When other authors mention the name of someone they had in mind as Mr. Darcy while writing their Austen-inspired fiction, once in a while, I’m able to visualize their version of the hero while reading. It’s not easy. Otherwise, the closest Mr. Darcy image that comes to my mind for Mr. Darcy is that of a Disney hero.
Disney Princes (from The Disney Wiki http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Disney_Prince)
The odd time, glimpses of a faceless man similar to the rear view of Colin Firth in the 1995 A&E/BBC adaptation occur. Of course, there have been other actors in other adaptations, and I like some better than others.
From the BBC/A&E 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice. Colin Firth, as Mr. Darcy, walks along the gallery at Pemberley.
Austen herself is no help. She just said he was tall and handsome, with a noble mien and fine figure. He could be bald! Of course, the costume people would put a dark, curly wig on him. Is it a wonder dreamy-eyed JAFF authors persist in mentioning those slightly unruly curls?
David Rintoul as Mr. Darcy in BBC’s 1980 mini-series “Pride and Prejudice.” Mr. Rintoul wore a hairpiece for the role.
I try very hard to imagine Mr. Darcy as eye-candy actor Henry Cavill (before the Superman bulk), even if he’s almost too pretty. A story I posted on Jane Austen fan fiction mega-site A Happy Assembly (Studio 54) “cast” the inimitable Christopher Reeve as Darcy, since he was the right age for the story’s era. I like the late Gregory Peck in mid-20th century stories. But none of their faces come to mind when I’m writing.
As part of my addiction to Pinterest since the Thrift Shop Regency Costume Experiment, I’ve pinned some portraits of terribly handsome real Regency gentlemen, and maybe… but try as I might, no Darcy. I look at book covers that supposedly have Mr. Darcy on them, and to me, none of those gentlemen are quite right.
This is a problem when you want Mr. Darcy on your own book cover.
New Letter from Ramsgate character, Lady Edwina Moore, is easy to imagine. Georgiana Darcy can be a young Caroline Murat. And there’s sneaky Mr. Wickham bothering her, and Elizabeth Bennet in the background with her dizzy parasol. But where’s my Mr. Darcy for Letter from Ramsgate‘s cover?
Lady Edwina Moore from Suzan Lauder’s “Letter from Ramsgate” (artwork: Henri-Pierre Danloux, Portrait of a Young Lady in a White Dress, from Sotheby’s)
Miss Georgiana Darcy from Suzan Lauder’s “Letter from Ramsgate” (Artwork: François-Pascal-Simon, Baron Gérard’s painting “Caroline Murat walking in the gardens of Château de Neuilly,” 1807, from Versailles)
Mr. Wickham from Suzan Lauder’s “Letter from Ramsgate” attempts to woo Miss Georgiana Darcy while Miss Elizabeth Bennet wanders around in the distance, spinning her parasol. (Artwork: Debucourt, Modes et Manières du Jour no. 34)
I suppose one could have a worse dilemma than having to peruse artwork in search of Mr. Darcy! In any case, the wonderful Zorylee Diaz-Lupitou is the cover designer for Letter from Ramsgate, and whether or not Mr. Darcy’s face appears, I love her covers, so I know it will be fantastic.
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Suzan Lauder’s latest novel, Letter from Ramsgate, will be published by Meryton Press in the autumn of 2016.
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2016 May 17 Edited to add a note: For some reason, readers have flocked to my blog for this post, yet none have left comments on my blog, road trips with the redhead! I wonder if you all saw the hot Regency guy and clicked to discover who the heck he is! If someone asked, I’d tell, but I’m not sure that’s the reason this post is so extremely popular! Can anyone give me a hint?
Thanks! Suzan
He’s artist George Catlin (July 26, 1796 – December 23, 1872), an American painter, author and traveler who specialized in portraits of Native Americans in the Old West. Isn’t he hot in this self-portrait? The trouble is, later self-portraits are not as flattering! Hahaha!
SO WHO WAS THE GUY IN THE PORTRAIT??!!! I am all anticipation, it is most diverting!
Good point to support those headless covers. But though some are great, some look well, stupid. And Darcy is never stupid! As for age, Colin Firth was 7 years too old when he played Darcy. I advocated for Henry Cavill back when he was under 30 (and had a gentleman’s physique rather than an that of an Olympic powerlifter), but I’m looking at other candidates now. Yet the actors who are the right age and have the handsome, noble mien are too slender or short! Well, a fellow JAFF fan suggested one tall guy, but he looked like a stalker to me. We’ll never win! Thanks for the fun comments, Christina!
Suzan, See…perfect example of how everyone sees Darcy differently. I think David Gandy probably is too old for Regency Darcy. But he will do;) If someone were to cast him in any JAFF, I would not object. Different strokes et al.
About Darcy book covers though…I prefer when his face is obscured otherwise if the cover doesn’t jive with what I imagine him to look like, I am prejudiced against the book from the start. I know–Ouch!
Ah, the English underwear model. Trouble is, Regency men were covered virtually head to toe! I wonder what David Gandy would look like in a cravat with the combed-forward hair that was so popular in the Regency? Thanks for the comment, Christina!
I like Colin Firth, too. I don’t want Darcy to be too handsome, but he’ll do! Thanks!
I am happy to response to your request for comments. The answer is quite simply, Oh! The possibility of the perfect Darcy! Personally, I’m fondest of the Firth Darcy, but wish he was a touch more handsome(?). His body language nails it however.
Lately it’s David Gandy’s chiseled fine features that fill my Darcy imagination.