Lost in Austen
Tags: alternate reality

Plot synopsis:
=== Episode 1 ===
Amanda Price, a keen Jane Austen fan from present-day Hammersmith, who has just rejected an unromantic marriage proposal from her boozy, unfaithful boyfriend, discovers Elizabeth Bennet, a character from Pride and Prejudice, in a nightgown in her bathroom; but when Elizabeth disappears, she brushes the incident off as a dream. Amanda explains to her mother that Jane Austen's novel has shown her that she can set higher standards for a husband for herself, and taught her to believe in true love. Elizabeth appears in Amanda's bathroom again, this time dressed for travel.
Amanda steps through the secret doorway in the wall that Elizabeth has shown her, and finds herself at Longbourn, the house of the Bennet family, near the beginning of the novel. Amanda is trapped in this world while Elizabeth is in 21st-century London. Mr Bennet is hospitable, accepting Amanda as his daughter's good friend, while Elizabeth visits "the city".
Amanda tries to ensure that the novel progresses as it should, but when Mr Bingley visits Longbourn, he admires Amanda more than Jane. At the Meryton Assembly Hall, Amanda tries to reject Bingley's interest by telling him that she cannot dance with him, because Mr Darcy has already asked her to. Bingley calls Amanda's bluff, but Darcy backs her up and dances with her, saying that he is trying to save Bingley from embarrassment. Amanda gets drunk and kisses Bingley, immediately regretting it.
A furious Mrs Bennet warns Amanda not to interfere with her daughters' marriage prospects. Later, Amanda forces Jane to travel to the Bingleys' home in bad weather, in order to get the novel back on track. But when she learns that this may give Jane a fatal attack of grippe (influenza) Amanda follows her to try and save her.
=== Episode 2 ===
While nursing a sick Jane with paracetamol at Netherfield Park, Amanda finally puts a stop to Bingley's advances on her. Claiming to be a lesbian, she is able to direct his amorous attentions back to Jane. Darcy, however, argues with Amanda about her bringing Jane to Netherfield Park, while Caroline Bingley takes a dislike to Amanda, and continually tries to embarrass her. She insists that Amanda play the piano for them, but upon her revelation that she cannot play, Amanda instead sings Petula Clark's song "Downtown", and receives great applause from Darcy and Bingley. When Caroline snidely tells Amanda that, while she will never get the riches she's looking for, she at least won't starve, Amanda, in retaliation, boasts of her income of 27,000 pounds a year, which is enormous by Georgian standards.
As the Bennet ladies return to Longbourn, their carriage breaks down, but an army officer, Wickham, plays gallant rescuer. Amanda warns Wickham (who, in the novel, is set to run away with Lydia,) that she knows what he is up to, and is watching him.
Repulsive cousin Mr Collins, the entailed heir to Longbourn, visits to gain a wife, much to the excitement of Mrs Bennet. When he starts a proposal to Jane, Amanda intervenes, offering Elizabeth's best friend and his fiancee in the novel, Charlotte Lucas. Mr Collins, however, misunderstands, and proposes to Amanda. She accepts to save Jane.
Amanda sends Bingley and Jane on a walk to push them together. When Bingley consents to host a ball, Amanda hopes that events have returned to coincide with the novel, but at the ball, Darcy convinces Bingley not to marry Jane, telling him that her family, influenced by Amanda, are only after his money. Bingley gives Jane the cold shoulder, and she flees in tears.
A vengeful Wickham begins to discredit Amanda, spreading rumors that her vast income comes from her deceased father, a fishmonger. Mr Collins, on hearing this offence to high society, breaks off his engagement with Amanda, and she knees him in the balls.
Jane, believing that Bingley no longer loves her, accepts her mother's advice, and unhappily marries Mr Collins. A disgusted Mr Bennet angrily refuses to sleep in the same bed as his wife, believing that she has condemned Jane.
Amanda questions Bingley, who reveals that he does love Jane, but Darcy's stronger will prevailed over his own. Amanda accuses Darcy of crushing his friend's chance for happiness. She now decides that he does not deserve Elizabeth. Darcy retorts that Amanda repulses him, and walks out.
=== Episode 3 ===
Mrs Bennet finally ejects Amanda from Longbourn for trying to meddle with her daughters' marriage prospects. A sympathetic Mr Bennet gives Amanda some money, and tells her to reconcile with Jane. Mr Collins explains to his miserable new wife that he has not yet asked to consummate their marriage because of religious abstinence.
Wickham offers to help Amanda, and teaches her how to properly act in high society. He buys her a dress, shows her how to use a fan to hide her true emotions, and invents fictional French nobles for her to name-drop. Amanda realizes that Wickham wants to set her up with Darcy, so that he can pursue Caroline Bingley, who is believed to be Darcy's ideal social match.
Wickham encourages Amanda to visit Jane, and, though at first reluctant, Jane gratefully accepts Amanda's apology and offer to renew their friendship. Mr Collins refuses to allow Amanda to dinner at Rosings, the home of his patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh, but Amanda claims to have a message from Wickham's fictional nobles. Lady Catherine, not wanting to appear ignorant and unconnected, goes along with the ploy, pretending to know the nobles, and allowing Amanda to dine with them.
Lady Catherine is also the aunt of Mr Darcy, and Darcy, Bingley and Caroline are among her dinner guests. Darcy tries to put Amanda down, but she twistedly agrees with everything he says, wields her fan, and manages to fit in.
Meanwhile, Mrs Bennet argues with Mr Bennet, and decides to see Jane, taking Lydia with her so that she can see a happy marriage. Mr Bennet claims that if she finds a happy marriage at Rosings, he will walk the drawing room naked.
Lady Catherine mentions that she wishes the rest of the Bennet girls to marry Mr Collins's brothers, who are less "favoured" than himself. Despite their disagreements over dinner, Darcy begins to soften to Amanda when she returns a gold watch that a sad and drunken Bingley wagers at cards. Lady Catherine warns Amanda to stay away from Mr Darcy. Amanda insists that she does not want him, but Lady Catherine disagrees.
Agitated, Darcy comes to see Amanda at the parsonage. He asks her why she sought him out at Rosings, and Amanda denies this, pointing out that he has come to see her. A tormented Darcy, struggling to understand why he is drawn to Amanda, sweeps her up into his arms. A shocked Amanda asks him if he knows what he is doing, and he storms out. Jane witnesses their exchange. She states that Darcy is in love with Amanda, but Amanda insists that Elizabeth is the one for Darcy. Jane tries to convince her otherwise.
Later, Darcy invites Amanda to Pemberley. Overhearing the invitation, Mrs Bennet eagerly accepts as well, and Darcy politely includes Lydia and Jane. At a shooting party, Jane tearfully pleads with the sinking Bingley to fulfil his moral duty to marry and be happy for them both. Mrs Bennet witnesses this, and finally understands what her husband was talking about.
Amanda admits to herself that she loves Darcy, and decides to "understudy" while Elizabeth is away. She tells a weeping Mrs Bennet that she will marry Darcy in order to buy Longbourn for them, freeing them from the influence of Mr Collins.
Bingley then seeks out Wickham as a drinking companion, and Wickham eventually returns the unconscious Bingley to Pemberley. At Wickham's arrival, Darcy confines his young sister Georgiana, who has a history with Wickham, to her room. However, Georgiana confesses to Amanda that Wickham did not ravish her, as she reported to her brother. She was angry when Wickham rejected her advances and called her a child. Wickham maintains the falsehood to spare Georgiana's honor, being sure that Darcy would throw her out if he knew the truth. Amanda realizes that Wickham is a good person, and that Austen's account of him was one-sided.
Drunk and despairing, Bingley punches Darcy for leading him away from Jane. Caroline, seeing her opportunity, walks up to Darcy, and makes coded insinuations about Amanda.
When Amanda finally confesses her love to Darcy, she inadvertently mentions her old boyfriend back in the present, confirming what Caroline had implied to Darcy - Amanda is not a virgin. Darcy, although still obviously in love, regrets that he cannot marry her because of his station in society.
A distraught Amanda furiously rips up her copy of Pride and Prejudice, and throws it out of a window. While she packs to leave, however, Caroline enters her room, and Amanda is stunned when Caroline makes advances, having heard from her brother that Amanda is a lesbian, like her. Caroline in fact only wishes to marry Darcy to fulfill social expectations.
Amanda finds Darcy in the garden, reading the tattered remains of her copy of the novel. He assumes that she is its author, and expresses his shock that she has exposed private matters, and has not even concealed the real names of the characters. Amanda angrily tells him that his view of everything is wrong, that he has misjudged everyone, and announces her immediate departure.
=== Episode 4 ===
Darcy announces his expected engagement to Caroline, and Mrs Bennet receives a note telling of Lydia's elopement with, not Wickham, but Bingley. Mrs Bennet blames Amanda for this, while Amanda blames Darcy, and says that he and Caroline deserve each other.
Amanda travels with Mr and Mrs Bennet in pursuit of Lydia and Bingley, and, with help from Wickham, they find them hiding at an inn. Darcy arrives too. Lydia and Bingley insist that nothing has happened between them, but an enraged Mr Bennet attacks Bingley with a sword. In self-defence, Bingley inflicts a serious head injury on the older man.
Amanda fears for Mr Bennet's life. Needing Elizabeth, she breaks through a door, and suddenly finds herself back in modern London. Her boyfriend Michael drives her to see Elizabeth, now employed as a nanny.
On a busy street, Amanda spots an astonished Darcy in the crowd. He explains that he has followed her for love, and will follow her anywhere. Amanda still wants him to meet Elizabeth, but Elizabeth has thoroughly embraced modern life, and is shocked to meet Darcy, having read the novel.
Amanda hurries them back to her bathroom portal for their return to Longbourn, but the door will not open for Elizabeth, only for Amanda. Although Michael threatens to leave Amanda if she goes through the door, she goes anyway, so that Elizabeth can return to her time and marry Darcy.
Mr Bennet returns home to make a full recovery, thanks to Elizabeth's nursing. Lady Catherine, knowing Amanda's hold over Darcy, arrives at Longbourn and bargains for Amanda's departure by promising to have Jane's marriage to Mr Collins annulled on the grounds of non-consummation. Amanda agrees.
Caroline is upset when she learns that her engagement to Darcy is over, but appears intrigued when Wickham shows his interest in her. Jane and Bingley plan to marry and leave for America, and Amanda persuades Elizabeth to learn to love Darcy. Darcy tells Amanda that he will mind his duty and marry Elizabeth.
However, when Amanda opens the door to return home, she finds a note that Darcy has left for her: "Not one heartbeat do I forget."
Amanda decides to stay in the world of Pride and Prejudice, and rushes to Pemberley to be with Darcy. Elizabeth gets her father's blessing to return to Hammersmith.

Review: As a long time Austen lover and a fan of period/costume drama I was unsure what to expect from this reworking of a favourite story.
Casting is first rate...none of the characters are quite 'right' but in the context of this story they are brilliant, the obnoxious Darcy, the drunk Bingley and the threatening Mrs Bennet!
Guy Andrews writes very funny dialogue for both Amanda as a modern woman and the characters we know from Jane Austen.
So to summarize: Watch this series, not because you are an Austen puritan, which may make you regret such action, but because you love periodicals, fantasy and beautiful language.
This is as much a celebration of both reading and storytelling as it is about Jane Austen.A lot of attention to detail, a cast who look and behave exactly as you expect them to look and behave, a story you're already familiar with, but now toss in the reader herself and stir the mix.
Lydia is attractively vivacious rather than promiscuously giddy, Jane is not that pretty, Darcy is not offensively haughty, the stranger from the future is not offensively gauche, and Mrs Bennett who has been very quick to understand the threat the newcomer poses to her daughters AND take action, is set up for very interesting developments - more a fearsome adversary so far than a cringing embarrassment.Lizzie even looks like Lizzie should, but since she's hardly been in it so far, we'll have to wait and see what Gemma Arterton comes up with when she gets a few lines.
I do not suppose Amanda would lose any charm of hers (which I personally discerned rather little of) if they gave her a Regency coiffure at last: firstly, it would be enjoyable to see a high-street girl turning into Regency beauty, secondly, being an Austen fan and enamoured of all their ways she certainly would have liked that, and thirdly, no one can support that hairdo without an iron and quite a number of special hair products!
From this 'wishful thinking' standpoint "Lost in Austen" is a very appealing idea, as we get to see this modern girl who gets to be some kind of a Jane Austen character.
A true Austen freak, I am.Like other reviewers, at first I was offended by the crudeness and lack of tact displayed by the Amanda character when she entered the world of the novel.
I love Pride & Prejudice; I've read the book, and seen most (maybe all?) of the screen adaptations, some multiple times.
But on the whole, there's so much good that the nits are easy to overlook.The highest praise I can give it, and I swear this is what I was thinking when the whole thing was over: it was as if Jane Austen herself had somehow lived into modern times, and, armed with both her period and modern sensibilities, had decided to have some fun with her classic old work.
I caught this in the U.S. on Ovation (DVR-ing it to skip the gazillion adverts), and was charmed by its funny and original premise: a modern single London girl who loves P&P - and who is far more attracted to Darcy than to her somewhat loutish boyfriend - finds herself dumped smack into the novel's first chapter, courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett herself, who has provided a door into Regency England through Amanda's shower wall.What lover of P&P hasn't secretly yearned to be a part of its world, at least once?
Started out with a good idea was ruined by the poor comprehension of Jane Austen's time and bad writing..
But as much as Jane Austen's book club succeeded in creating a link between our time and Victorian age this TV show as failed.The main character, Miss Amanda Price introduces herself as wanting to live in that time, but when she actually gets there she is vulgar, out of place and does everything wrong.
A shame and a pity for it could have been a good idea.I am going to watch Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth as Mister Darcy right now in order to completely forget about this show..
Another major problem is Amanda, there were times when she was unforgivably stupid, and while it was lovely to see the Austen characters for me little was done to make me properly care for them.
All I know of Pride and Prejudice is that there's been many different movie versions of the story (Keira Knightley starred in one and Colin Firth starred in another), the main characters are Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, women seem to love Mr. Darcy, and Colin Firth emerging from the water is the one scene that's always shown when there's discussion of Pride and Prejudice.
Although, judging by the rating this miniseries has gotten here on IMDb, I guess it's safe to say that it has actually been well-received by fans (which is a good thing, because it really is an enjoyable miniseries).While initially it may have just been a picture of her in the paper that caught my eye, I was really impressed with Jemima Rooper in the role of Amanda Price.
Although she doesn't get much screen time (except for the beginning and end), I got the gist of what makes her such a beloved character.Once Amanda's stuck in the 19th century, we get to meet the many different characters who populate the story (the first of which is Mr. Bennet, who is pretty understanding of this strangely-dressed girl in his home and he's an instantly likable character, thanks to Hugh Bonneville's performance).
We then get to meet Bingley (another character who I found almost instantly likable), his sister (played by Christina Cole, who I've seen in a few things, and who is suitably icy as Caroline Bingley), Wickham (who turns out to be not quite like how Amanda first imagined) and, of course, Mr. Darcy.
The writers have a real feel for Austen-style dialogue.Nobody's mentioned this, but this is not just a send-up of "Pride and Prejudice" in general; it's specifically a send-up of the BBC/A&E mini-series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
I have decided I will purchase Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and hope that I will fall in love with those characters as well.
I am not, what I would consider, a Jane Austen "fan" but I do enjoy a good story.Like Amanda, I believe there are people that long for a time when the Golden Rule and manners mattered.
I found this adaptation to be quite delightful and have added it to my repertoire of things to watch when I've pretty much given up on humanity.Also like to add that the costumes were far more believable than the other "Austen" inspired movies--the one with Keira Knitghley (they didn't HAVE "calico" print in those days.
I can see why some Austen fans did not like this mini-series (four episodes), because it totally plays around with the storyline of one of Britain's best-loved books.
Morven Christie and Tom Mison played Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley respectively – although in this series, Jane ends up married to the odious Mr Collins (much to Amanda's – and Jane's – horror), and both were very much how I imagined the characters to be.
It's a shame, because I could really see her as Lizzie, and did feel that I would have liked to have seen more of her coping in modern day London – which is where she is while Amanda is at the Bennets' house – somehow the lack of Lizzie in London feels like a missed opportunity.Chaos and laughter ensue as Darcy starts to fall for Amanda – as indeed does one other surprising character – and Wickham, far from being the dastardly charmer which he is in Austen's book, actually seems to be quite a lovely guy (helped by a charismatic performance from Tom Riley).I intended to watch one episode per week, but ended up watching the second, third and fourth episodes in one chunk, because I really wanted to see what happened.
All the actors inhabit their parts splendidly and as the novel is so well known, the producer, director, screenwriter & actors have produced a very different comic spoof and slant of JA's classic work.It is especially enjoyable for her many aficionados who have all of her novels and own film adaptations of them on DVD but also possess a sense of humour.I understand from IMDb.com there is to be a 2011 feature film based on "Lost in Austen" which me and my wife will undoubtedly want to see when it is released.It would be logical if this film portrayed Elizabeth coping with life in 2011 Hammersmith and for the viewers to see a mirror image of the plot brought forward to the present day as we only saw Gemma Arteton (Elizabeth) towards the end and briefly in the first episode setting the scene.I have awarded this miniseries 8/10.P.S.I thought Hugh Bonneville as MR B.
But, what she really longs for is a great love and a worthwhile life, like the one of her most admired heroine, Elizabeth Bennett of the fictional Pride and Prejudice.
This is a nice take on Jane Austen's beloved book, P and P, and its much-loved characters.
Londoner Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) is a fanatic for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
The story goes wrong and Amanda struggles to set things right.Jemima Rooper is a great brassy fish out of water.
I think it helps understanding if you actually know the original "Pride and Prejudice" story and are an Austen fan.
Amanda Price gets dropped into the Bennet household by chance and has to feel her way through the social scene, getting strange looks as she reveals more than she should know and uses modern expressions causing raised eyebrows.
We laughed out loud at several points, and the expressions on the actors' faces are certainly worth watching.I did spend a lot of time wondering just how Lizzie was getting on the 21st century, and would love to see some coverage of that - I don't know if this will be included in future episodes!
I imagine it would be more confusing for her, as Amanda knows the book and the era while Elizabeth can have no idea of what modern day life is like.
what a brilliant idea: modern Austen fan Amanda Price finds herself in a through-the-wardrobe situation, swapping places with Elizabeth Bennet, none other than the heroine of "Pride & Prejudice".
The excellent cast make the most of the freedom their altered characters gives them: love-struck Bingley in free-fall; controlling, prurient, clever, watchful Darcy (striking sparks with Amanda despite being quite mean to her!); sniping Miss Bingley; and, as others have noted, highest praise to Hugh Bonneville's outstanding Mr Bennet, a sort of period drama President Bartlett: everybody wants him for a father.
As an avid Jane Austen Fan, I and thousands of others have all been touched and in love with, what i believe, to be her finest work EVER written, "Pride and Prejudice." So learning of this series, I thought it would be an interesting twist to the beloved story.
Thirdly This will be a spoiler but i will disclose it because i would have liked to know before i wasted my life watching this crap!1) Jane marries MR.Collins 2) Lydia runs off with Mr.Bingley 3) Charlotte goes to Africa 4) Elizabeth cuts her hair boy short and doesn't want to come back 5) MR.Darcy falls in love with Amanda Price, the selfish slut, and they marry!A total Failure!
their characters were so alive and real--or what you would expect--miss rooper was delightful as Amanda, she carried you right with her from her attraction to her love for D'Arcy.
even die hard Jane Austen fans will love this series,, it's refreshing and is a different take on the book.ENJOY !!.
In others it seems like a parody.The idea of a modern person being thrown into a historical or fictional context by mistake is a good, if not entirely original premise: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and a short story I once read about someone waking up on board Ahab's ship in pursuit of Moby Dick are two examples I can think of.The opportunity is there to see characters through an outsider's eyes and to add depth, and in some cases this is interestingly achieved in Lost in Austen, particularly with the story of Wickham and Georgiana, although one wonders whether Elizabeth Bennet might not have discovered (and Jane Austen uncovered) such a history for herself if it existed.
Also, for such an ardent fan of the book, Amanda seems to display a remarkable ignorance at times of what some characters are like.
If Darcy and Bingley could have ended up with anyone besides Elizabeth and Jane it completely takes away from the epic romance of both couples that has been loved for ages.
I'm shocked this has received as many good reviews and ratings as it has but I think it was a slap in the face to the fans and the characters Jane Austen created.Shameful..
I probably wouldn't be too upset if Darcy ended up with someone other than Elizabeth Bennett, as long as that woman were someone we liked just as much.The protagonist in this, Amanda Price, is pretty awful.
But, in the end, even though her modern boyfriend still seems pretty nice and even seems willing to forgive the fact that Amanda's been running around kissing other dudes and getting engaged to everything that breathes, Amanda decides to stay in the book world so she can marry Darcy (destroying his reputation and maybe his inheritance) and we're left wondering what that means for poor Jane.
I think the concept is fantastic and fun as we watch how things get altered on the arrival of Ms. Price; and what she has to do in order to get our beloved 'Pride and Prejudice' back on track!
I didn't know anything about it before watching, so it was a wonderful surprise.I had to put aside my knowledge of the book and any expectation that this would be another serious rendition of "Pride and Prejudice." It wasn't any of that and we realize it from the beginning.
Amanda is a great fan of "Pride and Prejudice," but as she meets the characters nothing seems to turn out as it does in the book.
I love Jane Austen and this is one of my favorite books.
Bingley felt more like a pervert than a gentleman especially in the beginning and later on becomes a drunkard.Amanda, who is shown to be such a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice; claims to know everything of it by heart and loves what its all about, doesn't know how to behave once she gets inside it.
I am a fan of Pride and Prejudice, having seen most of the later adaptations so was familiar with the story that Amanda stepped into.
One couldn't believe in Darcy's happy end with someone like that, and one prefers not to think about it.All of the other characters are far fetched caricatures of what Austen created.
Some changes more forgivable than others but I did not feel that a person had wondered into Jane Austen's story and thus it was an insult to use the name.*Spoiler alert*The romance between Mr. Darcy and Amanda Price is so horribly badly written it's an insult to all love stories.
A Refreshing Story With "Pride and Prejudice" Jane Austen Plot.
The whole story focused on Amanda instead and because of the swap she also fall in love with Darcy and as like her heroine Elizabeth she was upset with Darcy at first and gradually saw his heart.
Kind of a very refreshing drama that I wanted to see rather than the same plot about Elizabeth and Darcy that had been remake many time in movies and novels (Pride and Prejudice, Bride and Prejudice the modern version).I like Amanda's character here who was brave and tried to solve problems instead of running away or killing herself.
He still a prejudiced person and arrogant but he gave a refreshing breeze about Darcy usual character like when he followed Amanda in the 21th century to said that he loved her and being guilty about Jane and Bingley who are suffered because Jane already married to Collins (which is another refreshing turn of event contrast with the original novel whereas Collins should be married with Elizabeth's best friend).However I found that the ending is just too simple.
The concept for the show is good, putting a modern day character into Austen's setting for Pride and Prejudice.
If reading Austen is all about going back to a chivalrous time with great drama and romance, the main character Amanda entering this world just reminds the viewer of everything that your average Austen fan is trying to escape.
The only reason this film got 7.5 stars is because there are some serious Austen Pride and Prejudice junkies out there who go about giving good reviews to anything that has Mr. Darcy in it..
"Lost in Austen" is not quite a retelling or a modern take on Austen's most famous work "Pride and Prejudice." It's a unique spin on the story through the eyes and experiences of a long time Austen fan Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) who somehow enters a portal to the story and switches places with the lead--Elizabeth Bennett (Gemma Arterton).
In the end it's just entertainment but it's fun, and Amanda is like most women who deserve to find their own Mr Darcy rather than marry someone who doesn't love them..
I loved 2005's Pride and Prejudice, and I proceeded to read the book, and watch the very long 1996 miniseries.
When I started watching these series I was interested and repulsed at the same time by the idea of someone entering the precious world of Pride and Prejudice.
A character named Amanda Price living in modern London is not unlike Jane Austen's Fanny Price in her novel MANSFIELD PARK.