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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Claudia Gray
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August 25 - August 28, 2022
The Murder of Mr. Wickham is set in 1820, at the very end of the Regency period. Jane Austen’s novels were published within a few years of one another—in the case of her first three books, many years after they were written. This obscures the fact that her writing spans nearly the entire Regency period, during which manners and fashions altered. So while we can find hints that different books came earlier or later, the only one of Austen’s novels that can be specifically dated is Persuasion, which takes place in 1814 and 1815. I’ve taken advantage of the lack of dates, assigning a time frame
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If this novel is ever turned into a movie, it would be great to see Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle reprise their roles as Darcy and Lizzie. In "Murder", 22 years have passed since the events of "Pride and Prejudice," and it's now been 27 years since those events were filmed in the BBC miniseries.
The men of the gathering weren’t as fortunate. No one disliked anyone else, but conversational topics were scarce. “Surely you have excellent hunting on these grounds, Mr. Knightley,” said Brandon. Almost any gentleman would have agreed that he did, or explained where better hunting was to be found. Knightley instead shook his head. “I fear not, Colonel. Hunting has never been among my pursuits. Saves one the expense of beaters and dogs—though, of course, I have one dog regardless.” He smiled fondly at the small black-and-white mongrel dozing in front of the fire. “Pierre earns his keep
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Edmund had been absorbed in a London newspaper or discussing the new parliament with his cousin Knightley.
These two characters, made here into cousins, have been played by the same actor, Jonny Lee Miller (1999 "Mansfield Park" and 2009 "Emma").
"The Murder of Mr. Wickham" can be disorienting at times.
These pictures went back to the days when Knightley’s and Edmund’s families were one. A bewigged gentleman of the seventeenth century bore such a resemblance to her Edmund that his descent was undeniable.
I'd like to see Jonny Lee Miller's bewigged portrait hanging on the walls of Donwell Abbey!
On many occasions before their marriage, and some since, Emma’s husband had been angry with her. Civil as he was even when angered, she always found this difficult to bear, largely because his displeasure had always been richly deserved. Despite the inevitable frictions of marriage, Knightley had never truly angered her the same way. This she had attributed to his greater age and experience and to her own meddlesome nature. Now, however, it felt as though she had saved every ounce of anger of which she was capable—all for this very moment. “You signed a surety for John’s debt?” Emma demanded
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“It was a bust from the gallery. Of Lord Nelson, I think—it was hard to tell in the dark.”
This seems a little improbable, because Wickham should be able to duck what would be presumably a slow swing.
“I must further add,” Anne said, “what I would have spoken of before anyone took the colonel away. You see, I knew he was not guilty.
What is—ah—less commonly understood is that a woman who finds herself in—in such straits as you were—importuned—forcibly—has as much right to defend herself as she would were she threatened with death.
