Monday, December 29, 2008

Talk about someone to look up to!

This month has been the month of complete surprises movie wise. I absolutely love movies about Renaissance and Victorian women but The Duchess took me for a ride. Brilliant, beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring, are all words I'd use to describe Keira Knightley as the Duchess of Devenshire. Married to a man she barely knows with the intention that she will fulfill her duties to give the Duke a male child. At the time I guess it would have thrown the whole dynamics for a loop if they told people back then that the man actually determines the sex of the child not the woman.

Based on the real life story of the real Duchess of Devenshire, a great great great ancestor of Princess Diana, her life really brings to the surface what it means to be a strong woman. Her husband "loves" every woman in town other than her, she is forced to endure pregnancy after pregnancy with tons of miscarriages and still borns in hopes to give birth to a son, she is forced to raise a daughter that came from an affair her husband had, and her marriage is completely loveless. Though divorce was a possibility back then with a powerful husband that becomes a pretty tough reality. She does find solace in one woman friend she has who in the end betrays her in the worst way.

I really don't want to give the whole story away for those of you who are not history buffs that do not know how it goes. But there is a pretty sexy affair with the future Earl Grey. I found myself admiring The Duchess and crying uncontrollably for her losses. Thank goodness everyone in the house was asleep when I watched it as I spent a good twenty minutes sobbing on the couch during one part of the movie.

I first watched The Duchess on my standard tv in the bedroom and then later watched it on bluray on my big screen. The Duchess is not necessarily the sort of movie I would have thought about the benefits of bluray but the gorgeous dresses, castles, and scenery of England lends itself perfectly to The Duchess in bluray. There are not a ton of extras in the bluray edition which is very unusual but there is a feature that looks at the life of the real Duchess of Devenshire which is well worth the watch.

Do be warned though The Duchess is for adult viewers only. There are some mild nuity, sexual conduct and adult issues.

The Duchess is available right now on DVD and you can pick up your copy at Amazon.

I have three copies of The Duchess to give away to my readers!
To enter :

  • Leave a comment on this post. Check out The Duchess and tell me who is your renissance or victorian hero!
  • Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
  • Please US entries only.
  • To get extra credit :
    • For an extra entry :
    • Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
    • Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
    • One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
    • This contest will end Jan 15th at midnight!

158 Comments:

Brn2lisn said...

I'm not really sure if he can be considered a hero, however is someone from the Victorian age that I admire. That would be Charles Dickens.

brn2lisn(at)gmail(dot)com

mverno said...

i always liked sherlock holmes

Aisling said...

I cry every time I read the story of Mary, Queen of Scots. Her foolish behavior caused so many of her own problems, but she really never had anyone to provide wise guidance.

kdj617 said...

old queen vic herself, thank you

Karen said...

Mary, Queen of Scots.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Kim said...

Duuuh--Queen Victoria!!! ;)

Kim said...

Subscriber, too.

clenna said...

I'm a subscriber

Shelley K. said...

I would have to go with Mary Queen of Scotts. I just finished a reallly good book on her (one of those "historical fiction ones") but it was SO interesting!!) I just really find that would era so fascinating. (Of course Anne Boyeln too was pretty interesting but she didn't end up so well, did she...and for that matter, neither did Mary Queen of Scotts, but at least she became a Saint!! Not so, poor ole Anne Boyeln. LOL!

Thanks for a great giveaway.

tskrush (at) cox (dot) net

clenna said...

I think that Catherine, King Henry's first wife is someone i admire. She put up with Henry and fought for her daughter to become Queen.

Shelley K. said...

I am a subscriber (email)

tskrush (at) cox (dot) net

Misty said...

id have to say Queen Victoria... dosent get much easier then that.
thank you.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com

Misty said...

subscribed.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com

clenna said...

I follow

Misty said...

following you.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com

Misty said...

got your button.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com

Misty said...

blogged it!
http://thismommyhasanopinion.blogspot.com/2008/12/duchess-giveaway.html

thank you & happy new year!
mommy2skie@yahoo.com

Becky said...

I have always thought of Tennyson's Ulysses as a hero. I know weird but I have always loved the poem.

Thanks so much!

Becky said...

I am a subscriber!

clynsg said...

I wouldn't call her a hero(ine) since she had such a short life and was so much at the mercy of those around her, but I have always felt sad about Lady Jane Grey. I doubt that she ever wanted to be queen, but she became a pawn in the politics of others who had great ambitions for themselves.

clynsg at yahoo.com

clynsg said...

I subscribe

clynsg at yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Queen Victoria!

shaunwallner[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I subscribed!

shaunwallner[at]yahoo[dot]com

Ellen C. said...

I would have to say Queen Victoria. Thanks for the chance.

sweetascandy579 at yahoo dot com

Carolyn Sharkas said...

I would have to say Mary, Queen of Scotts, her life is such a poignant story.

thanks for sharing

ceashark at aol dot com

Carolyn Sharkas said...

I am a subscriber.

thanks again

ceashark at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Leonardo da Vinci the epitome of the Renaissance Man.

chad sexington said...

Basically any peasant that had the fortitude to create art in a time of squallor would be my hero. People these days don't know how good they have it.

Fangirl Jen said...

Johannes Kepler... astronomer. He helped change our view of ourselves in the universe.

Fangirl Jen said...

Your button is on my blog and I am a subscriber.

snowmermaid said...

The Duchess sounds like my kind of movie! I just viewed BBC's Wives and Daughters after also, seeing Bleak House via online viewing and absolutely love this film genre!

elenalecue said...

My Renaissance hero is undoubtedly William Shakespeare! Oh and count Sir Walter Raleigh in :)

therethere at mail dot ru

smythbr said...

Queen Victoria

Jackie said...

I would have to say Shakespeare. I love theater and his stories.

Jackie said...

I subscribe via email

dbadour said...

I guess one of my favorites was Catherine de' Medici. Some of the Renissance women were outrageous.

Sarah said...

I would say Leonardo da Vinci, talented in so many fields - art, science, architecture...

Sarah said...

I subscribe via Google Reader.

mrs.mommyy said...

daVinci is my choice- so talented

valerie2350 said...

queen victoria :)

valerie2350 said...

email subscriber

susan1215 said...

Queen Victoria

FawnGeorge said...

I enjoy those types of movies and books. Shakespear comes to mind.
I have the Duchess on my Netflix list.

mammalnut2000@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Did you know that
in 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910) earned a place in history
when she became the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree.
That was pretty impressive!

lisa said...

This is very easy..Charlotte Brontë, and amazing person and a brilliant writer.

lisa said...

Just left a comment; stephie, i forgot my email...it is msmith572@yahoo.com. Then just delete this so i am not disqualified.

Anonymous said...

I think Jane Eyre would be my Victorian heroine.

Thanks for the great giveaway.

Deborah Wellenstein said...

If i have to pick, I'll say Queen Victoria. Thank you!

Jessica Cote said...

I'd have to say Queen Victoria!

librarianmarketing said...

I have to say one of my heroines of the Victorian era is Jane Austen. She wrote during the Victorian era, but her novels focused largely on the Edwardian period of British history. Her novels may be even more popular today as they are repeatedly made into movies and serials.

Stephen Saunders said...

Queen Victoria

janetfaye said...

Shakespeare!

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

I am subscribed.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

Hero? My adored Shakespeare was a genius, but a hero? For a hero playwright, I guess I'd have to pick Marlowe, the playwright/spy who was so mysteriously murdered. What a dangerous brief life he led.

Kit Kat K said...

Queen Victoria would be my choice

toughturtles said...

good movie thank you

Smooshy said...

da vinci!

Tes283 said...

Jane Eyre
today that is my choice.

redron said...

Anne Boyeln

Shelly Leatham said...

I'd have to say Mary, Queen of Scots.

Shelly Leatham said...

I am a subscriber!! Thanks again!

jbeckett said...

Galileo

Anonymous said...

If fictional heroes count, I choose Sherlock Holmes.

Erica C. said...

jane eyre

betty R.~Simply Southern said...

have to be Queen Victoria..thank you and happy new year!!!

oldplace.betty(at)gmail.com

betty R.~Simply Southern said...

blogged you
oldwaybecomesnewagain~simply southern contest/giveaways

SeahorseLady said...

I would have to say Leonardo da Vinci who was one of the world's greatest artists.
Thanks for the nice giveaway.

SeahorseLady said...

I'm also a subscriber.

chromiumman said...

charlotte bronte, of course

evenstar said...

Queen Victoria

Theresa N. said...

My pick is Queen Victoria.
Thanks:)
Theresa N
wecneo(at)yahoo(dot)com

Julie Donahue said...

I'd have to say Mary Queen of Scots, me lassie.

Dumaurier said...

Elizabeth I comes to mind as the quintissential Renaissance heroine

Jennifer-Eighty MPH Mom said...

I would have to say Anne Bolyn...she had guts! Things didn't turn out too well for her, but I do admire her.

Anonymous said...

How about Queen Victoria

jason@allworldautomotive.com

Michelle S. said...

Mary, Queen of Scots.
Thanks for the giveaway, I would love to see this movie!

Anonymous said...

The ultimate Renaissance man? Why, Leonardo Da Vinci of course!
I'd LOVE to win this movie I've been dying to see, but been stuck at home with the kiddos.

treflea4 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I'm a suscriber, Thanks!

treflea4 at gmail dot com

Ally said...

My favorite renaissance hero is Michelangelo.

agsweeps [at] hotmail [dot] com

Valerie Taylor Mabrey said...

count me in to win thanks

loni broesch said...

Elizabeth Klett

Mysharona said...

Joan of Arc count?

ms-texas said...

Queen Victoria


debbiebellows@gmail.com

ms-texas said...

your button is on my blog!

http://debbiesfavoritesblog.blogspot.com/

debbiebellows@gmail.com

cdrury said...

cdrury@gmail.com
Just watched the Queen and it would have to be Victoria

cdrury said...

cdrury@gmail.com
subscriber

Denise S. said...

Joan of Arc

Erica said...

I'd have to say Queen Victoria. I don't know much about History but I love these kind of movies!

Thanks,

emailerica AT aol DOT com

Erica said...

I'm a subscriber.

emailingerica at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Joseph Armaugh from "Kings and Captains."

jmcharries@cox.net

Heather said...

Mary, Queen of Scots, she was to young to have all that responsibility on her shoulders.

Colette S said...

Queen Victoria.

...wait. I'll have to go with my Shakespeare!

kh123856 said...

My favorite is Queen Victoria :)

kristin(dot)harris80(at)yahoo(dot)com

LiveLaughLoveCj said...

Okay you didn't indicate fictional or non-fiction...

I'm going with Victorian - Mr. Darcy! He is alive and well in my imagination! :)

Kari said...

I'm going to go with Queen Victoria as well.

Kari said...

Im also a subscriber!!

elaina said...

I'm a faithful subscriber.

Anonymous said...

mary queen of scots has an amazing story:) thanks!
christinbanda@yahoo.com

Suzanne said...

Well that's a thinker. I have a fascination with life histories of royalty so I think I pick Queen Victoria. But if we are talking fiction then the much overlooked Dr. Watson.

Amanda said...

All those Gutsy women like Anne Bolyn. Wow.

wigget said...

lady jane gray

carolpie said...

Queen Victoria.

littlelatina said...

I love the story of Lady Jane Gray

robt6 said...

My favorite is Shakespeare, enter me please.

bkh61959 said...

Mary, Queen of Scotts, would be my pick also, thanks for the giveaway

Anonymous said...

HUGE HISTORY BUFF AND WOULD REALLY DIG IT IF I COULD WIN THIS HERE DVD; IT WOULD BE A GREAT HONOR TO HAVE IT APART OF MY DVD COLLECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

heaventrees said...

I have many heroes from the Victorian Era, real ones like Elizabeth Jane Cochran, who wrote under the pseudonym, Nellie Bly and in a man's world of journalism, was fearless in her journalistic endeavors.

I also have fictional heroes from that era, such as Scarlet O'Hara who so many see as a spoiled, conniving woman but they fail to understand that Scarlet was a survivor who also took care of her family.

SaraLee said...

Anne Bolyn...she had guts!

denyse said...

Queen Victoria- what a strong woman.

Ken said...

My victorian hero would be Sherlock Holmes. Please accept my entry. Thank you.

Kaycee said...

I always thought Queen Victoria was fascinating. Kinda on the subject, I remind the book "Sex with Kings" that I am reading right now!

kayceewilliams AT gmail DOT COM

bison61 said...

Queen Victoria

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My favorite renaissance hero is Botticelli!

kdnichols AT msn.com

Julieh said...

Lady Jane Grey.

Anonymous said...

queen Victoria

weblynx at hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I know he is fictional, but my favorite Victorian hero has always been Sherlock Holmes.

Unknown said...

would have to go with Mary Queen of Scotts. I just finished a reallly good book on her (one of those "historical fiction ones") but it was SO interesting!!) I just really find that would era so fascinating. (Of course Anne Boyeln too was pretty interesting but she didn't end up so well, did she...and for that matter, neither did Mary Queen of Scotts, but at least she became a Saint!! Not so, poor ole Anne Boyeln. LOL!

klp1965 said...

catherine of aragon

klp1965 said...

im a subscriber :)

Veronica said...

What a great giveaway!! Thanks for the chance :)

Anonymous said...

Fictional character: this is from when I was a kid, but remember Samantha, from the American Girls series? I always loved Uncle Gard.

Haha, yeah, I know.

azrosebud said...

Queen Victoria

tsslug said...

I am a subscriber
God bless our troops

Mommyhood is Thankless said...

Queen Victoria, she was such a strong woman!

mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com

Marie said...

Queen Victoria, of course, and William Morris.

vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

Jolene said...

queen victoria

Beverley said...

Leonardo DiVinci

Samantha P said...

i like Shakespeare!

Anonymous said...

I also would have to go with Queen Victoria. Thanks!
pjgirl74 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

My favorite is Queen Victoria

ardy22 at earthlink.net

dbacksfan001 said...

I have so much admiration for Queen Elizabeth I. Poor, brave woman!

Carolyn said...

From the Renaissance, I like Boccaccio. I enjoyed The Decameron.

Anonymous said...

Queen Elizabeth was a pretty remarkable woman!

Anonymous said...

Will Shakespeare

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I to have to say Queen Victoria!great contest thanks

ahdrad2932(at)msn(dot)com

Unknown said...

I love the whole story of elizabeth, from Henry to Anne Boleyn to Katherine Howard and how she overcame extreme obstacles, society, family near death and led her country in finding itself and becoming a world leader

ky2here said...

Wallace SImpson, of course. I love this movie. I keep playing the scene where she gets drunk and sets her hair on fire. Hysterical!

Jinxy and Me said...

I would choose Queen Victoria.

Jinxy and Me said...

I'm subscribed to your RSS feed

Storm Safety Blog said...

My favorite Renaissance hero is Benedick from Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." He's so full of himself, until he falls in love.

Jayfr said...

Holmes, Sherlock. Smart fellow.

Anonymous said...

Queen Victoria.

walters123 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Subscriber

walters123 (at) hotmail (dot) com

jennifer57 said...

i'm subscribed :)

Maja said...

queen victoria

Anonymous said...

Leonardo Da vinci is my gavorite. garrettsambo@aol.com

Leah said...

Leonardo da Vinci was truly phenomenally creative and our favorite!

Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))

leahita[at]gmail[dot]com

Leah said...

I also subscribe! : )))

leahita[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Queen Victoria

froggypartyof2@aol.com

mrstrooper said...

Michelangelo for sure!

Anonymous said...

Mary/Queen Of Scots

ray_jay_1983@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'm A Subscriber

theolotto said...

Sherlock holmes is my favorite.

Donna said...

Martin Luther

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

Queen Elizabeth I &
Vicent Van Gough!
If you ever get a chance to wathc VIncent & THeo~watch it ....it is awesome.......insanity mix with a God given talent for art.......along with his strange relationship with his brother.

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I subscribe

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I follow you too!

lilyk said...

My hero is William Shakespeare.

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