Saturday, March 31, 2012

Costume Doubles Quiz

If you watch BBC period dramas long enough you'll notice that they sometime reuse costumes. 
In this quiz there are two dresses that have been used in adaptations of Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Gaskells works. I've collected photos of each wearing and your job is to guess which films they were worn in and who was wearing them!

To Play: Take a look at the photos below and leave a comment telling me which Gaskell and Dickens adaptation the two dresses were worn in. Extra points for naming the characters and actresses who wore them.

Scoring: 5 points for each correctly guessed film, character and actress. Maximum score is 75 points.


Orange Stripe Dress

Gaskell Film



Dickens Film





Black Striped Dress

Gaskell Film #1
 


Gaskell Film #2


  Dickens Film 



This shouldn't be too tricky because they seemed to be fairly well known dresses in the costume fan sphere. It was great fun collecting the photos though. 

Enjoy!
Answers and photos will be posted next week.


Jane Austen Quotes Quiz - Answers!


These are the answers to the Jane Austen Quotes Quiz which was posted last week. 

I was very impressed by the number of correct answers from my Austenite friends! Thanks so everyone who played!

Answers:

Quote #1 - "Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love." - Northanger Abbey

Quote #2 - "Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken..." - Emma

Quote #3 - “There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved. Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement.” - Persuasion

Quote #4 - "To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love..." - Pride and Prejudice

Quote #5 - "A woman, especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can." Northanger Abbey

Quote #6 - "But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them." - Mansfield Park

Quote #7 - “It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she was ten years before” - Persuasion

Quote #8 - "She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world." - Sense and Sensibility 

Quote #9 - "To begin perfect happiness and the respective ages of twenty-six and eighteen is to do pretty well." Northanger Abbey

Quote #10 - "It is such a happiness when good people get together—and they always do." - Emma (said by Miss Bates)

Quote #11 - “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest.” - Mansfield Park

Quote #12 - “She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.” - Persuasion

Quote #13 - "To look almost pretty is an acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain for the first fifteen years of her life than a beauty from her cradle can ever receive." Northanger Abbey

Quote #14 - "He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing. He was too diffident to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart." - Sense and Sensibility

Quote #15 - "But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way." Northanger Abbey

Quote #16 - “They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects.” - Pride and Prejudice

Quote #17 - "...from politics, it was an easy step to silence." Northanger Abbey

Quote #18 - "The enthusiasm of a woman's love is even beyond the biographer's." - Mansfield Park

Quote #19 - “No young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared, it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her.” Northanger Abbey

Quote #20 - "Who can be in doubt of what followed? When any two young people take it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever so little likely to be necessary to each other's ultimate comfort." - Persuasion


Players Scores:

Melody - 16 points 
Abby - 15 points

Eva-Joy - 13 points
Lady Disdain - 13 points
Scullery Maid - 10 points
Mary Beth - 8 points
Charity - 5 points
Sarah Grace - 5 points

Thank you all for playing!


Which of these Jane Austen quotes is your favorite?

Friday, March 30, 2012

Dickens on Masterpiece Theatre

Douglas Booth as Pip in Great Expectations (2011)

Masterpiece Theatre is celebrating the bicentennial of Charles Dickens' birth by airing two new adaptations of his works and re-airing others.

Take a look at these delightful offerings for Dickens and period drama fans:



Watch Little Dorrit - Preview on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Little Dorrit (2008) is currently available for viewing online at the Masterpiece Theatre website (in five episode parts) from now until April 2nd. If you haven't yet been able to watch this wonderful miniseries I highly recommend you check it out. You can watch a preview above and read my review of the series here.

They also are offering special online features such as Cast and Crew Interviews, Behind-the-scene videos, slideshow of the characters narrated by screenplay writer Andrew Davies and Dickens scholar Tatiana Holway's view on Little Dorrit.



Watch Great Expectations Preview on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Great Expectations (2011) - The new BBC adaptation will being this coming Sunday! It will be aired in two episodes the first part on April 1st and the second on April 8th. The first part will be available for online viewing April 2nd at the Masterpiece Website. According to the website the first episode will be 60 minutes long and the second episode will be 120 minutes long - this info give me great hope that they won't be cutting out any of the original scenes! The adaptation will be available on DVD on April 3rd.

I'm not a great fan of the trailer above (it's clips with a pop song played in over top) but I found two lovely clips of scenes and several interview with the actors at my local PBS website which I am linking to below.

A Scene from Episode One
A Scene from Episode Two
Actress Gillian Anderson on portraying Miss Havisham
Actor Douglas Booth on Gillian Anderson's portrayal
Actor Douglas Boorth on Becoming an Actor
Actress Vanessa Kirby on her Inner Estella
Actor Douglas Booth on What to Expect from this adaptation
Various Actors on Why Dickens is Still Relevant

Read my review of Great Expectations (2011) for details of the adaptation. I'm quite excited to see it again!




The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012) - I was SO excited to find the first preview for this new adaptation is now up on the Masterpiece Theatre website! Edwin Drood (2012) will air April 15th on Masterpiece Classic and be available for limited time watching online at their website the next day.

I can not wait to watch and review! I'm only sorry I couldn't review it sooner for those interested in it. This is a murder mystery tale so it might not be great for younger children. You can read my post about the story synopsis and various adaptations here

Take a look at this lovely photo of Edwin & Rosa!

Which of these Dickens adaptations are you most looking forward to?


     

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

JAHW Fan Fiction Contest Winner

Alternative Name


Eva-Joy hosted a Fan Fiction Contest as part of her Jane Austen Heroine Week at Elinor and Emma which was a lot of fun to enter. There were four entries to be voted on and I'm excited that my short story entry won! Check out Eva-Joy's post about contest results
She kindly made the lovely button above which I'm thrilled to display. Thanks Eva-Joy! 

I will confess that it is just a trifling piece of shameless fan fiction which meant that I could entertain the daydreams from my own Austenite world where all the heroines of Jane Austen novels know each other and are good friends. An Elegant Event, while not my most clever work, was very very fun to write! :) 

Now, for anyone who would like to read my short story entry here it is (with some photos because I couldn't resist!):  


An Elegant Event
In the parlour of a particularly fine London townhouse a group of seven genteel and elegant ladies were seated and all sipping at afternoon tea. A low hum of chatter filled the room as the ladies discussed the health of their parents, the growth of their children, the pleasantness of the weather and the state of the roads.
Presently a handsome young woman with golden hair and hazel eyes stood amidst the group of seated ladies and drew everyone’s attention with a sweet but firm tone.
“Pardon me ladies! If I may have your attention please.” She waited for complete quiet to descend upon the room before she spoke. She fixed her eye on a particularly chatty pair, who were evidently engrossed in discussion the latest novels, until they noticed the quietness of their companions and looked a bit sheepishly at the speaker. Smiling pleasantly at the now attentive group Mrs. Emma Knightley addressed them in a clear direct voice. “Thank you. I’m very glad you were all able to come this afternoon. It has been some time since we have met so it’s lovely to hear all of your news. But we have been invited here for a purpose so let us get down to business. As some of you may be aware Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy will very soon be celebrating her birthday. In honor of this event her sister, Mrs. Bingley, proposes hosting a celebration. She has invited us here today in the hopes that we would not only be among the guests but could assist her in planning the event.”

From where she sat next to the speaker Mrs. Jane Bingley spoke up in an earnest tone. “My hope is to surprise my sister with a large party of friends and family, but it is difficult for me to plan such an event on my own. Dearest Lizzy is so very astute, especially when it comes to reading my mind.”
“Sisters are very difficult things to completely surprise,” spoke up Mrs. Marianne Brandon with a pointed smile at her own dear sister Elinor.
“What type of gathering were you considering Mrs. Bingley?” inquired elegant Mrs. Anne Wentworth.
“I have considered all types of gatherings but have struggled to even pick the time of day to hold the party.” Jane Bingley sighed slightly.
Emma Knightley spoke up: “If you had an afternoon gathering in mind an excursion to Box Hill might be of interest.”
“Or a drive to Blaize Castle!” spoke up the chatty lover of books Mrs. Catherine Tilney with an eager tone.
“I fear,” said Anne Wentworth gently, “that Blaize castle will not serve our purpose. I have been there on a few occasions and found it to hold little interest.”
Catherine, who had always held high hopes of finding Blaize Castle to be a real old Gothic fortress could not hide her visible disappointment.
“A picnic, although pleasant, will I fear be quite a cumbersome undertaking.” spoke up the ever sensible Mrs. Elinor Ferrars.
“But Elinor, only think of how delightful an outdoor luncheon under shady trees in a picturesque setting would be!” Marianne interposed.
“I do think how delightful it would be,” returned Elinor, “but I also think of the amounts of servants to serve, picnic baskets to pack, china to protect from breakage and hours in a carriage to convey such a number of people there and back again.”
“What you say is very true Mrs. Ferrars.” Emma reluctantly agreed. “And my last excursion to Box Hill, though carried off well produced little enjoyment due to the heat and only resulted in heartache and great quantities of left over picnic fare. No, we had better think of something else. And perhaps an evening gathering would be best.”
“A card party perhaps?” the hitherto silent Mrs. Fanny Bertram suggested in a meek tone.
“Card parties can be very pleasant,” Jane Bingley answered sweetly. “But I am afraid my sister has little taste for cards.”
“Truthfully nor have I.” said Anne Wentworth. “I am no card player.”

“What about a musical soiree?” Marianne Brandon’s face light up with excitement as she spoke. “Do any of you play?”
“I fear not.” sighed Catherine Tilney. “I had no patience to learn.”
Fanny echoed a soft “Nor I.”
“I am afraid neither Lizzy nor I were gifted musically.” Jane returned with a smile.
“I would play and sing better if only I took more time to practice, as my Mr. Knightley is often reminding me.” Emma chuckled at her own faults.
“I play a little and am very fond of Italian arias, but I would tremble to be examined by a master.” Anne admitted.
“I fear that idea must be let go Marianne,” said her sister, “for we are none of us as talented as you and I am sure you would not wish to entertain so many guests for an entire evening.”
“Dear me no! Yes, I suppose the musical soiree must be given up! Poor lovely music, adieu!” Marianne sighed with regret as she spoke the last few words. Sitting next to her Elinor only shook her head.


“Might we have a ball then?” inquired Catherine Tilney with more than a hint of excitement in her voice.
The thought of a ball, even one so pleasant as this caused Fanny Bertram to grow a bit pale. From across the room Anne Wentworth had quietly observed Fanny’s eyes open a bit wider at the suggestion of a ball and her own heart filling with sympathy for the younger woman’s momentary discomfort caused her to speak up.

“A ball could be very pleasant especially a ball with so many friends gathered together. I am for a ball!”
“An excellent idea Catherine!” said the other chatty book lover Marianne excitedly. “I am prodigiously fond of dancing! What say you all to a ball?”
“I say yes!” Emma fairly grinned. “I have so few opportunities to dance in Highbury and Mr. Knightley rarely dances though he is an excellent partner.”
“My dear Henry – err Mr. Tilney – is a most lively dancer and a most agreeable dancing partner!” enthused Catherine with a wide smile as she thought fondly of her first meeting in the Lower Rooms with her dear husband.
“Mr. Bingley is just such another dancer.” Jane said with a soft smile that brightened her naturally pretty face. “Lizzy is quite fond of dancing, as am I. A ball would be just the thing if it was agreeable to everyone else. Mrs. Ferrars?” she sent an inquiring look to that lady.
“Mr. Ferrars and I both enjoy a few turns about the room. But I must be excused dancing until three in the morning.” Elinor said good-naturedly.
“Oh Elinor, you would say that!” Marianne’s tone held a bit of impatience. “I will speak for Colonel Brandon and myself and say we would both like a ball best of all.”
“Captain Wentworth is also fond of dancing. And though it was once said that I rarely dance I must admit that I enjoy dancing as well.” a slight smile played on Anne’s lips. With a kind look at Fanny who had been thoughtfully engrossed in watching the proceedings Anne inquired “And is Mr. Bertram fond of dancing?”
Fanny flushed slightly when she found all eyes turned towards her. “Yes, he enjoys dancing from time to time.”
Her reply was short but Anne persisted. “And you Mrs. Bertram, are you fond of dancing?”
“I do, but…” there was a slight hesitation in Fanny’s reply. “But I cannot dance in my – condition.” she blushed deeper and averted her eyes slightly.
“Oh my dear Fanny!” Marianne burst forth. “Why didn’t you say? How wonderful!” The smiles on the other ladies’ faces showed that they were equally delighted.
Jane Bingley was out of her seat in a moment and hovering around Fanny with concern started with “Oh you dear thing! Are you comfortable? Is there anything I can get you? Some warm milk perhaps?”
“Thank you. You are most kind. I am quite comfortable. No, thank you, I am in need of nothing.” Fanny answered with a thankful heart.
“Congratulations are most certainly in order!” Emma beamed.
“Might we inquire when the little one is expected to arrive?” Anne smiled encouragingly at the expectant mother.

Fanny’s natural modesty caused her to blush again but she fairly glowed as she said “At Christmas” with a gentle sigh of contentment.
“A baby is such a blessing!” Catherine nodded emphatically. “At least that is what Mr. Tilney tells me each time a new baby is added to our batch.” Soft chuckles filled the room and a slight giggle from Elinor Ferrars to whom the impression of a Parsonage full of boisterous Tilneys was still fresh on her memory.
“We are all very delighted by your news Mrs. Bertram!” said Emma.
“Thank you all.” Fanny smiled. Turning the conversation quickly from herself she voiced a question on her mind. “And what of Mr. Darcy? Does he know your plans Mrs. Bingley?”
“Oh yes. I have briefly made him aware of my intentions and he has promised his support in conveying Lizzy to the event and concealing the surprise from her as much as possible. A ball, I believe would be agreeable to him. He cuts a fine figure and is not as averse to dancing as my family had previously thought him.” Jane explained.
“Where shall we host this birthday ball?” Emma giggled.
“Mr. Bingley will insist upon having the ball here in town and it should be quite convenient for surprising Lizzy.” Jane explained.
“How exciting!” Emma enthused and her hazel eyes sparkled with anticipation as she thought aloud. “There will be a great number of things to do! There are invitations to send, food to arrange and musicians to higher. I will assist anywhere I am needed.”
“We will all be at your disposal Mrs. Bingley.” Anne spoke sincerely. “You may employ us on any errand.” Six graceful heads nodded and smiled in agreement.
Jane smiled widely, “Thank you my friends, you are all too good!”

*******

On the evening of her birthday Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy was escorted into the dining room by her husband followed by her sister and brother-in-law. Elizabeth could not contain a rather unladylike squeal of surprised delight on finding six of her dearest friends and their spouses concealed there.
“Oh my goodness!” she gasped, placing both gloved hands over her pretty smile. “What is this?”
“This is a surprise party!” Emma Knightley clapped her hands in excitement. Behind her Mr. Knightley smiled kindly.
“Happy Birthday!” Marianne and Catherine chimed and giggled at the unexpected unison of their wishes.
Turning to her sister Elizabeth inquired with a sparkle in her fine eyes: “Dear Jane, is this your doing?”
“I fear it is.”
“Jane you sly thing! You are the best sister!” Elizabeth embraced Jane warmly. “I understand now why you had so little time for me this week.” she smiled widely and her remark inspired a general chuckle from the gathered friends.
“I felt quite sorry about putting you off but had you entered the house you might have guessed in a moment that preparations for a party were underway.” Jane explained.
“And Mr. Darcy,” suddenly turning to her husband, “were you privy to these plans?”
“Your sister had made me aware of them and it was all I could do to keep you occupied this past week. You can be a terribly inquisitive woman my dear.” Mr. Darcy teased his wife.
“Oh my dear friends thank you so very much for coming. Thank you Jane, Mr. Bingley. Thank you all!”

*******

The first floor rooms of Mr. Bingley’s London townhouse were ablaze with light and brimming with laughter and happy voices. In the ballroom the guests were assembled and the musicians were tuning their instruments in preparation for the dancing. From among the throng of family and friends who had joined the party for the dancing part of the evening, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy led his wife to the dance floor for they were to lead the way. They were soon joined in the set by the Bingleys, the Knightleys, the Brandons, the Ferrarses and the Tilneys for the first dance of the evening. Later Captain and Mrs. Wentworth would take the floor and Mr. Edmund Bertram would kindly partner a few young ladies while his precious wife stayed comfortably near the fire and what with one friend or another never lacked for a companion. As the evening wore on seven ladies could be seen at the top of the room chatting away while their spouses nearby were engrossed in a tale of the high seas as told by the gallant Captain Frederick Wentworth. The dancers in the center of the room finished a lively jig and the ladies were suddenly joined by a smiling but breathless couple – Mr. And Mrs. Henry Tilney. After a few witty remarks Mr. Tilney joined the gentlemen while his wife plopped into a chair and waved her fan vigorously to cool her flushed face. Though they had left the dance floor there were still many couples keeping up the revels.
“Well my dear friends.” Elizabeth began. “I have it on very good authority that each of you had a prominent hand in planning this delightful event. Thank you for your kindness. I should have a birthday every month if this is to be the effect it produces!” Elizabeth sparkled. “I am truly a blessed creature to have so many excellent friends!”
“God has blessed us all.” Fanny mused gently.
“Very true,” Anne agreed.
Many of the friends stayed until very late enjoying each other’s company. As each of the eight elegant ladies retired for the evening their thoughts were filled with the many blessings bestowed upon them by the Author of their life’s story.

*******


Thanks Eva-Joy for hosting the lovely Jane Austen Heroine Week! It was so much fun participating and talking about the wonderful ladies that are Jane Austen's heroines! 


Which Jane Austen heroines do you think would be best friends?


Saturday, March 24, 2012

Jane Austen Quotes Quiz


There are many recognizable quotes from Jane Austen's novels. Below are 20 of her quotes for you to guess which novel they came from. This game is for my fellow Austenites - let's see how well you know The Authoress and her works!


To Play: Guess which Jane Austen novel each of the quotes below come from, without looking up the answers, and leave your guesses in a comment below. One point will be awarded for each correctly guessed quote, a maximum total of 20 points can be earned. Guess as many times as you wish.  


Quote #1 - "Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love."

Quote #2 - "Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken..."

Quote #3 - “There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved. Now they were as strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement.”

Quote #4 - "To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love..."

Quote #5 - "A woman, especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can."

Quote #6 - "But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them."

Quote #7 - “It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she was ten years before”

Quote #8 - "She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world."

Quote #9 - "To begin perfect happiness and the respective ages of twenty-six and eighteen is to do pretty well."

Quote #10 - "It is such a happiness when good people get together—and they always do."

Quote #11 - “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest.”

Quote #12 - “She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.”

Quote #13 - "To look almost pretty is an acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain for the first fifteen years of her life than a beauty from her cradle can ever receive."

Quote #14 - "He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing. He was too diffident to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart."

Quote #15 - "But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way."

Quote #16 - “They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects.”

Quote #17 - "...from politics, it was an easy step to silence."

Quote #18 - "The enthusiasm of a woman's love is even beyond the biographer's."

Quote #19 - “No young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared, it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her.”

Quote #20 - "Who can be in doubt of what followed? When any two young people take it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever so little likely to be necessary to each other's ultimate comfort."


Answers will be posted next week.

Enjoy!

Irish Period Drama Quiz - Answers!


These are the answers to the Irish Period Drama Quiz which I posted last week in honor of St. Patrick's Day.


1. Which character from Jane Austen's Persuasion thinks Captain Wentworth looks Irish?
a. Mr. Musgrove
b. Charles Hayter
c. Lady Dalrymple - at the concert she commented Sir Walter that Captain Wentworth had "More air than one often sees in Bath. Irish, I dare say."
d. Nurse Rook

2. What was the full name of Jane Austen's Irish suitor?
a. Tom William Lafroy
b. Harris Bigg Withers
c. Robert Lewis Fowle
d. Thomas Langlois Lefroy 

3. Which older Disney film features a singing Irish butler?
a. Summer Magic
b. The Happiest Millionaire - Delightful actor Tommy Steele played Irish butler John Lawless who narrates the story and sings songs like 'I'll Always Be Irish' and 'Fortuasity'. Read my review of this fun family musical from last St. Paddy's Day.
c.  Pollyanna
d. The Shaggy Dog

4. Which classic author's father was Irish?
a. Elizabeth Gaskell
b. Charles Dickens
c. Thomas Hardy
d. Charlotte Bronte - Her father Rev. Patrick Bronte was born in Drumballyroney (near Rathfriland), County Down, Ireland.

5. Which period drama talks about Irish immigrant workers?
a. Cranford
b. Oliver Twist
c. North & South - Mr. Thornton hires Irish workers when his Milton employees go on strike.
d. Miss Potter

6. In which Jane Austen novel does a young lady reject her friend's invitations to visit them in Ireland?
a. Pride and Prejudice
b. Mansfield Park
c. Northanger Abbey
d. Emma - Jane Fairfax is invited to visit Mr. & Mrs. Dixon at their home in Ireland but she refuses because she has

7. Which character in The Young Victoria (and Victoria & Albert) is an Irishman?
a. Lord Melbourne
b. Sir Robert Peel
c. Sir John Conroy - He was actually born in Wales to Irish parents. As confidant to Victoria's mother he used his position for self aggrandizement.
d. Baron Stockmar

8. Which of these period drama stars were born in Ireland?
a. Richard Armitage
b. Michael Gambon - He was born in Dublin, Ireland but his family moved to England when he was five years old.
c. Colin Firth
d. Matthew Macfadyen

9. Which of these playwrights was born in Ireland?
a. Oscar Wilde - Born in Dublin Ireland he was the author of comedic plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband.
b. J.M. Barrie
c. William Shakespeare
d. W.H. Auden

10. Which of these classic musicals features main characters from Ireland?
a. Brigadoon
b. My Fair Lady
c. Fiddler On The Roof
d. Finian's Rainbow - Read my review from last St. Paddy's Day.

11. Which of these black & white films features the song 'An Irish Lullaby' (aka 'Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra')?
a. Miracle on 34th Street
b. The Bells of St. Mary's
c. Going My Way - Legendary Bing Crosby plays Father O'Malley and sings the famous 'An Irish Lullaby' during the course of the movie.
d. My Man Godfrey

12. Which of these Jane Austen adaptations was filmed entirely in Ireland?
a. Pride & Prejudice (2005)
b. Northanger Abbey (2007) - The scenes where Catherine Morland visits Bath were filmed in Dublin and the scenes at Northanger Abbey were filmed at Lismore Castle in County Waterford, Ireland.
c. Emma (2009)
d. Persuasion (2007)

And here's my answers to the last few questions:


13. Do you have any Irish in your family tree? - No, unfortunately not. I love Irish things so I'd love to marry someone with an Irish surname one day!

14. Have you ever visited Ireland? - No, but I hope to one day because there's so many things I'd love to see!

15. Do you have any favorite Irish songs or singers? - Oh yes! I adore Irish music and have so many favorite singers and songs! Among my favorite singers are the High Kings, Celtic Thunder, Celtic Woman, Anuna, Deanta, Cara Dillon and The Corrs.
Among my favorite Irish songs are Maid of Culmore, Mairi's Wedding, Rocky Road to Dublin, Dulaman, Suil a Ruin,  Red is the Rose, Spanish Lady, Raggle Taggle Gypsy, Caledonia, Black is the Colour, Lagan Love, The Fields of Athenry, Carolina Rua, The Water is Wide, Willie and Mary, I Know My Love, Carrickfergus, I'll Tell Me Ma and The Star of the County Down.

16. Do you do anything special to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? - I usually wear green, eat special food and listen to my favorite Irish music. The last couple of years I've also been posting about Irish things on my blog. :)


Thanks so much to all of you who took the quiz and shared about your interest in Irish things!


Friday, March 23, 2012

My Very Dear Miss Dorrit


Time is almost up for reply entries for the third letter in Miss Elizabeth Bennet's Period Drama Advice Event and I am just slipping in an entry on time. This week has been so busy but inspiration for a reply struck me today so I  scribbled something which I hope will be enjoyable. 

This time Miss Amy Dorrit of Charles Dickens' Little Dorrit has asked advice:

Dear Period Drama Advice Column,
I received a proposal from a dear friend of mine, John Chivery. I refused him because I do not love him. I am very fond of John, but I could never feel that way about him. I wish I could; it distresses me to see him unhappy, but I can't love him -- not in that way, not to be his wife. I would rather stay and look after my father than marry someone I do not love. I hope he will find a good wife one day because he deserves one. I am in love with another man, Arthur Clennam, but he is in love with someone else who I don't know. And now because I refused John, everybody is unhappy or angry with me. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Amy Dorrit


Having often been stuck by the similarities between Amy's story and that of Fanny Price from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park I couldn't resist writing a reply from that sweet young lady:

Dear Miss Dorrit,
Please excuse me taking the liberty of writing you but your predicament touched my heart for in many respects it seems similar to what my own situation was a few years ago.
Like you I received a proposal of marriage from a gentleman who I could not love. But unlike Mr. Chivery the gentleman who proposed to me, Mr. Crawford by name, was someone I could not think well of and I knew his attentions were all nonsense. My family was also unhappy and angry with me for refusing an offer which to them seemed so agreeable. But they were not in possession of all the facts, they did not consider that even though a gentleman may have all the perfections in the world, it should not to be set down as certain that he must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself. I tried to explain my convictions that were we to marry I could never make him happy and would be miserable myself, but they did not understand and instead encourage his attentions. My uncle even enlisted my dear cousin Edmund to speak to me about accepting Mr. Crawford. I would usually be pleased to do anything Edmund asked, for I love him better than anyone in the world except my brother William, but I could never do that.
Like you I was in love with another man, dearest Edmund, but he was beginning to fall in love with Mr. Crawford’s sister and was deceived in her - he gave her merits which she had not. My heart was breaking and everyone seemed so displeased with me but I had to stick to what I knew was right. Later my family learned Mr. Crawford’s true nature and I was able to help them in their time of need. My very dear Edmund also learned of Miss Crawford’s duplicitous nature and I am now his wife, blessed to serve alongside him as he ministers to the Parish here.

I encourage you Miss Dorrit to stay true to your own conscience and do what is right even though your family are unhappy with you now. You have a better guide in yourself, if you keep attending to it, than any other person could be to you. Your attentiveness to your father does you a credit - nothing can equal a daughter’s care. You should not marry a man you do not love, and if the man you do love does not love you the best thing you can do is to fervently pray for his happiness. Entrust Mr. Clennam and your affection for him to the good Lord who sees the hearts of all people and orders things to the good of those who trust him.
I earnestly hope that these few words will be an encouragement to you to not lose heart.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Fanny Bertram (nee Price)
Mansfield Parsonage, Northampton





Have you ever noticed the similarities in Amy Dorrit and Fanny Price?
Are there any other similarities you can think of?


Very Truly Your's,

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Spring Is In The Air!

The last few days where I live have been surprisingly and unseasonably warm! Spring is officially here and I think it's here to stay!

In honor of this delightful season Old-Fashioned Charm has been redecorated in purples, greens and flowers! In my header, left sidebar and new blog button Amy Dorrit and other Little Dorrit characters are lending their smiling faces to brighten up the place! :)

This was my lovely St. Patrick's Day header:


Also for anyone interested my background was this lovely shamrock swatch tiled:


I'm quite pleased with the way the St. Paddy's Day theme looked so I might reuse it next year. :)


For anyone interested in a change here is a new blog button with a coordinating Amy Dorrit theme:

Old-Fashioned Charm


I'm also testing out a couple new Amy Dorrit signatures.


What do you think of the new Little Dorrit theme?
Has the weather been warm where you live?


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Happy Birthday Dearest Bea!


My dearest sister Bea is celebrating her Sweet 16 Birthday today!

*cue music!*




Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen - sung by Damian McGinty (of Celtic Thunder)

"You've grown up before my very eyes..."


Some days I can't believe what a pretty and sweet young lady you've grown up to be! 


I still remember the day you were born and how excited I was to have a little sister. We've always had fun together but over the years you've become my best friend and partner in crime! :)

\

You've been the passionate Marianne to my too sensible Elinor Dashwood.


The sweet Harriet Smith to my bossy Emma Woodhouse.

The Lydia to my Kitty Bennet (we've had lots of giggles and high spirits).


But ever and always you're the sweet and devoted Cassandra to my scribbling Jane.



Thank you for sharing my silly fandoms and for laughing at me when I get over sentimental during movies. :)


Thank you for reading my books and for putting up with my length discussions on why Henry Tilney and Jane Austen are the best in the world! 


Most especially thank you for always being there. I'm am so glad you are my sister and it's been so much fun seeing you grow up into the amazing bighearted young lady you are today! 


Happy Birthday Dearest Bea! 
I love you so much and look forward to many more years of laughs and friendship! 



Dear Readers, 
Thank you for putting up with this post of sisterly affection. I'm sorry I've been so busy lately and not able to post like I've wanted. Please bear with me and my St. Paddy's Day decorations another day or so. 
Meanwhile check out the third letter in Miss Elizabeth Bennet's Period Drama Advice Event
Also please vote for my Jane Austen Heroine Week fan fiction piece 'An Elegant Event' over at Emma and ElinorAlso if you don't already follow please check out Bea's newly redesigned blog Captured ThoughsThanks! :)

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