Okay, I've decided to start this. (Did we ever formally appoint a moderator? If so, please forgive me for overstepping!) I'll admit I've only read part of chapter 3 so far, RL keeps getting in my way. But first impressions, to be modified as needed by subsequent reading.... Lady Denham and Mr. Parker at first seemed to have something of a Lady Cat/Mr. Collins relationship...but as the chapter goes on, it seems that Lady Denham is neither as noble and Mr. Parker not as much of a sycophant as our similar pair from P&P. I hope we get to meet Lady Denham "in the flesh" before the end of Chapter 11. Just getting a bit of an impression now that Charlotte Heywood is as sharp an observer of humanity as Lizzy B. (I can't seem to help relating things back to P&P, I'll try not to do that as much in future.) Will Clara Brereton and Charlotte be friends or rivals when they meet? Reading on now....https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94967#msg-94967Mon, 25 May 2026 09:49:37 +0100 Phorum 5.2.22 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95025#msg-95025 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95025#msg-95025
And not such a stretch for last name/ first name I.e see Darcy, Fitzwilliam]]> Shemmelle JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 22:12:29 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95021#msg-95021 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95021#msg-95021
- and did anyone else think of the new one being 100 yards from the cliff edge and their having 4 small children?]]> Lise JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 19:55:29 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95020#msg-95020 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95020#msg-95020
It appears that as a surname it has a fairly long history. There are Anglo-Saxon roots to it, though folk etymology has it also going back to forms of St Denis, and thus (Norman) French. One of the most notable Sidneys in history is perhaps one of my favourite poets, Sir Philip Sidney, one of the first English writers of sonnets. From Elizabethan until early Georgian times, the Earls of Leicester were Sidneys. In the 18th century, a Townshend was created Baron Sydney and later elevated to Viscount Sydney; the Australian city is named after him. This Barony/Viscountcy was still extant in JA's times.

The use of Sidney as a Christian name seems to go back to one Algernon Sidney, an English republican whom Charles II had executed for treason in 1683. It seems that the name was more popular in post-Independence USA than in Britain for precisely those Republican, anti-monarchical leanings which I gather were more en vogue on the other side of the pond ;-)

I don't know if that has any importance for our Sidney Parker, but I figured I might just as well share my learnings.]]> Mari A. JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 19:53:32 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95019#msg-95019 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95019#msg-95019
I didn't know it was a Regency name either - if it were a fanfic, I'd probably be making snide remarks about him being destined for a Tiffany or Ashley. Which just goes to show one not to assume one knows everything ;-)]]> Mari A. JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 19:41:05 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95018#msg-95018 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95018#msg-95018
I also think it's interesting that, although Charlotte is supposed to be the heroine, we have heard almost nothing about her. Prodigious amounts of time have been spent discussing her parents, the Parkers, Lady Denham, Clara, even Sidney (it's spelled with an i in my version--I didn't know anyone had the name Sidney backk then), but Charlotte has hardly been discussed at all. I guess we're supposed to find out for ourselves what she's like--or maybe that there's less to say about her, because she has sense and character and few indosyncrasies.]]> Suzanne O JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 19:31:44 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95016#msg-95016 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95016#msg-95016
And Sanditon itself seems tiny. With no one actually there.]]> Lise JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 18:50:54 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95014#msg-95014 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95014#msg-95014
I'm very curious about Sydney Parker too, not least because this may be the most extravagant name JA ever gave to a male character.]]> Mari A. JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 17:32:23 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95012#msg-95012 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95012#msg-95012
Not much said yet about Miss Denham, the current baronet's sister. Just little clues about Sydney Parker (that's the brother's name, right?) -- enough to make me think he's more a man of the world than his older(?) brother. Will he and/or young Lord Denham be romantic interests for anyone? I'm beginning to worry that JA didn't have the chance to follow up on many of these relationships -- that must be why there are so many other authors who tried to finish the novel, they had these types of questions as well.

I felt rather sorry for Mrs. Parker. It seemed that she loved her old home, and definitely felt that Trafalgar House was in a less advantageous location for her children's sake especially. But Mr. Parker just had to have his view of the sea!]]> Carol P JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 17:05:21 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95011#msg-95011 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95011#msg-95011haute ton for generations.

I am eager to learn more about her and particularly about the relationship between her and Sir Edward Denham - I wonder if that will give us more clues as to Lady Denham's origins and whether she is universally regarded as highly as by Mr Parker.

She does not quite strike me as similar to Lady Catherine - she seems not secure enough in her grandeur, what with being a penny-pincher occasionally.]]> Mari A. JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 15:56:56 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95003#msg-95003 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,95003#msg-95003
It does as you say change the feeling]]> Shemmelle JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 12:17:04 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94993#msg-94993 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94993#msg-94993
Charlotte appears to have two potential romantic interests (Mr. Parker's brother and Sir Edward Denham), and two potential friends (Miss Denham and Miss Bereton). I can't help but wonder if Clara really is the model of virtues which Mr. Parker calls her--I can't help but think of Lucy Steele. In fact, I thought of S&S often, since that book is also full of rich old ladies who must be pleased for the sake of their money.

Don't get me wrong, I truly feel for the position Clara was in--the poor relation of relations!--but the fact that so much praise has been heaped upon her, not in JA's own words but Mr. Parker's, makes me suspicious. Of Charlotte we see nothing except that she has been kind to the Parkers, listens with amusement to all of Mr. Parker's descriptions, and is pleased at the idea of gaining a friend of good character and aimiable temper.]]> Suzanne O JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 02:28:11 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94991#msg-94991 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94991#msg-94991 Suzanne O JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 02:22:36 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94990#msg-94990 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94990#msg-94990
“[Lady Denham’s] Character served to lighten the tediousness of a long Hill, or a heavy bit of road, and to give the visiting Young Lady a suitable Knowledge of the Person with whom she might now expect to be daily associating.”

It might be part of why I find the writing so funny – the capitals make everything a bit portentous but the sentiments are funny so it all seems more comic on contrast.

“She was as thoroughly amiable as she was lovely, and since having had the advantage of their Sanditon Breezes, that Loveliness was complete.”]]> JanR JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 02:13:30 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94989#msg-94989 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94989#msg-94989
This is really very funny writing. “Who can endure a Cabbage Bed in October?” Mr. Parker is another of the great oblivious characters a la Mrs. Bennet and Miss Bates. His idea of “helping” by demanding to be supplied with lots of vegetables – aagh! And being all for the latest fashion – Waterloo over Trafalgar :) I wonder if the whole thing will continue so comic, what with the jostling heirs still to come. Like you, I want to meet Lady Denham.

Tasteful little Cottage Ornée was puzzling. Turns out Wikipedia really does have an article on everything. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_orn%C3%A9]]> JanR JAFF LibraryFri, 05 Apr 2013 02:12:01 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94967#msg-94967 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?16,94967,94967#msg-94967
I'll admit I've only read part of chapter 3 so far, RL keeps getting in my way. But first impressions, to be modified as needed by subsequent reading....

Lady Denham and Mr. Parker at first seemed to have something of a Lady Cat/Mr. Collins relationship...but as the chapter goes on, it seems that Lady Denham is neither as noble and Mr. Parker not as much of a sycophant as our similar pair from P&P. I hope we get to meet Lady Denham "in the flesh" before the end of Chapter 11.

Just getting a bit of an impression now that Charlotte Heywood is as sharp an observer of humanity as Lizzy B. (I can't seem to help relating things back to P&P, I'll try not to do that as much in future.)

Will Clara Brereton and Charlotte be friends or rivals when they meet? Reading on now....]]> Carol P JAFF LibraryThu, 04 Apr 2013 19:04:37 +0100