Hot Guys in Doublets: Henry Crawford

I know that I'm not supposed to fall for the bad guys but Jane Austen gets me EVERYTIME! I love Whiloughby and Whickham for all their charming ways. But this last one caught me off guard (because his name doesn't start with a WH)

Henry Crawford from Mansfield Park

We know from the beginning that he's a bit of a cad but oh, how he tries to be good.

And oh, how he LOVES Fanny (even when it seems like nobody else does)

He could rescue her from poverty (purely because he wants to spend the rest of his life with her)

And she could rescue him from his selfish tendencies and his improprietious background.

I think one of the happiest engagements I've ever seen was in the 1999 film version* when Fanny accepted him after his countless kindnesses and then my heart broke for the guy when she called it off. In fact you can see how poor Henry took it in Sharp Dressed Man at 1:56. He's the guy with the flowers.
My heart breaks at the part of Sharp Dressed Man, each time.

Now with that being said, he doesn't end up being the best guy in the world (and we had enough foreshadowing to know that he wouldn't be) and like his WH friends, the ladies are better off without them.

Darn those charming bad guys. With these tendencies it's a good thing I married such a nice guy.

Did you know that there are people who chose sides in this book?
Are you Team Henry
or Team Edmund?

*in the book Fanny never accepts his proposal

Hot Guys in Doublets: Jonny Lee Miller

Shall we? I think we shall.

If they ever pull this video from YouTube these posts just aren't going to be the same.

Recognize this guy?

This, my friends, is Jonny Lee Miller.

The picture is from Mansfield Park (1999)

So is this one

And this one

Why do we love the silly character of Edmund?

He is riddled with faults.

He foolishly falls in love with the money grubbing Mary Crawford

He completely ignores the pining Fanny. (no jokes please)

He doesn't like theatrics and then against his better judgement joins in.

BUT

He is deeply devoted to his family.

He loves Fanny, really loves her.

He loves God and becoming a clergyman more than he loves Mary.

He sees his folly and repents of it

and if Fanny can forgive him, so can I.

Many of you probably know that this isn't the only place you can see Jonny Lee Miller in a doublet

(and in an Austen film for that matter)

He played the adorable Mr.Knightly in

the BBC's Emma (2009)

and another picture for good measure

Oh, and the scrumptious Lord Byron
in Byron (2003) (thanks Anna)

But did you know that Jonny Lee Miller was married to Angelina Jolie from ‘96-‘99?

I'm sure some of you are shaking your head and muttering "Where do you think we've been. Of course we know!"

Well for those of you who didn't...now, you do!

And we will part, until next time, with this picture.

Good-bye, Mr. Miller!

Next time I think we'll visit Mansfield Park again. Any guesses who it will be?