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February 3, 2013

Elizabeth Blackwell 2.3.13 Thought of the Day

“If society will not admit of woman’s free development, then society must be remodeled.”
Elizabeth Blackwell

[Image courtesy History.com]

Elizabeth Blackwell was born on this day in Bristol, England in 1821. Today is the 192nd anniversary of her birth.

Elizabeth was the third of nine children born to Samuel and Hannah Blackwell. She had a happy childhood growing up with her large family (four aunts also lived with them.) Her father encouraged all his children in their education. Elizabeth had both a governess and private tutors.

In 1832, when Elizabeth was 11, the Blackwells moved to America. Her father wanted to get the family away from Bristol’s chaotic atmosphere. He also wanted to move to America to help the abolitionist movement. He started a new sugar refinery but this business in New York, but it did not do as well as his Bristol refinery. They moved to Ohio in 1838 to begin again. But soon after the move west Samuel Blackwell died. He left a large family and a good deal of debt.

[Image courtesy Biography.com]

Elizabeth and two of her sisters started a school, The Cincinnati English and French Academy for Young Ladies.

Blackwell later decided to pursue a career in medicine. But the road to becoming a doctor was not an easy one for her. She studied independently with a doctor before getting accepted to the Geneva Medical College in upstate New York in 1847. [Biography.com]

Notwithstanding the opposition of fellow students and the townspeople of Geneva, New York, and despite being keep from attending medical demonstrations that were considered inappropriate for women Elizabeth Blackwell graduated in 1849…

becoming thereby the first woman to graduate from medical school, the first woman doctor of medicine in the modern era. [about.com]

She went to Europe and trained in midwifery at La Maternite in Paris. In England she “worked at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital with Dr. James Paget…and became friends with Florence Nightingale.”[Ibid]

English: u.s. postage stamp of 1974, depicting Elizabeth Blackwell Français : Timbre des Etats-unis de 1974, portrait de Elizabeth Blackwell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But on returning to the States she was unable to find a hospital willing to allow her to practice under their roof. She couldn’t get office space, “and she had to purchase a house in which to begin her practice.” [Ibid]

Her sister, Dr. Emily Blackwell, joined her in 1856 and, together with Dr. Marie Zakrzewska, they opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children at 64 Bleecker Street in 1857. This institution and its medical college for women (opened 1867) provided training and experience for women doctors and medical care for the poor. [NIH.gov]

Health Education and maintaining Sanitary Conditions were core to the school. She helped establish the U.S. Sanitary Commission.

Blackwell returned to England “and served as a lecturer at the London School of Medicine for Women.” [Biography.com]

Cover of "Pioneer Work In Opening The Med...

Cover via Amazon

In 1877 she retired to Hastings, England. She published her biography, Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women in 1895. On May 31, 1910 she died from complications of a stroke.

Portrait of Elizabeth Blackwell by Joseph Stanley Kozlowski, 1905. Syracuse University Medical School collection. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Leave a comment | posted in American History, Elizabeth Blackwell, England, Medicine, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday

February 2, 2013

Second Character Saturday: Jim Halpert 2.2.13

By ritalovestowrite

Who: Jim Halpert/ Tim Canterbury

From: The OFFICE (US/UK)

Played by: John Krasinski / Martin Freeman

Created by: The US version of the Office was adapted from the UK series for an American audience by Greg Daniels / The British version of the Office was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

Date first appeared: 2005 / 2001

Jim attends an office Halloween party as s"Three whole Jim"

Jim attends an office Halloween party as “Three Whole Punch Jim” [Image courtesy: NBC]

Why: Is there a more “everyman” currently on television than Jim Halpert? His dogged humility, humor, kindness, and all around good guy-ness has appealed to audiences since the Office appeared on NBC’s schedule in 2005. Actually the character originated on the BBC as part of the Gervais/Merchant original Office in 2001.

Martin Freeman in the BBC’s The Office (Image courtesy the BBC)

Martin Freeman (yes, today’s Bilbo and Dr. Watson) played put upon Tim Canterbury to Gervais’ David Brent. Jim/Tim play the straight man to Michael/David and annoying co-worker Dwight / Gareth. There is also a certain Cinderella thread running in Jim/Tim’s story with Pam/Dawn the receptionist.

Pros: Friendly, creative, funny, inclusive.

Cons: Unmotivated, somewhat insecure, indecisive, competitive with Dwight/Gareth

Shining moment: My favorite Jim moment is when Michael and Dwight are away and he and Pam cook up the Office Olympics.

It helps that both John Krasinski and Martin Freeman are such good comic actors. Both men can evoke a lot of emotions without saying a word (something Krasinki had to do when he lost a jinx to Pam and couldn’t talk for most of an episode.)

Here’s a sampling of Freeman’s emotional facial expressions:

In general the BBC version of the show runs a little more on the blue than it’s American off shoot. Garreth is more insufferable, the boss, David, is more slimy. That makes Tim’s road even more pathetic than Jim’s.

But Jim Halpert has had several more seasons to develop. The American version of the Office is still on the air and Jim is continuing to grow as a character. Here’s a youtube video featuring Krasinski’s Jim faces:

I think Jim or Tim would be an asset to any office.

So have you seen the BBC version? Who is your favorite? AND do you think Jim Harper (from HBO’s Newsroom) is the next generation Jim Halpert? Discuss.

John Gallagher Jr. plays good guy Jim Harper on HBO’s Newsroom. [Image courtesy HBO]

Leave a comment | tags: Jim Halpert, John Krasinski, Martin Freeman, Office, Ricky Gervais, Tim Canterbury | posted in Comedy, Jim Halpert / Tim Cantebury, Secondary Character, television, Thought of the Day

February 1, 2013

Franz Schubert 1.31.13 Thought of the Day

By ritalovestowrite

“When I wished to sing of love, it turned to sorrow. And when I wished to sing of sorrow, it was transformed for me into love.”–Franz Schubert

English: Oil painting of Franz Schubert Deutsch: Gemälde von Franz Schubert (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Franz Peter Schubert was born on this day in Himmelpfortgrund, Austria in 1797. It is the 216th anniversary of his birth.

Schubert demonstrated his love of music early. He could sing, play piano, violin and organ at a young age. His father and older brother were his first musical instructors. “Eventually, Schubert enrolled at the Stadtkonvikt” [Biography.com] The school was a training ground for young singers who aspired to the chapel choir of the Imperial Court. In…

1808 he earned a scholarship that awarded him a spot in the court’s chapel choir. His educators at the Stadtkonvikt included Wenzel Ruzicka, the imperial court organist, and, later, the esteemed composer Antonio Salieri, who lauded Schubert as a musical genius.[Ibid]

He was the leader of the violin section of the student’s orchestra. He also conducted.

English: Oil painting of Franz Schubert, after an 1825 watercolor (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When his voice broke in 1812 he left the college, though he still took lessons from Salieri. In 1814 he enrolled at a teacher’s college and began composing.

By 1814, the young composer had written a number of piano pieces, and had produced string quartets, a symphony, and a three-act opera. Over the next year, his output included two additional symphonies and two of his first Lieds, “Gretchen am Spinnrade” and “Erlkönig.” Schubert is, in fact, largely credited with creating the German Lied.

He left the teaching college to pursue a music career full-time in 1818.

That summer he completed a string of material, including piano duets “Variations on a French Song in E minor” and the “Sonata in B Flat Major,” as well as several dances and songs. [Ibid]

At about that time wrote his first operetta “Die Zwillingsbrüder” (The Twin Brothers) followed by the score for “Die Zauberharfe” (The Magic Harp).

His composition “Quartettsatz [Quartz-Movement] in C minor,” helped spark a wave of string quartets that would dominate the music scene later in the decade.[Ibid]

He continued to produce symphonies, string quartets, fantasies, piano sonatas and songs. He wrote over 500 songs, and is perhaps best known today for his setting of Ave Maria.

Schubert suffered from syphilis for years leading up to his death. The official diagnosis was typhoid fever, but it is likely that he also suffered from mercury poisoning as well. He died on November 19, 1828 at the age of 31.

Deutsch: Ehemaliges Grab von Franz Schubert (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Schubert Birthday Showdown (wqxr.org)
Relaxation Piano Music I – Chopin, Schubert, Handel, Brahms & Othersמוזיקה מרגיעה (yara1133.wordpress.com)

Leave a comment | tags: Antonio Salieri, Ave Maria, Franz Schubert | posted in Europe, Franz Schubert, Music, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday

January 30, 2013

Franklin D. Roosevelt 1.30.13 Thought of the Day

By ritalovestowrite

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.”

“The truth is found when men are free to pursue it.”

“Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth”

“Today is a day that will live in infamy.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on this day in Hyde Park, New York, USA in 1882. It is the 131st anniversary of his birth.

FDR was born into wealth and luxury. The only child of James Roosevelt and Sara Anne Delano Roosevelt, Franklin was fifth cousins with Teddy Roosevelt.

An athletic child, Franklin enjoyed horseback riding, shooting, rowing, tennis, polo, golf and sailing. He went to an Episcopal boarding school, the Groton School for boys with other privileged, connected students. At Groton, under the influence of headmaster Endicott Peabody, he learned the values of serving his fellow-man, of public service and helping the less fortunate. From Groton he went on to Harvard College where he served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Crimson.

He also began to date his fifth cousin Eleanor Roosevelt while he was at Harvard. They married “On St. Patrick’s Day, 1905” [whitehouse.gov] The couple had six children together, Anna Eleanore, James, Franklin Delano, Jr., (who died before he was a year old) Elliot, a second Franklin Delano, Jr. and John Aspinwall.

He attended Columbia Law School but dropped out when he passed the bar. He worked for the law firm Carter Ledyard & Milburn focusing in Corporate Law. In 1910 he ran for New York State Senate and won by a landslide. In 1913 he was appointed Assistant US Secretary of the Navy. And by 1920 had risen in the ranks of the Democratic party to such a degree that he was their nominee for Vice President.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing left as Asst. Sect. of the Navy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Roosevelt was struck by Polio in the summer of 1921.

At first, he refused to accept that he was permanently paralyzed. He tried numerous therapies and even bought the Warm Springs resort in Georgia seeking a cure. Despite his efforts, he never regained the use of his legs. He later established a foundation at Warm Springs to help others, and instituted the March of Dimes program that eventually funded an effective polio vaccine. [Biography]

It took almost a decade but determination and Eleanor’s support he managed to take the stage at the 1924 Democratic National Convention “on crutches to nominate Alfred E. Smith” [whitehouse.gov] Smith in turn convinced Roosevelt to run for NY Governor in 1928.

English: Color photo of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “Man of The Year” on the cover of TIME Magazine, January 2, 1933 edition: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/0,9263,7601330102,00.html The file is a cropped, digitally-retouched version of the original large-resolution file at the Google Images/LIFE Magazine archives (see “Original source” link). According to the information posted here, the cover of this edition of the magazine is of public domain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 1932, as the country struggled in the throes of the Great Depression, Roosevelt was elected to the first of his four terms as President of the United States.

In his first 100 days, President Franklin Roosevelt proposed sweeping economic reform, calling it the “New Deal.” He ordered the temporary closure on all banks to halt the run on deposits. He formed a “Brain Trust” of economic advisors who designed the alphabet agencies such as the AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration) to support farm prices, the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) to employ young men, and the NRA (National Recovery Administration), which regulated wages and prices. Other agencies insured bank deposits, regulated the stock market, subsidized mortgages, and provided relief to the unemployed. [Biography]

By mid-decade the country was turning the corner on the depression, Roosevelt’s bold policies had worked. But some wondered if he had gone too far, especially his decision to take the nation off the gold standard.

Roosevelt responded with a new program of reform: Social Security, heavier taxes on the wealthy, new controls over banks and public utilities, and an enormous work relief program for the unemployed. [whitehouse.gov]

As the winds of war blew through Europe and the Pacific he pledged a “good neighbor” policy of mutual action against aggressors. “He also sought through neutrality legislation to keep the United States out of the war in Europe, yet at the same time to strengthen nations threatened or attacked.” [Ibid] After the German’s invaded France and the threat to England became omnipresent Roosevelt “send Great Britain all possible aid short of actual military involvement.” [Ibid]

But after December 7, 1941 there was no hedging America’s involvement in the War.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Roosevelt directed organization of the Nation’s manpower and resources for global war. [Ibid]

By 1944 as World War II was beginning wind down, Roosevelt’s health was starting to deteriorate. “hospital tests indicated he had atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.” [Biography] Regardless of the test results Roosevelt ran for a fourth term. this time he choose Missouri Senator Harry S. Truman as his running mate.

He attended the Yalta Conference to discuss post-war Europe with Churchill and Joseph Stalin.

He then returned to the United States and the sanctuary of Warm Springs, Georgia. On the afternoon of April 12, 1945, Roosevelt suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage and died. [Ibid]

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s funeral procession with horse-drawn casket, Pennsylvania Ave. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 Comment | tags: 1924 Democratic National Convention, Carter Ledyard & Milburn, Franlin D. Roosevelt, Great Depression, Groton School, United States, Yalta Conference | posted in American History, Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, World War Two

January 30, 2013

Mark Antony 1.14.13 b Thought of the Day

By ritalovestowrite

Awwwww, poor Mark Antony got hacked. Well, his original Thought of the Day bioBLOG profile did. I kept getting very odd comments on the post involving casinos and listdecamps (sic) and naked women (which he probably would have enjoyed) and I know not what else. I trashed the first blog and am re posting here. Sorry for the inconvenience and the fact that he is now out-of-order. But what else can I do?

Don’t mess with me hackers, and don’t mess with Mark Antony!

———————————————————————————————————————————

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar.”
— Marcus Antonius
[From Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Act 3, scene 2, 74–77]

: Mark Antony. Bust. Badly damaged. 1st century BC. [www.laits.utexas.edu]

Marcus Antonius was born on this day in Rome, Roman Republic (now Italy) in 83 BC. Today is the 2097th anniversary of his birth.

He was born into a prominent Roman family. Both his grandfather and father were distinguished citizens. His mother was related to Julius Caesar. When Antony was still a young child his father, died on a military campaign against pirates in the east. His mother, Julia Caesaris, remarried Publius Cornelius Lentulus, who was later executed by Cicero. (Antony and Cicero were lifelong enemies from that point on.)

Antony was given a proper education for a Roman boy. It focused on public speaking and logic. He was a rambunctious youth. He kept company with mobsters, gamblers and prostitutes.

At an early age he became known for the personality traits he showed later as an adult: he was brave, loyal to friends, athletic, and attractive, but he was also reckless, occasionally lazy, fond of drinking and carousing, and involved in love affairs. [Encyclopedia of World Biography: Notable Biographies]

He left Rome and went to Greece to study rhetoric and sharpen his oratory skills. There he joined the cavalry. He served with the Roman governor of Syria and fought in the east.

…He showed a fine aptitude for command, distinguishing himself with both courage and leadership. He eventually ended his tour in Alexandria Egypt, where he helped re-install the exiled King Ptolemy Auletes. [UNRV History]

Julius Caesar was fighting in Gaul at the time and he called Antony to join him. Antony became one of Caesar’s most trusted subordinates.

Caesar conquered Gaul for Rome, and Antony assisted him in suppressing local rebellion against the Romans. In 50 B.C.E. , after returning to Rome, Antony was elected a tribune, an office that represented the people’s interests. [Encyclopedia of World Biography: Notable Biographies]

: Marlin Brando as Marc Antony in the 1953 version of Julius Caesar

With Caesar’s time in Gaul coming to an end the Senate in Rome was growing nervous. After such a victorious campaign the general should have been welcomed back with open arms, perhaps even given a tribute (parade) –however, the Senate worried that he would be unwilling to give up his power, and might even occupy the city. They called for him to lay down his arms — Antony vetoed the decree. Next the Senate…

gave its officers special powers to “preserve the state,” Antony felt that the measure would be used against him and he fled to Caesar. By doing so, he gave Caesar the opportunity to assert his power, because he could claim he was defending the people’s representatives—the tribunes—against the power of the Senate. [Ibid]

Basically the Senate forced Caesar’s hand. Civil war ensued. Anthony again proved a loyal ally to Caesar and an effective leader on the field. Caesar rewarded Antony with the position of Consul “a one-year position that was one of the most powerful in Roman government.” [Ibid]

On march 15, 44 BCE a group of Roman Senators assassinated Caesar… Antony used Caesar’s funeral oration as the catalyst that would once more plunge Rome into civil war. At this point, he used brute force and Caesar’s massive public popularity to position himself at the top of the Roman political ladder. …By late in 44 BC, Antony pushed through several laws, scattering the assassins throughout the provinces, and used his command of Caesar’s former legions to maintain control. Antony procured the Gallic provinces for himself… Before Antony could begin his quest for ultimate power, however, there was a new man on the seen. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, Caesar’s heir, had begun to challenge the authority of both Antony and the assassins. [UNRV History]

At first Antony ignored both Caesar’s will and his heir. But as Octavian’s power grew, he persuaded two of Antony’s five legions to join him and garnered a lot of “friends” in the Senate. The Second Triumvirate was formed when Antony and Octavian joined forces with a third powerful Roman, Lepidus, in response to a threat against the capital from the armies of Brutus and Cassius (Caesar’s assassins).

the Second Triumvirate became a constitutionally established body for ruling the state. Octavian assumed control in the west, Antony in the east, and Lepidus (for a time) in Africa. [Encyclopedia of World Biography: Notable Biographies]

To firm up control of the eastern provinces Antony arranged to go to war with Parthia. To provision his army he turned to Egypt for supplies.

…he met with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, in 41 B.C.E. An immediate romance followed. This was interrupted when the news arrived that Antony’s brother and wife were openly defying Octavian in Italy. Antony moved back west and peace was patched up in 40 B.C.E. with Antony’s wedding to Octavian’s sister, Octavia, after the death of Antony’s first wife…Antony soon went east again, beating back the Parthians. In 36 B.C.E. he again took up his affair with Cleopatra, becoming involved with her both romantically and politically. Cleopatra saw her alliance with Antony as a wonderful opportunity to revive the past glories of the Ptolemies, the royal family line from which she was descended. [Ibid]

Antony’s romance with a foreign queen — and abandonment of Roman lady Octavia did not sit well with Octavian or the Roman public.

Cleopatra was beginning to cast Antony as a sell-out against Roman culture, and Octavian would seize at the opportunity to publicly chastise him. While still married to Octavia, with whom Antony had 2 daughters; Cleopatra bore him another son in 36 BC. … the shaky peace was beginning to unravel. Antony had seemingly begun to take to eastern culture on a grand scale, adorning himself in Egyptian dress, practicing eastern customs while ignoring those of Rome, and doling out great gifts to Cleopatra. [UNRV History]

Cleopatra had one son by Caesar, Caesarion, as well as children by Antony. By recognizing Caesarion as Caesar’s legitimate son he was voiding Octavian’s claim as Caesar’s heir.

This was seemingly the final straw against Octavian, and the propaganda campaign in Rome against Antony’s outrages began in earnest. Antony was portrayed as a pawn of Cleopatra, the foreign Queen who, it was said, sought to become Queen of Rome. [Ibid]

The Second Triumvirate officially expired at the end of 33 BC. Rome was headed, once again to civil war. Octavian cracked down on the Senate and Antony friendly Senators, about 300 of them fled the city. Both sides built up massive armies. Antony moved his troops into Greece. A stalemate held fast over the summer with Octavian’s Marcus Agrippa disrupting Antony’s supply lines.

Octavian wisely refused to give battle with the army, and Antony did likewise at sea. As the summer waned, both armies seemed to settle in for a battle of attrition. [Ibid]

Stalemate did not favor Antony. Disease, and defections dwindled his numbers.

On September 2, 31 BC Antony desperately attempted a breakout with his fleet to escape the blockade and regroup in Egypt. With his large ships, he sailed out of the gulf of Actium and engaged Agrippa’s prepared navy. Though Antony’s under matched forces fought valiantly, they were simply unable to counter Agrippa’s vast superiority. Under the watchful eye of both armies on land, and as the tide turned against Antony, Cleopatra seized an opportunity to flee the battle with her own ships that were held in reserve. As a gap opened in Agrippa’s blockade, she funneled through, and was soon closely followed by Antony’s command ships. The commanders of Antony’s land forces, which were supposed to follow him to Asia, promptly surrendered without a fight. [Ibid]

Octavian was now the undisputed ruler of the Roman world. He took his time springing the final trap against Antony and Cleopatra. It was nearly a year before Octavian arrived in Alexandria.

Upon Octavian’s arrival in Egypt, Antony committed suicide. Octavian went on to become the first emperor of Rome, taking the name Augustus.[Encyclopedia of World Biography: Notable Biographies]

Leave a comment | posted in Thought of the Day

January 29, 2013

W.C. Fields 1.29.13 thought of the Day

By ritalovestowrite

“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it too the food.” — W.C. Fields

William Claude Dukenfield was born on this day in Darby, Pennsylvania, USA in 1880. Today is the 133rd anniversary of his birth.

His father, James, was an imigrant from Sheffield, England. He fought in the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry in the American Civil War and was wounded in the war. His mother, Kate, who was of German ancestry, was 15 years younger than James. James was a clerk after the war. He sold vegetables and was a part time hotel-keeper when W.C. came along.

It is hard to tell the myth from reality in W.C. Fields’ youth. It depends on where you look. But he seems to have gone to school for about four years before joining his father in selling vegetables on a horse drawn cart. W.C. also worked in a department store and and oyster house. His relationship with his father, who was an alcholic, was not good.

At eleven, after many fights with his alcoholic father (who hit him on the head with a shovel), he ran away from home. [IMDB]

Fields told tales of living on the street, sleeping in a whole in the ground and stealing food and clothing to stay alive. In reality, though he did run away it was usually to his grandmothers and return home the next day.

His first regular job was delivering ice. By age thirteen he was a skilled pool player and juggler. …In 1893 he was employed as a juggler at Fortescue’s Pier, Atlantic City. When business was slow he pretended to drown in the ocean (management thought his fake rescue would draw customers). By nineteen he was billed as “The Distinguished Comedian” and began opening bank accounts in every city he played. [Ibid]

Fields at 15 (Image courtesy wcfields.com]

By 23 he was opening at the Palace in London and performing with Sarah Bernhardt at Buckingham Palace. Starting in 1915 he was in the Ziegfeld Follies for six years. 1915 was also his first movie, Pool Sharks. In 1923 he was in the musical Poppy. The play was made into a movie, Sally of the Sawdust in 1925 by legendary D.W. Griffith.

Here he is in the Diner Sketch from Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

Other film highlights include David Copperfield (1935), You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man (1939) , My Little Chickadee (1940) and Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941).

He made over 37 moves for Paramount before switching to Universal

W.C. Fields was an actor whose flawless timing and humorous cantankerousness made him one of America’s greatest comedians. [Biography]

He died in 1946 on Christmas Day from an alcohol-related stomach hemorrhage. He was 66 years old.

Leave a comment | tags: W. C. Fields | posted in Film, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, United States, W. C. Fields

January 29, 2013

Its PRIDE and PREJUDICE DAY!!!

By ritalovestowrite

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a book by my favorite author, upon turning 200 years old, will be written about A LOT in this blog. Seriously I’m thinking about baking a birthday cake today. I’m just that excited. [YES, I get this excited about Jane Austen, I realize its not everyone’s cuppa, but bear with me. It will be over soon and tomorrow I’ll be back to proper Thought of the Day bioBLOGS. Promise.]

So, as you may have noticed, for the past week I’ve been giving you my take on the major players in Pride and Prejudice. Today I thought we’d take a look at the different adaptations over the years.

The Originals

First the source… the Austenian Holy Grail if you will, the first editions. I was lucky enough to attend a Jane Austen Society of North America meeting that started at the Goucher College Special Collection Library. Their Jane Austen collection is the largest in North America and it houses several first editions and first illustrated editions.

Opening page of a 200 year old first edition Pride and Prejudice.

These beautifully letter pressed editions came in three volumes and are handsomely bound and typeset. The type size, letter and line spacing, weight and size of the books were perfectly designed for long afternoons when reading was a prime source of entertainment. One look at these beauties and you will never want to read another trade paper back again.

Goucher also has first illustrated editions and the illustrated editions that followed. It is fascinating to see how the look of the characters changed through the times.

An early illustrated edition of Pride and Prejudice from the Goucher Library.

The Goucher Library is hosting a special 200th Anniversary exhibit from January 28, 2013 through July 26, 2013 Click Here for more information on Exhibit. For more information of the Jane Austen Collection at Goucher you can Click Here. And if you are patient you can read all about the Goucher Austen Collection in an article I’ve written for ARRIVE magazine in the March edition!

The Adaptions

Here’s my first Austen bookshelf.

From the original we move to adaptations. What happened BEFORE Mr. Bingley moved to Neitherfield? What happened AFTER Darcy and Lizzie got married? There are hundreds of these books out there and they vary in genre and quality. As an Austen fan I get one or two spin-off books every holiday and birthday. I recommend Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and Darcy & Elizabeth and the trio of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman books for those of you yearning to know what MIGHT happen next.

Here’s my second Austen bookshelf.

I’m all for anything that brings new reader to Austen. So I enjoyed the Marvel Comics version of Pride and Prejudice.

Cover of Pride and Prejudice (Graphic Novel)

I like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies too — I found myself reading along, enjoying the original Austen prose and then BAM Zombies. It was fun.

Oh, here are some more books that didn’t fit on those other shelves.

I liked Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and its companion Rude Awakenings for their Alice through the looking glass approach to P&P. And I’ll give a thumbs up the more romance-y Definitely Not Mr. Darcy too.

Others are either on the “To Read” pile or have been read so long ago that I don’t remember them well enough that I can’t give you n review. That’s the problem with a lot of these book adaptations… they don’t stick with you like the original.

The Multimedia

On to film. If you were to gather a table full of Jane Austen fans and ask them which is their favorite film version of Pride and Prejudice you’d probably get a half-dozen answers.

In 1940 Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier starred in a “Hollywoodized” version of the novel. I liked the lead’s chemistry and think they did a good job portraying Elizabeth and Darcy. But the movie takes huge liberties with the novel — from the hoop skirts, to cutting out characters and scenes, to adding new scene (archery any one?), to rewriting the reason Lady Catherine’s visit to Longbourn.

Elizabeth Garvey and David Rintoul took on the famous Lizzie and Darcy in the BBC 1980 series. It is my friend and fellow JASNA:MD member Joyce Loney’s favorite of the movies. She’s a big fan of Garvey’s Elizabeth. And, she writes:

David Rintoul’s Darcy is stiff (okay, some people have called him a stick), but he cracks during the Pemberley visit and he finally relaxes during the proposal scene. Amy Patterson has a great article (Choose Your Darcy) in the current issue of Jane Austen’s Regency World, and she says that David Rintoul “gets closer than any other to capturing the essence of this wonderful, complicated, shy, angry and passionate hero.”

But Loney’s favorite Darcy, and mine, is Colin Firth. Firth played opposite the beautiful Jennifer Ehle in the A&E mini series in 1995. Ehle is my favorite Lizzie and Alison Steadman and Benjamin Whitrow are far and away my favorite Mr. and Mrs. Bennets.

Pride and Prejudice (Photo credit: elycefeliz)

At six hours the A&E version fits in almost all the book. And I believe it is the truest film adaptation out there. I could (and do) watch it again and again. It is a delight (with or with out the wet shirt.)

Gurinda Chadha brought a distinctly Bollywood approach to her Bride & Prejudice version in 2004. The movie, complete with colorful blockbuster musical numbers, spans three continents and stars Aishwarya Rai as Lalita (Lizzie), Martin Henderson as Darcy, Namrata Shirodkar as Jaya (Jane) and Naveen Andrews as Balraj (Bingley). Obviously there are a lot of changes from the original novel, but it is fun and bright and they did a great job conveying the heart of the story.

2005 brought us Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen in Joe Wright’s take on the Novel. Like the Greer Garson version this one leaves out characters and compresses the novel — I guess it has to in order to fit into the 129 minute running time. Personally I had a lot of hope for this version because I love a lot of the actors in it, but, sorry it just falls flat. Tons of style but not so much substance… and when you start with Pride and Prejudice there’s just not excuse for that. There are moments in the movie that are terrific — I thought Macfayden and Knightly were wonderful in the “taciturn” dance and the proposal scene (though why it was in a down pour I don’t understand.) And I give this version the best sound track award. I loved the music. I also really liked Simon Woods as Bingley.

The last adaptation I’m going to cover is also the most current. In fact it is still going on, the brilliant Lizzie Bennet Diaries. The LBD have completely reimagined the story as a video blog circa 2013 LA. Click HERE to go to the home page. From there you can follow the story from the top, explore twitter and tumblr accounts for both the characters and the actors (as well as the producers and director.)

The Wrap Up

I hope you’ve enjoyed my take on Pride and Prejudice. I thank those of you who played along and commented here and on Google and Facebook. As always, please drop me a line an let me know what you are thinking.

Austen Fans to Celebrate 200 Years of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ (artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com)
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – 200 years old (thenashvillereader.wordpress.com)
‘Pride and Prejudice’ celebrates 200 years: Its influence on modern pop culture (popwatch.ew.com)
Happy Anniversary, Pride and Prejudice! (keciaadamsauthor.wordpress.com)
Pride & Prejudice Paperdolls (wired.com)
‘Pride and Prejudice’: 5 things you may not know about the classic novel (csmonitor.com)
Happy Birthday Mr. Darcy: “Pride and Prejudice” turns 200 (omnivoracious.com)
It’s been 200 years of Pride and Prejudice! (thepenguinblog.typepad.com)
Famous Actors Behind William Darcy of ‘Pride & Prejudice’ (abcnews.go.com)
Pride and Prejudice Characters: Lizzie and Darcy (ritalovestowrite.com)

6 Comments | posted in 1812, Caroline Bingley, Colin Firth, Film, Jane Austen, JASNA, Lady Catherine, Lizzie Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Naveen Andrews, postaday, Pride and Prejudice, Thought of the Day, Writing

January 28, 2013

Pride and Prejudice Characters: Lizzie and Darcy

By ritalovestowrite

Is there anything more delightful than a well written story of personal growth and discovery? Pride and Prejudice, Austen‘s “own darling child,” is a story of first mis-impressions that eventually resolve into true understanding, appreciation and love. The journey to that self discovery is the juiciest part of the novel. And that means that both Darcy and Lizzie must be willing to change the way they look at the world and at each other.

Jennifer Ehle is beautiful as Elizabeth in the 1995 series [Image courtesy BBC Home.]

Elizabeth Bennet is a pretty, charming, intelligent, self-assured 20-year-old. She is the second eldest daughter of the Bennet family. She takes second place to sister Jane in beauty as well, but she bares it well. She has a lively, playful disposition and a good-natured impertinence that is the delight of her father and the bane of her mother.

Cropped screenshot of Greer Garson from the trailer for the film Pride and Prejudice (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lizzie prides herself on being a good judge of character. But when it comes to Darcy and Wickham that is hardly the case.

Keira Knightly as Lizzie in the 2005 Movie

Lizzie’s first road block of prejudice is the snub she receives from Darcy at the Assembly Room Ball. At first everyone thinks Darcy is a major catch because he’s tall, handsome and rich. But then

… his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

It was decided that he was “He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world.” The icing on the cake is when he refuses to dance Lizzie, saying“She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”

Matthew MacFadyen in the 2005 movie.

Although outwardly she takes the comment in stride, and even jokes about it with her friends, from that moment on she is prejudiced against him.

Darcy was …haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting…Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.

(It is a prejudice that Wickham easily manipulates.)

Had Darcy’s opinion of Lizzie not changed it would have been a very different book indeed. But shortly after the snub he begins to appreciate her “fine eyes,” “light and pleasing figure,” and “easy playfulness.” He tries to shake it, but he falls completely in love with her.

Daniel Vincent Gordh and Ashley Clements tackle the proposal scene in the Lizzie Bennet Diaries

He swallows his pride and familial duty and offers Lizzie the second of her two horrible proposals. Basically he tells her that he likes her against his will, against his reason, and even against his character.

She refuses him, of course — He’s separated Jane and Bingley and ruined Wickham — how could he think for a moment that she’d accept him.. She calls him on his un-gentleman-like manner then tears into him…

“You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it…From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, … and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.”

It is a life changing moment for Darcy. He writes her a letter explaining his position on the Jane / Bingley situation and on his dealings in the Wickham narrative and then he leaves Kent. But he’s also forced to face the fact that he is a snob.

Upon reading the letter Lizzie recognizes that prejudice has colored her emotions to Mr. Darcy. She begins to question her assumption of Wickham’s innocence and his guilt.

Colin Firth, the ultimate Darcy, starred in the 1995 series [Image courtesy BBC Home.]

At Pemberly she’s presented by a completely different Darcy. Not only does the housekeeper, Reynolds, praise her master, but Darcy actually seems to have transformed. He is kind and welcoming even to her relatives the Gardiners, who he previously thought himself above.

He completely saves the day with the Lydia / Wickham elopement, and he does it all for Lizzie.

By the time Bingley and Jane reunite both Lizzie and Darcy have come 360 in their feelings toward one another. What was once intolerable is now precious. And all was happily ended.

Elizabeth Garvey and David Rintoulin in the 1980 BBC series [This one’s for Joyce]

Pride and Prejudice at 200: looking afresh at Austen’s classic (guardian.co.uk)
Pride and Prejudice Characters Lady Catherine and Caroline part 2 (ritalovestowrite.com)
Catching up on P&P Characters (ritalovestowrite.com)
http://www.janeausten.co.uk/readathon/

2 Comments | tags: Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Austen, Lizzie, Pride & Prejudice | posted in 1812, England, Jane Austen, JASNA, Literature, Lizzie Bennet, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Darcy, postaday, Pride and Prejudice, Thought of the Day, Writing

January 26, 2013

Pride and Prejudice characters: Jane and Mr. Bingley

By ritalovestowrite

Ahhh. Jane and Bingley. Of all the characters in Pride and Prejudice these two deserve to be together — and deserve a happy ending — the most. If Austen had been a lesser writer I think Jane and Bingley would have been the main characters in the novel. Pride and Prejudice would have been a more straightforward romance of two beautiful nice people meeting, falling in love, being separated by circumstance and malevolent people, but coming together at the end and, against all odds, getting that happy ending. Not a bad story. A charming story, no doubt, but not one, perhaps, that we’d still be re-reading 200 years later. (And one, no doubt, that would have had a different title.)

Suzannah Harker in the 1995 series.

I have absolutely nothing critical to say about Jane. And I am sure she would have absolutely nothing bad to say about me. She is beautiful, shy, kind, reserved, humble and believes the very best in everybody. She is a most loving sister and devoted daughter. We all deserve at least one Jane Bennet in our lives. (And maybe we should all strive to be a little more Jane like — how’s that for a New Year’s resolution?)

Rosamund Pike in the 2005 movie

Bingley is a pretty wonderful guy too. Charming, handsome, rich — everything a gentleman ought to be. He shoots, he rides and I know not what.

Crispin Bonham-Carter played Bingley in the 1995 series [Image courtesy BBC Home.]

Sure, Bingley could be a tad more decisive, and have a bit more backbone. But to misquote Jessica Rabbit– he’s not wimpy, he’s just drawn that way.

Simon Woods is funny and charming in the 2005 and in Cranford. If you want to see the other side of Simon check out his performance as Octavian Caesar in ROME.

Mr. Bennet sums up the couple towards the end of the book with…

“I have not a doubt of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income.”

Naveen Andrews and Namrata Shirod Karar as Balraj and Jaya (Bingley and Jane) in Bride and Prejudice

The adorable Cristopher Sean and Laura Spencer as Bing Lee and Jane in the Lizzie Bennet Diaries

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Blogger’s note: Hey how are your liking these P&P character studies? Drop me a line and let me know. Tomorrow is Darcy and Lizzie and Monday — on the big anniversary we’ll discuss various adaptions of the novel. So please weigh in!

And don’t forget to send in your entry to the Jane Austen “Essay” Contest for everybody. (Deadline is also on Monday.)

Cheers, Rita

Catching up on P&P Characters (ritalovestowrite.com)
Pride and Prejudice Characters Lady Catherine and Caroline part 2 (ritalovestowrite.com)
Men of Austen Week: Bingley Stylin’ (vmmvblog.wordpress.com)
Pride and Prejudice at 200: looking afresh at Austen’s classic (guardian.co.uk)
Pride and Prejudice characters: Charlotte and Mr. Collins (ritalovestowrite.com)
Pride and Prejudice characters: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet (ritalovestowrite.com)

1 Comment | tags: Bingley, Darcy, Jane, Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice | posted in 1812, England, Jane Austen, JASNA, postaday, Pride and Prejudice, Thought of the Day

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