We have watched the film with Keira Knightley and also the definitive version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. They are both adaptations of one of Jane Austin's most famous works. Austin was not known for her great literature but as a really endearing story they are right up there.
The film suffered greatly from trying to stuff a large story into less than 2 hours. The subtlety was not there, Mr Bennett and Mr Colins seemed mis cast and were not amazing in the role. The plank of wood was slightly better than usual and not at all badly acted. They also made the small country balls into amazing affairs that would have done the queen proud. . . a real misunderstanding of the time and type of occasions I thought. All in all an entertaining film but only .
Now the definitive BBC adaption. This is amazingly acted, directed and written. I would say by far these 6 episodes were the making of Colin Firth and also a damned good watch that has not deteriorated despite being more than 10 years old! all the way.
Austin was not known for her great literature but as a really endearing story they are right up there.
what?! Mr Riley, it is a truth universally acknowledged that Miss Austen is indeed an icon of English Literature and she does not just have popularist status. It's not often that I out and out disagree with you (in fact, probably never) but pleeeeaaaase let it be struck from the record that Austen "was not known for her great literature"; she was a master in her art form and challenged contemporary thinking about what the novel could achieve!!!
Populist is definitely the word I would use. Immensely popular and very entertaining. I liked your Pride and Prejudice opening and I hope you are entertained by the following adaption!
'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Mike can, and is, frequently wrong!'
My favourite aspect of her novels is her sense of sardonic humour. She would be an interesting figure to meet if I ever have the power of time travel.
Mike wrote:Some further information about Jane Austin can be found on Wikipedia for those who are interested.
Please spell her last name correctly. She is not a bloody car. Her name is spelt 'Austen'.
I find it quite staggering that you claim that someone who has written Sense and Senisbility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion is not known for her ''great literature''. What, pray tell, is one of the most popular English authors known for then?
"A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby
i feel it is important for myself as a graduate of literature and creative writing, an addictive reader and lover of the written word, to hold my hand up and say i find a great deal of austen and her contemparies' work brain numbing dull. there, i said it and i think it needed to be said. dickens bores me to tears, tolstoy demands too much attention and time to get through, and the brontes torture me with their yawn provoking heroines and two dimensional dullards...sorry, i meant heartthrobs.
while her style did truly master the romances of her era, such stories struggle to keep the attention of many modern readers and it would be remiss of us to pretend there is universal audulation for her and her generation of writers. i find her work predictable and unrewarding, the great lines bogged down and surrounded by long passages of uninspired descriptiive narrative.
it is a truth universally acknowledged that not everyone likes the same stuff, nore should they or be told they are wrong for not following the majority. id prefer an austin mini any day - something old that still has some flair!
I have looked into her life and writing a bit further and was surprised to find that she was actually NOT popular during her lifetime or at any time up till about 1930! The first ever critique of an author's work was published on Jane Austen, which is very interesting (wikipedia!). My opinion seems to be (at best) uneducated to her delights, however, it is appears to be a greatly regarded satirical commentary on the society of the times and therefore I will bow to greater knowledge and humbly withdraw my comments!
I too find Austen quite boring. As I do with the majority of writers of that era and the Victorian Novel. Do not get me started on North and South or The Pickwick Papers. However, they are important and relevant social novels of their day and their place in the English literary canon should not be diminished.
I do not think that there is a 'universal adulation' for the majority but minority of that genre. This though is the same in every aspect of life or every genre of literature. Every so often there are important writers and they should be remembered and read by those who want to read them as examples of good practice. Austen, rightly or wrongly, (for me it is rightly) has been considered to be one of those writers.
"A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby
I definitely like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky they are very entertaining and well written too. They do require a great amount of attention though but it is all about the journey!
now dostoevsky i did like; crime and punishment has a real narrative kick to it and provides suspense throughout. the main character's descent into madness after the murder was captivating and disturbing by the same measure, and concerns central themes that are still relevant today despite the differences in old russian and modern english society. the language can still be diffcult and too often overly reliant on exhaustive description, but the depth of the central character's personality drives the plot along.
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all the way.
