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Jane Austen fans.

(96 Posts)
escaped Sun 02-Feb-25 15:04:37

A drama about Jane Austen's sister Cassandra, and their bond.
Tonight,
Miss Austen
9.05pm, BBC One

Ilovedogs22 Tue 04-Feb-25 16:37:52

M0nica

I came across a few reviews, and decided to do something else.

😂

Ilovedogs22 Tue 04-Feb-25 16:53:08

I rather like, even love quite a few of Jane Austen's works but I have to say that a number of her very, very earnest, fervent followers can appear a little bit odd!
I wouldn't want to be stuck in a regency boudoir with some of them!
Mr Darcy yes! 🤔

Dotty123 Tue 04-Feb-25 17:20:53

I binge watched it on iPlayer and really enjoyed it! I know what you mean about who’s who but it gets easier the more you watch…

Romola Tue 04-Feb-25 17:35:04

I'm rather hoping that Isabella's story becomes part of this. Her situation is even worse than that of the Dashwood girls'.
I do like the portrayal of Jane Austen by Patsy Ferran

winterwhite Tue 04-Feb-25 17:50:52

I didn't enjoy the book particularly and think the TV version has been over-hyped but has obvs got a good following.

Allira Tue 04-Feb-25 18:19:08

merlotgran

Having to read Northanger Abbey for mock ‘O’ level put me off Jane Austen for many years but there’s nothing like a good old Regency costume drama to get things back on track and there have been plenty of those to enjoy over the years.

I won a copy of Northanger Abbey as the end of year prize at school. It's a very short book!

Cath9 Tue 04-Feb-25 19:15:24

I wondered if anyone watched the drama.
Despite the story not completely following the book I do love these old dramas although I realise they cost a lot to run.
For our O’Level we had. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin. I had to be the naughty younger sister!

charley68 Tue 04-Feb-25 19:40:48

I am enjoying this programme. I have not read the book it is based on.

Dotty123 Tue 04-Feb-25 19:41:32

Romola: stick with it - the last episode will make you really happy!

merlotgran Tue 04-Feb-25 19:44:35

I won a copy of Northanger Abbey as the end of year prize at school. It's a very short book!

It didn’t feel like it at the time.

Funny how I didn’t have any problem with the length of Forever Amber! 😂

Clawdy Wed 05-Feb-25 08:25:15

We did Pride And Prejudice, and Wuthering Heights for Alevel, and nearly everyone loved Wuthering Heights but found P and P boring! Many years later I re-read it, and really liked it.

LaCrepescule Wed 05-Feb-25 08:47:42

I thought it was wonderful and easy to follow. Binged it in one go. Such a great blend of great characters and acting and interesting locations. And I love a period drama. TBH I do find Austen a bit hard-going (prefer George Elliott, Gaskell and the Brontes) but may try to re-read one of her novels now that I know more about her life.

Nandalot Wed 05-Feb-25 09:21:55

We watched the first episode yesterday and all loved it. Looking forward to the rest.

nightowl Fri 07-Feb-25 10:17:43

Watched all the episodes yesterday and loved it. Actors, locations, everything just perfect. I was confused about the characters at first but did a bit of googling, which took me down a few rabbit holes and proved as very interesting, and gave me a lot more insight into Jane Austen’s life. Yes it was fiction, but a very plausible explanation for why Cassandra mighty have burnt so many letters, to protect her beloved sister.

Aveline Fri 07-Feb-25 10:20:49

As usual the BBC couldn't resist some 'colour blind casting'. It does put me off. I know I'll be shouted at for saying that but it's what I really feel.
Fine for modern day dramas but not for such Georgian set programmes.

Witzend Fri 07-Feb-25 10:25:45

I’m a great GA fan but have avoided this, at least partly because I too often find that the dialogue in period dramas just doesn’t ring true - writers have (perhaps unknowingly) modernised it. And that irritates me no end!

BridgetPark Fri 07-Feb-25 11:58:58

I went to the Birmingham Rep theatre with my beloved sis yesterday afternoon, to see Pride And Prejudice (ISH),, it was the funniest thing we have seen. We were crying with laughter.
As you can imagine it is a p*ss take on the novel. If you get the chance to catch it, it is a great spectacle, the cast are superb, there is lots of singing and irreverence shown, thoroughly entertaining. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

RosieandherMaw Fri 07-Feb-25 12:04:57

Aveline

As usual the BBC couldn't resist some 'colour blind casting'. It does put me off. I know I'll be shouted at for saying that but it's what I really feel.
Fine for modern day dramas but not for such Georgian set programmes.

Couldn’t you try “colour blind” viewing?
Try to look beyond the skin colour, it should mean no more than eye or hair colour unless it is relevant to the plot.
I think we have to do this, but recognise it may be easier for those who live in a more mixed multicultural area. When I first taught in S London after growing up in the Scottish Borders I was initially aware of colour, but by the time we left London 15 years later I can honestly say there were times when I’d have had to think hard to remember whether many of the people in our street were people of colour or not.

JamesandJon33 Fri 07-Feb-25 12:11:31

I couldn’t care a fig what colour they were. It was a delightful, well acted, instructive series. I watched it all straight through.

kircubbin2000 Fri 07-Feb-25 16:09:17

Search for Ben Fensome on IG and tik tok. He has made a one man compilation of her work.

shysal Sun 09-Feb-25 16:55:58

I have watched the first two episodes and am another who is confused about the relationship between the female characters.
I shall probably keep trying, but only when there is nothing much else on that I want to watch.

sodapop Sun 09-Feb-25 17:10:06

I found it quite boring as well. Critics have panned it due to historical details being out of sync. I didn't notice that so much just a bit dull for me.

Aveline Sun 09-Feb-25 17:44:48

I quite enjoyed it but found Lucy Worsley's book on Jane Austen at home to be much more enlightening as well as interesting and fun to read too.

travelsafar Sun 09-Feb-25 20:06:27

I wanted to watch but find Keeley's 'breathy' voice quite irritating so it put me off.
I may try again if I've nothing else to wat h.

escaped Sun 09-Feb-25 22:46:22

Sadly, the outdoor location of tonight's episode was disappointing. Where Jane and Cassandra were supposed to be on the beach in Devon, the scenery was certainly not of the area, but more likely that of the South Coast, probably Kent or Sussex. Unfortunately, I found that irritating, which spoilt the episode for me.
I'll still persevere with it and try and get into it again.