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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 mentalfloss.com.
Comments (67)
Comment
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