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Attention Janeites…

Starting this weekend, PBS’ Monsterpiece Masterpiece Theatre will be showing adaptations of all six of Jane Austen’s novels, including the definitive five-hour Pride and Prejudice adaptation starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. First up is a new take on Persuasion, the most overlooked of her novels, but one without a good film version; the most recent attempt prior to this one starred Amanda Root as Anne Elliott, who spent the entire film sporting a look of wide-eyed terror as if she was in permanent danger of having someone shove a twelve-inch carrot up her ass. Since the novel’s Anne Elliott is generally smart and independent, Ms. Root’s take didn’t quite work for me. The book is probably Austen’s wittiest, with some great characters and plenty of dry humor; the opening scene where Anne’s uncle decries the lack of attractive people about town is priceless.

Filed Under: DVDs, Literature

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  1. Fresh
    Jan, 14 2008 / 5:29 am

    A schedule for the Austen series, courtesy Walt Belcher of The Tampa Tribune.

    “Persuasion” (Jan. 13): Anne Elliot (Sally Hawkins) was persuaded by friends and family to turn down a marriage proposal from the dashing Capt. Wentworth. Eight years later, she’s still single and he’s back from war, rich and available, but is it too late?

    “Northanger Abbey” (Jan. 20): Young Catherine Morland (Felicity Jones) may have read one too many romance novels. She gets creeped out at the foreboding abbey before her own romance blossoms.

    “Mansfield Park” (Jan. 27): Fanny Price (Billie Piper) grew up with wealthy relatives who don’t appreciate her charm, beauty and good nature. She’s smitten by her cousin Edmund Bertram, but will he ever notice her?

    “Miss Austen Regrets” (Feb. 3): This biopic explores romances the unmarried Austen might have had.

    “Pride and Prejudice” (Feb. 10, 17 and 24): This 1995 miniseries was a blockbuster for PBS. It’s back with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, the handsome but stern lord who irritates and infatuates Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle).

    “Emma” (March 23): Kate Beckinsale stars in this 1997 film about a woman who plays matchmaker while knowing little about her own desires.

    “Sense and Sensibility” (March 30 and April 6): A new version of one of Austen’s best-known works stars Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield as sisters trying to survive and find happiness in the cruel British class system in the early 1800s.