Thursday 5 December 2013

Scones with Mr Darcy by Annie Burrows


Novelista Annie Burrows writes historical romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon.  This month, pretending it was research, she went on the hunt for Mr Darcy...


This year is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".  As part of the celebrations, a huge statue of Colin Firth is on tour throughout the UK, at locations where various parts of the 1995 BBC series were filmed.

I'm lucky enough to live close to Lyme Park, which stood in for Pemberley, Mr Darcy's home. 
  

And yes, that is where he dived into the lake, got his shirt soaked, and won Lizzy Bennet's heart (according to the Andrew Davies adaptation!)  And it is at Lyme Park where the 12ft fibreglass statue will make its permanent home.

First off, my chauffeur and I went to the tea rooms.  The scones were enormous, fluffy on the inside, and crispy on the outside.  While the chauffeur was warming his hand on a mug of tea, I went off to try on some Regency gowns, which I'd noticed that visitors could try on.   

I had great fun dressing up as a Regency lady, and imagining myself the owner of a stately home.











On the day I went to Pemberley (ok, Lyme Park, but I was starting to get into the spirit of things by the time I'd tried on the costume), visitors could also take a horse and carriage ride.





There was also a collection of the costumes worn during the filming of the BBC series.  Below are:
Lizzy and Mr Darcy's walking costumes


 










Lizzy and Mr Darcy's wedding costumes











and
That Shirt! 








Finally, we wandered round the grounds until we came to the lake, into which Mr Darcy (or rather Colin Firth) dived to cool off on that memorable day when Lizzy Bennet came calling.  And there he was, dripping wet and twelve feet tall.









Annie's next book is out in January.  "Courtship in the Regency Ballroom" contains reprints of two of her early stories: "His Cinderella Bride", and "Devilish Lord, Mysterious Miss."


2 comments:

  1. It's not everyday that chauffeurs would go to where Mr. Darcy had lived, so this must've been something dfferent for him! Going around places with a chauffeur saves time and is more comfortable than using cabs, so it was a great idea to get one for this trip!
    Richard Page @ RDP Chauffeurs

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  2. sorry, Richard - but when I speak of my chauffeur I am actually referring to my long-suffering husband who has to ferry me to all sorts of places I'm sure he'd rather not go. I bribe him with promise of scones, rather than proper payment, but in National Trust properties, they are always payment enough. Maybe one day, when I write that best seller, I will hire a real chauffeur. But until that day, I shall have to just make do with my husband!

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