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[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you, Laurie and Betty, for your replies.

Re: "I believe that beauty does not necessarily refer to facial features or body form , but rather to inner beauty that shines through in personality" - Laurie, that is 100% my personal opinion, too. Nevertheless the word IS often generally used for facial features or body form, and this is the way I understand the author's use of the term "beautiful" since she describes Fanny's character features (which seem most good and nobel to me) seperately. (And - is shyness not more beautiful than being someone who always desires becoming the story of the day?)

Re: "Women were also supposed to be plump; thin was NOT in - there were corsets to remedy (somewhat!) that particular situation" - yes, that's often said, but then on the other hand, even Abraham Lincoln found Mary Owens too plump in the end, Mary was often criticized for being plump, the Scarletts of those days laced tight - thighter - the tightest to look like Empress Eugenie, and, as Laurie recently mentioned, had even bottom ribs removed in order to achieve the tiniest waists. How does this go together?

Kate Chase was considered beautiful, and she was certainly not plump. And, just from her images and leaving her "inner features" aside, I do understand she has that je ne sais quoi - that certain something (that, just from the existing pictures, I personally can't see at first sight in Lucy Hale to rank her that highly above other ladies).
       
I just don't understand the "hype" about Lucy Hale's beauty (not only in this book) and compared to her appearance don't understand the harsh judgement on Fanny and some other women (and the latter upsets me a bit).