What would my name be?
I was named after one of Jane Austen’s most famous characters – the broody, distant, unobtainable, moral “Mr. Darcy.”
Except Mummy was persuaded to get a girl, but she remained determined to finally have a “Mr. Darcy” in her life. She had waited and waited and when none came along, she decided she would have her own – albeit four-legged. So she got a dog, or rather, a bitch, and re-named me – “Miss Darcy.”
There is indeed a Miss Darcy – Fitzwilliam Darcy’s sister, Georgina – yet if anyone would ask my namesake, they only refer to Mr. Darcy. And in many cases, they ask if I was named after Darcey Bussell. The answer is – the one and only Jane Austen’s broody Mr. Darcy.
Maybe that explains why I’m distant and aloof!
May’s comment: Today marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen. She was born, lived and died in the county of Hampshire – the inspiration for many of her novels.
“Mr. Darcy” is probably one of her most well-known characters and Pride and Prejudice one of her most read books. The first sentence of the book –
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.“
– immediately connects with the unacknowledged expectations of many women. When we, women speak of “Mr. Darcy” – it speaks of certain attributes that seems universally intriguing. So what is it about Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy?
Someone explained – he is “unobtainable, distant, brooding, moral and tall!” and another added, “Integrity is a very sexy attribute in a man!”.
Do we always like those we can’t have?
And when I decided it was time a “Darcy” came into my life – it was a lot easier that she came four-legged! 
This was my copy of “Pride and Prejudice” which I read in Sixth Form (many moons ago). I liked it so much, it moved countries, homes and crossed oceans with me. The handwritten notes on the pages yellow with age seem so innocent and eager – showing even back then, that dream of a Mr. Darcy was always there.
