Jane Austen wrote six novels. You can almost count them on one hand. Those books, and a smattering of Juvenilia, a few uncompleted manuscripts, and a number of letters – some fragmented, most missing blocks of years – are all that we have of Jane Austen’s legacy in writing. Yet these little bits of ivory contain such a vastness of riches that one can spend a lifetime exploring them.
Not only did Jane inspire some of the best minds of her generation, but 192 years after her death her legacy still lives on, spawning imitators and sequel makers and inspiring an entire genre in literature. Her topics were circumscribed and narrow, which is the key to her timelessness. By focusing on the essential and not that which was fashionable, her writings remain fresh, relevant, and current. Jane Austen’s works are popular the world over and, observing from the number of websites, blogs, and discussion forums devoted to her on the World Wide Web, interest in her is still increasing and cuts across cultures and generations.
You haven’t truly arrived until you’ve been imitated. Like Shakepeare, Jane’s works invite hordes of copyists, with new books, movies, games, and comics based on her work and life cropping up monthly. Satirists are having as much fun with our Jane as with Shakespeare. Action figures and finger puppets abound, and famous lines are quoted with a modern twist every day. With Shakespeare it might be, “To eat, or not to eat, that is the question,” while Jane’s famous opening line morphs into, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a writer in need of a plot must steal from Jane Austen.” We quoth our Jane evermore, but, lacking her biting wit and brilliant insights, we fall short every time.
And now it seems that the Jane Austen industry has descended into monster sequel and adaptation madness, regurgitating these popular culture books at an unholy rate. The new crop of Jane Austen adaptations include Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre Slayer, Pride and Predator, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. What’s next? Emma and the Loch Ness Monster? King Kong Conquers Northanger Abbey? Mr. Bingley, Werewolf?
At least Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was sensible enough to retain 80% of Jane’s words. Currently, I am barely slogging through Mr.Darcy, Vampyre. The book purports to be about Jane Austen-named characters, but their actions, speech, and motivation have nothing to do with Pride and Prejudice. Neither can Amanda Grange’s writing hold a candle to either Jane’s spare, witty style or Anne Rice’s evocative and decadent language in her masterful first novel, Interview With the Vampire. One suspects that Source Books has rushed this vanity novel out to take advantage of the Monster and Jane Craze. And now Quirk Books has announced the publication of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Have you seen the trailer? Uggh. The book has retained only 60% of Jane’s words, which means it will be even more action oriented than P&P and Zombies. While thirteen year old boys are whooping for joy in anticipation of this book, we lovers of literature are scratching our heads, knowing that its publisher and author will be happily scooping up dollars at the bank. Meanwhile a more talented and original writer, unable to get a foot through that publisher’s door, will have to work at Burger King to pay the rent.
And then there are the Jane Austen and sex sequels. Last year, a sequel had Darcy and his Elizabeth making love at least 19 times in the first half of the book. I am currently awaiting two sexy sequels with a bit of trepidation, but I will be frank with you, if these two books are merely about titillation, I won’t be giving them a kind review. There’s a popular cultural reason why the American ending of Pride and Prejudice 2005 contains this scene, which our British cousins didn’t have to see. “Nuff said.
Not for me these wannabe imitators, these pale, faceless shadows of a literary genius whose sun shines so brightly that I reread her words regularly without tiring of her. Enough, I say, of this monstrous Jane Austen sequel trend. Fun is fun, but desecration is another thing. I know many people feel that this is an innovative way to introduce young people to Jane Austen’s splendid novels. I say, let’s stop the monster madness now and introduce Jane to new readers in a more proper way.
- Has Quirk Books Gone Too Far? Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters: Our Jane Austen Today readers aren’t thrilled either
- Reflections Upon the Death of Jane Austen and Civility: Laurel Ann at Austenprose is similarly aggravated
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Review of a High Concept Novel: My review of this best seller is tongue in cheek
- From Zombies to Sea Monsters: The commentors on Austenblog seem to have a kinder view of this trend
- Making light: Incorporate Electrolyte : This blogger wrote tongue in cheek about a possible sequel entitled Mary Bennet, Vampyre Slayer way back in 2007. Her plot outline is funnier than any of the current crop of books
Jane Austen's World 
I have to say I agree with you completely. At a certain point, it just gets silly.
I must confess I have not read none of these monster-vampire-zombie thing and have no desire to…
Just want to say, as an American, that the clip embedded above is from the worst version of P&P ever made.
Thanks for you thoughtful insights Vic. I am saddened and angry that it has degraded into this. A parody is a complement to the author, total desecration is an insult all the way to the bank. I appreciate you having the courage to speak for many of Jane Austen’s fans who just have had enough.
[…] Jane Austen’s Legacy: Precious Bits of Ivory Turned Into Monsters: Vic (Ms Place) at Jane Austen’s World voices her opinion on how Austen’s legacy is being misused and abused. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Seeing Jane* Jane Austen and …baseball?Finding Passion in Jane AustenAusten Works Adapted for PBS […]
Have you seen Bride and Prejudice? Modern — Indian Culture — makes an enormous amount of sense in a way a lot of remakes/ retellings just can’t.
I too get really angry at the K. Knightly version of P & P — it misses the point , just by putting the last scene in.
Yes, I like Bride and Prejudice, egb63. That adaptation makes sense. It is a Bollywood homage to Jane. Set in a different culture and to music, it’s such fun! I don’t think it’s a great film, but after seeing it I always come away singing – No Life Without Wife!
I’m not really sure who the monster books are supposed to appeal to–13-yr-old boys will have no knowledge of Jane Austen so it will not appeal to them; Janeites, by and large, will prefer their beloved novels not to be desecrated; and any one who doesn’t read Austen won’t care to see what’s been made of her work.
Re: the 2005 movie–love it, hate the ending. I will watch it anytime it is on tv but always shut it off at that point.
I couldn’t agree with you more Vic, you’ve nailed it!
Hear, hear! I agree with every word! I wish people would stop doing this to Jane. I mean all these sequels are fanfiction of the worst quality!
[…] Fan Fiction Jump to Comments At Jane Austen’s World, Ms. Place comments on the recent fashion for Jane Austen horror sequels like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and […]
:))I totally agree,these people should stop mimicking jane,they’re becoming annoying,but there are some imitations that are really entertaining.Like Bridget Jones.
hey,we have the same header!!
Here here! Love your post. I’m afraid I couldn’t read any P&P and Zombies. I didn’t even know there were other ‘monster and Jane Austen’ novels out there!
I agree wholeheartedly! People should read Jane Austen as she is in order to understand how brilliant she was!
P.S. Thanks for sharing your post! I love reading your blog!
the P+P 2005 ending; what?! how utterly UTTERLY cringe-inducing! since when do we need Austen to be made into an episode of Bold and the Beautiful?
What series was this from?
Carson, that ending was glommed onto Joe Wright’s film version of Pride and Prejudice. American audiences saw it, but thankfully other nations did not.
Believe me, the American audience groaned too.
“Mrs. Darcy Mrs. Darcy Mrs. Darcy…” Did somebody get PAID for writing that script???
[…] Jane Austen’s Legacy: Precious Bits of Ivory Turned into Monsters […]
I agree with those of you who said how horrible the Pride and Prejudice (’05) Knightly (sp?) basterized version was, and it’s not only because of the “American” ending. The acting was not concious of the era the setting of the book was written in. It was made for teenage girls who haven’t read the book and just wanted to appear worldly and intelligent by watching the movie. The BBC series is my favourite (Collin Firth and the like.. )and I love how they at least tried to keep the integrity of a timeless romantic comedy.
I am currently researching Jane Austen for a writing course. I came across this page and it made me laugh.
Are people crazy. I understand Jane Austen is the best out there. I have read all of her books, letters, parts of books everything. I know Austen very well, but I truly liked both zombies and sea monsters. They were silly and cute but had the Austen essence. I don’t think Austen would be freaking out about this at all with her character I believe she would have laughed. Parodies of books are for entertainment for people who love the originals and have a sense of humor. Some of the books are bad but you will never know until you pick up the book and read. Become open minded with books out of your usual genre and you will realize there are so many good books out there besides classics.