Always the master of detail, Jane Austen surely knew exactly what she was doing in choosing Fordyce. And many contemporary readers would have enjoyed the joke. Thanks for bringing us into the circle too.
This is so great. In the 2005 film, Mary's character is reading aloud to Kitty at the end, as the camera pans the home and we see where everyone's happily ever after has landed them — and she's working through a dense page of one of Fordyce's sermons in a fantastic monotone. I'll have to listen closer next time to figure out which one, exactly, she's reading.
Fordyce also turns up in Sheridan's "The Rivals" (1775 )when Lydia Languish is trying to conceal her real reading material (I.2).
Lydia's hairdresser has been using the sermons for curling papers.
LYDIA
Here, my dear Lucy, hide these books. Quick, quick!—Fling Peregrine Pickle under the toilet—throw Roderick Random into the closet—put The Innocent Adultery into The Whole Duty of Man—thrust Lord Aimworth under the sofa—cram Ovid behind the bolster—there—put The Man of Feeling into your pocket—so, so—now lay Mrs. Chapone in sight, and leave Fordyce's Sermons open on the table.
LUCY
O burn it, ma'am! the hair-dresser has torn away as far as Proper Pride.
LYDIA
Never mind—open at Sobriety.—Fling me Lord Chesterfield’s Letters.—Now for 'em.
This is great!
Thanks! Was fun to write
Always the master of detail, Jane Austen surely knew exactly what she was doing in choosing Fordyce. And many contemporary readers would have enjoyed the joke. Thanks for bringing us into the circle too.
That was exactly why I went looking, I remembered there would have been some point to even a passing reference.
This is so great. In the 2005 film, Mary's character is reading aloud to Kitty at the end, as the camera pans the home and we see where everyone's happily ever after has landed them — and she's working through a dense page of one of Fordyce's sermons in a fantastic monotone. I'll have to listen closer next time to figure out which one, exactly, she's reading.
oh fun, do let me know!
Fordyce also turns up in Sheridan's "The Rivals" (1775 )when Lydia Languish is trying to conceal her real reading material (I.2).
Lydia's hairdresser has been using the sermons for curling papers.
LYDIA
Here, my dear Lucy, hide these books. Quick, quick!—Fling Peregrine Pickle under the toilet—throw Roderick Random into the closet—put The Innocent Adultery into The Whole Duty of Man—thrust Lord Aimworth under the sofa—cram Ovid behind the bolster—there—put The Man of Feeling into your pocket—so, so—now lay Mrs. Chapone in sight, and leave Fordyce's Sermons open on the table.
LUCY
O burn it, ma'am! the hair-dresser has torn away as far as Proper Pride.
LYDIA
Never mind—open at Sobriety.—Fling me Lord Chesterfield’s Letters.—Now for 'em.
Haha very good! I had forgotten that