article_snippet: The novelist, speaking at the Festival of Literature in Dubai, dispelled the myth about Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley being the perfect men and described the 'very dark underbelly' to Jane Austen's's books.
article_snippet: There is a very dark underbelly to these stories, which is why I still get so irritated when people insist on treating Jane Austen as if it was like the lid of a Quality Street tin, all sprig muslin and 'oh la sir'. '
article_snippet: The only characters Austen did not send up in Sense and Sensibility were Elinor Dashwood and Colonel Brandon, the two most steady figures in the book, said Ms Trollope.
article_snippet: Jane Austen also blamed Andrew Davies' BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for sparking an obsession with Mr Darcy with the infamous scene by the lake, which did not exist in the book.
article_snippet: Mr Darcy Mr Darcy was 'stiff-necked and painfully shy' with 'not much humour', said Ms Trollope.
highlights_snippet: Says Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy reveal 'dark underbelly' to author's work .
  
highlights_snippet: Oscar winner Colin Firth played Mr Darcy in the TV series aired in 1995 .