Welcome to My Reading Life, a series where I revisit the authors and novels that have shaped me into the reader I am today.
When I was in my 20s, there seemed to be a resurgence of the works of Jane Austen, beginning with that timeless BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (1995), starring the very perfect Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. Around the same time, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant all appeared in the very beautiful Sense and Sensibility (1995). This was followed by two delightful adaptations of Emma in 1996, one starring Gwenyth Paltrow and Toni Collette with the other starring Kate Beckinsale. From the release of these adaptations, my passion for Jane Austen was born, however, not because I watched before I read. Rather, the film tie-in versions of the novels started popping up everywhere, and I’ve always been a sucker for a film tie-in; many a time have I bought a novel with a film tie-in cover when I possibly wouldn’t have looked at it otherwise. So I bought Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and then by the time Emma came out with its new cover graced by Gwenyth Paltrow, I was hooked on Austen well and truly, tuning into the ABC each Sunday night for the next instalment of Pride and Prejudice – no binge TV back in those days! Of course, I never went to the cinema to see Sense and Sensibility or Emma, opting instead to hire them on VCR (ha! anyone else remember $6 a night new release, $10 for two movies?!) as that fitted my student budget much better and allowed me time in-between uni assignments to savour the novels first.
I went on to read every novel written by Jane Austen in rapid succession along with any other information about her that I could get my hands on, which was no small task given that smart phones and tablets were not yet invented and the internet still came with a dial tone and a twenty minute wait time on connection. But I loved her heroines, with their steadfast desire to be true to themselves, to marry for love rather than status; and they were always uncommonly smart, big readers and consequently far too intelligent and imaginative for most of their peers or siblings, ‘surprising their unlikely suitors’. Since these early days, I’ve watched many other adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels, particularly enjoying Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, not her most popular novels, but still bearing her trademark wit and irony. Earlier this year I got to experience Jane Austen’s novella Lady Susan, via the 2016 adaptation Love and Friendship starring Kate Beckinsale in the leading role, and what a wicked delight it was! Snarky humour with a sheen of impoverished glamour; such an entertaining film that has been reviewed as a faithful interpretation of the original Lady Susan story.
Jane Austen’s six novels were published over a period from 1811 through to 1818, two hundred years ago now, yet the narrative remains accessible and enjoyable, a testimony to Jane’s skill at writing entertaining novels. The social realism that Jane played out in the drawing rooms of the English middle and upper classes seems to have a timeless appeal, the notions of love versus family obligation still relevant today. But if I were to be completely honest, the reason I love reading Jane Austen is because her novels are truly delightful. She writes with a wit and irony I admire greatly, her satirical projection of the social mores of the day providing many laughable moments. Her words are transparent and heartfelt; I don’t need to search her prose for hidden meaning, it’s all beautifully laid out for me to enjoy. I’ll never tire of reading my Jane Austen novels. They’re as comforting to me as a cup of hot tea at the end of a long day. Likewise with my Jane Austen adaptations (now on DVD instead of VCR – moving with the times, of course), if I’m ever feeling unwell, one of those is sure to alleviate some of my suffering and provide some much-needed comfort.
And despite the fact that it’s her most popular work, my favourite is Pride and Prejudice, both to read and watch – the Colin Firth BBC mini-series version of course! – the outrageous Bennet family gets me every time, and then there’s Mr Darcy, always Mr Darcy. This is followed closely by Sense and Sensibility on account of the lovely sister relationship at the heart of that story. Jane Austen is an author I expect I would’ve liked immensely if I’d had a chance to meet her, but alas, 160 years separates her death from my birth.
“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?”
– Pride and Prejudice.
Covers depicted in this article form part of the Penguin Classics Hardcover Series currently available from all book retailers, both local and online.
Theresa Smith Writes 
Like you, the 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice is my favourite and always will be! Nothing beats Colin Firth as Mr Darcy.
Thanks for drawing my attention to Love & Friendship. I haven’t watched this one yet. I’m keen to source a copy now!
I also love some of the hybrid adaptations or twists on Austen’s novels. Austenland was a great one with Keri Russell. Do you enjoy these too?
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I have purchased a few of those hybrid versions but am yet to watch any! They look really good though, but sadly, I just don’t watch enough movies. Love and Friendship was a lark. I think you’ll like that! I did read last year Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld. It was a modern take on Pride and Prejudice and it was very enjoyable!
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I’ve been looking at reading Eligible for some time now. I will have to source a copy. Like you I don’t watch enough movies/television adaptations. It seems to give away to reading and reviews. I hope you get a chance to catch on the spin off Austen’s soon 🙂
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I hope you do read Eligible and I look forward to reading a review from you on it. I never actually reviewed it beyond giving it 5 stars, I think.
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I agree 100%. 1995 Pride and Prejudice is hard to beat. The only thing that I’ve seen do so is the actual novel on which it’s based!
I just finished reading Jane Austen: The Secret Radical by Helena Kelly. http://amzn.to/2fVTXyx While I don’t agree with every claim the author makes about Austen and/or her work, I think that she proposes reading Austen in a way that’s very different from how most people approach her work.
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Thanks for that recommendation Fran. I hadn’t heard of that book and will check it out.
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Of course I agree with you regarding Austen and her novels. Love them.
I’m not very keen on modern retellings, sequels etc, but I did like the two movies, Clueless and Bride and prejudice. Many Austen fans love Clueless feeling it captures Austen’s intent well. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries vlog was pretty clever too.
I have Jane Austen: The secret radical here, and my local Jane Austen group is going to discuss it at our November meeting. I’m expecting it will be a lively meeting because Austen lovers are nothing if not ready to argue. Should Fanny have married Henry Crawford? Does Henry Tilney really love Catherine? Isn’t Mr Knightley’s relationship with Emma a bit creepy? Is Frank Churchill really a cad? Who is the worst Austen cad? And so on and so and so on.
Anyhow, thanks for this post, Theresa. I’m always happy to read another Austen fan.
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I’ll be keen to read your wrap up on The Secret Radical. On modern retellings, my daughter loves Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It’s utterly ridiculous but strangely entertaining, but she has watched Pride and Prejudice with me so she enjoyed the parody. I must admit I’m a bit of a traditionalist so I haven’t watched or read many of the modern retellings etc. except for the above mentioned Eligible.
I would so love to be in a Jane Austen group! Maybe one day when I move to a bigger place.
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Oh yes, I saw P&P and the Zombies too when my group here had a rush of blood to the head and a few of us decided to go. I’m afraid it was a step too far. We did laugh a lot though! Or, you could start a local off-shoot of JASA (Jane Austen Society of Australia) as we are. We get no funds from them, but we do report in their bi-monthly letter. We are a very small group that runs a bit differently to the big state groups. (If you want to know more, email me – but I suspect you are probably busy enough right now!)
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I don’t think I would get any members! My bookclub has only three in it as it is, and that’s counting me!
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Oh, well three is nice if everyone reads the book! We have 11 active members (in my general group) and although I enjoy them all I sometimes like it when only five turn up because ideas can get teased out more.
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We do always have a good time and the book is always read by all.
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I also saw Love and Friendship recently – what a great film! The books is in my TBR stack as a consequence.
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I need to add the book to my pile!
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Billie Piper for me is not Fanny but neither is Frances O’Connor. I feel that no production of Mansfield that I have seen has ever done her justice. She is made too silly or too modern. I have heard there is an older production in the 70’s or 80’s which with is apparently quite good. Any recommendations ?
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I haven’t seen any older ones. But I agree, Fanny has not had her true character portrayed in the modern adaptations. While I enjoyed the movie that starred Billie Piper, I didn’t so much like Billie, more the supporting actors. Might need to dig deep to find those older ones.
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I am sure billy Piper in the right thing is a good actor. She is in this new drama at the moment collatrerol and apparently she is excellent.
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I saw her in Penny Dreadful and she was very good. As Fanny, I felt she was forced, but in Penny Dreadful, she was all over her character, very convincing. Casting must tricky sometimes.
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Good point. I am sure if she is the right thing that she is very good. I heard she got an award for a play she was in recently.
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