October 4, 2005

The Real Pemberley?


The Chatsworth estate, pictured above, is featured in the latest issue of Town & Country Magazine (which I don't read, but may pick up this one time) and the new P&P movie. Luxist reports that Austen’s description of Pemberley in the novel is said to have been based on this Derbyshire mansion. Just for fun, here are some quotes about Pemberley from Pride and Prejudice:
"Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it."
"They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;—and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!"
and of course when Lizzy says...
"It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley."
--Kim

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous4:25 AM

    I love Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and I love Matthew Macfadyen.... Pemberley is beautiful...

    ReplyDelete