Red-Headed League Table

[callmemadam]

I love red hair and ginger cats, so I was intrigued by this list of 10 Redheads in Literature. As is pointed out there, red-headed characters are very often sidekicks and are usually assumed to have hot tempers. My mind is blanking on red hair except in children's books: Tim’s friend Ginger in Edward Ardizzone’s Little Tim books; Penny Warrender in the Lone Pine series. Josephine Elder devoted a whole book to the subject:



Does Orlando the Marmalade Cat count? In Real Life, actor Damian Lewis springs to mind. So, any favourite heroes/heroines with red hair?

Grrr! This was supposed to be a poll but although the code looks fine it's not working. So it will have to be comments.

Comments

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

She's not a particular favourite, but Clem Barrass always springs to mind because the Chalet School couldn't have scarlet uniforms because of her. (Though it's ages since I had a re-read, so I am now worried that I'm misremembering!)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten her, though I was sure there must be a Chalet redhead or two - what am I saying? Redheads at the Chalet School! Although I've got that I've never read it. I like Clem and Three Go is one of my favourites.

[minniemoll.livejournal.com]

Aren't the triplets shades of red? Margot's definitely reddy-gold, and Len has chestnut lights or something similar, I think Con goes darker though. And doesn't Sybil Russell has a red-headed temper?

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I'd have to check. I don't like any of them much, preferring the older generation, so I don't take much notice of what they look like.

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

Léonie de Saint Vire springs to mind. And with the same genes, Bab Childe. Doesn't Sophy Stanton-Lacy have red hair, too?

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Yes. I wonder if there are any red haired heroines who aren't feisty?

[minniemoll.livejournal.com]

Joan Shirley. Not even a hint of a feist. Joy probably makes up for it though. And then there's Jansy and the terrible twins.

Doesn't Sue Barton have red hair too?

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I forgot to mention Anne Shirley - oh the angst of the auburn-haired teenage girl!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Oh poor Joan! I always felt she got a raw deal through being nice. Very good point, though!

I can only think of Sue Barton with that nurse's coif covering most of her hair, on the old hardbacks.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

It's easier to think of children's characters because there are more illustrations of them! The first ones I came up with were another Ginger, from the Biggles universe, and another sidekick, Dick Tracy Junior. Oh, and Bulldog and Vicky.

I thought there must have been a red-haired Bond girl, but had to go to Wikipedia to come up with Moonraker's 'auburn' Gala Brand.

I asked my ginger colleague but he was surprisingly unhelpful.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

True, very true. I'd forgotten Bulldog & Vicky, tsk. Ginger features in the ABE top ten.

How surprising!

[ramblingfancy.livejournal.com]

Is it Georgette Heyer's Venetia who is a redhead?

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

No, she has guinea-gold curls which set the flaxen hair of her sister-in-law into the shade.

I may possibly have read that book more times than I care to admit.

[ramblingfancy.livejournal.com]

I think it must be Leon then? Ofc re Venetia!

[debodacious.livejournal.com]

Isn't Clarissa from Malory Towers a redhead? Auburn? Or I am I imagining that?

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

My MT books are in a box so I can't check. We'l have to imagine it together.

[(Anonymous)]

I loved Anne of Avonlea. Thanks for reminding me. Must re-read.
Also keen on D. Lewis!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I like to re-read the Anne books in order every now and then. For a relative of mine, they're the first books she reaches for in times of trouble.

The boy's got something!

sorry forgot to sign in

[susievereker.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

last comment about Anne of Green Gables was from me

[dorianegray.livejournal.com]

In Chalet-land, as someone else has pointed out, the Maynard triplets are varying shades of red-head. Also, their cousin Sybil Russell, who is described as having a "red-haired temper" to boot! I think Joyce Linton might have "red-gold curls". And before it improbably goes white overnight, Miss Wilson's hair is auburn.

There are quite a lot of red-haired heroines in fantasy literature: Aerin in Robin McKinley's "The Hero and the Crown", Aurian in Maggie Furey's "Artefacts of Power" series, Kethry in Mercedes Lackey's "Vows and Honour" duology, Kyra in Barbara Hambly's "Sorcerer's Ward", Ce'Nedra in David Eddings' "Belgariad" and "Malloreon" series...

On the male side I'm blanking, except of course for Corporal (later Captain) Carrot of the Night Watch in Terry Pratchett's books.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! I once read something about 'plenty of red headed children' showing the vigour of English stock! Probably Henry Williamson, yuk. I wonder if red hair features so much in fantasy novels because it seems a link with a mythical past?

[lizarfau.livejournal.com]

Jenny Harman from the Lone Pine books is also a redhead.

And yes, Clarissa from Malory Towers has auburn hair.

The Chalet School seems to have more than its fair share of redheads, though. Vi Lucy has coppery hair, doesn't she, and there are all the people already mentioned. And I think Miss Stewart is also a redhead.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Jenny is the quick, lively type, isn't she, but I can't remember if red hair is supposed to hint at any special qualities in the other characters.

[lizarfau.livejournal.com]

Penny has the redhead's temper - she's always "storming" at people, particularly Jon!

[vintagereads.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Love that cover for Anne of Avonlea. Harriet from Streatfeild's White Boots has red hair. (from Nicola in case this message comes up anonymous, again!)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Anne looks so different on the various covers!

Harriet bucks the redhead trend, then, because she's quiet and not fiery tempered.