When our Pemberley meeting was in England, we traveled to Steventon and visited the church where JA's father was once the vicar. The present vicar spoke very charmingly to our group, and is a sincere and knoweledgable admirer of JA's work himself.

He assured us that even today, there is certainly a Miss Bates and other recognizable character types in the very village where JA grew up. He hoped we would not think he was very much like Mr. Collins, though ;-) (or Mr. Elton either, I suppose!)