#Other than Dr Redgill the men mostly seem to read newspapers or propose marriage in manly emotional fashion off-screen

[the-busy-ghost]

"You have much too nice a conscience," said Lady Emily (...) "What a pity it is you and I cannot change places. Here am I languishing for a little opposition to my love. My marriage will be quite an insipid, every-day affair: I yawn already to think of it. Can any thing be more disheartening to a young couple, anxious to signalize their attachment in the face of the whole world, than to be allowed to take their own way? Conceive my vexation at being told by papa this morning, that he had not the least objection to Edward and me marrying whenever we pleased, although he thought we might both have done better; but that was our own affair, not his. That he thought Edward a fine, good humoured fellow- excessively amusing- hoped he would get a ship some day, although he had no interest whatever in the admiralty- was sorry he could not give us any money, but hoped we should remain at Beech Park as long as we liked. I really feel quite flat with all these dull affirmations." "What! you had rather been locked up in a tower- wringing your hands at the height of the windows, the thickness of the walls, and so forth," said Mary. "No: I should never have done any thing so like a washerwoman, as to wring my hands; though I might, like some heroines, have fallen to work in a regular blacksmith-way, by examining the lock of the door, and, perhaps, have succeeded in picking it; but, alas! I live in degenerate days. Oh! that I had been born the persecuted daughter of some ancient Baron bold, instead of the spoiled child of a good natured modern Earl! Heavens! to think that I must tamely, abjectly submit to be married in the presence of all my family, even in the very parish church! Oh, what detractions from the brilliancy of my star!"

Lady Emily, being 100% herself as usual, in “Marriage”, by Susan Ferrier (1819 edition as edited by Dorothy McMillan)

#Honestly if it weren't for one instance of casual antisemitism in her speech and the fact that she wants to marry her first cousin #I would find it hard to believe that she was written in 1818/19 #And yet at the same time she is such a thoroughly Regency character #It's just a pity that so far we haven't seen her go head to head with Lady MacLaughlin #I do get the impression that Ferrier (and Charlotte Clavering) had a lot more fun writing funny or downright strange women characters #than they did plotting the actual marriage/romance plots and to be honest I can totally sympathise with that #Other than Dr Redgill the men mostly seem to read newspapers or propose marriage in manly emotional fashion off-screen #Though they have their own foibles too- see Mr Douglas' umbrage at the aspersions cast upon his venison by Mrs Macshake #But it's the women who steal the show #And ok so far Aunts Grizzy Jacky and Nicky and many other female characters haven't actually played a huge role in the plot development #But damn me if they aren't hugely entertaining and interesting figures #So I'm willing to plod through hundreds of pages just for these- admittedly fictionalised- pictures of late 18th/early 19th century women #Scotland's Jane Austen? Eh maybe #But there's also a comparison to be made with Wodehouse I feel #A Regency-era female Wodehouse to be sure but nevertheless #A little bit racier than either Wodehouse or Austen tho #Well for the time period anyway #Ach what do I know I'm just here to enjoy myself #Quotes #Reading log #Books