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Meme: Top Ten Tuesday

The Top Ten Tuesday meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. If you like my list, visit the main site and click on to some of the other lists.

First I have some predictions: I predict that Fitzwilliam Darcy will appear on at least three lists and Rhett Butler on at least two. Lord Peter Wimsey and Mr. Rochester may appear as well, but I hope not Heathcliff. However, you will not find any of these well-loved gentlemen on my list ;-)

Here are 10 literary crushes of mine, past and present, platonic and romantic, in no particular order – except the first one, who can always make my knees tremble.

  • Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon, from These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. I love to read about bad boy heroes, and this is the archetypal reformed rake.
  • William of Baskerville. This may seem like an unusual choice, but I was very taken with this character when I first read The Name of the Rose (Umberto Eco), because of his honesty and fairness and sharp intelligence. Any relationship would have to be a platonic one, as he is a monk. Disclaimer: This choice was not influenced by Sean Connery hotness.
  • Davy Dempsey. Another bad boy. I found him scary-sexy in Welcome to Temptation, but he had mellowed out and become rather attractive once he got his own book (Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie).
  • Sir Kenneth from The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott. A very old crush of mine – I think I was about 14 when I first read the book. It has a very romantic and highly implausible adventure plot, but oh boy, Sir Kenneth is the epitome of the chivalrous lover.
  • If I had to name one Austen hero I have had a crush on, it would be Mr. George Knightley from Emma. For his sense of humour, practicality and patience.
  • Roderick Alleyn, from the Ngaio March series, especially as he is in the early books before he meets Agatha Troy.
  • Commissaire Adamsberg from the books by Fred Vargas. He is often morose and depressed, but at his best he is funny and very, very sexy. Definitely influenced by Jean-Hugues Anglade hotness.
  • Inspector Montalbano from the books by Andrea Camilleri. I love a man who loves good food.
  • Roarke, from the In Death books by J.D. Robb. Yet another bad boy and an archetypal romance hero: sexy, rich and very intelligent.
  • Hugo Darracott, from The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer. For his naughty sense of humour.

Comments

Ali @ Vorvolaka said…
Oh my, Roarke. I forgot about him, although I'm not sure he would have made my final list.
Bibliophile said…
Roarke is my stand-in for all the romantic Alpha heroes I have liked who are not the Duke of Avon ;-)
Bev Hankins said…
Oh! Roderick Alleyn! What a great choice. I wish I'd thought of him before looking at your list. Now, I'd just be stealing your idea. But Alleyn is wonderful.
Anonymous said…
Oooh now I love your list because it's so different! As for your predictions -- yes! Ha. I think I've seen Darcy on almost everyone's list (but not mine).
Daisy said…
Yay for Mr. Knightley! I love him as well :) Don't know any of the other men on your list though..
Dorte H said…
I don´t know that many of your heroes, but I agree that Mr Knightley is a gem among men :D
Anonymous said…
Also a big Mr Knightley fan here!
Kayla + Cyna said…
Darcy made my list, but I think Knightly would probably have been second. :) Exactly as you said, it's his patience and humor and charm that make him such an admirable guy. I read a book once where the author mentioned that she thought Knightly would be the least interesting Austen hero in the sack, and was quite offended :( Kind and patient /= boring and predictable.
I think you were right about your predictions. LOL. I like your list it's very different from most, and even though I don't know any of them. I commend you for being different.

http://bookaholicaanonymous.blogspot.com/2010/10/top-10-fictional-characters.html

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