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Archive for the ‘Jane Austen TV adaptation’ Category

Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Persuasion (“Second-Chance Love”)

Posted in Film adaptation, Jane Austen Films, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen TV adaptation, Jane Austen's World, Persuasion, Popular culture on July 11, 2023| 9 Comments »

As we continue our investigation into Jane Austen’s irresistible romantic themes and plots, we now come to one of my favorite Austen novels, Persuasion.

In this series, we’ve looked at “Enemies to Lovers” in Pride and Prejudice, the “Slow Burn” Romance in Emma, and “Best Friends to Lovers” in Mansfield Park.

Now we turn our attention to the love story that many Austen fans love as much as (or more than) Pride and Prejudice. It’s the story of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth and the one that got away.

The 1995 film adaptation of Persuasion with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds.

Second-Chance Love

Persuasion is a second-chance story because Anne Elliot receives another chance at love with Captain Wentworth and another chance at living her own life and choosing her own happiness.

When the story opens, she’s somewhat of a faded, wilted flower:

A few years before, Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her bloom had vanished early; and as even in its height, her father had found little to admire in her, (so totally different were her delicate features and mild dark eyes from his own), there could be nothing in them, now that she was faded and thin, to excite his esteem.

Persuasion

However, her true beauty and worth go far beyond her exterior, and Captain Wentworth quickly notices that she’s still the same Anne:

She was looking remarkably well; her very regular, very pretty features, having the bloom and freshness of youth restored by the fine wind which had been blowing on her complexion, and by the animation of eye which it had also produced. It was evident that the gentleman . . . admired her exceedingly. Captain Wentworth looked round at her instantly in a way which shewed his noticing of it. He gave her a momentary glance, a glance of brightness, which seemed to say, ‘That man is struck with you, and even I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again.’

Persuasion

The One That Got Away

Beyond a second chance at love, Persuasion is a picture-perfect model of “The One That Got Away” (or “Long-Lost Love”) romantic theme that has become so popular in romantic movies and books. Austen knew what she was doing when she created a storyline about passionate, young love; years of separation, heartache, and regret; and a long, drawn-out rekindling of a long-lost love that has only grown deeper and more mature with time.

But one of the reasons Persuasion is so intriguing is that Austen doesn’t instantly rekindle the relationship when Anne and Wentworth meet again. Instead, Austen builds a storyline that creates questions, heartache, and angst for Anne (and Austen’s readers).

While Anne never stopped pining for Wentworth, it seems as though he has moved on completely and has not forgiven Anne. There is no quick thrill, instant reignite, or swift rekindle. He acts almost as though they’ve never met.

Anne’s only recourse is to patiently, achingly watch the love of her life search for a wife, flirt with other women, and essentially ignore her (or so she thinks). She remains humble, quiet, and ever-patient, though each day brings fresh torture.

Forced Proximity

One romantic device Austen uses expertly in Persuasion (and in most of her novels) is what we now term “forced proximity.” This is when an author places two characters in a situation where they are forced to spend extra time together in close quarters. It might be a stalled elevator, a shared school or work project, a single bed in a hotel room, or a small car on a long road trip.

In Persuasion, Austen brings Wentworth right into Anne’s neighborhood, places him among the families she and her family socialize with, and even has them travel in the same group to Lyme. Austen also creates situations where Anne and Wentworth are even in close physical proximity:

They were actually on the same sofa, for Mrs Musgrove had most readily made room for him; they were divided only by Mrs Musgrove.

Persuasion

In another moment, however, she found herself in the state of being released from him; some one was taking him from her, though he had bent down her head so much, that his little sturdy hands were unfastened from around her neck, and he was resolutely borne away, before she knew that Captain Wentworth had done it. Her sensations on the discovery made her perfectly speechless.

Persuasion

In Bath, there are more opportunities for the two of them to cross paths, including the day when Wentworth overhears Anne’s conversation with Captain Harville and writes her his letter.

Love Stories Like Persuasion

Many popular romantic movies make use of these similar themes, such as The Notebook, Serendipity, The Princess Bride, Sweet Home Alabama, Before Sunset, 13 Going on 30, The Best of Me, The Parent Trap, Grosse Pointe Blank, Ticket to Paradise, Pearl Harbor, Love Actually, The Story of Us, Crazy, Stupid Love, When Harry Met Sally, and An Affair to Remember.

Television shows such as Friends (Ross Geller and Rachel Green) and As Time Goes By (Jean Pargetter and Lionel Hardcastle) also utilize the rekindled love or long-lost love theme.

Geoffrey Palmer and Judi Dench in As Time Goes By

Stories We Love

I’m sure you can add other books, shows, or movies to this list with similar themes. I personally think that many of us can relate to Anne Elliot and a desired second chance, whether it’s in love or some other passion or pursuit. Though none of these popular rom coms hold a candle to Jane Austen’s masterpiece, it’s clear that the themes she employed have stood the test of time.

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Mansfield Park (“Friends to Lovers”)

Posted in Film adaptation, Jane Austen Fan Fiction, Jane Austen Films, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen TV adaptation, Jane Austen's World, Mansfield Park, Popular culture, Regency on June 13, 2023| 9 Comments »

As we continue to analyze Jane Austen’s novels and identify the best romantic tropes used in each one, we’re well on our way to proving that Austen not only used romantic themes ingeniously but also played an important role in developing several key plot devices that are regularly used in modern filmmaking today.

Last month, I wrote about Rom Coms and Emma. This month, I’m delving into Mansfield Park and finding the romantic themes found in the novel that are commonly found in romantic movies today.

Mansfield Park, 1st Edition, 1814, Swann Auction Galleries

Romantic Themes in Mansfield Park

In Mansfield Park, there are several themes that ring true as romantic tropes we’re familiar with today:

The Ugly Duckling-Turned-Swan (aka the “Make-over”)

Following this train of thought, we see Fanny Price blossom and come into her own in MP. Her transformation isn’t necessarily outward. She doesn’t exactly go to the mall and get a makeover, but she does come out of her shell and begin to stand on her own two feet.

The “makeover” in this novel is actually a bit inverted because while Fanny later gains some of her own agency and confidence, the real change that occurs is that the people around her finally see her for who she really is and start to value her!

The Diamond-in-the-Rough

Adjacent to the “ugly duckling” theme, many rom coms play with the idea that the main character is wonderful just as she is, but she is overlooked, shy, or overshadowed by other characters. There’s usually an “a-ha” moment where one or more characters finally see the main character in a new way.

In MP, Edmund and his family members finally wake up and see Fanny for her true worth. Miss Crawford is the shiny object that distracts Edmund from much of the novel from seeing Fanny’s quieter brilliance.

Mansfield Park (1983)

Red Herring (aka, the Shiny Object)

Similar to the chemistry and relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley (and the Frank Churchill distraction), there’s a red herring (or several) in Mansfield Park as well.

In The Take’s “The Rom Com Explained,” we find this explanation of the red herring theme: “Rom-com leads often start out with a red herring love interest who seems very appealing but turns out to be all wrong. Meanwhile, as the protagonist spends time with someone they aren’t actively trying to impress, they can be their unfiltered self and get to know the other person in a real way. This long-developing chemistry leads to a moment of epiphany, where the character suddenly realizes the feelings that have been crystal-clear to the viewer all along.”

In Mansfield Park, the arrival of Henry and Mary Crawford (siblings) is the pebble thrown into the pond at Mansfield. This disrupts the regular rhythm of life for Fanny and Edmund and the rest of the Bertram family and sets the plot spinning.

Henry throws a wrench into several plot lines, while Mary comes between Fanny and Edmund. Edmund, dazzled by Mary’s beauty, is blinded by Mary and only sees her through rose-colored glasses. Fanny waits in the wings, heart aching, as he falls for Mary.

Mary, similar to Wickham, Willoughby, and others, is the “shiny object” that keeps Edmund distracted and causes havoc for Fanny. Fanny cannot prove what she thinks is wrong with either of the Crawfords. She has no other recourse but to wait patiently until Mary and Henry both show their true colors.

Mansfield Park (2007)

Best Friends-to-Lovers

Of all the themes in rom coms used today, Best Friends-to-Lovers is one of the most popular and it fits Mansfield Park beautifully. While Emma and Mr. Knightley have a bit of this vibe, much of their chemistry comes from their sparring matches (like Elizabeth and Darcy). But with Fanny and Edmund, they are incredibly close friends who share many of the same interests, qualities, and values. Edmund is the first person to take an interest in Fanny when she comes to live at Mansfield.

If you think of MP as a new school, Fanny is the new kid and the popular kids won’t talk to her or play with her. Edmund is different. Edmund helps Fanny when she is sad and lonely. At first, she looks up to him, but as they grow up, mutual respect and affection grows. Later, at least for Fanny, love begins to bud.

The Love Triangle

As in most Austen novels, there’s a love triangle, which is probably the most popular trope in most romantic comedies today.

In Mansfield Park, there are multiple love triangles, but we don’t see all of them at first. The one we focus on most is the Fanny-Edmund-Mary triangle. While Fanny hides lovelorn feelings for Edmund, Edmund doesn’t see Fanny as more than a friend/cousin he grew up with. Miss Crawford comes to town at exactly the wrong moment and steals the show.

Until Edmund sees Miss Crawford for her true self, he is blinded by her alluring personality and beauty and cannot see Fanny standing right in front of him.

Love Triangles similar to Mansfield Park

When I started looking for modern movies with similar themes (Best Friends-Turned-Lovers, Ugly Duckling-Turned Swan, Unrequited Love), I posted questions on my Instagram account (@KindredSpiritBooks) and on the Jane Austen Fan Club on Facebook. I received dozens and dozens of answers to this intriguing question!

If you’ve ever wanted to know what themes come up most often in movies, take a look at this list; it’s the longest list I’ve had yet in this series. There’s no denying that movie-goers respond well to love triangles—especially when the triangle involves two close friends finally realizing their love for one another!

The Holiday, 10 Things I Hate About You, 13 Going On 30, A Cinderella Story, A Walk to Remember, Always Be My Maybe, America’s Sweethearts, Can’t Buy Me Love, FRIENDS (Chandler and Monica), Crossing Delancey , Drive Me Crazy, Easy A, Ever After, Get Over It, Grease, He’s Just Not That into You, Love and Basketball, Love, Rosie , Made of Honour, Maid in Manhattan, Miss Congeniality, Moonstruck, Never Been Kissed, Pretty in Pink, Pygmalion (My Fair Lady), Sabrina, She’s all That, She’s the Man, Sixteen Candles, Some Kind of Wonderful, Something Borrowed, Superman, The Duff, The Office (Jim and Pam), The Perfect Man, The Princess Diaries, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Truth About Cats & Dogs, Trojan War, Whatever It Takes, While You Were Sleeping, Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, Win a Date with Todd Hamilton, Yesterday, Your Place or Mine.

Always Be My Maybe
Jim, Pam, and Roy from The Office

When asked what themes they saw in Mansfield Park that are common in romantic films today, several fans quipped, “The Cousins-to-Lovers” theme? Which made me laugh out loud. Yes, cousins did marry cousins during Austen’s time, but it’s still a funny remark.

I’m sure you can add others to this list! In each of these movies, there is some element of MP present.

Fanny Price

When I took these polls, the one thing everyone agreed on was this: We like Fanny Price because she doesn’t change her morals, her convictions, or her personality just to gain acceptance or love. She does blossom, but she doesn’t change. She is the same through-and-through, which makes her a very admirable heroine. Edmund finally wakes up and begins to see her in a new light, but she doesn’t become more like Mary Crawford; she remains steady, true Fanny.

Fanny has a lot to lose in terms of a future when she refuses to give in to Henry Crawford’s proposal and her uncle’s pressure. Without an inheritance of her own, her only options are to continue living with her aunt and uncle Bertram as long as they will have her or find work as a governess. And yet, though she’s timid and easily intimidated, she does not yield.

Mansfield Park (2007)

Have you seen any of the film versions of Mansfield Park? If so, which one do you think remains most faithful to the original text? (I’ve yet to find one that I enjoyed as much as the novel, but I’m open to suggestions!)

Are there any other books or movies in this genre that allow the heroine to stay true to herself as she wait patiently for her dreams to come true?

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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Jane Austen and Rom Coms: Emma (“The Slow Burn”)

Posted in Emma, Film adaptation, Jane Austen Films, Jane Austen in the modern world, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen TV adaptation, Jane Austen's enduring popularity, Jane Austen's World, Popular culture on April 10, 2023| 11 Comments »

In this series, we’re exploring Jane Austen’s novels and identifying the romantic themes used in each one – with the goal of proving that Jane Austen not only used romantic themes ingeniously but also played an important role in developing several key plot devices that are still used in modern filmmaking today.

Last month, I wrote about the “Enemies-to-Lovers” theme in Pride and Prejudice. This month, I’m delving into Emma and looking at the romantic themes it continues to inspire in modern romantic movies and shows.

Emma 1996

Enemies to Lovers in Emma

In “The Rom Com Explained” on TheTake.com, we read this humorous definition of the popular enemies-to-lovers trope that I discussed last month in regard to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy:

“The two love interests probably start out at odds. They may come from different worlds, have competing goals, or simply get off on the wrong foot. But as the rom-com wisdom goes, there’s a very thin line between love and hate, and the story frames all this friction as kindling for sparks to fly.”

What about Emma and Mr. Knightley? In Emma, some have said that Mr. Knightley and Emma fit the rivals description as well because of their witty banter and playful digs, but their delayed love interest seems to be much more about their age gap, their family history, and their comfort level with one another that comes from being brother- and sister-in-law.

Emma 2009

Defining the Relationship

But if they aren’t rivals-to-lovers, what makes the romance between Emma and Mr. Knightley so irresistible? What techniques does Austen use to cleverly draw us into their world? What causes the slow burn that builds between them?

Are they boy/girl next door lovers? Possibly.

Friends-turned-lovers? Probably.

While Emma falls into both of these categories, if we want to narrow it down even further, the romance between Emma and Mr. Knightley best fits the “It Was Right In Front Of You All Along” theme. Their love story starts with a slow simmer, builds to a slow burn, and turn into a raging inferno.

The Slow Burn

In Emma, the relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley sizzles because it’s so unexpected—at least for the two main characters. We, the readers, watch it slowly build (and hope that it will happen), but the characters themselves don’t recognize their own feelings for quite some time. It takes Emma the longest to realize, which adds to the charm of the story. With the Slow Burn love story, there are obstacles standing in the way (knowing one another too well, growing up together, not seeing each other “that” way, and other love interests). Most commonly, there’s a distraction that keeps one or the other from recognizing the chemistry that is building all along the way.

Emma 2020

The Red Herring Distraction

In a Slow Burn love story, there is usually at least one misleading love interest or storyline (or “red herring”) to keep readers off the trail. Jane Austen obviously sets the bar high for the red herring theme in Emma, but here’s a definition from “The Rom Com Explained” article:

“Rom-com leads often start out with a red herring love interest who seems very appealing but turns out to be all wrong. Meanwhile, as the protagonist spends time with someone they aren’t actively trying to impress, they can be their unfiltered self and get to know the other person in a real way.”

Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility all have at least one red herring love interest. In each, there’s a man who seems charming and agreeable at first but turns out to be quite the opposite. In PP and SS, the red herrings turn out to be villains (yes, I’m looking at you Mr. Wickham and Mr. Willoughby), but in Emma, Frank Churchill, an immature and obnoxious man who think it’s funny to play with other people’s emotions, acts as the red herring. These red herring lovers keep audiences busy trying to figure them out so that they don’t notice the real love story brewing beneath the surface.

Emma 2020
Emma 2009

Reading Emma like a Detective

Unlike most modern romantic comedies, Jane Austen’s plot in Emma is anything but obvious. She outdoes herself with several misleading storylines. She keeps us so busy figuring out what’s happening between Emma and Frank Churchill, Emma or Harriet and Mr. Elton, Harriet and Frank Churchill, and even Harriet and Mr. Knightley that the majority of first-time readers never even notice the Frank and Jane Fairfax storyline until later in the novel.

In fact, Emma is so cleverly written that many scholars believe it reads more like a detective story than a romance. If you’d like to delve into this fascinating topic, click to read David H. Bell’s brilliant article, “Fun with Frank and Jane: Austen on Detective Fiction” in JASNA’s Persuasions.

Emma 1997 (Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill)

Hidden in Plain Sight

The other side of the coin with a red herring love story is that the false-love interest helps hide the true love interest—the one the heroine’s known for a long time and has never thought about “in that way.”

In the red herring plot line, this “real” love interest hides in plain sight. Sometimes, like in the situation with Mr. Darcy, he’s cloaked in some kind of mystery, misunderstanding, or perceived arrogance. Other times, as with Mr. Knightley, the hidden male lead is considered “off limits” because he’s a cousin, a step brother, a friend, or a co-worker. Most of the time, we (the audience) know he’s the real love interest rather quickly, but it takes most of the movie for the heroine to figure it out.

This is where Mr. Knightley really shines. He’s “the one,” hiding in plain sight. From the start, Austen casts him as the “big brother-type.” As a neighbor and friend, and the brother of Emma’s sister’s husband, Mr. Knightley is the perfect “off limits” hidden love interest. Emma has never looked at him in “that way.” It has never crossed her mind that he could see her as anything other than an annoying little sister.

The Aha Moment

“This long-developing chemistry leads to a moment of epiphany, where the character suddenly realizes the feelings that have been crystal-clear to the viewer all along” (“The Rom Com Explained”).

In this type of plot, usually one lead character realizes his/her feelings first, while the other takes longer to wake up to what’s going on between them. In Emma, Mr. Knightley sees Emma as much more than a neighbor and friend early on, but Emma is busy chasing other love stories and doesn’t see her own true love story blossoming right in front of her nose.

It’s only later in the film that Emma finally realizes that she loves Mr. Knightley. It’s always been him. This realization comes when she finds out that Harriet has feelings for Mr. Knightley (and that her feelings might possibly be returned). Startled by the powerful feelings of jealousy that come over her, she finally awakens to the deep love she’s felt for Mr. Knightley for quite some time.

Emma 1996

Modern rom-coms patterned after Emma:

Ever since Emma, there have been countless stories of friends-turned-lovers and lovers-hidden-in-plain-sight.

Modern films that fit this category are 13 Going on 30, Always Be My Maybe, Love and Basketball, Just Friends, Made of Honor, When Harry Met Sally, and Yesterday. In television, there are several couples in The Big Bang Theory, Monica and Chandler on Friends, and Jim and Pam from The Office. While these romances also fall into the friends-turned-lovers category, they fit the themes in Emma because most include a love interest that is hiding in plain sight but also “off limits” for one reason or another.

The most obvious modern film to follow in Emma’s footsteps is Clueless. It’s worth discussing because it is considered by many as one of the best modern remakes of a Jane Austen novel. Though some say it’s just a silly teen romance, it’s also incredibly clever in its own right. I truly believe it belongs in the “It was Right in Front of You All Along” category.

Clueless 1995
Clueless 1995

Finally, while Bridget Jones’s Diary is most often connected with Pride and Prejudice, there are also plenty of similarities between it and Emma. Mark Darcy has many attributes that closely align with Mr. Knightley. He’s an older, wiser family friend who seems (and probably is) far too good for Bridget but actually finds her quite adorable and captivating. It takes Bridget a long time to realize that Daniel Cleaver is a jerk and Mark is the better, more mature man.

If you love Emma and Mr. Knightley as much as I do, what do you think makes their romance so charming? At what point do you think Mr. Knightley realized his romantic feelings for Emma?

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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Jane Austen in the News

Posted in Jane Austen Films, Jane Austen in the modern world, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen TV adaptation, Steventon on April 5, 2023| 30 Comments »

Inquiring Readers, 

Several news items about Jane Austen have piqued my interest! My friend Deborah Barnum, who oversees the excellent Jane Austen in Vermont blog, referred me to an article written in February by Catherine Bennet entitled Who’s going to be triggered by Northanger Abbey? It’s hardly Game of Thrones. 

Greenwich University’s Trigger Warnings Towards Northanger Abbey

Question: Does catering to students’ sensitive sensibilities and possible antipathy towards a gently humorous and ironic novel prepare them for a successful adulthood and working life? Northanger Abbey, originally titled Susan, was written by a 23-year-old author around 230 years ago. Inquiring minds want to know.

Catherine Bennet sums up the article in one sentence, “Greenwich University is warning students to prepare themselves for the ‘toxic friendships’ Jane Austen satirises in her novel.”

TOXIC?  I gasped as I read the reasoning this university gave for protecting students from gender stereotypes and toxic relationships so they won’t be upset. Do universities no longer teach classic literature in context of the historical times in which it was written? Do literature professors no longer supervise robust debates and healthy discussions? Or help their classes to understand how, over the course of her short life, Austen’s novels and her personal viewpoint changed and transformed her own understanding of the human condition?

Must our childrens’ tender sensibilities be given a safe space from a brilliant spinster writer who helped to revolutionize the novel? I’ll tell you what triggered me, Greenwich University, and forced my bosom to heave:  It was your pandering where none was needed.

To quiet my suffering nerves, I must now reach for my smelling salts, drink some elderberry wine, and rest. A handsome companion holding my hand would not be amiss. Hint: humor and irony here. (My friend and editor would have merely added a wink emoji, but yours truly desires to dramatize her feelings à la Marianne Dashwood!)

Steventon House for Sale

Screen Shot 2023-04-05 at 12.45.12 PMJust as this article surfaced, another one popped up! While Jane Austen is more popular than ever, which has me chuffed, this account does not quite describe the before and after differences of the Steventon House. Here’s the description of the sale of Steventon House today.

The Austen family’s house was actually demolished in the early 19th century, soon after the George Austen family moved to Bath. All that remains to this day of the old Rectory is a pump surrounded by a tiny fence. The rest of the house is gone. The current sale article describes today’s site/situation as such:

“Steventon House was the birthplace of the iconic author Jane Austen,” said Ed Sugden, director of Savills, the estate’s listing agency, along with Knight Frank. “Although the original structure has since disappeared, the Georgian masterpiece that currently stands, envisioned by her older brother Edward, perfectly befits the milieu that Austen captured in her writing.”

Well, no. Take a look at the link to these images. Can you see anything that resembles late 18th C./early Regency furnishings? One must applaud the mystery that our spinster Jane still holds over her admirers today. The new owners would not be living in her family’s historic house, but they could still  imagine trodding the same lanes that she and her family walked towards  Steventon Church, to friends’ houses, and to purchase goods in nearby towns. They can still experience the landscape that nurtured her childhood and budding writing career. These imaginings alone should be worth the cost of their purchase.

Here’s a link to Remains of Jane Austen’s Steventon House Unearthed by the BBC

My previous thoughts are a perfect segue to:

Jane Austen’s Little Book of Wisdom: Words on Love, Life, Society, and Literature, Compiled by Andrea Kirk Assaf. (Click on link.)

Jane Austen's Little Book of WisdomThis book provides the reader with a quote a day or the opportunity to devour swaths of her genius at a time. Be that as it may, let’s gauge how many of Austen’s sayings are as inspiring and witty as ever:

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!” – Pride & Prejudice, back cover

“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our  lives” – Persuasion, p140

“I think it ought not to set down as certain that a man must be acceptable to every woman he may like himself” – Mansfield Park, p 49

For a lady who was never married, she sounds modern and reasonable. This lovely book will provide a daily diet of Austen sensibility every day of the year. My vote: 4 out of 4 teacups.

A friend Discovers Jane Austen

A fellow board member who serves with me on a local board asked me out of the blue about the two BBC Jane Austen films he had watched. They were Emma, 2009 (he stood up and applauded the film at the end) and Sense and Sensibility, 2007, which he also applauded. When I asked him why he began watching the films, he confessed to reading this blog and being intrigued by my devotion to Jane.

He then asked if Pride and Prejudice was worth watching. After a short conversation, I realized he had never read Jane’s novels. I told him that P&P was regarded as one of the top novels in literature, and asked him which version he had borrowed from the library. It was the splendid 1995 A&E/BBC Firth/Ehle mini series.

He viewed P&P and within two days told me that this tale/movie version was his favorite. He then asked for more suggestions. I gave him a few, but he made it clear that he wanted to see the movies based on her other novels. What say you, fair readers? Which Austen film adaptations should he watch next in your opinion? And why.

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Jane Austen-Themed Valentines

Posted in 19th Century England, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen TV adaptation, Jane Austen videos, Jane Austen's World, Pride & Prejudice 1995, Regency World, Romantic London, Sense and Sensibility, Valentine's Day on February 14, 2023| 17 Comments »

Happy Valentine’s Day, JAW friends! Are you sending cards this year or planning something special? I found it interesting to read about Valentine’s Day during the Regency Era and found several histories of the holiday online. A short overview from The Jane Austen Centre proved intriguing.

As I thought about the kinds of Valentine’s Day cards and letters Jane Austen’s characters might have sent to one another, I had a few creative ideas. The following is the fruit of an hour spent laughing over what some of Austen’s most famous (and silly) characters might say if they sent out Valentine’s Day cards.

Enjoy!

True Romantics

And finally, a few Jane Austen-themed Valentine’s Day graphics that you might like to share with a loved one! After all, she did write some of the most romantic lines in the English language!

A very Happy Valentine’s Day to you, from all of us here at Jane Austen’s World! May your day be filled with love, laughter, friends, sweet treats, and good books. Feel free to share this post with your friends and loved ones!

RACHEL DODGE teaches college English classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and book clubs, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling author of The Little Women Devotional, The Anne of Green Gables Devotional and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. Now Available: The Secret Garden Devotional! You can visit Rachel online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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