Mr Rochester - Most Romantic?

(Image from Bronteana)

There is a new article, from The Telegraph, naming Charlotte Bronte's EDWARD ROCHESTER, from Jane Eyre, "most romantic literary character".

Here is the text of the short article:

Charlotte Brontë's brooding Byronic hero Mr Rochester has been named the most romantic literary character in a poll.

"Rochester, the lead male character in Jane Eyre, published in 1847, topped the Mills & Boon survey despite his moodiness and lack of good looks.
Brontë described Rochester, who in the novel marries Jane Eyre despite her lowly position as a former governess, as "very grim" to look at.
Richard Sharpe, Bernard Cornwell's soldier, who was brought to the screen by Sean Bean in an ITV drama series, was voted second in the Literary Hero survey and Fitzwilliam Darcy, from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, was relegated to a surprisingly lowly third."

Mills & Boon who? No, actually we agree with their readers on this one, scary thought, indeed!

The actors who have played Mr Rochester have either gotten it really right or completely ruined their portrayals. Whether they religiously portrayed him by the book, or not, our favorite Rochester is Toby Stephens, with Timothy Dalton a close second. Next is Ciaran Hinds, the most angry Rochester on film, and our least favorite portrayal is by William Hurt.

Here are some well-known and maybe some not well known Mr Rochesters. The first picture is a lithograph by Paula Rego.

(1st Place)
(2nd Place)
(3rd Place)