Mr. Knightley, Mr. Darcy, Captain Wentworth, Colonel Brandon, Henry Tilney, Edmund Bertram, and Edward Ferrars. I had to finish rereading Northanger Abbey before I could give you my ranking as my memories of Tilney were too fuzzy.
Time stamps in case you are yet to read them all: 00:52 Edmund - Mansfield Park 02:58 Edward - Sense and Sensibility 05:14 Mr. Darcy - Pride and Prejudice 07:58 Captain Wentworth
You’re definitely making me rethink my ranking! I would choose Tilney to date. I love his sense of humor. As a reader, Darcy is my favorite, but I wouldn’t want him in real life. Edward is lower on my list, too, but I still like him. I read an interesting article about engagements in that era and how women could sue men for breach of contract if they didn’t stick to their engagement. So it made me realize how stressful that whole situation actually was for him.
Loved this video! Have you seen the 2007 Persuasion? I like Rupert Penry-Jones much more as Captain Wentworth than Ciaran Hinds. Also, that's so true that it's a real strength in S&S that you don't know who will end up with who.
Yes- Tilney!!! I feel he is so under-rated but like you said he’s got this light-hearted humour that really shines, such as when he says ‘Now I must give one smirk, and then we may be rational again’. Plus he knows about muslin. Then it’d be Captain Wentworth. I think he’s an interesting character and I think his relationship with Anne is one of my favourites because it got all this pining, regret and history to explore. “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope’- I mean what more can you say! Also there’s two persuasion adaptations in the works which i’m so excited for and wonder how each approach will differ. I think they are such a fun way to access the texts (I love the Northanger Abbey one in all it’s cheesy glory) Whilst I like the character of Knightley, i agree i find the age gap a bit uncomfortable. Mainly because, he’s known her since she was a child and is friends with her father and is so obviously more experienced than her. In the book he tells her ‘I have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least’. He’s 16 years older so he would have been 29 and it doesn’t sit well with me. ‘At least’ as well like ‘ew she’s a child’. The recent de Wilde adaptation was really lovely and smoothed some of his edges but i’ll have a soft spot for the BBC mini series with Jonny Lee Miller.
I quite enjoyed the 2007 Persuasion. This could or could not have anything to do with the fact that captain Wentworth is Thomas Hanilton from Black Sails
My rankings would probably be very similar 😂. My two favorites are definitely Colonel Brandon and Mr. Knightly. I probably am just into older men😂. Great video!
Fun video Jennifer. 😊 The main difficulty, as I see it, in ranking all of Austen’s main men is that none of them are John Thornton from North and South by Gaskell! 😂😂 #JohnThornton4Evar 😬😬
Loved this even more after our highly complex group chat 😄😍 I seriously need to reread Northanger Abbey asap, I think Tilney may go up in my estimation after that 🤔
Yes to what you said about Darcy, Tilney AND Brandon! I feel like I need to do this same video, but I also think I might say all the same things as you. Hmmmm let’s see 1. Tilney 2. Brandon 3. Wentworth 4. Mr. Knightley 5. Edward 6. Edmund
Jennifer, what fun! I’m re-reading all of her novels this month but studying them for the rake characters. It’s my “Ranking the Rake” month. Scandalous! But speaking of Ciarán Hinds, have you seen him play Mr. Rochester in the 1997 Jane Eyre? If not I suggest it for a viewing. Happy Jane Austen month! 📖 Forgot my list: 1. Mr. Knightly 2. Captain Wentworth 3. Colonel Brandon 4. Henry Tilney 5. Mr. Darcy 6. Edward Ferrars 7. Edmund Bertram
@@jenniferbrooks must be my time for Mr. Hinds! I found a copy of him in an apparently made A&E production of Ivanhoe! Girl I know you might need to find that one as well.
You are in luck! There will be an adaptation of Persuasion with Dakota Johnson as the lead. You should check it out. Great list , I feel the same way about Mr.Darcy.
Great list, I agree with you about Brandon, but I don’t know if Alan Rickman had influenced me, for my list would be 1. Brandon 2. Darcy 3. Tilney 4. Wentworth 5. Knightly 6. Edmund 7. Edward 8. Bingley
Jennifer, I recently bought some oxford’s world classics, and I’m noticing the covers are peeling at the front. Do you know what I can do to combat this? I might just be rough when I read, but no other books give me this problem. Thanks!
I am reading Mansfield park for the first time, and oh boy. The hero and heroine in this book are definitely my least favorite of any couple. We will see how I feel by the end of the book.
I haven't read all of the books yet, so I can't list them. I agree about the age gap for two of the men and young girls. Last year I read P&P for the first time. Darcy came across as a narcissist. It would be fun if someone wrote a book continuing the story with Darcy being a narcissist and Lizzie's first impression being spot on!
The distinction you make between your enjoyment of the leading men as a reader and as a person is very interesting. As a reader, Darcy is my absolute favorite, but I'm sure I would not like him if I met him. I think I would be intimidated by his coldness and would not feel like talking to him. I would be much more at ease with Henry Tilney. On my last reread of Emma I came to appreciate Mr Knightley more than when I first read it. He is a caring and sensible person. I also like Captain Wentworth and Colonel Brandon. I'm not sure about Edward Ferrars: I love the character played by Dan Stevens in the 2008 adaptation, and Hugh Grant's interpretation is also good, but in the book I feel like Edward is not enough on the page to make him interesting.
In my ranking I put Mr. Darcy much higher than I would if the main criteria was my personal compatibility. Dissing my family would be a hurdle to get over, but then Tilney seemed to move past Catherine's basically calling his father a murderer. Not sure why I am okay with Brandon's age gap and Knightley not so much.
Catherine, your comment has made me spiral with Tilney! You're right that he gets over that so quickly. I also completely agree with your last point--Knightley's age feels weird to me in a way Brandon's doesn't. Maybe because he'd always been close with the family and so I think he must have always intended a relationship with Emma? It's weird.
To be honest, if Henry Crawford was constant with his affections for Fanny and stayed loyalto her, he should've ended up with her. Or Austen should've judt let Fanny remain single and happy. Edmund did not deserve her.
I’m against this common trope of older men conveniently falling in “true love” with the youngest, prettiest and most vulnerable girls. One really does get a sense that these male characters find comfort only in superiority, when their opinion is automatically the deciding one. Is there much value to their tenderness and care if they can express it only with people who can’t possibly threaten their high status? If I recall correctly, Mr Knightley even admits that at 29 years, he was dreaming of marrying then-13-years-old Emma. Ew. I’m sticking with Mr Darcy. He’s also very similar to my own personality, so I understand your reservations! But funnily enough, that also makes me understand his rude remarks about the Bennets, I too think they’re not a good match for him. If we got together, we could hide from our relatives together :)
It's strange to me how much the age gap with Knightley and Emma bothers me when it doesn't really stick out to me with Brandon and Marianne. His bond with their family makes it clear that a relationship with her was something he'd been thinking about. You make a good point about Darcy!
@@jenniferbrooks Maybe exactly because Knightley literally watched Emma grow up, and Brandon and Marianne only met when she was of age? That removes the ick factor for me a lot.
The funny thing is that the other Mansfield Park characters have more character growth than Edmund. I mean, in my latest reread I started falling for Tom not Edmund.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but to this day I can't watch Sense & Sensibility and take Alan Rickman seriously as Colonel Brandon. I mean, is it because I just see Professor Snape? Most likely. I need to read the book again because I need to remember how Brandon was actually written. I hate to be basic, but Darcy is my favourite, because I see a lot of my husband in him. He's shy, hates big social gatherings, and only danced with me when we were first dating to get my attention and has refused to dance in public ever since because he actually hates it 🤣
I’m so glad some other Austen fans appreciate Colonel Brandon as one of the best heroes. I often think he gets overlooked since most people are vested in the Elinor & Edward romance to notice Brandon as far more impressive than Edward. I’m also a huge fan of Mr. Knightley whom I think is almost tied with Brandon. And I wholeheartedly agree about Darcy. An adult rereading of the novel really turned me against him. I blame that BBC series for making him so swoon-worthy! He’s highly overrated.
Excellent point about Mr Darcy! He's a very compelling character but I definitely wouldn't date him, pretty much for the reasons you stated. Henry Tilney is and will always be number one for me (Wentworth is a close second), and you wouldn't believe how often I've had to defend my preference against people who don't understand how I could choose anyone over Darcy (it's all Colin Firth's fault for making Darcy so appealing, I'm sure :D ).
Mr. Knightley, Mr. Darcy, Captain Wentworth, Colonel Brandon, Henry Tilney, Edmund Bertram, and Edward Ferrars. I had to finish rereading Northanger Abbey before I could give you my ranking as my memories of Tilney were too fuzzy.
Time stamps in case you are yet to read them all:
00:52 Edmund - Mansfield Park
02:58 Edward - Sense and Sensibility
05:14 Mr. Darcy - Pride and Prejudice
07:58 Captain Wentworth
I'm in love with Henry Tilney
Emma would be outraged at you calling him 'Knightley'
Hhhhhhh
Number ONE
Captain Wentworth ❤❤❤❤
Good choice!
You’re definitely making me rethink my ranking! I would choose Tilney to date. I love his sense of humor. As a reader, Darcy is my favorite, but I wouldn’t want him in real life. Edward is lower on my list, too, but I still like him. I read an interesting article about engagements in that era and how women could sue men for breach of contract if they didn’t stick to their engagement. So it made me realize how stressful that whole situation actually was for him.
I do feel like I have to forgive Edward in some things because of the time period! He is very sweet.
Loved this video! Have you seen the 2007 Persuasion? I like Rupert Penry-Jones much more as Captain Wentworth than Ciaran Hinds. Also, that's so true that it's a real strength in S&S that you don't know who will end up with who.
Ciaran Hinds made me fall in love with Captain Wentworth even more. I do think he's my all time favorite, though I do love Henry Tilney too.
Maybe I'm due for a reread of Persuasion--everyone's comments have me thinking that I should be rereading all of her works.
Yes- Tilney!!! I feel he is so under-rated but like you said he’s got this light-hearted humour that really shines, such as when he says ‘Now I must give one smirk, and then we may be rational again’. Plus he knows about muslin.
Then it’d be Captain Wentworth. I think he’s an interesting character and I think his relationship with Anne is one of my favourites because it got all this pining, regret and history to explore. “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope’- I mean what more can you say!
Also there’s two persuasion adaptations in the works which i’m so excited for and wonder how each approach will differ. I think they are such a fun way to access the texts (I love the Northanger Abbey one in all it’s cheesy glory)
Whilst I like the character of Knightley, i agree i find the age gap a bit uncomfortable. Mainly because, he’s known her since she was a child and is friends with her father and is so obviously more experienced than her. In the book he tells her ‘I have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least’. He’s 16 years older so he would have been 29 and it doesn’t sit well with me. ‘At least’ as well like ‘ew she’s a child’.
The recent de Wilde adaptation was really lovely and smoothed some of his edges but i’ll have a soft spot for the BBC mini series with Jonny Lee Miller.
I quite enjoyed the 2007 Persuasion. This could or could not have anything to do with the fact that captain Wentworth is Thomas Hanilton from Black Sails
My rankings would probably be very similar 😂. My two favorites are definitely Colonel Brandon and Mr. Knightly. I probably am just into older men😂. Great video!
Lol, maybe I'm also just into older men!
Fun video Jennifer. 😊
The main difficulty, as I see it, in ranking all of Austen’s main men is that none of them are John Thornton from North and South by Gaskell! 😂😂
#JohnThornton4Evar 😬😬
I completely agree! LOL.
Loved this even more after our highly complex group chat 😄😍 I seriously need to reread Northanger Abbey asap, I think Tilney may go up in my estimation after that 🤔
I feel like I need to reread Northanger Abbey as well.
Yes to what you said about Darcy, Tilney AND Brandon! I feel like I need to do this same video, but I also think I might say all the same things as you. Hmmmm let’s see
1. Tilney
2. Brandon
3. Wentworth
4. Mr. Knightley
5. Edward
6. Edmund
Yes! Do that video! Tilney is so great and I'm glad to see some love for him.
Jennifer, what fun! I’m re-reading all of her novels this month but studying them for the rake characters. It’s my “Ranking the Rake” month. Scandalous! But speaking of Ciarán Hinds, have you seen him play Mr. Rochester in the 1997 Jane Eyre? If not I suggest it for a viewing. Happy Jane Austen month! 📖
Forgot my list:
1. Mr. Knightly
2. Captain Wentworth
3. Colonel Brandon
4. Henry Tilney
5. Mr. Darcy
6. Edward Ferrars
7. Edmund Bertram
Ciaran Hinds would be an ideal Rochester!! I will have to watch that this Victober. Love your list! I see that we agree on a lot.
@@jenniferbrooks must be my time for Mr. Hinds! I found a copy of him in an apparently made A&E production of Ivanhoe! Girl I know you might need to find that one as well.
You are in luck! There will be an adaptation of Persuasion with Dakota Johnson as the lead. You should check it out. Great list , I feel the same way about Mr.Darcy.
I'm so looking forward to that because I love her!
Great list, I agree with you about Brandon, but I don’t know if Alan Rickman had influenced me, for my list would be
1. Brandon
2. Darcy
3. Tilney
4. Wentworth
5. Knightly
6. Edmund
7. Edward
8. Bingley
Alan Rickman definitely influenced me and I have no shame, lol! I forgot Bingley! But I think I'd have to agree with your ranking of him.
Jennifer, I recently bought some oxford’s world classics, and I’m noticing the covers are peeling at the front. Do you know what I can do to combat this? I might just be rough when I read, but no other books give me this problem. Thanks!
I am reading Mansfield park for the first time, and oh boy. The hero and heroine in this book are definitely my least favorite of any couple. We will see how I feel by the end of the book.
I haven't read all of the books yet, so I can't list them. I agree about the age gap for two of the men and young girls. Last year I read P&P for the first time. Darcy came across as a narcissist. It would be fun if someone wrote a book continuing the story with Darcy being a narcissist and Lizzie's first impression being spot on!
I agree with you completely about Darcy! Narcissist is a good word for him.
The distinction you make between your enjoyment of the leading men as a reader and as a person is very interesting. As a reader, Darcy is my absolute favorite, but I'm sure I would not like him if I met him. I think I would be intimidated by his coldness and would not feel like talking to him. I would be much more at ease with Henry Tilney.
On my last reread of Emma I came to appreciate Mr Knightley more than when I first read it. He is a caring and sensible person. I also like Captain Wentworth and Colonel Brandon. I'm not sure about Edward Ferrars: I love the character played by Dan Stevens in the 2008 adaptation, and Hugh Grant's interpretation is also good, but in the book I feel like Edward is not enough on the page to make him interesting.
Yes, it doesn't feel like we get enough of Edward to really understand him. The actors in the adaptations gave him more than the book did, I think.
In my ranking I put Mr. Darcy much higher than I would if the main criteria was my personal compatibility. Dissing my family would be a hurdle to get over, but then Tilney seemed to move past Catherine's basically calling his father a murderer.
Not sure why I am okay with Brandon's age gap and Knightley not so much.
Catherine, your comment has made me spiral with Tilney! You're right that he gets over that so quickly. I also completely agree with your last point--Knightley's age feels weird to me in a way Brandon's doesn't. Maybe because he'd always been close with the family and so I think he must have always intended a relationship with Emma? It's weird.
To be honest, if Henry Crawford was constant with his affections for Fanny and stayed loyalto her, he should've ended up with her. Or Austen should've judt let Fanny remain single and happy. Edmund did not deserve her.
Yes, the age gap in Emma kinda ruined the whole book for me
Yes, it really sticks out in Emma where it doesn't in the other books for me, not sure why.
Mr Tilney!!!! :DDD
I’m against this common trope of older men conveniently falling in “true love” with the youngest, prettiest and most vulnerable girls. One really does get a sense that these male characters find comfort only in superiority, when their opinion is automatically the deciding one. Is there much value to their tenderness and care if they can express it only with people who can’t possibly threaten their high status? If I recall correctly, Mr Knightley even admits that at 29 years, he was dreaming of marrying then-13-years-old Emma. Ew.
I’m sticking with Mr Darcy. He’s also very similar to my own personality, so I understand your reservations! But funnily enough, that also makes me understand his rude remarks about the Bennets, I too think they’re not a good match for him. If we got together, we could hide from our relatives together :)
It's strange to me how much the age gap with Knightley and Emma bothers me when it doesn't really stick out to me with Brandon and Marianne. His bond with their family makes it clear that a relationship with her was something he'd been thinking about. You make a good point about Darcy!
@@jenniferbrooks Maybe exactly because Knightley literally watched Emma grow up, and Brandon and Marianne only met when she was of age? That removes the ick factor for me a lot.
The funny thing is that the other Mansfield Park characters have more character growth than Edmund. I mean, in my latest reread I started falling for Tom not Edmund.
Henry Tilney may just be my dream man.
I might have to agree with you!
Definitely Colonel Brandon for me as well. It's a pity he ends up with Marianne though.
I agree--I sympathize with Marianne a little more than I used to but I still think she does some incredibly foolish things.
Colonel Brandon is the ultimate tragic hero.😎💜📚
Yes!
Starts video: Mr Knightley Number 1 or go broke!
Ends video: Okay, fine! 😂
Normally he is number 1 and now I feel I've let him down, lol!
This might be an unpopular opinion, but to this day I can't watch Sense & Sensibility and take Alan Rickman seriously as Colonel Brandon. I mean, is it because I just see Professor Snape? Most likely. I need to read the book again because I need to remember how Brandon was actually written. I hate to be basic, but Darcy is my favourite, because I see a lot of my husband in him. He's shy, hates big social gatherings, and only danced with me when we were first dating to get my attention and has refused to dance in public ever since because he actually hates it 🤣
The part where he impersonates a ”gypsy” is so weird lol
I'd marry some of these men...and I'm not even that interested in marriage. 🤣😂😂 but I'd make an exception here.
I’m so glad some other Austen fans appreciate Colonel Brandon as one of the best heroes. I often think he gets overlooked since most people are vested in the Elinor & Edward romance to notice Brandon as far more impressive than Edward. I’m also a huge fan of Mr. Knightley whom I think is almost tied with Brandon. And I wholeheartedly agree about Darcy. An adult rereading of the novel really turned me against him. I blame that BBC series for making him so swoon-worthy! He’s highly overrated.
Yes, I think as I've aged, the appeal of Darcy has certainly gone down. The adaptations have certainly made him more alluring!
Excellent point about Mr Darcy! He's a very compelling character but I definitely wouldn't date him, pretty much for the reasons you stated. Henry Tilney is and will always be number one for me (Wentworth is a close second), and you wouldn't believe how often I've had to defend my preference against people who don't understand how I could choose anyone over Darcy (it's all Colin Firth's fault for making Darcy so appealing, I'm sure :D ).
Yes, I blame Colin Firth and Matthew MacFayden for everything! They're too charming!
Mr. Darcy does nothing for me. I don’t like brooding men. I’m on Team Colonel Brandon!