💬 Weekly Question: What's your favorite Jane Austen novel (and screen adaptation)?
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It’s Valentine’s Day, so let’s talk about the work of Jane Austen — who wrote some of the most romantic novels ever published. No reason to over-explain this one, given that I think the question is pretty damn self-explanatory.
What’s your favorite Jane Austen novel (and screen adaptation)? Don’t just drop a title either. Tell me why.
In my case, my favorite Austen novel is Persuasion, which I find endlessly heartbreaking and romantic and, in most ways, the author’s most emotionally sophisticated work. Its 1995 BBC adaptation, written by Nick Dear and directed by Roger Michell (who would direct Notting Hill, also beloved by me, four years later), is also wonderful. However, I’d unhesitatingly declare the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice my favorite adaptation. This is the iconic one written by the great Andrew Davies and directed by Simon Langton, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. I’ve watched it four times now and every time I think, “God, I wish I lived in the English countryside.” Which is probably why I moved to the English countryside for a few years a while back. You can check out its trailer below.
Now, your turn!
I'm a huge Jane Austen fan!!!
I would have to say Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion rank together for my all-time favourites- Persuasion is so underrated!!
For my favourite adaptation, I recently watched Bride and Prejudice, which is an incredible adaptation of Pride and Prejudice but set in India, in Amritsar. It was absolutely wonderful, so true to the plot and a great combination of Bollywood and Hollywood. I would definitely recommend it!
The 2007 ITV adaptation of Persuasion is a guilty pleasure, because of the screenplay choices made, in the main. Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones do something quite remarkable to Anne and Wentworth. The supporting cast is beautifully balanced and as a complete piece of work it takes all the meat from the text and simply shows what is strongest within it.
Close second is Emma Thompson's adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, a near perfect piece of cinema. My only issue is Hugh Grant's casting, but you can't have everything :P