Tag for Blog Birthday: Historical Classics

+Joy C.  over at Fullness of Joy is holding a week-long birthday party for her blog!  Part of the celebrations are tags about different genres of books, so I decided to be festive and join in.  :D  Check the tags out in the comments of  Fullness of Joy as well as the giveaway she is holding with lovely prizes from some sweet Etsy stores.  Anyway, here's my tag:  Historical Classics


1. Tell us  a little bit about yourself, your tastes, and the little hobbies and things that your readers probably don't know about you!
As you are reading my blog, you have probably figured out that my name is Emily!  :)  I am 19 years old and have one younger brother (9) and six lovely younger sisters ranging in age from 17 to 2 1/2 (nearly!).  I love connecting with people and socializing like the homeschooler I am.  ;)  I like cooking, housekeeping, babies, children, and classical music.  (As I type, I am listening to Bizet's opera - I'm not sure which one, but it is rather enjoyable.  :D)  Currently I am studying for my diploma in Liberal Arts (go look it up!) and net year I hope to do doula training along side a business course.  After that, I may go into naturopathy.

2. Books! We really do love them. . . but we all have preferences of what kind of books we love best. What is your favourite genre to read from (and to write in, if you happen to be a writer too)? Could you tell us why?
My favourite genre would have to be historical fiction.  I'm not sure why - perhaps because I love history, but I also love real life, which makes the historical part more real.

3. Are you fond of classic literature or do you generally find them too "dry" and hard-going for your tastes? Alternately, how much of your reading diet consists of books written by authors of the 21st century? Are you more fond of the old books or the new. . . or maybe a little bit of both?
I do love classic literature!  Once I get into the style of it I can get quite carried away by the lilt of the language.  :)  I don't often read from 21st century authors, mainly because those I have tried usually end up terribly immoral.

4. What is your favourite historical time period and setting? How did you come to be especially interested in it? Would you be happy to live in that time-period or era? 
I have always loved WW2 (and it's a toss up!), but I think I would have to say my ultimate favourite would be the pioneers and the advance westward.  I really admire the strength of especially the women - how they accompanied their husbands, were self-sustaining and raised their children.  I also love the fashion and the domestic arts of the times.  I would very much be happy to go and live then!

5.. List three of your favourite classic authors (authors from the 1500s and up to the very early 1900s such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain etc. . . )? What makes you love them so much?
Jane Austen is definately there - I'm not so big on some of her books (I hate Sense and Sensibility for some reason!) by Emma and Pride and Prejudice make up for everything else.  :)  Next would be Shakespeare (he just scrape in there!).  I have read a few of his plays and, once again, when I got into the swing and flow of the language, I really enjoyed it.  Some of them are genuinely funny - it just goes to show how real humour doesn't really change with time.   Luy Maud Montgomery would be my third.  I am not huge on some of the later Anne books, but the first two will ever remain dear to my child-heart.  :)  Also (because I can't stop at three, sorry Joy!  :P) Susan Coolidge is wonderful and beautiful too.  :)  And of course, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

6. What type of "Historical classic" is your favourite: Adventure and exploration, romance, mystery, social, memoir, or political?
I would have to say romance in a clean setting  :)  Although social is pretty good too.

7. Share some of your most well-loved heroines from historical novels in literature, and why you love them so much! What virtues/traits in them would you like to attain yourself? 
I adore Katy Carr from Susan Coolidge's books.  I can relate to her a lot too as the eldest in a large family, wanting to by a loving, adored big sister (as well as being very tall, but that isbeside the point right now!  ;) )  Katy is so sweet and learns important lessons in achieving gentle womanhood, godliness, turning the other cheek, etc.

8. Who are your favourite heroes from historical literature? (You may share up to five). What makes them stand out among the rest as special?
I will only say one, and that is Mr. Darcy.  I just love the way he protects and dotes on his little sister and has such an upright character even when surrounded by fools and scoundrels.  He deserved Elizabeth.  :)

9.  List your favourite "classic" novels. . . (as this is a painful question, you may list more than one!)
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
What Katy Did (all of the books)
Little Women
I shall leav it there even though I could go on for quite some time! :D

10. Which period-drama movies, (adaptions from historical classic works of fiction), fall under your favourite pile? Do you prefer the more modern adaptions or the old ones? Faithful renditions, or the more exciting ones?
The old BBC rendition of Pride and Prejudice is pretty much flawless in my opinion, so it definitely wins over the 'new' one.  Ummm... I like the old BBC Emma (I haven't seen the new one yet.)  Would you believe I can't think of any others - they'll come to me after I press the publish' button.  ;)

11. Which historical classic has inspired and influenced you the most?
Probably What Katy Did.  As I said before, I really admire Katy's character development, and Cousin Helen is gorgeous too.

12. Give a list (preferably with pictures!) of your favourite period drama costumes (hats, hoops, gloves, parasols, etc) and from which movie/character they come from.
This one was tricky as I have a tendency to fall in love with any and all historical costumes.
My first one is from the first season of Little House on the Prairie.  Although she only appears in "To See the World" (not to mention she is a ratbag of a character!) I loved Miss Mimi's dresses!  It was hard to capture a still shot of one of them, but this wasn't too bad.

I also really like Charlotte Lucas' silvery-grey dress from the BBC Pride and Prejudice.  I couldn't find a good 'full shot' but the bodice itself it very pretty.  Personally, I don't think Charlotte is plain - she's gorgeous!  :)

13. How accurate do you think classic authors were about depicting history and accuracy of different cultures? Were they sometimes prejudiced or melodramatic in their descriptions, or do you think they often had a point to make?  
Half the time, I think there were points being made, particularly in a social light.  I suppose it boils down to each individual author. 

14. Think of the funniest "scene" in either a book or movie from classic literature, and share the quote/picture below (Gifs and animations allowed!)
Can't choose and actual favourite but this is one of the best moments in Pride and Prejudice.

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."  (Mr. Bennett)

15. Which villain of historical literature strikes the most dread and loathing in you?
Probably Bill Sikes from Oliver Twist.  

16.  How many Charles Dickens novels have you read? Do you enthusiastically love his stories, or sob in misery over them, or worse get bored by them?
Good question... Off the top of my head, I would say I have read about 4-5 Dickens books.  I wouldn't say I enthusiastically loved them, but I enjoyed them a lot.

17. Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, or Elizabeth Gaskall?
Jane Austen all the way.  :D

18. Favourite French Revolution novel?
Can't say I've read heaps of those, but I am currently reading The Scarlet Pimpernel which I am quite enjoying.

19. North and South or Pride and Prejudice? Mr. Darcy or Mr. Thornton? 
I'll have to say Pride and Prejudice as I have never read North and South.  I tried, but I picked up the wrong "North and South" at the library.  Oops!  That makes my pick go to Mr. Darcy by default.

20. Which historical classic struck you with the most sense and depth of faith and the author's perception of morality, ethics and the Christian walk? Can you share a little bit about it?
I can't actually think of an answer to this question.  There's Elsie Dinsmore, of course, but I don't feel like going there right now.  :)  I can recall times where I have wondered about the back ground of particular authors, but I can't think of who they were at the moment.

21. Who is your favourite side-kick (secondary character) in literature of this genre? 
I love Harriet Smith in Emma.  She is so sweet and trusting (to her undoing though it be!).  My favoutite quote of hers would be, "Is it mermaid, Miss Woodhouse?"  :D

22. List five "Historical Classics" you are especially looking forward and eager to read in the near future.
Northanger Abbey,  Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Pilgrim's Progress, Hind's Feet on High Places, and one or other of Dickens (I haven't decided yet!)

23. What was the first historical classic novel you ever read and how did it strike you?
I actually can't remember as I have been reading them for years!  It was probably Anne of Green Gables Or Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm...

24. What would inspire you to pick up a historical piece of literature - namely a "classic"? Do you believe it is important for our generation to get back to reading the classics? What do you believe are both the benefits, negatives and overall effects of treasuring historical stories written by authors of the past?
I would read a classic just because I want to read - they beat modern books by a long shot!  Which is why I think it is important for people today to read classics - most of the stuff published today is absolute junk, not to mention the style of English and the language is much better quality.