3 Austen Hotties Who Put Mr. Darcy to Shame

When it comes to the Jane Austen literary canon, there’s one gentleman in breeches who seems to be everyone’s favorite boyfriend: The one, the only, the dashing Mr. Darcy. Yes, yes; we know all about it. Darcy is handsome. Darcy is smart. Darcy is loyal and kind and brave—and he looks damn fine when he’s soaking wet, too.
So overpowering is the worship for the dashing Fitzwilliam, one imagines the rest of the Austen men attending a support group, where they sit in a glum circle drinking bad coffee, muttering in manly assent whenever Mr. Bingley tearfully erupts in a resentful, Jan Brady–style outburst of “Darcy, Darcy, Darcy!”
And the worst thing about it? The more everyone drools and moans for Darcy, the more overlooked the rest of the exceptionally fine gentlemen of the Austen-verse—some of whom are, dare we say, even more desirable than the master of Pemberley. But no more! Today, we’re paying respect to three dudes who deserve your love just as much as, if not more than, Mr. Darcy.

George Knightley, Emma
Let’s be honest: Many of Austen’s romantic leads, while charming, wouldn’t necessarily hold up by the modern standards of boyfriend-itude. But Knightley, who gives Emma all the respect (and occasional criticism) of a true equal, would be as great a catch in 2016 as he was 200 years ago—and their relationship is the kind of companionable, loving, lasting match we all aspire to make. Add in the part where he’ll love your family just as much as you do, and Knightley might just be the Austenverse’s keeper to end all keepers.

Colonel Brandon, Sense & Sensibility
Ditzy Marianne Dashwood overlooks Brandon’s charms because she is a) distracted by the flamboyant Willoughby and b) an insufferable ageist. Don’t make Marianne’s mistakes, ladies. Like a fine wine, Brandon’s increased years have only improved his flavor (and also, come on, he’s like 35; hardly a senior citizen.) This mature specimen of Edwardian manhood will love you with the care and wisdom of a fellow who has seen some shizz and knows all too well how cruel the world can be, and he’ll buy you a piano in the bargain. Plus, unlike a certain snide aristocrat we know, he’d never interfere in the romantic affairs of others or propose to you by backhandedly insulting your entire family.

Captain Wentworth, Persuasion
“I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.”
Brb, swooning forever. Wentworth’s loyalty and passion are unmatched by any other Austen suitor, and p.s., he writes like a dream. Sure, Darcy took a second shot at proposing to Lizzie Bennet several months after she first rejected him—but would he give her the love letter to end all love letters after eight agonizing years apart? Think not.