tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post8375380539019503250..comments2024-03-28T12:00:29.857+00:00Comments on Historical and Regency Romance UK: Writing a hero's diary, Henry Tilney - part 4Louise Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895724319451189592noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-83427780383648178032008-08-03T21:53:00.000+01:002008-08-03T21:53:00.000+01:00YES, Henry would see the funny side of it, definit...YES, Henry would see the funny side of it, definitely! :-)<BR/><BR/>I've always thought it was greed, but I like the idea about the "surface" hiding what is really there. But Catherine makes a comment that she hates the idea of one great fortune looking out for another--not knowing that might be exactly what the General is doing. Would he be able to get at Catherine's money if she married Henry? I guess if he pressured Henry enough...<BR/><BR/>Looking forward to Tibby's backstory... (That's my nickname for Frederick, stolen from a friend's fan fiction--his army buddies call him Tibby.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-5281544671306631782008-08-01T17:56:00.000+01:002008-08-01T17:56:00.000+01:00Hi Mags!I was more trying to get into Henry’s char...Hi Mags!<BR/>I was more trying to get into Henry’s character and portray things through his eyes - I think if Edmund witnessed exactly the same scene his diary would recount his dismay and disappointment, but Henry sees the funny side of things and so I think it’s as much a comment on Henry’s outlook on life as it is a comment on Frederick’s behaviour. <BR/><BR/>At the time of the first diary entry I’m portraying Frederick as a typical older son who likes a good time, but I’m planning on giving him a back story (chronologically it takes place after this diary entry but before the events of NA) to explore his character more deeply – Eleanor’s comment has always made me think as well!<BR/><BR/>It’s an interesting point about the estate. I tend to approach things from the point of view of character in the diaries so my starting point was, Why does the General court Catherine for her money? Is it need or necessity? <BR/><BR/>It’s possible to make a case for either. He could have retired from the army, put his energies into running the estate with military precision and then, having achieved everything he could with the estate, tried to bolster the family fortunes still further through his children’s marriages out of sheer greed. <BR/><BR/>Or he could have retired from the army, bossed everyone around – including the estate manager – without really knowing what he was talking about, and ended up making a mess of the estate and therefore trying to marry his children to rich spouses from necessity. <BR/><BR/>Although the kitchens are very nice, I don’t think this rules out the ‘need’ idea as the estate could look prosperous on the surface but still be in a mess financially, with a crash imminent. This would still create a contrast between the Gothic stereotype of a decrepit Abbey and the reality of a ‘modern’ Northanger.<BR/> <BR/>But that’s one of the things I love about writing the diaries, there are so many options to explore. I think it’s one of the reasons people like reading them as well. They can compare their ideas of the novel / characters with mine and either have the pleasure of saying, ‘Good point, I hadn’t thought of that,’ or the equal (or possible greater)pleasure of saying, ‘What’s she talking about? The estate wasn’t badly managed, it says quite clearly that the kitchens are modern and convenient.’ :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-42179601377212698682008-08-01T12:11:00.000+01:002008-08-01T12:11:00.000+01:00Ha ha, Tibby's an affectionate drunk, then? Endear...Ha ha, Tibby's an affectionate drunk, then? Endearing yet annoying. <BR/><BR/>I've always found Eleanor's comment about Frederick "never finding any woman good enough to be loved" interesting. There's something there. A broken heart? Or just extreme pride and arrogance?<BR/><BR/>Another of Eleanor's throwaway comments is interesting--when she says "though Henry--though my brothers are very affectionate..." An interesting slip of the tongue! <BR/><BR/>But is the estate badly managed? Seems the opposite to me--the General is kind of a micromanager, and has modern ideas, has made the kitchens modern and convenient, etc. And I think that's part of the Gothic parody; one would expect a run-down old pile and yet the Abbey's modern and well-run.<BR/><BR/>Sorry, you know I think too much about this stuff. ;-) Interview questions are on their way...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-86989803871669282912008-07-24T18:37:00.000+01:002008-07-24T18:37:00.000+01:00I love this beginning, Amanda. Not only does it en...I love this beginning, Amanda. Not only does it encompass the whole backstory, it makes the protagonists very human too.Jan Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00471022034388834235noreply@blogger.com