Hunks for thought

Over 150 years before any fangirls fell for Edward Cullen's overprotective, dramatic and even slightly controlling behavior, Jane Eyre found herself falling for Mr. Rochester for all the same reasons.

According to author Helen Fielding, London all but shuts down whenever BBC screens its "Pride and Prejudice" miniseries, as Mr. Darcy-lovers plant themselves in front of the television for all six episodes.

Let's be honest. There are hotter guys in books than Edward Cullen. And no, I'm not talking about Jacob "werewolf-boy" Black.

Readers have been falling desperately in love with characters long before Edward-mania reached its Comicon fever-pitch, when actress Emile de Ravin's "LOST" panel appearance was nearly cancelled out of concern for her safety around the mobs of "Twilight" fangirls (she's rumored to be romantically involved with "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson).

Edward Cullen comes from a rich literary tradition. "Lit-hotties" go back to the dawn of literature, when even Guinevere couldn't choose between Arthur and Lancelot in "Mort D'Arthur."

In interviews, author Stephanie Meyer has even admitted that, in creating Edward, she drew heavily on Fitzwilliam Darcy ("Pride and Prejudice"), Gilbert Blythe ("Anne of Green Gables") and Edward Rochester ("Jane Eyre") for inspiration.

Before you make the mistake of thinking that Edward is the only book-boy with a diehard fanbase, check out the hundreds of badly edited "Pride and Prejudice" montages set to "The Reason" by Hoobastank or "Apologize" by Timbaland.

So share the love. The following fine men are all equally (and probably more) deserving, though this list is, by no means, exhaustive.

Rhett Butler "Gone with the Wind" Rhett Butler was a raffish leading man long before "bad-ass" was cool. "Gone with the Wind" is the classic "bad boy falls for the popular girl" story and he's at his most attractive when he's giving his heart to Scarlett only to have her stomp all over it.

I will never understand why she preferred ineffectual, dreamer Ashley Wilkes to the suave, sharp-tongued smuggler. All I can say is if Scarlett doesn't want him, I do.

Robbie Turner "Atonement" Three words: Library sex scene. Sweetly awkward Robbie is a gardener and a medical student, outdoorsy and brilliant. No wonder Cecilia can't resist him.

And you have to admire Robbie's dedication. He never stops lusting after his one true love, even when her crazy family sends him to jail or when he's fighting the Germans in the trenches.

Enjolras "Les Miserables" Who doesn't love revolutionaries? He doesn't get as much "screen" time as he should in Victor Hugo's classic French novel, and he ultimately meets a pretty bad end, but there is something very compelling about Enjolras, the tragic, charismatic, and idealistic French university student who leads a revolt against the government.

Theodore Lawrence "Little Women" Alternatively known by snappy nicknames like Teddy or Laurie, he's every bit as rich, charming, and well traveled as Edward. However, he deviates from the tall, dark, and brooding literary archetypal leading man by being playful and free-spirited and even a little feminine.

His loyal devotion to the March sisters and theatrical sense of humor charmed my 10-year-old heart the first time I read "Little Women" and again and again every time after. Bonus: Christian "hottie-to-end-all-hotties" Bale played him in the 1994 film version across from Winona Ryder.

Inman "Cold Mountain" Inman is repressible, idealistic and endlessly loyal, even in the face of the numbing horrors of war. Though troubled and emotionally reserved, he milks his brooding for every last ounce of sex appeal as he stands up repeatedly to protect innocents.

George Knightley "Emma" A whole list of gorgeous guys could be compiled from Jane Austen's book alone and Mr. Darcy is often the most celebrated of the lot, but Mr. Knightley is the most underrated of them all.

Though it takes Emma an entire novel to realize she loves her longtime confidante, Mr. Knightley is irresistible as he both humors and moderates her. Loyal, handsome, generous and unflinchingly honest, he is easily hot enough to believably snag Gwenyth Paltrow in the 1996 film.

Eat your heart out, Edward Cullen.