From Booking Through Thursday
You should have seen this one coming … Who is your favorite Male lead character? And why?
First, Eugene Wrayburn in Dickens's Our Mutual Friend. He's troubled, witty, intelligent and (I've always thought) quite sexy. I tried to find one of Marcus Stone's illustrations of him, but I couldn't, so here's a drawing by Denise Rajauski of Eugene as played by Paul McGann in the BBC adaptation a few years back.
Isn't he handsome?
Others: Mr. Knightley in Emma ("If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more") and Captain Wentworth in Persuasion ("I must learn to brook being happier than I deserve"). Need I say more?
I'm also fond of two of Anne Tyler's male leads in particular: Ian Bedloe in Saint Maybe and Barnaby Gaitlin in A Patchwork Planet. Neither is Mr. Knightley material--Ian is searching for redemption after a hasty remark of his leads to the death of two people; Barnaby is an ex-juvenile delinquent in rebellion against his wealthy Baltimore family--but they're lovable in their own right.
Historical fiction? I'm a sucker for any historical novel with Edward II & Co. in it, as regulars here well know (and I'm right fond of Hugh le Despenser the even younger, as Alianore has dubbed him, the hero of my own Hugh and Bess). I loved Jude Morgan's portrayal of James of Monmouth in The King's Touch. And I'm fond of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities.
Well of course I would have to say Hugh Despenser the younger, in the book I haven't finished writing yet ;-)
ReplyDeleteOtherwise it would definitely haveto be Llewelyn Fawr in Penman's 'Here Be Dragons'. He just seems so strong and masculine, yet caring at the same time *sigh*
Dare I say Richard III? Yes, I do dare. I'd also have to say Mr. Younger Despenser, who I find quite fascinating, in spite of himself. I'd also add, to go along with the heroines I previously listed, Jamie Fraser (OUTLANDER series)and Nathaniel Bonner (WILDERNESS series)
ReplyDeleteI must say Ross Poldark in the Poldark series, both in print and on the small screen. It was fun to see Alistair Cooke introduce a series that was basically a soap opera set in 18th Century Cornwall.
ReplyDelete