ABSTRACT
Elizabeth Bennett's description of Pemberley conveys to the reader of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice that not only would this be a desirable home for the heroine but also that Darcy, its creator, would make her a suitable husband. This chapter examines how much of that character survives in historic houses that are open to the public gaze. It explores how different approaches result in different 'products for consumption'. To highlight the subjectivity of the interpretation of historic houses the rather different approaches adopted in England and the United States compared in the chapter. The background to historic houses being opened to the public is outlined in the chapter along with an exploration of how the interpretation process is put into practice. The examples of historic house museums that highlighted in the chapter have all engaged with a variety of issues and have sought ways to represent them effectively in their interpretation strategies.
