WELCOME to all our friends taking part in Austenesque Extravaganza! I've been enjoying all the fun and I hope you have too. Here's my offering:
Slurry Meets Jane Austen
From MTV News, I'm Kurt Loder.
As the release of their new biography, Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star draws near, MTV News has asked the members of Long Borne Suffering and Slurry to give their opinions on the work which inspired it- Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. We wanted to know how they see themselves compared to the characters in the original work. Lets check out what they had to say.
Jane Bennet, LBS: Personally, I felt very close to my namesake. P&P Jane certainly had a different life from mine, but she is a very kind and good natured person. While I may not go riding in carriages, I can certainly relate to the struggle between what you want to do, and what you're supposed to do.
Elizabeth Bennet, LBS: I wanted to knock their heads together. I mean, it was obvious to both Darcy and Lizzy that they were in love at Lambton, but did they do anything about it? Of course not! No, that wouldn't be proper. And what was the deal with Jane waiting and hoping that Bingley would come back? My sister would have had him flat on his back within 10 minutes. (Laughs) She's not afraid to express herself.
Charlotte Lucas LBS: (Laughing) I end up with Collins? Seriously? (Laughs some more) And he's a minister? Like I can see that. (Richard Fitzwilliam joins in, also laughing) Bwaaaaaakkkkkk! Ba-wak-bock-bock! That's your chickens, Char. I'm going to remember that next time you give me any grief- it's either me or the chickens! (both laugh so hard they are unable to continue.)
Charles Bingley, Slurry: Well, it's a famous book, right? And it's very well written. But it's kinda long. Honestly, I didn't finish all of it. But Jane said we end up together, so that's what counts, right?
Caroline Bingley, tour manager: In Jane Austen's day, women were very limited in their opportunities. Making a good match was their career in many cases, as well as setting up their family members of equally good matches. As such, Austen needed villains and I guess my characters was one of them. I can see why the book version of Caroline would be so mercenary- Mr. Darcy was quite a prize, but at the same time, I think she was a very lonely person at heart.
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Slurry: Love stories are probably the oldest stories there are, and certainly the theme of two people who don't like each other later falling in love is also very old. But there is something about Austen's work that makes it timeless and endearing. Her characters feel very modern and real. The emotions they express are recognizable in ourselves. And her language is amazing. She precisely expresses what is happening, without ever telling too much or spoon-feeding the reader.
I've been told I'm a 'Darcy-type', whatever that means, and certainly we share some physical characteristics, as well as our family circumstances. But I see the historical Darcy as being more certain of his place in society. I guess one of the benefits of having such a strict culture is that everyone would have an established place. Our society is much more mobil, which has its pros and cons, but it does allow for much more freedom of expression. That is something I'm very grateful for.
Question: Do you think the book will be a success? I certainly hope so. Slurry has become something that is much bigger than it's parts, and so far the public has been eager for anything we've produced, so on that note, I feel pretty confident. But in another way, I feel it is already a success: Elizabeth and I are happy together and we're able to follow all our dreams. I can't think of anything more successful than that.
