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Darcy vs. Thornton
Thanks for having me Ceri!
In 2013, I found Jane Austen Fan Fiction by way of the
2004 BBC North and South Miniseries. I saw it on Netflix, having never read the
book, and Richard Armitage as Mr. John Thornton haunted my dreams. For the
first time in almost a decade, Mr. Darcy was replaced in my mind. What I loved
the most was that I could relate to working
and rubbing shoulders with the poor so much more than being lord of the manor.
After seeking out Elizabeth Gaskell’s book, Barnes and
Noble began recommending JAFF to me. I had known of it before and stayed away,
but had recently been given a Nook and was enjoying reading Jane Austen in
ebook format for the first time. The rest is history. I gobbled up every bit of
JAFF I could find, both published and free and then began writing my own stories.
My academic background is history, and I’m currently a
few credits short of a master’s degree. While writing Sufficient Encouragement, I got to a point where I just didn’t feel
very connected to the story. Last summer, I recognized that I was missing the
historical aspect that I loved writing in my other stories. I had planned to
have Wickham leave Hertfordshire by having the Militia Regiment be taken to the
North to deal with an insurgency against the factories.
Once I began researching the Luddites, as these rebels now
are called, I was fascinated. Everything came to a head in the autumn of 1811.
Historians recognize the French Revolutionary Wars/Napoleonic Wars as the
dawning of the Modern Era. Napoleon implemented a method known as total
warfare, meaning it included political and economic ramifications for the
entire nation.
Rising debt from forming coalition after coalition while
attempting to defeat Napoleon and restore aristocratic order to France
stretched Great Britain to the financial max. Napoleon decreed that none of its
“allies” should trade with Great Britain. America instituted an embargo, a
cessation of trade, against Great Britain due to some of its survival tactics
during the war. The King had been declared mad, the Prince of Wales made the
Regent, and the political environment unstable. Inflation on everyday goods
climbed to record highs. And instead of a tenant farmer being able to process
his wool and weave it in his home as his father had done, factories working
large looms — far too big to fit in a cottage should a tenant even be able to
afford one — were manufacturing the same product faster and at a lower cost. All
the while harvests suffered.
The average Northern farmer felt desperation creep in
from every corner. Many resorted to forceful means of breaking into the
factories and damaging the machinery. They claimed to follow a General – or
even a King! – named Ned Ludd. Factory owners fought back hiring guards and
securing local Militia; even regular army troops were sent. In February 1812,
“frame breaking” became a capital offense.
The following quotes from North and South illustrate the problems that arose in this early
time as men went from cottage weavers to factory owners overnight.
Raw, crude materials came
together; men of the same level, as regarded education and station, took
suddenly the different positions of masters and men, owing to the mother wit,
as regarded opportunities and probabilities, which distinguished some, and made
them far-seeing as to what great future lay concealed in that rude model of Sir
Richard Arkwright’s.
‘I only name such things to
show what almost unlimited power the manufacturers had about the beginning of
this century. The men were rendered dizzy by it. Because a man was successful
in his ventures, there was no reason that in all other things his mind should
be well-balanced. On the contrary, his sense of justice, and his simplicity,
were often utterly smothered under the glut of wealth that came down upon him;
and they tell strange tales of the wild extravagance of living indulged in on
gala days by those early cotton lords. There can be no doubt, too, of the
tyranny they exercised over their work people.
I soon realized I had to address this historical event in
more detail and so Bingley comes from a wealthy manufacturing family. Darcy is
his silent partner. One of their mills comes under attack, just as Darcy and
Elizabeth seem to have everything settled and Wickham’s Regiment is tangled up
in it all.
Different characters feel it best to address the issue in
a variety of ways. Some are supremely optimistic, some ignore it, some encourage
it, some desire to assist the poor, some just want to keep the peace. I also
use the conflict to highlight matters in the primary plot line for Elizabeth
and Darcy such as the desire for independence, equality and acceptance.
Of course, Bingley and Darcy aren’t harsh task masters,
but they are victims of a movement reacting against others who are. Darcy, like Mr. Thornton, considers the
plight of those he previously thought beyond his scope of interest because of
experiences with a strong-minded female. And like Mr. Thornton, this Mr. Darcy
displays his honor, compassion, integrity, and drive while addressing the concerns
of the financially insecure.
If you’ve ever struggled with deciding if you loved Mr.
Darcy or Mr. Thornton more, then Mr. Darcy of Sufficient Encouragement is the perfect answer! I finally feel like
I don’t have to choose!
Book
Synopsis
We are all fools in love…
Some say a lady’s imagination is very rapid. Such is the
case when Elizabeth Bennet overhears that Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy admires her
eyes. She thinks nothing for herself, but immediately considers her dearest
sister’s growing attachment to Mr. Darcy’s friend. If Elizabeth spurns such a
wealthy—and proud—gentleman, he might do everything in his power to separate
his friend from her sister.
Raised in a world of expectations and pedigree, Darcy
knows Elizabeth Bennet can offer him nothing of material value. As his
attraction for her grows, he becomes increasingly convinced his feelings are
nonsensical. Still, he might forsake it all if only he had true encouragement.
Misunderstandings lead to betrayals and the couple soon
learns falling in love takes courage but staying in love requires forgiveness.
Traversing from the groves of Hertfordshire to the drawing rooms of London to
the complexity and danger of Luddite revolts in Yorkshire, Sufficient Encouragement follows Darcy and Elizabeth’s journey of
love and forgiveness.
*This story contains a scene of nonexplicit sexual
violence.
About
the When Love Blooms Series
“Love
is like a flower, for it is well worth the toil to cultivate it.” She shrugged
her shoulders,
“Love is beautiful.”
Take a stroll in the garden of love and enjoy the unique
blooms of the intersecting lives of the Bennet, Darcy, Fitzwilliam, de Bourgh
and Bingley families. Sufficient
Encouragement follows Darcy and Elizabeth as they fight to save their love
from an unexpected frost while Jane and Bingley’s love grows strong roots. The
companion story, Renewed Hope, adds
depth to the bouquet with the love stories of Darcy’s cousins and Miss Bingley.
The third book in the series, Extraordinary
Devotion, follows Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage while their younger
sisters experience a London Season.
About
the Author
Rose Fairbanks hears book characters talk in her head. They whisper to her of a time when the sun never set on the British Empire. More than having a love story for the ages, these characters face struggles inspired by historical events such as market crashes, Napoleon, embargoes, Luddites, the Year Without a Summer and more. Merging historical research with the timelessness of Jane Austen, Rose currently has ten Pride and Prejudice variations published with several releases planned for 2016 as well as an original Regency Romance series in the works.
Rose proudly admits her Darcy obsession and addictions to reading, chocolate, and sweet tea. Always in the mood for a healthy debate, she also dearly loves to laugh. Having completed a BA in history in 2008, she plans to complete her master’s studies...someday. At the moment, having a career combining her life-long interest in history and research with her love for Jane Austen and the Regency Era consumes all of her professional time. When not writing or reading, Rose runs after her two young children, ignores housework, and profusely thanks her husband for doing all the dishes and laundry.
Sufficient
Encouragement Blog Tour Schedule
So how is Wickham going to behave in the face of violence, and no elopement for Lydia?
ReplyDeleteIn Austen's original, I think Wickham was always looking out for himself, even when it was short-sighted like eloping with Lydia. I've made him more cunning in this one but he still has his fatal flaws. So, what it really comes down to for him is self-preservation or his obsession with harming Darcy. You might not see the answer coming.
DeleteThat's an interesting question, Vesper. I see him as a bit of a slippery character, so it would be interesting to see him actually have to do some soldiering that involved some unpalatable work.
Deleteloved learning about your background
ReplyDeletedenise
Thanks!
DeleteHi Denise. I really enjoy reading author posts and learning more about them :)
DeleteI will read this....just when it the problem. But it does sound intriguing.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for me it is three heroes from novels (and I have Pinterest Boards to prove it) so you would have to combine Thornton, Darcy AND Jamie Fraser to make my perfect man.
I've not read Outlander but the more I hear about Jamie Fraser the more interested I become. I haven't watched the Outlander series yet either but I'm so tempted because I have a fascination with the Jacobite Rebellions. I hope you can get to Sufficient Encouragement soon!
DeleteI haven't read Outlander, but people seem to really love Jamie. We are so lucky to have a choice of hero to love!
DeleteI've recently finished listening to the audio version of North and South, so the events and social history from that time period are still very fresh in my mind. I was talking with a friend afterwards about the revolution in transport that the advent of the steam train caused. Darcy would have been able to get to London from Derbyshire, and vice versa, in a day instead of several. No more overnight stops at coaching inns. It's difficult for us, so used to jumping into our cars, to imagine what it would have been like when the only horsepower available had a leg at each corner!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading how the Luddites come in to this tale.
My son is currently obsessed with the Titanic and other ships and I've been considering how much the world changed with steam ships and trains, as you mentioned. Certainly worth a story or two! I hope you enjoy!
DeleteI'm sure I will Rose. And if I had to choose between Fitzwilliam Darcy and John Thornton.....not sure I could.
DeleteIt's amazing to think how much travel changed in such a relatively short time, isn't it, Anji.
DeleteI am with you, I love both Mr Darcy and Mr Thornton. No need to choose when we can love them both <3
Oh, I do like the idea of a blend of N&S and P&P. Fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I wouldn't say it's a true blend. We don't get the worker POV in this story, but I'm hoping to include it some in the next one. I also plan on including it in a non-JAFF Regency. It was an exciting time! A little different than N&S too because it was at the beginning of a lot of things Gaskell talks about, but the issue of workers vs. masters is pretty timeless, what's the span of 50 years?
DeleteWonderful combo. I had never planned to choose between Darcy and Thornton. I look forward to this variation.
ReplyDeleteLol! Well, now you really don't have to choose!
DeleteI think it's good to have the opportunity to see another side of Darcy. In P&P we know he had an estate and could well have had business interests but there is no detail on that so it leaves scope for some exploration of Darcy's potential business interests and the wider state of events in the country.
Delete