History FanFic / ThePrivateDiaryOfElizabethQuatermain

* RedheadedHero: Skinner, of course, even if you can't see it for most of the series; Jekyll/Hyde and Mina also qualify.

* QueenVictoria: She appears in a chapter of the final volume.

The [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1798674/1/The_Private_Diary_of_Elizabeth_Quatermain first volume]] (originally intended to be the ''only'' volume) carries the series title as its own. The subsequent volumes were given titles of their own prefaced with the series acronym; these are ''[=TPDoEQ=]: The Egypt Chronicle, [=TPDoEQ=]: The Wintering, [=TPDoEQ=]: Only in America,'' and ''[=TPDoEQ=]: Tartan Holiday''. The final installment was completed in early 2008. The series was slightly notorious among its fans because of the length of time it took to complete; there was a gap of almost two years where it stagnated, eventually revealed to be the result of a CreatorBreakdown caused by the deaths of the author's grandparents.

In addition to the five main volumes of Elizabeth's diary, there are numerous one-shot side stories, showing certain scenes from the points of view of the other characters; volume four even has an entire companion volume told from the viewpoint of Rodney Skinner, the invisible man. There is also "Allan Observes," the ''Literature/BridgetJones''-styled comic edition in which Elizabeth's father Allan comments -- quite harshly at times -- on the events of the stories [[spoiler:from the afterlife]].

* BetterThanABareBulb: "Allan Observes" is extremely heavy on the LampshadeHanging.

* DanceOfRomance
* ADayInTheLimelight: Apart from "Allan Observes," extra volumes and one-shot side stories allow Skinner and Jekyll to narrate events for which Elizabeth was not present; Alexandra takes over as the narrator in the final chapter of the main series. Other stories, from a third-person point of view, omit Elizabeth entirely and focus on the original League members.
* DeadpanSnarker: Allan, in "Allan Observes." ([[IncrediblyLamePun Pun not actually intended.]]) Pretty nearly the entire cast exhibits instances of this at least once or twice.

* DidTheyOrDidntThey: It's never made entirely clear what happened when Tom and the vampire Kiya were cuddled together in a coffin in the second volume. "Allan Observes" gives the impression that Allan, at least, believes [[spoiler:that they did]].

** A few others are mentioned in "Allan Observes," including George Washington, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Caligula.

** In "Allan Observes," Allan stubbornly refuses to identify either of his children by their names, simply referring to them only as Son and Daughter.

* InvisibleStreaker: One of the villains from the first volume and, as in the film, Skinner. {{Lampshaded}} in "Allan Observes" (like almost everything else) when Allan comments that Skinner is frequently naked around Elizabeth.

** Also, "Allan Observes" includes a ShoutOut to "FanFic/TheVerySecretDiaries," as Allan amusedly notes of a number of characters that "Skinner will kill him if he tries anything."

** Allan, as shown in "Allan Observes," has one of his own going on about what Skinner will look like when the invisibility is cured. He notes that he lost on the hair color, having guessed black, but correctly bet that Skinner has blue eyes.

* StuffBlowingUp: Mina's chemistry lab in the first volume. Allan, in the "Allan Observes" version, is only surprised that Elizabeth isn't the one at fault.

* UnusualEuphemism: In the Skinner version of volume IV, the villain makes a comment about [[spoiler:how he's going to "take the blush off your English rose." Skinner's]] reaction is [[BerserkButton unsurprisingly violent]].

* WorldOfSnark: "Allan Observes" the story from what could be described as this.

* AudienceSurrogate: Elizabeth, of course; being TheTeamNormal, she lets the reader experience what it might be like to be a completely ordinary person in such a company.
* BaldOfAwesome: Skinner. However, it's eventually explained that he actually ''shaves'' his head, to make it easier to put the greasepaint on his features while he's invisible. When it looks like they're going to cure him in the fourth volume, he lets his hair grow and reveals himself as a RedHeadedHero.

* BigBrotherInstinct: Tom, who even dubs Elizabeth "li'l sis" to drive the point home.

* BodyguardCrush

* BrokenBird: Elizabeth, to some extent, when the League first meets her. Her [[TheHerosJourney journey]] is largely about moving past it and becoming her own person.
* [[BusmansHoliday Busman's Holiday]]: They may not be called on to SaveTheWorld at any given point, but it seems the League can't go anywhere without stumbling on some local mishap that has to be set right.

* CharacterTics: As in the MarkTwain novel ''Tom Sawyer, Detective,'' Elizabeth notes that Tom likes to trace a V on his cheek or chin while he's thinking.

* ComfortingComforter: Elizabeth wakes up from a nap in the Amazon to find a certain leather trenchcoat covering her that hadn't been there before she fell asleep. Another time, she falls asleep in the ''Nautilus'' library and wakes up tucked into her own bed, and we all know who put her there.

* DeadGuyJunior: Elizabeth's middle name is Grace, after her late mother; her first name is after her paternal grandmother, Allan's mother. WordOfGod adds that [[AfterActionReport after the series ends]], [[spoiler:Elizabeth and Skinner name their first child after Allan. However, the child is a girl, so she's called Allanna.]]

* DistressedDamsel: Elizabeth fills this role at times, though she attempts to be plucky about it.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Most of the cast had theirs in the movie; Elizabeth's comes when she meets the League for the first time. She offers them the hospitality of the manor, describes them respectfully (if incredulously) to her diary, and appreciates the fact that they are all clearly [[spoiler:grieving for her father, just like she is]]. This establishes her as intelligent, polite, somewhat naive, and almost painfully normal.

* FamousAncestor: Allan Quatermain, Elizabeth's father.
* FauxFluency: Elizabeth is not good with foreign languages, and admits as much when she makes herself look stupid in Paris.
* FirstNameBasis: Elizabeth is the only person to call Skinner "Rodney" for most of the series. The first time she does it sort of by accident; when they discuss it afterward, he encourages her to "call me whatever you want."
* FishOutOfWater

* FriendToAllLivingThings: Humorously averted with Elizabeth. Nearly all of the wildlife they come in contact with tries to kill her.
* GentlemanThief: Skinner identified himself as one of these in the movie; in the third volume he shares a large part of his backstory with Elizabeth, revealing how he came to be one.

* GirlNextDoor: Elizabeth is meant to be one of these; the author even invokes the trope when describing her in one of the FAQ chapters. Alexandra could also qualify.

* GrayEyes: Elizabeth has these, a fact only mentioned in one of the side stories from volume III.

* HappilyAdopted: Not formally, but Nemo regards Elizabeth as his surrogate daughter. ItMakesSenseInContext.

* HeroesWantRedheads: Skinner turns out to have red hair, as does his niece Alexandra, so the trope applies to both [[spoiler:Elizabeth and (later) Tom.]]
* HeroicBSOD: Elizabeth goes through something like this toward the end of the first volume, after [[spoiler:shooting the man who might have been her brother]]. Later, Skinner has one in the fourth volume, when [[spoiler:Elizabeth announces her engagement to another man]]. It's shown more explicitly in the version from his point of view.
* HeroicSacrifice: Elizabeth tries to make one of these, or something like it, toward the end of the third volume. It doesn't quite go as planned.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: In [[spoiler:the version of volume IV from his point of view, Skinner finally tells Tom that]] he won't pursue a relationship with [[spoiler:Elizabeth]] because he's not good enough for her.
** YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: The response this receives.

* ICantDance: Skinner, in his version of the fourth volume.
* IdiotBall: Elizabeth could be accused of picking this up once or twice, along with the DistressBall at times. Occasionally she juggles.

* IJustWantToBeNormal: While Jekyll has come to accept his Hyde side as a result of the movie's events, Skinner still has this going on, at least in part. It doesn't come up until volume III, when he concedes that he's not sure he wants the invisibility cure because then maybe he won't belong in the League anymore. However, in volume IV, he decides to go ahead with it, largely because [[spoiler:he thinks he might have a better chance with Elizabeth if he does]].
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Perhaps not in so many words, but Elizabeth is very aware of her status as "the ordinary Extraordinary Gentleman." She doesn't mind that by itself; she just worries about being TheLoad.

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Why [[spoiler:Skinner]] attempts to remove himself from the awkward LoveTriangle in volume IV.

* TheLoad: Elizabeth, due to her frequent DamselInDistress status and lack of practical skills.

* LongLostRelative: Mina finds out what happened to her son Quincey in the fifth volume.
* LoveableRogue: Skinner, even moreso here than in the film.

* MistakenIdentity: When the League finds SherlockHolmes in the fifth volume, he's been extremely ill and, on first glance, believes Elizabeth to be someone named Lucy. Not a case of IdenticalStranger, however, since when Lucy is finally seen, the resemblance is only a mild one.
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: Skinner, who at first makes Elizabeth so uneasy that she thinks she needs to count the silver when he leaves.
* MoralityPet: Elizabeth is Skinner's, as is explained in his version of the fourth volume. She's not the only reason for his redemption, since he's more or less honestly repenting his past misdeeds, but she's a big part of it.

* MySisterIsOffLimits: Subverted. Skinner is very much in favor of Tom getting together with his niece Alexandra, and Tom is [[spoiler:the biggest Skinner/Elizabeth shipper in the League]].
* NaiveEverygirl: Elizabeth is a variant on this trope, in that she's quite a bit older than the usual example, and does know how to say thank you.
* NaiveNewcomer: Again, Elizabeth, for almost the entire first volume. The ending leaves her considerably less naive.

* TheNicknamer: Skinner. He dubs Jekyll "Jeks," calls his niece "Ducky," and has an apparently endless supply of nicknames for Elizabeth, including "Bess," "princess," and "our bonny English rose."
* ObliviousToLove: Skinner and Elizabeth. It both amuses and irritates their friends.

* OriginalCharacter

* ParentalAbandonment: After her mother died in childbirth, Elizabeth was raised by her mother's sister because Allan didn't feel up to raising a baby girl.

* PrincessesPreferPink: She's not a princess (although Skinner calls her that occasionally), but Elizabeth's fondness for pink is {{lampshaded}} at least once.
* {{Protectorate}}: Elizabeth, for Skinner. One of the side stories has him explain that she's too young and [[GenreBlindness inexperienced]] to be wandering around on her own, and he initially felt like he owed it to her father to keep her out of harm's way. Then he realized [[JustFriends he genuinely liked her]]. Then... [[OppositesAttract oops.]]

* TheTeamNormal: Elizabeth, and Tom to a degree; later, Alexandra fits this as well.
* TellMeAboutMyFather: Elizabeth has a rapport with SherlockHolmes in the fifth volume primarily because he once met Allan. They trade stories.
* TrueBeautyIsOnTheInside: Since Skinner spends most of the series invisible, this is an important factor in [[spoiler:his eventual RelationshipUpgrade with Elizabeth]].

* VirginSacrifice: Elizabeth was supposed to be one of these in the third volume, in what is possibly the most contrived plot of the series.

* TheWatson: Elizabeth fills this role to some extent in general, and a bit more literally to Tom when he's in detective mode in the fourth volume.

* WeddingDay: Three of 'em! [[spoiler:Mina and Jekyll]] get MarriedAtSea on Christmas Eve in volume III; [[spoiler:Elizabeth and the villain]] have a wedding in volume IV [[spoiler:which gets broken up JustInTime]]; and finally, [[spoiler:Skinner and Elizabeth]] in the very last chapter of volume V.

* [[WellDoneSonGuy "Well Done, Daughter!" Gal]]: Elizabeth feels like this was Allan's behavior toward her; while he showed as much affection as his BadassGrandpa temperament allowed, and did love her in his own way, she was stuck in the {{Unfavorite}} slot mostly because she was a girl.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: Elizabeth and Skinner. [[spoiler:They do, of course, but not until they're married.]]
* WrongGuyFirst: Elizabeth originally crushes on Tom.

* WriteWhoYouKnow: Alexandra is based on the author's best friend.

* AudienceSurrogate: Elizabeth, of course -- being TheTeamNormal in the group, she lets the reader experience what it would be like to be a completely ordinary person in such a company.
* AuthorAvatar: Elizabeth started out as one of these, but eventually developed her own personality.

* BeastAndBeauty: Jekyll -- or, more correctly, Hyde -- and Mina

* ComfortingComforter: Elizabeth wakes up from a nap in the Amazon to find a certain leather trench coat covering her that hadn't been there before she fell asleep. Another time, she falls asleep in the ''Nautilus'' library and wakes up tucked into her own bed, and we all know who put her there.

Following the events of the film, Elizabeth is introduced to the surviving members of the League. Through a series of somewhat bizarre circumstances, she's not only about to lose her home in London but has also been sent a letter directing her to solve an incomprehensible mystery. The League takes her under their collective wings and as the series progresses, helps her to break out of her shell. It's better than it sounds, really, and during its heyday was rather popular. There are a few mysteries, some romance, and a lot of historical detail. The author, Tropers/LadyNorbert, devotes the last chapter of each installment to a pseudo-FAQ in which she attempts to explain certain facts (or BlatantLies) and give credit to other people.

* [[WellDoneSonGuy "Well Done, Daughter!" Guy]]: Elizabeth feels like this was Allan's behavior toward her; while he showed as much affection as his BadassGrandpa temperament allowed, and did love her in his own way, she was stuck in the {{Unfavorite}} slot mostly because she was a girl.

* EnglishRose: One of Skinner's less frequent nicknames for Elizabeth.

In addition to the five main volumes of Elizabeth's diary, there are numerous one-shot side stories, showing certain scenes from the points of view of the other characters; volume four even has an entire companion volume told from the viewpoint of Rodney Skinner, the invisible man. There is also "Allan Observes," the ''BridgetJones''-styled comic edition in which Elizabeth's father Allan comments -- quite harshly at times -- on the events of the stories [[spoiler:from the afterlife]].

* RandomEvent: There are a few of these here and there... the dysentery outbreak and the puma attack, both in the third volume, could qualify.

* ScrapbookStory: The whole series, except for most of the side stories, is written diary-style.

* [[WellDoneSonGuy Well Done Daughter Guy]]: Elizabeth feels like this was Allan's behavior toward her; while he showed as much affection as his BadassGrandpa temperament allowed, and clearly did love her, she was stuck in TheUnfavorite slot mostly because she was a girl.

In addition to the five main volumes of Elizabeth's diary, there were numerous one-shot side stories, showing certain scenes from the points of view of the other characters; volume four even had an entire companion volume told from the viewpoint of Rodney Skinner, the invisible man. There was also "Allan Observes," the ''BridgetJones''-styled comic edition in which Elizabeth's father Allan commented -- quite harshly at times -- on the events of the stories [[spoiler:from the afterlife]].

* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: He actually gets to do it a few chapters later. It's sort of an accident.

* [[DidTheyOrDidntThey Did They Or Didn't They?]]: It's never made entirely clear what happened when Tom and the vampire Kiya were cuddled together in a coffin in the second volume. "Allan Observes" gives the impression that Allan, at least, believes [[spoiler:that they did]].

* FanArt: Several pieces exist for the series (including the page image), most of which can be seen at the link in the synopsis.
* FanFic: There are at least three stories on Fanfiction.net which are FanFics ''of'' this FanFic.
* FanVerse: In addition to its own length, [=TPDoEQ=] takes place in the same continuity as [[DarthWiki/AStudyInCharlotte the author's unreleased Sherlock Holmes fanfic]], with the characters meeting in the final volume.

* [[TheHerosJourney The Hero's Journey]]

* [[ICantDance I Can't Dance]]: Skinner in his version of the fourth volume.
* IdiotBall: Elizabeth could be accused of picking this up once or twice.

* IJustWriteTheThing: The author claims this more than once in author's notes and FAQ chapters; in particular, she admits that certain plot elements (such as Mina's lab explosion in the first volume) didn't make a lick of sense to her until she reached the part where the logic behind them was explained to the characters. Essentially, and in her own words, she never knew very much more than Elizabeth at any given point.

* TheLoad: Elizabeth, due to her frequent DistressedDamsel status and lack of practical skills.

* LoveTriangle: The first volume awkwardly establishes two -- one consisting of Jekyll/Mina/Tom and one consisting of Tom/Elizabeth/Skinner. By the second volume, it's pretty clear how the first one will be resolved, although it takes a bit longer for the second one to sort itself.

* [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse An Offer You Can't Refuse]]: The villain of the fourth volume makes one to Elizabeth, using the (fairly believable) claim that her refusal will mean the deaths of both Tom and Skinner.

* {{Protectorate}}: Elizabeth, for Skinner. One of the side stories has him explain that she's too young and [[GenreBlindness inexperienced]] to be wandering around on her own, and he initially felt like he owed it to her father to keep her out of harm's way. Then he realized [[JustFriends he genuinely liked her]]. Then...[[OppositesAttract oops.]]

* RandomEvent: There are a few of these here and there...the dysentery outbreak and the puma attack, both in the third volume, could qualify.
* RecursiveFanfiction: It's out there.

* StalkerWithACrush: Elizabeth has a particularly {{Squick}}y one of these in the first volume; he's invisible to boot.

* [[WillTheyOrWontThey Will They or Won't They?]]: Elizabeth and Skinner. [[spoiler:They do, of course, but not until they're married.]]

* BonnieScotland: Where the series ends.

* InsistentTerminology: Skinner absolutely refuses to use Elizabeth's proper name, preferring to address her as Bess or Bessie. It becomes significant in the third volume, when [[SomethingTheyWouldNeverSay he finally calls her Elizabeth]] and thus prompts her LoveEpiphany.

* PaintingTheFourthWall: In the third volume, Elizabeth essentially {{lampshades}} the idea of her diaries being read by an outsider.
-->''It may be wondered that I would engage in such a breach of propriety as to travel openly in a carriage with three unmarried men. It should be remembered, however, that Nemo is my guardian for all intents and purposes, and therefore spending time in his company is no more questionable than if my own father were here. I make note of this here not so much for my own awareness as for that of anyone who may chance to read this volume after my death; I can assure the reader that, in the capacity of my guardian, Nemo is a perfectly acceptable chaperone.''
** Also played with in the version of the fourth volume from Skinner's point of view, in which Tom snarks that "this is real life, not fiction."

''The Private Diary of Elizabeth Quatermain'' is a five-part FanFic series based on ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' (the film, not the graphic novel). It follows the adventures of the non-canonical title character, daughter to SeanConnery's character Allan Quatermain, and [[CaptainObvious is told entirely through entries in her diary]].

* AnywhereButTheirLips: Elizabeth and Skinner share two very chaste kisses in the third volume. He kisses her cheek under the mistletoe; later, she kisses the top of his head to thank him for saving her life (again).

* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: A huge part of the plot in volume IV.

* FlashBackEcho: In the first volume, Elizabeth has a trauma-induced flashback to her shooting lessons in Africa with her father, the details of which allow her to [[spoiler: kill the man who is about to kill her friends, without realizing she's doing it]].

* HeroesWantRedheads: Skinner turns out to have red hair, as does his niece Alexandra, so the trope applies to both [[spoiler: Elizabeth and (later) Tom.]]
* HeroicBSOD: Elizabeth goes through something like this toward the end of the first volume, after [[spoiler: shooting the man who might have been her brother]]. Later, Skinner has one in the fourth volume, when [[spoiler: Elizabeth announces her engagement to another man]]. It's shown more explicitly in the version from his point of view.

* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Invisible Man]]: The villain of the second half of the fourth volume makes a point of letting Elizabeth know that he's holding Skinner hostage for her continued cooperation. [[spoiler: Too bad he doesn't realize Tom's listening at the door.]]

* LukeYouAreMyFather: The villain of the first volume believes himself to be Allan Quatermain's illegitimate son. WordOfGod says that [[spoiler: this is not true and the guy was frankly crackers.]]
* MarriedAtSea: [[spoiler: Mina and Jekyll]], in the third volume.
* MasqueradeBall: They attend one in a DreamSequence Elizabeth records in one diary entry.

* PaleSkinnedBrunette: Elizabeth

* RaisedByGrandparents: [[spoiler: Little Jonathan Harker, Mina's grandson, once she locates him in an orphanage.]]

* ScrapbookStory: The whole series, except for most of the side stories, is written diary-style.

* SideBet: The ''entire crew'' of the ''Nautilus'' turns out to have one of these going about if and when [[spoiler: Skinner and Elizabeth will get married]]. Mostly due to RuleOfFunny.
** Allan, as shown in "Allan Observes," has one of his own going on about what Skinner will look like when the invisibility is cured. He notes that he lost on the hair color, having guessed black, but correctly bet that Skinner has blue eyes.

* SpeakNowOrForeverHoldYourPeace: [[spoiler: Skinner, at Elizabeth's forced marriage]] in the fourth volume. Played slightly for laughs, as the interruption arrives a little bit late and they con the minister into repeating the line to get the desired effect.

* StalkerWithACrush: Elizabeth has a particularly {{Squick}}y one of these in the first volume; he's invisible to boot.

* [[WellDoneSonGuy Well Done Daughter Guy]]: Elizabeth feels like this was Allan's behavior toward her; while he showed as much affection as his BadassGrandpa temperament allowed, and clearly did love her, she was stuck in TheUnfavorite slot mostly because she was a girl.

* [[WillTheyOrWontThey Will They or Won't They?]]: Elizabeth and Skinner. [[spoiler: They do, of course, but not until they're married.]]

** Allan, as shown in "Allan Observes," has one of his own going on about what Skinner will look like when the invisibility is cured. He notes that he lost on the hair color, having guessed black, but correctly bet that Skinner has BlueEyes.

* {{Nakama}}: The League, increasingly.

* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Elizabeth

* RelationshipUpgrade: Continual throughout the series, between all the characters as they become more of a family, and particularly between [[spoiler:Jekyll and Mina, and later Elizabeth and Skinner]]. It's implied that [[spoiler:Tom and Alexandra]] eventually get one too.

* TalkingToHimself: A literary version. The fifth volume has a chapter in which Elizabeth interacts with another of the author's original characters, the narrator of the unfinished SherlockHolmes pastiche ''[[DarthWiki/AStudyInCharlotte A Study in Charlotte]]''.

* TropeOverdosed

* PaleSkinnedBrunette: Elizabeth

* DolphinsDolphinsEverywhere: When the League visits South America in the third volume, Elizabeth is anxious to catch a glimpse of the ''boto'', the elusive pink dolphin that lives in the Amazon. Mocked, as so many of her antics are, by her father in "Allan Observes."
--> '''Allan:''' Daughter hoping to see shiny pink fish. Plenty of predators, but girly offspring looking for the ''pink'' one. Can hardly stand it.

* {{Narm}} / NarmCharm: YourMileageMayVary as to which is the more appropriate term for certain parts.

* CliffHanger: The wedding in the fourth volume was deliberately split into two chapters for this purpose. The readership [[UnderStatement reacted badly]] when Fanfiction.net proceeded to crash in such a way that the second half could not be posted for an entire week.

* ShoutOut: To everything from ''TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' to ''MuchAdoAboutNothing'' to ''Literature/KingSolomonsMines''.

* ComfortingComforter: Elizabeth wakes up from a nap in the library to find a certain leather trench coat covering her that hadn't been there before she fell asleep. Another time, she falls asleep in the library and wakes up tucked into her own bed, and we all know who put her there.

Following the events of the film, Elizabeth is introduced to the surviving members of the League. Through a series of somewhat bizarre circumstances, she's not only about to lose her home in London but has also been sent a letter directing her to solve an incomprehensible mystery. The League takes her under their collective wings and as the series progresses, helps her to break out of her shell. It's BetterThanItSounds, really, and during its heyday was rather popular. There are a few mysteries, some romance, and a lot of historical detail. The author, Tropers/LadyNorbert, devotes the last chapter of each installment to a pseudo-FAQ in which she attempts to explain certain facts (or BlatantLies) and give credit to other people.