible port from which a Royalist invasion could be launched, it seemed the prospects of Charles ever regaining his father's throne were remote indeed.

There was indeed now an air of permanence about the Commonwealth which was accepted as a political reality both at home and abroad. Only the most die-hard Royalists of the Sealed Knot entertained hopes of the restoration of an absolute monarchy. Even the post of Lord Protector - with or without Parliament - provided the constitutional stability required in the former kingdoms. The fatal weakness of the Commonwealth was the lack of any understanding as to who would succeed Oliver Cromwell in the role. This was no longer an academic concern. Racked with gout, suffering from kidney stones and from a painful boil in his neck that could not be cured, Cromwell was a sick man. He had visibly struggled in his dispute with his second Parliament and his energy levels were low. The Humble Petition had given the Lord Protector the right to name his successor, but Cromwell had not yet done so.

Although failing, Cromwell had maintained his interest in running the country and had decided new Parliamentary elections would be held in the autumn. However, that August his daughter Bettie died from cancer, a tragedy from which arguably he never recovered. Later that month he contracted malaria, a common disease in the English Fens, and Cromwell proved too weak to fight it off. He returned to Whitehall for a change of air, but remained bed bound. On 3rd September, 1658, the Lord Protector died, the succession still unclear. Those at his bedside claimed that the day before he died he had nominated his son Richard as his heir, and this became generally accepted. Richard, or Dick, Cromwell, affable, lazy and unambitious, was possibly the worst choice to carry on England’s republican experiment.

As for Cromwell, his legacy will forever be contested. Claimed as hero and villain by both left and right, he fits neither category comfortably. He was a ruthless Parliamentarian and ultimately absolute ruler, who killed the King and yet spent the subsequent period trying to ensure untrammelled power never fell into the hands of one man, including himself; he was capable of wartime atrocities, particularly in Ireland, and yet he was a famously humane general who hated wasting the lives of his own men, and even those of his enemies; a republican hero who nonetheless suppressed radicalism and was passionately opposed to universal suffrage and land reform; a deeply religious man who nonetheless espoused religious toleration, and whose relationship with his God was intensely personal. In truth, there is no “real” Oliver Cromwell. In his heart, he represented the values of the English gentry from which he came and his constant intention was to oppose and end monarchical absolutism or its equivalents. And in this, at least in his own lifetime, Cromwell succeeded.

[greencheekconure27]

Ok new Yeomen theory/au idea:

What if Fairfax is an imposter?

Hence the discrepancy between his off-stage heroism and his behaviour in Yeomen

Clarence Poltwhistle realizes the person who came back from the wars Isn't his cousin, tries to tell people, but is dismissed as crazy. So he tries to get rid of him by accusing him of sorcery, which may or may not be true.

Even without sorcery Sgt . Meryll presumably hasn't seen Fairfax for some time.Same for the Lieutenant. Phoebe either never met him before he got arrested or only met him as a child before he went off to war. Leonard doesn't actually ever meet him in person during the events of the play, so he doesn't realize anything's wrong until act ii finale at the earliest. At which point FauxFairfax leaves with Elsie + there's a big crowd so he doesn't get the chance.

Poltwhistle finds out the plan failed, shows up to try to stop the imposter, and he, Leonard, Phoebe and a very reluctant Jack Point launch an investigation.

Meanwhile Faux!Fairfax's past starts catching up on him & Elsie is starting to realize the man she married isn't who she thought he was (twice over).

[lizziestudieshistory]

Books of 2024 - April

I'm late because I've been on holiday (I've been driving around Somerset for 2 weeks) but I did read a slightly bizarre collection of books in April.

La Grande Bretèche - Honoré de Balzac

I can't remember much about this... So that probably speaks for itself.

Emma - Jane Austen

My love, my obsession. I already want to reread Emma. This book is my happy place and I can't help myself. I also had some very interesting reflections on Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill this time around... I really should start writing about Emma because I have so much to say and no one to talk about it with.

Various essays - Italo Calvino

I've been slowly reading through the essays that look interesting or that cover books I've read in Why Read the Classics. Some I've enjoyed, others I disagreed with - but that's the point of reading them. I've also had a great time reflecting on my own concept of classics and why I love them, however, I've not finished thinking this one through.

Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

My bid to not immediately reread Emma. I was left disappointed. Still love Colonel Brandon! But everyone else annoyed me.

Macbeth - William Shakespeare

I'm back with Shakespeare and inexplicably chose to read Macbeth in April? Definitely the wrong time of year. However, Macbeth is always a fun time and it got me thinking about James I/VI's relationship with the theatre again. I was very surprised to not enjoy it as much as I did Othello back in November. Usually Macbeth is my favourite tragedy but apparently times are changing.

The Remains of the Day - Kazuro Ishiguro

The most poignant character study I've read in a long time. I cannot express how much it moved me as I was driving around Somerset listening to the audiobook (it was a very fitting trip to take this on and completely accidental!)

Grand Conspiracy - Janny Wurts

I'm having a great time and I don't know what else to say as I'm at risk of giving too many spoilers!

[greencheekconure27]

" [...] Is he a brave man?"

"So men say."

"That's not true. But let that pass."

Gets a whole new dimension.

Getting some fun ideas tonight :)

[ms-march]

Chapter 34- Luck be a Lady (TURN AMC)

Remember how I used to post a chapter update weekly? Yeah. Happy chapter 34 after almost a year! It was already kinda written, so. Unfortunately, it doesn't show where I am with my writing abilities now; bear with me. The upcoming chapters are kinda a lot of the drabbles already written, so at least it should be faster (if I am peer pressured)! If you like it, please like, comment, and/or reblog!

It should have been her first kiss, Thaddeus knew that, but he also knew it was far from it.  She had been kissed well beyond a short peck on the lips, he would know.  Thaddeus also knew that a kiss from her was intoxicating.  It haunted you in your sleep. You woke up with the feeling of her soft lips on yours for months after they touched.  Thaddeus would know.  He had kissed her in his dreams—hell, he had done more than just kiss her in his dreams—and he knew the soft and sweet feeling of her lips was inescapable. He could not say that now. Had she wanted to kiss John?  Invited him to the most perfect pair of lips he’d ever seen with a smile?  Or had John stolen the kiss?  Grabbing her by her silks and pressing her lips to his?   If kissing her once upon the lips was enough to make John no better than a common scoundrel, what did that make Thaddeus who knew what the soft creamy skin of her bosom felt like on his lips?  He should not think of such things at the moment lest his body ache and give him away to the man before him. 

Shout out @tallmadgeandtea, for distracting me so heavily in thee ye ol' group chat that I didn't realize my fic hadn't been updated for about a year love you, bestie like fr

[bethanydelleman]

First Kiss for each Austen Heroine Couple

Fitzwilliam Darcy & Elizabeth Bennet: after they were married, when no one else was around. Mr. Darcy does not do PDA.

Charles Bingley & Jane Bennet: they were making out behind a bush while Lady Catherine was scolding Elizabeth. Charles was just hoping for a single kiss, he modestly hadn't expected Jane to be so excited about it.

Anne Elliot & Captain Frederick Wentworth: there was smooching at 19 and 23, you cannot convince me there was not. At 27 and 31, they really thought they would be more mature, but honestly if they hadn't been married as rapidly as possible there would have been serious canoodling.

Catherine Morland & Henry Tilney: Catherine ran after Henry when he was about to leave Fullerton and very dramatically kissed him before he mounted his horse. Then they had to wait about six months to do it again. It was torment.

Emma Woodhouse & George Knightley: They kissed in the garden around Hartfield after getting engaged. No one knows who initiated it, but on reflection it was probably Emma.

Elinor Dashwood & Edward Ferrars: Marianne was trying to leave them in corners and behind trees the whole time Edward was staying at the cottage, which they found very amusing and took advantage of fully. The first kiss was out of doors, after their engagement.

Marianne Dashwood & Colonel Brandon: You know that Colonel Brandon was attempting to be a perfect gentleman and Marianne was trying to to be anything but a modest lady.

Fanny Price & Edmund Bertram: Despite ample opportunity and the feelings of the lady, not until they were in the bedroom after the wedding.

Bonus! Jane Fairfax & Frank Churchill: There was pre-engagement making out and Jane felt so bad about it, but couldn't help herself.

Bonus! Bonus! I would bet my bonnet that Jane Bennet was born not quite nine respectable months after her parent's marriage.

[uchidachi]

Ok, so am rewatching Emma (2009) and pondering the backstory of Jane Fairfax. (I’m sure my annotated Emma could answer this more, but I’m going to be lazy and kick the question to Austen side of tumblr)

Who is responsible for Jane’s leaving the Campbells?

I’m under the impression that she is sent back to her Aunt’s to stop gossip that there is some inappropriate connection between her and Mr Dixon after he saved her life, but who decided that? And who is responsible for the gossip?

Was it Colonel Campbell or his wife or young miss Campbell who wanted her to leave? Only Miss Bates still thinks they are on good terms…

And was the gossip a natural consequence of people talking of a near-tragedy? Or did Frank Churchill encourage it to distract people from gossiping about the potential of him and Jane (the same way he encouraged Emma to distract from them)?

Only I’m wondering if that whole thing was Frank’s fault in the first place, and Jane would have kept on as Miss Campbell’s companion indefinitely if Frank hadn’t been there.