In love with Regency and Victorian

If I have a time machine or Doraemon's dokodemo door, I would like to travel back to the good Old England of the 18th or 19th century, and maybe early 20th century. I'll visit Mr. Thontorn's cotton mill in Milton, pluck some yellow roses near Margaret's house in Helstone, attend dinner parties at Lizzie and Mr. Darcy's Pemberley, Mary Lennox's secret garden, let Josephine curl and burn my hair, or go to the moor with Jane Eyre.

Most of the novels are set during the Regency, Victorian or Edwardian Era. My love for the era and these 'so-called' boring books begin with the reputable Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Her works are all amazing.

Pride and Prejudice (2005). Beautiful scenery, beautiful people.

I love the atmosphere of the era, the gentility, civility, the way they speak, their manners--- gentle, witty, polite, but sometimes sharp and funny. They were educated and trained to be intelligent ladies and gentlemen. Of course the sensation between men and women, husband and wives, or among family and friends were much more conservative at that era but these stories aren't just about superficial love and sex (like modern love stories do). They deal with many other issues such as feminism, sickness, death, religion, war, welfare, slavery, struggles to fight against destiny and fortune etc etc.

During Jane Austen's time, women struggled with unfairness in social status, inheritance, marriage and ignorance. In Little Women (by Louisa May Alcott), it's American Civil War and infectious diseases. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell talked about the beginning of industrialization of Northern England. These avid storytellers vividly portrayed their lives and immortalize the heroes and heroins. I have no idea how these amazing female writers came up with such revolutionary ideas about family, love and marriage. And these thoughts are still inspiring people all around the world until today.

Persuasion (2007). If you know Jane Austen's biography, this drama will break your heart.  

Talking about love and romance, modern dramas are not my cup of tea, at all. I can never finish watching an idol drama because I end up getting so angry with the illogical plots. 

My top 5 Regency and Victorian Romance and their film adaptation:

• Pride and Prejudice
• North and South
• Persuasion
• Jane Eyre
• Little Women

North and South (2004). VERY VERY sexy Richard Armitage.

Jane Eyre (2011). Extremely artistic portrayal of the characters and English countryside.

Little Women (1994).  Heartwarming.

My other addiction Sherlock Holmes lived in the 19th and early 20th century as well. Despite his eccentric manner and thoughts,  he was a real gentleman, an extremely smart and interesting Englishman, if only he was not that...odd and unbearable. 

Oh... that beautiful era!