Lefroy is considered to have inspired one of Austen’s most famous characters, ‘Mr Darcy’ from ‘Pride and Prejudice’. The author wrote the letter to his sister Cassandra and it is now on display at her home, in the village of Chawton, next to a portrait of Lefroy. The letter is about the melancholy Austen feels about flirting with him one last time, but it breathes more playfulness than sadness, according to curator Sophie Reynolds:
— The letter about the end of Austen’s flirtation with Mr. Lefroy is something Jane Austen fans will be very excited about. She’s young, she’s out partying, she’s hip. Her handwriting is large, enthusiastic, and she lightens her heart. It’s a bright, sparkling letter that could have been written by Lizzy Bennet herself.
However, unlike Mr. Darcy, Lefroy was poor. Nor can it be said that Mr. Darcy only has him as a role model, according to Sophie Reynolds.