Hi readers! I’m so happy to welcome author Renée Beyea to Austenesque Reviews today! You might have seen that Renée released a collection or short stories a few months ago titled, A Fine Stout Love and Other Stories (love the title!) Renée is here to share with you her observations about Darcy’s 
smiles…and his secret smiles! I hope you enjoy her interesting and informative post!
Darcy’s Secret Smiles
You know you’re an Austen addict when… you count each occurrence of smile and its variants in Pride & Prejudice. I did. It’s true!
Here are the unscientific results: Jane Austen curves her characters’ lips some sixty-nine times. Two groups of people are pictured smiling: attendees at the Netherfield ball and the Hunsford five, when the Meryton travelers arrive for their visit. Of the twenty individuals identified as smiling, three top the charts. In rank order, they are Elizabeth (23), Darcy (11), and Jane (9).
Facts: Darcy tells Bingley that Jane smiles too much. Darcy smiles more than Jane. Elizabeth smiles more than Jane. Darcy is attracted to Elizabeth who smiles more than Jane. Ah, the delicious irony.
Disclaimer: Not warranted to be error-free. Off-page smiles are excluded, obviously. Higher smile counts for our dear couple could be attributed to their status as main characters and consequently greater page time. But where’s the fun in that?
Historical Note: Though no less heartfelt, the Georgian-era smile was not the broad, toothy grin we capture in today’s selfies. It was considered vulgar and poor taste for gentlemen and ladies to needlessly expose their teeth, even if they could boast fine ones. Picture instead smiling lips. Think Mona Lisa, or Colin Firth’s Darcy, who offers some Regency-worthy smiles.
Having now been provided with such momentous trivia, your day is replete. Or perhaps you already knew as much.
Why would I bother with such an assessment (besides being obsessed with Austen and disposed toward obscure questions like how she uses contractions)? It all comes down to Darcy’s secret smiles. I say secret because they’re hidden in plain sight. Alert readers will notice, but the movie-makers seem about as blinded by prejudice as Elizabeth. And 81.8% of the time Darcy is smiling at none other than Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
When precisely does Darcy smile? He smiles when he’s enjoying Elizabeth’s badinage: 
her comment on the efficacy of poetry; her assessment that he hates everyone; twice in conversation while dancing; her threat of exposing his manners; her admonition to practice socializing; and when discussing how near home a bride might wish to reside. Darcy also offers an incredulous smile in response to her accusation that he separated Jane and Bingley and a comforting smile when he comes from asking her father’s blessing.
Only two of Darcy’s eleven smiles are not offered to Elizabeth. One is in response to Bingley, when he calls Darcy an “awful object” and teases about his intimidating stature. The other is static: Darcy’s smile as recorded in his portrait at Pemberley.
What this tells us about Darcy: While he misinterprets Elizabeth’s behavior for interest, Darcy honestly appreciates her liveliness and wit, even when turned against him. This suggests a degree of maturity that doesn’t easily take offense, which bodes well for their future. How likely is it, then, that Bingley’s tease (see above) affronted Darcy? Austen tells us “Elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was rather offended,” but that leaves enough room to suspect Elizabeth erred. Bingley’s comment is just the sort of friendly insult that would make Darcy smile and grant us insight into the gentlemen’s camaraderie. And let’s not forget that Darcy was painted sporting a smile, which implies he’s comfortable with such a portrayal.
What this tells us about Elizabeth: Not much that she doesn’t tell us herself. She’s not as observant and insightful as she thinks she is. She’s so determined to dislike Darcy that she completely misreads him. In general, she credits his expressions to superiority and finding fault. In addition to her Bingley interpretation mentioned above, she misconstrues Darcy’s smile about the comparative near and far from Longbourn. Surely he’s referring to Jane and Netherfield? Wrong again.
The secret of Darcy’s smile: Interestingly, Darcy’s smile functions like an undercover operative. It grants a sneak peek into Darcy’s character and heart. It points to Elizabeth’s misjudgment. In the end, it reveals truth. Through contemplating Darcy’s smiling portrait, Elizabeth begins to understand his earlier smiles and thus the man himself.
Unhappily, this intrigue with Darcy’s smiles came after I’d published A Fine Stout Love and Other Stories. I was anxious to re-examine and assess my stories. Did my Darcy smile enough and at the right moments? But I’d better not comment on my own performance–you’ll have to decide for yourself. Oh, the lengths we go to write Austenesque fiction!
Now it’s your turn. How would you complete the sentence, “You know you’re an Austen addict when…?”
Three cheers and my hearty appreciation to Meredith for inviting a guest post, indulging a little tongue-in-cheek trivia at Austenesque Reviews, and participating in A Fine Stout Love and Other Stories blog tour!
I love it,Renée!! Thanks for doing all the research and sharing your scientific findings with us! I think you are correct, Jane Austen definitely reveals a lot of Darcy’s character through his smiles. I had no idea he had so many smiles in Pride and Prejudice!
Connect with Renée
Website ❧ Goodreads ❧ Facebook
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Renée Beyea is generously giving away 4 paperback and 4 ebook editions of A Fine Stout Love and Other Stories in conjunction with this blog tour!! Woot woot! Commenting and entering through the rafflecopter widget on this blog enters you in a chance to win!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Renée!
- This giveaway ends May 19th!
Thank you to Jakki Leatherberry and Renée Beyea for making this blog tour possible! Click image to check out the rest of the tour!
**Check back here on Monday to see my review of A Fine Stout Love and Other Stories and receive another chance to win a copy of this book for yourself!**
You know you’re an Austen addict when you would rather watch the 1980 mini-series of P&P then talk to your husband
I really like the 1980 version too! Even though Rintoul’s Darcy is rather short on smiles, LOL
You know you’re an Austen addict when you download many different genres of books onto your kindle, but the only ones you ever read (and re-read) are JA variations. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you so much for the International giveaway!!!
I had never counted Mr. Darcy’s smile. Thank you for your insight!
Becky
I have this one on my Wish List so you don’t have to convince me. It does look enticing. One of my favorite scenes is in the 1995 movie where after Elizabeth has visited with her aunt and uncle, he walks down the hall with his dog and in repose remembers her smile from her position turning pages for Georgiana. His smile is so warm there. You know that there are happy thoughts.
You know you’re an Austen addict when….your sitting area stares at shelves of Jane Austen books and movies.
I know exactly which smile you mean–yes, happy thoughts indeed! Must be a lovely sitting area that you have 🙂
Darcy has such a fabulous smile! I didn’t know there where quite so many smiles. (You learn sonething new every day.) Mine is pretty radiant too after learning about this wonderful giveaway 😀
I think it was a comment somewhere about how “Darcy never smiles” that set me off on the search–and then surprise, surprise. Glad you’re smiling too and good luck on the giveaway!
fascinating study of smiles
I did not know there where this many smiles in P& P, but I do know that this amazing lovestory always makes me smile a thousand smiles !
Ooo, I like that–how about a book titled “A Thousand Smiles”? It may be a matter of interpretation, but I love that Austen has so many good and happy characters in her books.
You know you’re an Austen Addict when you haven’t read anything but JAFF in months. My husband can’t figure out why I am still reading them! “don’t you get bored?” Haha, he’s cute, right??
Very cute! I’ve been dragging my husband into all things Austen since we were dating. Around the eight year mark, he decided it wasn’t a passing fancy and he’d better indulge my whims–and here we are another decade later 😉
You know you’re an Austen addict when the only books you read are about Darcy and Elizabeth and you resent going to work and housework as it cuts into your reading time!
LOL! At least with regard to housework, audiobooks and Kindle Fire text-to-speech (with the British accent, of course) are my best friends. Listening makes cleaning and folding laundry so much less tedious.
You know you’re an Austen Addict when you know how the characters will react to a situation… And Darcy’s smile is his secret weapon…
You know you’re an Austen addict when you binge-watch the 1980, 1995, and 2005 film versions while re-reading the book to measure how faithful each version is to the original story. (And yes, I have done this. Twice.) Presuming that your stories are as charming and pleasant as this blog post, I’ve added them to my Must Read list, so please enter me in the giveaway and Thank you!
Wow, I’m impressed! I’m grateful to hear you enjoyed the post, and I hope you enjoy the stories every bit at much. Best wishes for the giveaway!
You know when you’re an Austen Addict because you read and re-read every novel that pertains to and is relevant to Austen and the unique characters and their lives. Thanks for this great giveaway.
You know your an Austen addict when you not only have all the dialog memorized in Pride and Prejudice but you use it all the time.
Love it, Leslie! Maybe if I had more Austen-lovers in my life, I wouldn’t receive nearly so many blank looks in response.
Thank you for the insight into Darcy’s smiles and congratulations on your book! So looking forward to reading it! Thank you for the giveaway!
You know you’re an Austen Addict when you not only own and read the books, own and watch all the dvd’s related (even remotely) to any Jane Austen books, buy the Jane Austen action figure, buy the paperdolls, colouring books, etc.!
Engaging post and left me smiling thinking about Darcy’s smiles. This was a good collection.
What a beautiful post about Darcy’s smiles and I love short stories so this one should be fun! Best wishes Renee with your new publication and thanks Meredith! Jen ♫
Thank you, Jen! Happy to “meet” another short story lover <3
It is a beautiful collection of short stories, Jen! I’m so happy I got the chance to read them!
I love that last smile picture!
Aren’t you glad tastes have changed and we’re free to appreciate a full-blown smile? 😀
Thank you to everyone for leaving comments. It’s such fun to read all of your definitions for “Austen addict”! I’ve been so encouraged by the kind reception throughout the JAFF community. And big thanks to Meredith for the warm welcome and for fostering a wonderful venue to share our Austen obsessions!
Thank you so much for your visit, Renee! I’m so thrilled to spotlight you and your debut release! I cannot wait to see more of your work in print! Best wishes on your tour!
You know you’re… I’m with Glynis and Leah. Sleep? Who needs sleep? I need to read this!
Fifth has the perfect Recency smile and McFayden’s smile is beautiful, love both the Daddy’s. Thanks for interesting guest post. Would love to win a copy.
An Austen addict asks for bookshelves regularly, to house her ever growing library.
I never thought about the smiles before. That’s great. I’d love to read these stories.
I love Mr Darcy’s smiles. I have actually paid attention to them a lot on the film versions because they are so endearing!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve watched the 1995 version so often, but I’ve never counted his smiles. Even with a scowl on his face he’s definitely still handsome. Thank you for your giveaway.
Thank you for this research . I had never thought about smiles before!