Welcome to Austenesque Extravaganza, a month-long celebration of Austenesque novels and authors! My name is Meredith Esparza, and I’m an ardent admirer of Austenesque novels and your host for this month-long tribute to Austenesque novels and authors.
Today’s Austenesuqe Event is: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WEDNESDAY
- For this event, we will engage in a discussion about a specific element of Austenesque novels. Feel free to share your thoughts!
*Remember, each time you comment during this event it counts as an entry for the Amazing Austenesque Giveaway! Don’t forget to fill out this form so I can contact you if you win! (You only need to fill it out one time for the whole month.)
TODAY’S TOPIC: SHOWDOWNS
- Darcy vs. Elizabeth, Lady Catherine vs. Elizabeth, Darcy vs. Wickham, Daniel Cleaver vs. Mark Darcy – in a novel the confrontations between characters are stimulating, enthralling, entertaining and sometimes hilarious!
Don’t you just love when characters like Mrs. Norris, Lady Catherine, and Mrs. Elton are put in their place? Or when the strong and courageous heroine tells the hero he’s the last man in the world she could ever be prevailed upon to marry? What is your favorite scene of contention, altercation, quarrell or showdown in an Austenesque novel? Please feel free to quote, summarize, or cite – just don’t spoil!
Answers MUST include:
- material that is from an Austenesque novel (remember we are discussing the novels of AUSTENESQUE authors)
Need help thinking of some titles? These lists of Austenesque novels might help!
*The fantastic graphics you will be seeing for Austenesque Extravaganza were created by the wonderfully talented Lady Turner! Thank you, Lady Turner!
Having just finished Sass and Serendipity, I have to go with Daphne and Luke, at the end of the novel. Since it is one of the very last scenes, I won’t give it away for those who haven’t read it yet. Suffice to say, it’s one of the more satisfying moments of the novel, and it completely redeemed the very Marianne-like Daphne in my eyes.
I adore the showdown of Lady Catherine vs. Elizabeth in Sharon Lathan’s Darcy Saga! It stays so true to the characters of Austen’s P&P!!
I second the Lizzy-Lady C showdown in Sharon Lathan’s work. Lathan has the “pitch” nailed and it is a pleasure to read the “smackdown”!!
I love how Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam finally mock and stand up to Lady Catherine in Darcy’s Voyage!
Echoing pseudophilosopher’s Darcy/Colonel showdown with Lady Catherine in Darcy’s Voyage–absolutely wonderful!!! 🙂
I am always partial to the original Lizzy-Lady Catherine showdown in the original P&P but I do agree with previous posters that the showdown between Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Catherine in Darcy’s Voyage was awesome!
Don’t know if this qualifies but I love to read Stephanie Barrons “Jane” confrontations in her mysteries whether it with the villian or sparring with Lord Harold…she brings Janes wit and charm to life
stephanie atlucasaaron_5297 atyahoo dotcom
I really want to go with the Lizzie vs Catherine showdown in Pride and Prejudice and zombies 😉
Lady Catherine’s demise in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After was awesome!
I’m a fan of the angst, so love a good Elizabeth/Darcy showdown (as long as they make up in the end!). I do have a favourite, but can’t recall which book it was from, though I’m pretty sure it was an Abigail Reynolds one – The Last Man in the World perhaps?
I love Maria and Mr. Card’s showdown in Jennifer Becton’s short story, Anne Elliot’s showdown with everyone in Mary Simonsen’s novel, and the way Mr. Darcy kept following around Elizabeth and Mr. Covington in Abigail Reynolds ‘Without Reserve.’
Two scenes come to mind…both having to do with Pride & Prejudice variations/modern retellings…
“First Impressions” by Debra White Smith: Love the chemistry between “Lizzie” and “Darcy”…it’s just fun.
“Me and Mr Darcy” by Alexandra Potter: Emily and Spike have quite the interesting relationship – I mean, obviously, they hate each other. But their journey towards getting over that and acting more like “Lizzie” and “Darcy” is hampered by, well, a mysterious gentleman rather “Darcy-ish”…Good times ;o)
I can only speak to the Austen’s work, but I love Knightley’s setdown of Emma after she insults Miss Bates. “Badly done, Emma.”
Always enjoy the Lizzy-Lady Cat scenes. The most recent fun one I have read (it also included a mean Anne) was from Linda Wells WIP Imperative on AHA. That is a wonderful work, can’t wait until she finishes it!
I have to agree. The Darcy/Fitzwilliam showdown with Lady Catherine in Darcy’s Voyage is great!
Darcy’s Voyage, definitely!
Absolutely Darcy v. LC in Darcy’s Voyage!
Victoria Connelly’s ‘The Perfect Hero’…
i’d luv to quote, but the entire piece would be too lengthy, so i’ll just point you to the delish comeuppance one mum gets when her daughter finally gets the gusto to speak her mind! well done Victoria! readers were waiting for that delivery “) YES!
I am going to stick with the majority here! Darcy’s Voyage!!
My favorite confrontation comes from Mr Darcy takes a wife when Lady Catherine storms into the house and Elizabeth, who is pregnant shoots at her.
I have to agree… I love the scene in Darcy’s Voyage when Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam stand up to Lady Catherine!
As for favorite scenes of contention, I have to say my MOST favorite is, and always will be, that between Elizabeth & Darcy when she refuses his initial request for her hand in marriage.
Favorite in an Austenesque novel would be, as already mentioned several times above, would be that between Darcy, Fitzwilliam & Lady Catherine!
Well, I guess I have to move Darch’s Voyage to the top of my reading list! I can’t wait to read about Lady Catherine getting a setdown! I have three (are you allowed, tee hee!). First, Jane Austen did it best when Elizabeth set Darcy down in the Huntsford Parlor when he first offered his hand. This is just great. Pamela Aiden did a great job telling Darcy’s side of this. My second also comes from Pamela Aiden. I just LOVE when Darcy gives Lady Catherine a set down when she comes to see him in London to tell him of the “rumor”. But I also just ADORE Mr. Knightley (maybe even better than Darcy) and so his “Badly done, Emma” really makes me smile each time I read it! Jennifer
I agree with Rebecca for Emily and Spike’s showdown in Me and Mr Darcy. They remind me of Elizabeth and Darcy.
I also like Ellie and Sam’s confrontations in According to Jane. With their complicated history, you don’t know when to cool it.
Oh! I thought of another great one. I love the confrontation between Annie and her godmother in Persuading Annie. She’s been such a shy, biddable young lady her whole life, and suddenly she’s going after this older woman with both guns. “I’ve been grieving for seven years, and you didn’t even notice!” It’s absolutely fantastic.
I enjoy reading, and usually do to an extensive degree. The problem is that everything kinda blends together and I’m not sure what comes from which book.
But I do remember Austen, and I distinctly recall Emma and Mr. Knightley. They knew how to have an argument and both knew they were in the right. Especially when arguing over the finer points as to why Emma shouldn’t involve herself in controlling other peoples lives. Emma is stubborn, but sincerely thinks she is right, and Mr. Knightley knows she is wrong, and just wants her to see it. He tells her like it is, even though sometimes it’s difficult for her to hear, because he loves her so much.
Of course, they can’t be at odds forever.
I go for Knightley’s showdown with Emma over Emma’s insulting Ms. Bates, “Badly done Emma”, but also how they make up again “The truest friend does not doubt, but hope…”
My fave hands down is Lady Catherine and Elizabeth. Right from the beginning you know eventually there will be a showdown between these two.
It’s pretty awesome when Elizabeth sets down Lady Catherine in Pride and Prejudice 😉
I love Darcy’s confrontation with Lady C in Darcy’s Voyage. It is one of my favorite P&P variations.