#eleanor tilney

[besotted-with-austen]

Henry Tilney: did anyone tell you how beautiful you are, Miss Morland?

Catherine Morland: *puzzled* not really-has anyone told you how beautiful you are?

Henry Tilney: *crestfallen* well, not yet-

Catherine Morland: *encouraging* better luck next time for both of us, then!

Henry Tilney: *kinda lost his own pick-up line* yes, for sure.

Eleanor Tilney: *laughing*

[bethanydelleman]

The three Tilney siblings drinking together sometime after Henry's wedding.

Henry: Hey, did I ever tell you that when Catherine first visited our house, she got it into her head that our father either murdered our mother or had her locked in the attic?

Frederick and Eleanor look at each other

Eleanor: He isn't... that bad.

Frederick: I wouldn't put it past him.

Henry: Yeah... my only real defense that was someone would have noticed if he murdered her.

Frederick: Facts

Another silence

Eleanor: So... given our current situations, what do you think is the least number of days we can visit the abbey without being seen as outright rude?

[thoumpingground]

Shoutout to the man-shaped plot device that is Eleanor's husband. They had an *actual* gothic romance complete with forbidden love, and sudden wealth resolution, and Jane Austen doesn't care. Cause considering Northanger Abbey is all about how gothic tropes play out in reality, we have to consider the real life tragedy behind the "character conveniently comes into money by sudden death of rich relation" trope. At least one, most likely several, members of that young man's family died a sudden early death. And what is Jane Austen's interest in the matter? It is joy over El being able to leverage his score or a husband's tragedy into a love marriage and mending Henry's and General Tilney's relationship. Otherwise he's only incidentaly of interesting cause it just so happens in his servant who left the disappointing laundry list Cathy found in that cabinet. RIP El's husband's family. You will hardly be remembered.

[curiousb]

The Tilney Family Album: Volume XVII

Time to meet the nooboo!

As it happened, Eleanor was already pregnant when the alien menace whisked her away, and the baby boy is Esther's, with her deep blue eyes. They name the new arrival Ellis.

(I confess I was a little disappointed by the lack of alien progeny, but I guess there’s still time!)

What more could Esther want from life? She has just married the love of her life, and now she's a mother too!

The new parents take it in turns to stay at home with their young son. One afternoon - shortly after Eleanor has put Ellis down for his nap - the family has an unexpected visitor. Lillian - the fiancée of Eleanor's cousin Nathan - drops in while mysteriously in character.

She's not really known to the family, but it seems that Lillian just happened to be in that part of town, and decided to take the opportunity to introduce herself. And wake up the baby.

Being the curious soul that she is, Eleanor can't help wanting to know just how much Lillian identifies with her llama persona?

Lillian tries to explain that it's not so much about being a llama, as channelling the ineffable spirit of llamaness into everyday life. Well, it's certainly an interesting philosophy.

Lillian has fortuitously coincided her visit with Ellis's first birthday.

No, it's not just Ellis's stinky nappy that is causing Eleanor's nausea...

There's another unexpected arrival, and this time it's a new baby sister for Ellis - welcome to the family, Esme!

He's quite happy to have a new sibling, but can't wait for her to grow up a bit, so that they can play together properly.

~ Gemini 5 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 9

~ Friendly / Slob

~ OTH: Games

Perhaps as a result of being exposed to Lillian's extravagant headgear at such a young age, he also won't do anything or go anywhere without his green monster hat.

[autumnrose11]

I LOVE this passage from Northanger Abbey. It’s one of the funniest parts of the book!

“And now, Henry," said Miss Tilney, "that you have made us understand each other, you may as well make Miss Morland understand yourself—unless you mean to have her think you intolerably rude to your sister, and a great brute in your opinion of women in general. Miss Morland is not used to your odd ways." "I shall be most happy to make her better acquainted with them." "No doubt; but that is no explanation of the present." "What am I to do?" "You know what you ought to do. Clear your character handsomely before her. Tell her that you think very highly of the understanding of women." "Miss Morland, I think very highly of the understanding of all the women in the world—especially of those—whoever they may be—with whom I happen to be in company." "That is not enough. Be more serious." "Miss Morland, no one can think more highly of the understanding of women than I do. In my opinion, nature has given them so much that they never find it necessary to use more than half.”

The not-quite-so-subtle-but-still-charming flirting..... “I shall be most happy to make her better acquainted with them....” , “... especially of those - whoever they may be - with whom I happen to be in company.” AGHHH! I adore his facetious, flippant sense of humour, the way his love for Catherine is veiled in these great quips!

And the exaggerated amendments and apology to his sister killed me. “No one can think more highly of the understanding of women than I do.”

AND

“Nature has given them so much that they never find it necessary to use more than half.” I tell you, this last bit had me giggling for a good five minutes 😂😂😂😂

[firawren]

Austen ask: 2 & 25

2. Favorite Austen Man

Hmm this is so hard to choose! Darcy is wonderful because he's such a snobby dick at first and goes through so much growth, and what he does for Lydia shows what an incredible man he is.

Wentworth is wonderful because his passion and devotion to Anne for so many years is swoon-worthy.

But I guess I have to say Henry Tilney is my favorite. He's got it all! He's charming, funny, witty, silly, kind, honest, loving, playful, doesn't take himself too seriously, is handsome enough to be nice to look at but not so gorgeous that he's intimidating to us normal looking folks, he likes to read, he likes to dance, he likes going on walks, he knows muslin!

(This is my most used gif on Tumblr)

25. Favorite family connection

Henry and Eleanor Tilney are sibling goals! Their relationship is just a delight to read about. They are sweet and supportive and sassy to each other, and I love all of their little remarks and looks to each other that go right over Catherine's head but that they get because they know each other so well. They're so fun.

Thanks for the ask, I love both of these questions!

Here’s the list of questions if others would like to ask me one!

[bad-at-names-and-faces]

Picnic on the Beach

Day 9 of the February Ficlet Challenge, revisiting my Northanger Abbey modern AU, where Catherine is now a guest at the Tilney beach house.

The sun was rising over the ocean as Catherine walked out on the balcony of the Tilney beach house. The earlier pastels were now being drowned out by the direct sunlight.  

Eleanor was already sitting in a chair with a cup of coffee. 

“Good morning, Catherine!” Eleanor said. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did, thank you,” Catherine answered automatically. “How long have you been out here?”

“A while,” Eleanor replied. “I love watching the sunrise from here.”

Catherine looked silently.  It was so quiet, quite the contrast from the middle of the day.

“I was thinking, would you like to have a picnic out on the beach?” Eleanor asked.

“I suppose so,” Catherine replied, looking out over the beach.

“Since you’re already awake, it can be a little earlier, before the crowds arrive. What do you think?”

“I’d like that,” Catherine smiled. 

Eleanor got up and took her cup of coffee into the kitchen, and Catherine followed.  

“Have some coffee, and I’ll get everything together,” Eleanor suggested.

Catherine poured herself some coffee while Eleanor gathered things together. 

“There’s a basket in the cabinet under there,” Eleanor said, and Catherine found it right away. 

“This is a very well-organized kitchen,” Catherine observed.

Eleanor gave an odd look, and paused before replying. “Yes, I suppose it is.  Father loves to talk about the renovation.”

Catherine thought about saying something more, but had the feeling a change of subject might be better.  “Did you pack any salami?” 

“I didn’t,” Eleanor said, then opened the fridge. “But that’s a good idea!”

[ardentlyinlovedarcy]

[haunted-phantom-student]

An adaptation of Northanger Abbey in which every character besides Catherine gets at least one scene in which they look at the camera like they're on The Office and Catherine gets more and more frustrated about not knowing what they're looking at but finds it too awkward to ask

[tales-from-the-abbey]

Your favorite Northanger Abbey or S&S OT3 isn't there ? Tell me and I'll make a poll with them later

[bethanydelleman]

Northanger Abbey Readthrough, Ch 8

Some hints that Isabella's affection for Catherine may not be all that it seems, starting with this, "Isabella having gone through the usual ceremonial of meeting her friend with the most smiling and affectionate haste" and then Isabella taking an entire three minutes to abandon her friend to dance.

I love this part:

She could not help being vexed at the non-appearance of Mr. Thorpe, for she not only longed to be dancing, but was likewise aware that, as the real dignity of her situation could not be known, she was sharing with the scores of other young ladies still sitting down all the discredit of wanting a partner. To be disgraced in the eye of the world, to wear the appearance of infamy while her heart is all purity, her actions all innocence, and the misconduct of another the true source of her debasement, is one of those circumstances which peculiarly belong to the heroine’s life, and her fortitude under it what particularly dignifies her character. Catherine had fortitude too; she suffered, but no murmur passed her lips.

This sentiment is so real, it's like assuring the waitress that you aren't at the café alone and your boyfriend is coming. Catherine wants people to know that she has a partner! She's not unselected and unknown. It doesn't matter that she may never see these people again, the disgrace is real.

Then worse (!) she finally sees Mr. Tilney again but she can't dance with him! The horrors! I love how Catherine doesn't fall for the "mistakes sibling for spouse" trope, which continues to happen in fiction to this day, but instantly realizes that Henry is with his sister.

Thorpe finally appears (ug) and he doesn't have any good excuse for keeping Catherine waiting. However, this reminds me of three other men:

of the horses and dogs of the friend whom he had just left, and of a proposed exchange of terriers between them

We know that Mr. Rushworth of Mansfield Park also annoyed a woman by talking too much of horses (his "sport" would include this) and dogs:

Maria, with only Mr. Rushworth to attend to her, and doomed to the repeated details of his day’s sport, good or bad, his boast of his dogs, his jealousy of his neighbours, his doubts of their qualifications, and his zeal after poachers, subjects which will not find their way to female feelings without some talent on one side or some attachment on the other Mansfield Park, Ch 12

Also, Sir John and Willoughby are arranging the exchange of some terriers:

Such a scoundrel of a fellow! such a deceitful dog! It was only the last time they met that he had offered him one of Folly’s puppies! and this was the end of it! Sense & Sensibility, Ch 32

Now I'm sure a big part of these quote aligning is just the era and being gentry, them with their fancy horses and fancy dogs, but both Rushworth and Sir John notably can't really talk to women, I think we can easily argue that Thorpe is in the same camp. And inconsiderate Tom Bertram delayed another woman from dancing with concern about horses:

He came towards their little circle; but instead of asking her to dance, drew a chair near her, and gave her an account of the present state of a sick horse, and the opinion of the groom Mansfield Park, Ch 12

The real problem here is that men are putting their concerns above doing a duty or a kindness to a woman. Sir John gets away with his devotion to hunting because he is very kind and accommodating otherwise, but John Thorpe, Mr. Rushworth, and Tom Bertram especially really show their selfishness and self-absorption in these scenes.

ANYWAY, joy of joys, Catherine is introduced to Eleanor Tilney, who seems like 10,000,000% more rational and genuine than Miss Thorpe:

Her manners showed good sense and good breeding; they were neither shy nor affectedly open; and she seemed capable of being young, attractive, and at a ball without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her, and without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable vexation on every little trifling occurrence.

Catherine does not immediately become friends with Eleanor, but engages in the very small talk that Henry spoofed back in Ch 3.

The faithless "faithful Isabella" reappears, but she's far too absorbed with James to really focus on Catherine, no matter what she claims. Both Catherine and Isabella refuse to dance with their partners more than once, though like Willoughby and Marianne, Isabella and James don't find new partners but instead talk with each other. Poor Catherine barely spends any time with Mr. Tilney as he got bored and danced with someone else.

Now, we know Catherine is already half in love with Henry at this point, but what is he thinking about her? He does seem to have sought her out and he asks her to dance again. This may just be polite, and he certainly feels that nothing is keeping him from finding another partner. I would say he probably enjoyed the first dance and is happy to see her again, but I doubt he's been dreaming of her...

[kajaono]

Always wondering how Eleanor would have reacted when she would have found out about Catherine's suspicion

Would she be shocked? Understand it? Be disgusted? Cry?

[curiousb]

The Mansfield House Yearbook: Volume IV

Back to school - or uni - today! And it's a bed-hopping bonanza, I warn you.

Let's start with a game of whose buttocks are these, shall we?

To put you out of your misery, they're Elliot's. And Olivia, I thought you were with James (as much as anyone is)?

Well, these two look quite cosy together, so I guess Olivia has moved on, not wanting to compete with three other girls for James's attention?

The next day, she decides it's time to put a ring on...

James! OK, well - I guess you know your own heart best. Perhaps Elliot was a just a rebound thing?

I think Elliot's expression says it all.

Martha is none too pleased either - she thought she had first dibs on James - but Olivia swiftly puts her in her place! Semi-resident Llama Guy thinks it's the perfect time to celebrate with a school cheer though.

But before I know it, Martha has already caused a rift between Olivia and her intended (I didn't see exactly what happened here), and seems rather delighted with herself as a result.

It's not all about romance - sometimes there's some studying too! Actually, I lie, it is.

When Eleanor drops round, Hester seems bent on creating domestic strife too.

And Eleanor looks like she could very well be tempted to stray from her long-term partner Esther. I guess Esther's persistence in trying to tie Eleanor down is perhaps having the opposite effect, and driving them apart.

Yup.

James doesn't seem too concerned about being estranged from new fiancée Olivia, and hooks up again with Henrietta at the first opportunity.

Disenchanted Olivia seeks solace with Elliot once again.

And I just have no idea who is with whom any more!

[theartofdreaming1]

The first half of chapter 14 (the walk at Beechen Cliff) I managed to program for my Northanger Abbey Visual Novel project - what do you think?

This is my first foray into working with Ren'Py, so I'm stilling getting used to it, but I'm quite happy with how it's turned out so far - (for a work-in-progress, I mean)

[autumnrose11]

Rereading Northanger Abbey...

Of all JA’s novels, I think Northanger Abbey would be the one most suited to a modern adaptation.

I adore this story so very much, partly because I’m the same age as Catherine, and because of how transparently humorous and witty and accurate this novel is. It remarks on human behaviour that are so commonplace and recognisable that you’re bound to have been in a situation like that at one point or other in your life... Especially in high school!

There’s the pretty, popular girl everyone wants to be friends with, and you’re delighted when she takes notice of you... Only to find she’s superficial, shallow and fickle; disloyal, never there for you when you need her to be, and always having a justification for it.

There’s the girl who’s always been a sort of wallflower - friendly and polite, but someone you consider too serious and rather boring. Until you spend time with them and you find that her steady friendship is exactly what you’ve been needing - stable, consistent, gentle.

And of course, having a huge crush on someone and wondering endlessly if he likes you back or misses you and what he thinks of you. Wanting to be his lab partner and sit together in every class. And feeling hugely disappointed when you find out he’s absent from school one day.

It’s such a wonderful novel, one that I wish I’d read earlier. I’m having a HUGE amount of fun with rereading it!! :) :)