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What did women do before we had People magazine to define ultimate attractiveness and tell us which leading man is the Sexiest Man Alive? Since the sexiness of said men is debatable and so many more worthy contenders are passed over, I suggest adding fictional men to the ballot. Literary characters are timeless; they never age, lose their looks or compromise their reputation. A self-proclaimed book nerd, I maintain that the most attractive men exist in the world of stories. Obviously I haven’t read every book ever written and I prefer certain genres and characters, but let me nominate my top seven über-attractive men from literature. (Warning: Some spoilers ahead.)
1. Mr. Darcy (from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
Ladies, regardless of how good Colin Firth looks in the infamous wet, white shirt, we know that it’s the real Fitzwilliam Darcy who captures the heart of every Jane Austen fan at some point. He’s deliciously dark. He broods. And yes, he’s proud. And all this makes Mr. Darcy my number one leading man. What do I love most about Darcy? Besides the aforementioned brooding, which I cannot resist, his attractiveness increases with his willingness to go against tradition and societal pressures to love and marry the witty and independent heroine of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet. Plus, all those repressed emotions! One of my favorite Darcy moments comes when Elizabeth and that horrid Caroline Bingley take a walk around the room and ask Darcy if he would like to join them. His flirtatious response?
“He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in the quarter as Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book…
“You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.”
2. Gilbert Blythe (from the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery)
Growing up bookish with a love for writing, I was convinced that Anne Shirley and I would be bosom friends if only I were Canadian and living in the fictional series. But although I wished for Anne’s friendship, I wanted to steal Gil away for myself. He loves her from the beginning (red hair and all), gives her his teaching job so she can live at home, resiliently endures her rejection of his marriage proposal, and inspires Anne to write her first published book! And even though it takes her longer to realize his perfection, he waits until she realizes it’s not sunbursts or marble halls that she wants. It’s Gil: the perfect man for the chronically romantic.
3. Almanzo Wilder (from Farmer Boy and other books by Laura Ingalls Wilder)
Quiet yet courageous farmer boy Almanzo Wilder won my childhood heart as he won over prairie girl Laura Ingalls. A hardworking farmer who loved horses and carpentry, Almanzo proves his extraordinary bravery and noble character when he risks his life traveling on foot in a blizzard to look for wheat–which no one is certain is even available. He survives and saves the Ingalls family and the town! And while courting Laura, Almanzo picks her up in his carriage when she finishes teaching school. What a gentleman! Eventually, he suffers partial paralysis resulting from a nasty bout of diphtheria and always walks with a limp afterwards, but that only makes Almanzo all the nobler and totally swoon-worthy.
4. Mr. Rochester (from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë)
What can I say? Issues are hot, and Edward Rochester has an aura of danger about him and an abundance of issues. The (again) dark and broody hero of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester has a tormented sense of responsibility to care for his crazy wife locked in the attic, custody of a bratty French girl who isn’t his biological child, Thornfield Hall and his name to uphold, and a burgeoning love for Jane to deal with. Perhaps it’s just his dark, mysterious nature, or that he tries to do right, even risking his life, but lustful Mr. Rochester is a tortured soul. What woman could resist?
5. Edmond Dantès (from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas)
Better known as The Count of Monte Cristo in the book by Dumas, Edmond Dantès starts out as a dashing young sailor betrothed to the beautiful Mercédès. After being set up as a traitor to the crown, Dantès is sentenced to rot in prison and loses his fiancé to her jealous cousin! To seek out revenge and clear his name, Dantès reinvents himself and assumes six other aliases, along the way charming just about everyone in Paris with his ruggedly handsome looks and a smile both angelic and diabolic. A good man with a dark past? Quelle mysteriouse!
6. George Emerson (from A Room With a View by E.M. Forster)
When I travel abroad, I never meet dashing, disturbed Englishmen when there is a mix-up with our hotel rooms. Why is that? When proper, young Englishwoman Lucy Honeychurch (she even brings a chaperone!) travels abroad in Italy, fortuitously she encounters the rogue George Emerson on numerous occasions: at a hotel, at an art museum and of course, while witnessing a murder in the streets, after which he catches her when she faints. When they meet accidentally on a lush Italian hillside, George personifies the romance associated with Italy:
“George had turned at the sound of her arrival. For a moment he contemplated her, as one who had fallen out of heaven. He saw radiant joy in her face, he saw the flowers beat against her dress in blue waves. The bushes above them closed. He stepped quickly forward and kissed her.”
Forbidden love considered socially irresponsible by Edwardian Englanders? Sign me up!
7. Enjolras (from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo)
Forget that lovesick pansy Marius. I prefer the charismatic leader of the student revolution, Enjolras. Just the sound of his name makes me want to quit my job and fight for France. A devout believer in democracy and equality, Enjolras’s ragtag followers look up to him in awe, even the most cynical describing their fierce leader as a “greek god.” Alas, ever the hero, Enjolras ends up a martyr for the cause, and that kind of conviction and passion makes my mouth water. Vive la France!
Although I mentioned only seven ideal mates here, I know I have more literary crushes and you do as well. Share the wealth in the comments while I catch up on my (re)reading.
Sara Newton is an occasional contributor to mental_floss. This story first appeared back in February; stay tuned for a sequel about literature’s leading ladies.
Comments (127)
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Cheers for including Gilbert Blythe! I wanted to be Anne (with an E, thank you very much!) growing up and these books continue to be some of my favorites. Oh, how I swooned when PBS ran “Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story”.
posted by Kirsten on 2-3-2008 at 9:38 am
No Heathcliff? Really?
posted by Andiscandis on 2-3-2008 at 9:50 am
As Austen heroes go, I think I actually prefer Henry Tilney (although I waffle back and forth).
posted by srah on 2-3-2008 at 10:05 am
but, i AM heathcliff!
romance 101….
posted by catherine on 2-3-2008 at 10:15 am
I second the kudos on Gilbert Blythe. I still read Anne over and over again to this day. (The whole series!) How about Theodore Lawerence (Teddy) from Little Women? My Husband’s middle name is Theodore and I love calling him Teddy for this reason!
posted by Sandy C on 2-3-2008 at 10:21 am
For my money, Rhett Butler is the sexiest man in books. Suave, debonair, and just a little bit dangerous? Ohhh yeah, baby. It took me YEARS to understand why Scarlett would hold onto her idealized idea of Ashley while totally ignoring Rhett. I love Scarlett and named my daughter after her, but oh wow, how blind!
posted by Rachel on 2-3-2008 at 10:31 am
Rachel, I wholeheartedly agree. My very first thought after reading this list was to rush down to the comments and see if anyone had yet listed Rhett. He definitely deserved his place among the men on this list.
posted by Jacquelynn on 2-3-2008 at 10:39 am
i’m so glad to see George Emerson on this list!
posted by Lucy on 2-3-2008 at 10:49 am
Mr. Darcy is definitely the top of my list as well. But I love all of these other men too. Men with issues are definitely hot.
Side note: I once fell in love with a man just because his name was Gilbert, and I could imagine myself as Anne. It was easy, seeing as how I too read all her books and pretended I was her.
posted by Manda on 2-3-2008 at 11:35 am
Aragon from the Lord of the Rings (book, not movie)
I’m coming up with a bunch of blanks, but ‘there have been others’…lol. interesting post
posted by ann on 2-3-2008 at 12:24 pm
I want to second the inclusion of Teddy from Little Women. As a young girl I just couldn’t stand that Jo rejected him. I wanted to help console him.
posted by Megan on 2-3-2008 at 12:36 pm
What a great list! I have a few men I’m in love with from lesser-known novels (Barney Snaith from “The Blue Castle” by L.M. Montgomery is a notable example.)
By the way, I would have married Almanzo Wilder in a heartbeat.
posted by Natalie on 2-3-2008 at 1:18 pm
This list is SO TRUE! I especially liked Mr. Darcy, Gilbert Blythe, and Almonzo Wilder. I would add Teddy from Little Women, and disagree with Aragorn from LOTR (give up kick-ass Eowyn for that wimpy elf chick? NO WAY.) Speaking of LOTR, Faramir’s speech to Eowyn, where he tells her that her love for Aragorn is that of a soldier for his leader rather than the real thing, now THAT’S romantic.
posted by lleachie on 2-3-2008 at 1:29 pm
Well, lleachie, I hate to break it to you but in LOTR books, there is no “romance” between Aragorn and Arwen- s’matter of fact, she’s only mentioned once in the Appendix- and as his wife. I’ll agree whole heartedly with EVERY entry on this kist and only add a couple more: Captain Wentworth from Persuasion, Jolyon Forsyte Jr. from The Forsyte Saga, ABSOLUTELY Faramir (LOTR) and Teddy, David from David Copperfield… Oh! and Farmer Oak in Far from the Madding Crowd!
posted by Ashley on 2-3-2008 at 2:07 pm
I have to agree with you, lleachie–Faramir was my LOTR crush. I was SO PISSED at what they did to him in the movies! I’d follow him into a hidden cave anytime…rowr….
posted by Jen on 2-3-2008 at 2:11 pm
Rochester! So hot. Love the dark and broody. And how Almanzo picked Laura up from that horrid couple’s home every weekend to take her home… so sweet. I think I missed that when I was little–how sweet and considerate (and TOUGH) he was. Great article!!
posted by Steph on 2-3-2008 at 2:19 pm
Oh my. And to think, I thought I was the only one who swooned over the supporting Enjolras…
posted by BrokenUgly on 2-3-2008 at 2:26 pm
how could you leave out Rhett Butler?
posted by shazza on 2-3-2008 at 2:30 pm
This is an awesome post — best in a while, and i love this blog. I’m still madly in love with Teddy, Almanzo, and especially Mr. Darcy, even after all these years (I love the newest version of the movie, with Keira Knightley–I think I’ve seen it about 30 times). Thanks for this one, you made my day!
posted by adrienne on 2-3-2008 at 3:00 pm
Ashley, I didn’t say there WAS any romance between Aragorn and Arwen — just that they got married (probably for the sake of the lasting peace), and that Eowyn had a thing for Aragorn, which Faramir so nicely puts in context in his speech in the Houses of Healing.
posted by lleachie on 2-3-2008 at 3:02 pm
You want dark and broody? You want issues? How about the Phantom of the Opera. Ok, so he was a little stalkery, and killed a couple of people, but I’d take Gerard – oops, I mean the phantom – any day over the namby pamby Raoul.
posted by Rae Rae on 2-3-2008 at 4:11 pm
Great list! I would add Jamie Fraser from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Handsome, strong, charming, brave, noble, self-sacrificing…etc etc etc :)
Ah, to travel back in time and find my own Highlander!
posted by frodopal on 2-3-2008 at 4:16 pm
Ahah, thank you for mentioning Enjolras, and to a lesser extent, Dantes. Not a fan of romance novels (and that’s all Austen is, sorry girls), but revolutionary France? Mmm.
posted by Vi on 2-3-2008 at 4:47 pm
Edmonde Dantes and Gil Blythe :) Awesome characters!
posted by Rachel on 2-3-2008 at 5:55 pm
I TOTALLY second Jamie Fraser! Outlander is my favorite book ever! I also am thrilled with the inclusion of Gilbert Blythe.
posted by Trish on 2-3-2008 at 8:13 pm
Hey, that’s cool! Listing the Top 7 male characters. What about Stephen Dedalus of A Portrait and Ulysses, I think he’s as brooding as Mr. Darcy, hehehe. Well, when anyone list the top 7 or 70 female characters?
posted by The Prose Taster on 2-3-2008 at 10:37 pm
lleachie and Ashely, actually, there IS a romance between Aragorn and Arwyn. It was epic. It’s only alluded to in the LOTR books, but you can read more about it in the Appendix and in the Silmarillion. It’s because of Arwen that Aragorn goes on this epic quest to fulfill his kinghood, etc. She gives up immortality and forsakes her family to be with him, and he pisses off her father, lord of Rivendell, who basically raised Aragorn, to be with her. Totally star-cross’d. And no, I’m not talking movies here. Arwen was more kick ass than people will give her credit for, but not in the weird warrior princess way that the movies put on her. Eowyn was still my favorite, but…there’s more to the story than just the story here. (I’ve only read the books about 15 times, although that number seems low.)
posted by Jen on 2-3-2008 at 11:37 pm
Natalie (#12)!! I’m in love with Barney too! Gotta be one of my favourites! And as to LOTR; I was in love with Legolas before Orlando made the other girls swoon. From Austin – what about Wentworth? And Percy from Scarlet Pimpernell…I need to stop.
posted by Joanna on 2-4-2008 at 2:29 am
Oh, I had it bad as a kid for Gil, both in the books and the miniseries! He was Perfect.
posted by Reese on 2-4-2008 at 6:42 am
Oh Mr. Darcy….
I started a Mr. Darcy fan club on facebook…but unfortunately I think it’s only available to Ball State students. I don’t know how to fix that.
On another note, I read bits of Mr. Rochester’s speech in my toast at my wedding rehearsal dinner. I also feel very strongly that there needs to be a film adaptation in which Alan Rickman plays Mr. Rochester before he’s too old to do so.
Oh yeah, and what about poor Mr. Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility? Very lovable, even if a bit spineless at times.
And even though I’ve gone on a bit now, I have to say that I don’t mind not seeing Heathcliff on this list…he just gets too revenge-obsessed to be really likable by the end.
posted by Fruppi on 2-4-2008 at 8:31 am
I thought of another one. I heart Benedict from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. One of the funniest characters in literature. And so sweet and honorable when he and Beatrice requite.
Hey nonny nonny!
posted by Rae Rae on 2-4-2008 at 9:36 am
Mr. Knightly > Mr. Darcy ;)
posted by Ashley on 2-4-2008 at 9:38 am
You are a woman after my own heart! I second all of your choices…
posted by Ronnie on 2-4-2008 at 10:09 am
Everyone sort of listed favorites from classic literature, i’m going with a much newer selection. That being said, I am in love with Edward Cullen from the Twilight series. Ok yea so hes a vampire, details details.
posted by jmel on 2-4-2008 at 1:05 pm
The Scarlet Pimpernel/Sir Percy Blakeney. Acts like a fool, but saves people from the French Revolution.
And the chapter in the book where he and his wife have a conversation/argument/whatever by the river is unbelievably romantic.
posted by LJ on 2-4-2008 at 1:40 pm
Rae Rae, I have a deep and abiding love for Erik too, but let’s not forget that Gerard Butler is a far cry from what the literary Phantom looks like. I admire his passion, but even I admit the smelling like death and killing off anyone who tried to talk to me would get old after a bit. :) I’ve been in love with Erik for about 19 years.
I’ll also toss in an obscure one. Domenico from The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys. Issues galore.
posted by AngelicMystique on 2-4-2008 at 1:41 pm
I just finished reading His Dark Materials, the trilogy that includes The Golden Compass. While probably only a few people will acknowledge this book as a possible future classic, I still swooned when I read the description of Will’s torment as he learns the fate of his and Lyra’s relationship. Even though he’s still in his teens, this boy knows how to despair!
posted by bg on 2-4-2008 at 2:17 pm
Calvin O’Keefe from A Wrinkle in Time. I mean, come on!
posted by Nora on 2-4-2008 at 2:51 pm
I agree with those who said Teddy from Little women, but I think my all-time crush (also mentioned) is Gabriel Oak from Far From The Madding Crowd.
posted by frumpiefox on 2-4-2008 at 3:30 pm
Ah, Mr. Darcy. *swoons* Sir Lawrence Olivier is still one of my favorite portrayers of that particular character.
posted by kitsana_d on 2-4-2008 at 5:18 pm
I completely agree with Darcy. Everytime I teach Pride and Prejudice, all my female students fall in love with him too! But what about Jay Gatsby? I want someone to love me that much.
posted by Jones on 2-4-2008 at 6:32 pm
What, no Hawkeye? Newland Archer?
(or am I just thinking of Daniel Day Lewis in general?)
Definitely Mr. Knightly…but I want to smack Emma every time I read the book.
posted by Landa on 2-4-2008 at 7:41 pm
I totally agree with this list. I had it so bad for Gil Blythe when I was younger that I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. And Nora, I completely agree with you on Calvin O’Keefe from A Wrinkle in Time.
posted by Louisa on 2-4-2008 at 8:06 pm
Ooooh, Calvin.
posted by srah on 2-4-2008 at 8:29 pm
Frodopile…..thanks so much for mentioning James Frasier! One of my favorite characters. Just because of him and those books, my husband and I have a trip planned to Scotland sometime next year. Almanzo Wilder was also a favorite of mine. Of course too, I had a crush on the Hardy Boys too while growing up. :-)
posted by Amy on 2-4-2008 at 10:29 pm
Are we only doing classics? I was completely in love with the Chairman in Memoirs of a Geisha. Sexy, caring older man? Where can I get me one of those?
posted by Anna on 2-5-2008 at 10:43 am
Yes! This is a great list. And I totally can get behind Jamie Frasier and Teddy Lawrence.
And I’d like to add Joe Willard from Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy books.
And to nitpick, Almonzo Wilder does take horses and a sleigh and Cap Garland with him to look for the guy with the wheat in The Long Winter.
posted by Julia on 2-5-2008 at 5:50 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with 1-4! Mr. Darcy makes me swoon….hehe.
And like Julia said, Almanzo did take a horse and buggy, as well as Cap Garland in a separate horse and buggy (how else was he supposed to get enough grain to feed the whole town back?)
posted by Kate on 2-6-2008 at 4:08 pm
First man to come to MY mind (maybe because I’ve read the book about 30 or 40 times) was Stu Redman from Stephen King’s The Stand. That quiet, broody East Texas widower had me from page one!
Not into period lit, most of it is too girly for my tastes, but I admit I had a bit of a thing for Heathcliff in high school.
posted by cass on 2-6-2008 at 6:44 pm
Cass, I always preferred Larry myself, the bad boy who actually is good. I’ve read the book a few times myself. :-)
posted by amy on 2-7-2008 at 12:57 am
John Thornton in North & South, by Elizabeth Gaskell. Enough said.
posted by Gosia on 2-7-2008 at 3:17 pm
Completely agree with Gosia about John Thornton. And with srah that as far as Austen heroes go, while I do adore Darcy, Henry Tilney wins. Dark and brooding is hot, but a man who can make me laugh? Hotter.
Also love Gilbert, and adore Aragorn (and Faramir, but the appendix story about Aragorn and Arwen is about as romantic as anything can get. Eowyn is totally forgettable compared with that), and Atticus Finch, and Ash from The Far Pavilions, and really far more than are probably healthy. :)
Always thought Heathcliff and Capt. Wentworth whined too much.
posted by A on 2-7-2008 at 5:28 pm
Ooooh, I’m a Rochester and Darcy girl all the way :) Thanks for a great list!
posted by Annette on 2-11-2008 at 2:48 am
Great list. Darcy is a great choice. But I would have to add Lord Peter Wimsey. Titled, educated, rich, courteous…
posted by Carlin on 2-12-2008 at 7:25 pm
Mr.Darcy most definitely. Edward Cullen, oh YES! Young but not, evil but not. Benedict from Much Ado.
Contemporary top of the line romantic, Van Marshall from “Better Than Chocolate”. The man takes his lady to a New York play, after which he waits until everyone leaves, takes the stage (he’s a singer) and sings to her. Then he brings her up on the stage that is lit with tons of candles and fog rolling around their feet while they slowly dance.
This is not an advertisement, just sharing a most wonderfully romantic man with the rest of the world. My thanks to you, Brieanna Robertson, for creating Van Marshall!
Cheers!
JG
posted by Jena Galifany on 2-17-2008 at 11:04 am
@Natalie – I’ve read my copy of The Blue Castle so often that it is literally in two pieces. I have to buy a new copy. Valancy and Barney forever!
posted by dora on 2-19-2008 at 3:55 am
How could you forget Mr. Rhett Butler, from “Gone With the Wind”
Or Jamie from the “Outlander” series…
be still, my heart
posted by Gina on 2-19-2008 at 10:01 am
In the Austen world, Mr. Darcy is up there, but I love Colonel Brandon a little bit more right now. I agree with the Chairman from Memoirs of a Geisha. Rhett Butler should go on there, too, but I hesitate to agree with Heathcliff; he was too flawed for me. When I read books, though I mostly identify with the female characters, more than falling in love with the males ones.
posted by Kathryn on 2-20-2008 at 3:15 pm
I would personally include Romeo and Juliet’s Mercutio, an angry Hamlet, and (to pull from what I consider modern literature) Hannibal Lecter. Then again, I have slightly odd tastes.
posted by Katrina on 2-20-2008 at 7:19 pm
What about Dracula?
posted by Jennifer on 2-20-2008 at 8:56 pm
@ Katrina: YES! I love Mercutio, though I guess techincally he’s not a leading man…oh well, he’s still amazing.
Romeo and his teenage angst drives me a little batty, but the guy who played him in Zefferelli’s version (Leonard Whitling) made me actually feel bad for him. That, and he was hot.
posted by Emma on 2-22-2008 at 10:40 pm
I’m glad to see Atticus Finch in the comments. He tops any list of desirable men as far as I’m concerned. I would also include Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities – flawed and heroic.
posted by Cimarron on 3-6-2008 at 12:33 am
I too am a lover of Gatsby.
posted by Addie on 3-13-2008 at 3:55 pm
definitely Knightly- he’s both funny and mysterious. and if i’m permitted to be very very nerdy, lan mandragoran from the wheel of time series. i agree, there’s hundreds more men from literature that are awesome too. but this list is excellent :)
posted by oneita on 4-1-2008 at 4:24 pm
Cheers for Enjolras! But what about Faramir from LOTR? He kicks Aragon’s “love at first sight” butt. :)
posted by Lisa on 4-8-2008 at 7:22 pm
What about Captain Wentworth from Persuasion? He’s pretty hot.
posted by Annette on 6-12-2008 at 2:05 pm
I totally and completly agree with the people who said to add Jamie Fraser. The outalnder series is amazing and Jamie is a Beautiful Fiesty Red-headed highlander who deserves to be on this list as well as Edward Cullen the Beautiful Flawless vampire from the twilight series:)=)
posted by Aimee on 6-26-2008 at 7:13 am
Hm….I’m all about Hannibal Lecter (cannibalism aside, he’s pretty sexy!), Rhett Butler, Edward Cullen…from more classic lit I have to say I loved Teddy Lawrence, I fell in love with Christian Bale because of this character! I think most of the time I like the bad guy better, I always get mad when the honorable boring guy wins.
posted by Olivia on 7-22-2008 at 8:29 pm
I saw someone had suggested Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities, and I completely agree! I fell in love with him when I was 14. He’s flawed and bitter and sarcastic, but willing to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves.
posted by Angela on 11-11-2008 at 9:10 am
I am so glad that Gil made the list. He was one of my first literary crushes.
But what about Gabriel Oak of Far From the Madding Crowd? He is the epitome of devotion and patience.
posted by Rebekah on 12-24-2008 at 10:04 am
But where is Lord Peter??????
posted by JFS in IL on 12-24-2008 at 10:08 am
I’d second both Heathcliff and Rhett Butler… though that may have more to do with Clark Gable and Lawrence Olivier.
I’d likely cut Mr. Rochester. He always seemed too intimidating and unstable. Yeah, he was under stress, but still a little freaky.
posted by Deb on 12-24-2008 at 10:39 am
Rae Rae, my brother actually felt bad for the Phantom when he watched “POTP” with his girlfriend! I don’t know why, though.
posted by Sara on 12-24-2008 at 10:43 am
I am totally in love with Edward Cullen (and I am 38 years old!) LOL
I had a ‘thing’ for Gilbert when I was young. Sigh.
posted by qt314159265 on 12-24-2008 at 10:46 am
Deb, I’m with you on Heathcliff, but how can you cut Mr. Rochester? Intimitdating? Perhaps. Unstable? No way.
Fruppi – I couldn’t agree with you more on Alan Rickman playing Rochester – what a perfect choice!
posted by Layla on 12-24-2008 at 10:50 am
Perrin Aybara from the Wheel of Time series written by Robert Jordan… he doesn’t want credit for being the hero, loves his wife more than life itself, and is so afraid of his strength he’s always careful and gentle with her.
posted by JLM on 12-24-2008 at 10:54 am
I guess we can only have one Austen leading man… hands down, it’s Darcy.
I’m a bit glad that Heathcliff was left off this list. I rather wanted to take an AK-47 to him through the whole book, especially since I had read Wuthering Heights just after Jane Eyre, and the contrast was just too deplorable.
On a further note, if you rolled all these guys together, sprinkled a bit of Byron and a scoop of Heathcliff, and forced him to shop at Hot Topic and Abercrombie (together! I know…), would you get Edward Cullen?
Probably. Um. Ew.
posted by Allison on 12-24-2008 at 11:01 am
Eugene Onegin. Discontented, brooding, proud, and at the end, totally broken. PLUS Ralph Fiennes played him in the film version! mmmm!
posted by brooke on 12-24-2008 at 11:09 am
Ellis Wyatt from Atlas Shrugged and Archie Goodwin from the Nero Wolfe books…sigh.
posted by Beebs on 12-24-2008 at 11:10 am
Atticus Finch.
Faramir. Book-Aragorn doesn’t seem to have anything going for him.
posted by Laura. on 12-24-2008 at 11:43 am
Who could resist Mr. Rochester? Me! Read “The Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys and you’ll learn to hate him. I did.
posted by loripop on 12-24-2008 at 11:56 am
Ohhhh, yes for Jamie Frasier!! There isn’t one person that I’ve told to read Diana Gabaldon’s books that isn’t in love with Jamie by the end. Can’t wait for the next book!
posted by Erin on 12-24-2008 at 11:57 am
I am in love with pretty much all of Jane Austen’s male characters but Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightly are definitely my top 2!
posted by Alys on 12-24-2008 at 12:22 pm
I second Sir Percy Blakeny from the Scarlet Pimpernel.
He may not be old enough for this list but Max DeWinter from Rebecca in my mind is drop dead sexy.
posted by Jenna on 12-24-2008 at 2:08 pm
I agree with those who said that this list in not complete without Rhett Butler. He is probably the sexiest man in literature as far as I am concerned.
posted by MN on 12-24-2008 at 2:12 pm
Sam Gamgee. I don’t care if he is a hobbit, he’s the bravest, humblest, and most noble character in LotR, and his love for his Rose was incredibly sweet.
posted by Andrea on 12-24-2008 at 2:30 pm
I’d definitely include Acheron Parthenopaeus, from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series.
And I whole-heartedly agree those who mentioned book-Faramir :)
posted by Amber on 12-24-2008 at 2:31 pm
Oliver Mellors in “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”. So sexy that the book was subjected to countless obscenity trials in various countries. Also a fabulous character arc.
posted by Tam on 12-24-2008 at 2:33 pm
EDWARD CULLEN!! ::sigh:: He makes my heart swoon in agony for him. Even if it is just a teenage-angst romance novel, I would LOVE to switch places with Bella any day!
I agree with many on here. The list has many fine men (Darcy, ::swoon::), but Theodore Lawrence would definitely be number two on my list. Amy was never my favorite sister and was even less liked after marrying her sister’s former flame. I mean, who *does* that?!
And is it just me, or did anyone else have a thing for Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series? I just love tortured souls, I suppose.
posted by tambalina on 12-24-2008 at 4:29 pm
Why would you love Heathclif? I for one am glad that there is no Heathclif or Rhett Butler on this list. I LOVE this list. I have not read Room With A View or Les Miserables yet so I can’t speak about those but the rest of the list is spot on. If I were adding to this list it would include… Mr.Knightly, Mr wentworth, Faramir (LOTR), Nicholas Nickleby.
posted by The Queen on 12-24-2008 at 4:36 pm
Oh Edmond!
I agree with Teddy from Little Women and Rhett Butler, too. And Gilbert was a cutie.
posted by Case on 12-24-2008 at 4:44 pm
Ayn Rand’s John Galt or Howard Roark in Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead respectivly
posted by Emma on 12-24-2008 at 6:42 pm
Ohmygod, SEVERUS SNAPE… I *always* took him to look/sound like Alan Rickman’s interpretation… YUMMY! ;-)
And heck, I always like Richard III – my birthday twin.
On a -um, more NOBLE CHARACTERED note, I agree with those who picked Sydney Carton.
posted by Amy on 12-24-2008 at 6:51 pm
Mmmm yes, Rochester. And the Scarlet Pimpernel, as someone mentioned. But also the eponymous Captain Blood. God but I love Captain Blood.
posted by erm on 12-24-2008 at 7:00 pm
I think the closest I’ve come to crushing on a leading male in a book is Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
There’s just something about a noble and kind, 6′4″, ginger adopted dwarf who’s captain of Ankh-Morpork’s City Guard (and might actually be a king) that makes me swoon.
posted by Brooklynperson on 12-24-2008 at 7:04 pm
Number one has to be Westley from The Princess Bride.
posted by Wrongo on 12-24-2008 at 7:29 pm
Rhett Butler didn’t make the list? Ohhh… that hurt my feelings…
posted by Ning on 12-25-2008 at 2:14 am
My favorite is Ramses Peabody from the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. He is definately a swoon-worthy literary man.
posted by Amy H. on 12-25-2008 at 2:42 am
So glad to see a couple of Wheel of Time characters in the comments. Lan Mandagoran definitely fits into the strong, silent, and brooding category … think Mr. Darcy with a sword and a Warder’s cloak! =D
Love the list, btw. I was so happy to see Mr. Darcy as number 1. “You have bewitched me, body and soul … and I love … love … love you.”
posted by Katherine on 12-25-2008 at 8:54 am
Raskolnikov? How can you ever forget the pale, sweaty killer who never seems to take showers?
posted by Kate on 12-25-2008 at 7:42 pm
I love Lestat from the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, only the books…the movies do him no justice…
posted by Jennifer on 12-26-2008 at 11:24 am
Speaking of Elizabeth Peters: John Smythe Tregarth from the Vicky Bliss series. Snarky thief with a (somewhat battered and tarnished) heart of gold! I have a type, and he’s it.
posted by Panthea on 12-27-2008 at 7:47 pm
Argh, there’s supposed to be a strikeout through “Smythe.” Lack of HTML fail.
posted by Panthea on 12-27-2008 at 7:49 pm
Thank you so much for NOT putting Heathcliff on there. All those sad strange women who want him on that list deserve to be hit on the head with their copy of Wuthering Heights. He is a horrid abusive man. Fie up on him I say!
posted by Jenjen on 12-28-2008 at 12:36 pm
I was so glad to see the Edward Cullen reference. I too am a bit older than the intended audience ( 26) but I agree with Stephenie Meyer that he is THE perfect man.
I would agree that if you meshed a lot of these charecters you would get him…But I think yum, not ew as previously said! =)
I too loved Almanzo Wilder as a young girl. Before I loved my trashy romance novels I would re-read all the romantic parts from Golden Days.
And Rhett Butler ANY day over Ashley…though I love that name for a boy.
posted by Jean on 12-28-2008 at 10:41 pm
Let me try this again.It didnt post.
I was so glad to see other people put Edward Cullen on this list because he is definitely one who came to mind for me. Even though I am a bit beyond the “target audience” (26) I agree with Stephenie Meyer that he IS the perfect man.
I also love Almanzo Wilder. Before I started readung trashy romance novels I used to re-read all the romantic parts in Golden Days and 4 years.
I also agree that Rhett Butler is so much better than Ashley Longworth! Although I do like the name Ashley for a boy.
posted by Jean on 12-28-2008 at 10:46 pm
Ramses in Anne Rice’s “Ramses the Damned”
posted by signalfire on 12-29-2008 at 12:51 am
Mr. Darcy was an obvious choice~ first one that came to mind. (:
posted by Karen on 12-29-2008 at 12:58 am
Mr.Darcy should be at the top of everone’s list.
Also obviosly Mr. Knightley.
But I think weirdly my favorite of all is Col. Brandon in Sense and Sensibility.
I would make his babies.
posted by Lucina on 12-29-2008 at 1:20 pm
I adore this list. Seeing Gilbert, (I just re-read the first book.). As well as Manly! Funny how universal our crushes are. Would you believe I hold a crush upon Commander Vimes from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books quite dear? A man pulling himself out of the gutter to fight a dragon, and fall for an a-typical lady? I like that.
posted by Pamela on 12-29-2008 at 2:52 pm
Totally agree with all of the top ten (I have read all the Anne books, P&P and LHOTP more times than I can count)but, two very valuable Austen characters have been forgotten, Knightly and Col Brandon for obvious reasons, and one for not so obvious– I love Edward from Sense and Sensiblity. He’s so honorable that you want to shoot him for choosing Lucy over Eleanor until you relize he’s been trying to get Lucy to break off the engagement the whole time. Gotta love a guy who will put aside his own happiness to keep his promise.
posted by Rachel on 1-2-2009 at 11:14 am
Edward Cullinf from Twilight.
sorry people, just had to put it here
posted by Ceci on 1-6-2009 at 12:37 am
wowowowowowowowow!!seriously,
Rhett & Gatsby all day!! :]
posted by nikky on 1-10-2009 at 11:16 pm
From the classics, I’d say Austen does the best heroes of them all. Tilney was adorable, I couldn’t believe Catherine’s initial indifference to him! Fell massively for Mr Darcy, but I wasn’t so fussed by Sense and Sensibility’s hereos, although Mr Ferrars was pretty amazing.
Also, how about Dickon in Secret Garden… once he’s grown up a bit obviously.
Tamora Pierce’s books seem massively underrated, and Sergeant Domitan of Masbolle gets me hot under the collar.
And my weirdest crush, obviously not for looks – Death in the Discworld series. He’s so funny! “cats are nice.”
posted by Smithy144 on 1-21-2009 at 5:13 pm
to be honest, im a guy, but i would definitly go gay for rhett butler. im so glad you didnt put edward cullen on here, that validated this whole list in my opinion
posted by Ben on 1-26-2009 at 11:00 pm
Despite the name, I am female, and I find myself agreeing with the first three on this list (actually, I like all of Austen’s leading men), but I can’t bring myself to like Mr. Rochester.
I was really pleased to find Mercutio mentioned in the comments. Not a leading man, and a bit of an idiot, but I love him never the less. And I developed huge crushes on Sir Tor and Sir Gawain due to Gerald Morris’s retellings of Arthurian legends.
Smithy144, I too have a crush on Death.
And Edward Cullen needs to stay far off this list. The man/vampire/thing is an immature, controlling creep.
posted by Bob on 2-11-2009 at 11:55 pm
Loved Mr. Darcy!!
And another character (”literature”, but not classic literature) whom I’ve fallen for is Brashen Trell– from Robin Hobb’s novel trilogy The Liveship Traders… I think he more was a supporting than a leading man…but he was hot in my mind.
posted by ariaDne on 2-20-2009 at 12:55 pm
Good list! Although I would replace Edmond Dantes with Athos (Le Comte de la Fere) from The Three Musketeers saga.
(sigh) They don’t make men like that anymore…
posted by Kristin on 2-20-2009 at 1:55 pm
PS Did anyone else find Sherlock Holmes sexy?
posted by Kristin on 2-20-2009 at 2:06 pm
I know it has already been posted, but I have to nominate Capitan Rhett Butler. He was and always will be my first love. The way he would brush Scarlett’s hair and hold her when she had nightmares…sigh. Coincidence that all I am now married to a tall, dark haired man with a moustache? Ah, Rhett…
posted by Zelda on 2-20-2009 at 2:48 pm
I totally second Sherlock Holmes Kristin! Along with Calvin O’Keefe, Edward Cullen (I’m 26) and most of the original seven. However, I was also madly in love with Prince Caspian (particular in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader)Walter Blythe in Rilla of Ingleside. I cry just thinking about him dying at the end. Books will always offer the most vivid impressions on a young girl’s mind
posted by Jenny on 2-20-2009 at 3:59 pm
I love that so many people also had crushes on Gilbert and Almonzo! If only there were guys out there as perfect as Gilbert Blythe. And to whoever mentioned Sirius from Harry Potter – I wholeheartedly agree! One of my other big literary crushes is Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye. Am I the only one?
posted by BB on 2-20-2009 at 10:29 pm
Edward Cullen: newest literary hero of today. What girl wouldn’t try and kill Bella just to get to him? And let’s not forget Jacob Black.
posted by Jen Pen on 2-20-2009 at 10:31 pm
The Beast, ladies, the Beast! Particularly the Beast in Beauty, by Robin McKinley.
posted by Eowyn on 2-21-2009 at 12:01 pm
As Darcy is a given, I’ll skip to my #2, Maxim de Winter. I saw the films of Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights before I read those books, but read Rebecca before seeing the movie, so I can’t say it’s Olivier that drew me to the character (though his face certainly helps make my daydreams more vivid :D). I relate to the narrator a great deal, so when Maxim’s passion for her reveals itself throughout the book (”I’m asking you to marry me, you little fool.” — I nearly melted into the floor.), I think it gave awkward, self-conscious young women everywhere a little hope. :D He marries the narrator against his better judgement — he knows the memory of Rebecca could ruin their life together, but his love gets the better of him. I’d take the terrifying-but-dead-but-murdered first wife any day if it meant I got Maxim de Winter. :)
posted by Paula on 2-21-2009 at 11:44 pm
Call me a nerd, but I think Arthur Dent is a fox.
posted by Emma M. on 2-22-2009 at 12:32 am
Lord Peter, Sherlock, yes!
And thanks to the one who mentioned Captain Blood…I will add any Sabatini (that I’ve read so far).
posted by Betty on 6-25-2009 at 6:46 pm