Jane Austen, Literary Adaptations, Pride and Prejudice | Literary Traveler Revisiting Jane: A Marriage Plot for the Modern Day Posted on October 16, 2013 By Amanda Festa “We had a long discussion about the comparative merits of Mr. Darcy and Mark Darcy, both agreeing that Mr. Darcy was more attractive because he was ruder but that being imaginary was a disadvantage that could not be overlooked.” – Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones’ Diary Unlike the unmarried women in some of her tales, Jane Austen’s novels never get old. Although her classic works were published a good two centuries ago, they have been continually adapted throughout the years in all their grand and sweeping Regency Era glory. Pride and Prejudice alone has found its way to film and television ten times, and while it’s always fun to see our favorite novels come to life — to put a human face to much-loved characters –it’s especially appreciated if that face belongs to Colin Firth and he finds himself emerging refreshed from a dip in the lake. If you haven’t seen the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice adaptation, give this scene a watch.

It’s referenced in pop culture almost as much as the novel itself, and it is now commemorated by a 12-foot fiberglass sculpture that is making its way around England this year. But, bringing her nineteenth-century romantic hijinx to the big screen isn’t the only way modern-day authors and filmmakers are paying their respects to Miss Austen. In recent years, there has been an emerging trend of not only adapting but repurposing her work in completely unexpected ways. Why Austen’s work is so often recycled by contemporary writers should come as no surprise. Her smart humor and thoughtful social commentary are timeless conventions that provide insight into relationships, families, and class distinctions. Whether applied to early nineteenth-century England or late twentieth-century Beverly Hills, her themes remain universal — an unmatched lens by which we can examine our social sphere and the world. After all, no one does the marriage plot quite like Jane, and if you are going to write a romantic comedy, you may as well take a page from the best. The fierce female protagonists of Austen – from Emma Woodhouse to Fanny Price, and of course, Elizabeth Bennet — remain an inspiration to readers and writers, who have taken them up where Austen left off.

Elizabeth Bennet has always been quick-witted and independent, but in recent years she’s been a detective, a zombie hunter, the heroine of a graphic novel and a YouTube sensation. And what about the other characters? 2014 will see a retelling of Pride and Prejudice from Mary Bennet’s point of view in The Forgotten Sister , and later this fall, Dinner with Mr. Darcy will offer recipes inspired by Austen’s novels. We all know Mr. Darcy can smolder, but can he cook? Pay tribute to Austen and her unforgettable work with these contemporary forays into the romantic misadventures she made famous. Bridget Jones’ Diary – In Helen Fielding’s 1996 novel, a single woman finds love with an unlikely suitor named Darcy. Sound familiar? It’s no coincidence. Fielding willingly admits that she “shamelessly stole the plot from Pride and Prejudice…I thought it had been very well market-researched over a number of centuries and she probably wouldn’t mind” (Daily Telegraph).

Fielding’s novel became a 2001 film starring Rene Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Colin Firth as Mark Darcy – an inside joke for fans, who knew Firth as the Mr. Darcy of BBC fame who Bridget herself is so enamored with in the film and novel. Lizzie Bennet Diaries – What if Pride and Prejudice took place in the modern day and Elizabeth Bennet was a live-at-home grad student with a video blog and a Twitter account? The tale is mostly told by Lizzie, with appearances in her videos by sisters Jane and Lydia and good friend Charlotte. The much-anticipated visage of William Darcy (minus the Fitz) isn’t shown on camera until episode 60, although he is discussed, and he is every bit the uptight company man you would expect – the CEO of Pemberley Digital who goes solely by Darcy. Clueless – As much a staple to 1990s pop culture as Jane Austen’s Emma is to the study of nineteenth-century literature, Amy Heckerling’s classic film is anything but clueless.

Both stories of matchmaking gone awry, Cher Horowitz is Emma Woodhouse incarnate, a young, careless girl with too much money and not enough sense, which turns the tale in to a comedy of manners for each respective generation. Try to find a smarter, more spot-on contemporary retelling. As if! Austenland – First published in 2007, the novel by Shannon Hale was recently turned in to a 2013 film starring Keri Russell. Like Bridget Jones’ Diary, the protagonist is a thirtysomething single woman with an unhealthy crush on one Mr. Darcy as depicted by Colin Firth. She heads to “Austenland” – an adult theme park that is to thirtysomething single ladies what Disney World is for sugar-addled children, but instead of eating too much ice cream and testing your upchuck reflex on Space Mountain, you can mingle with Austenian suitors who will insult your pedigree and then charm your bonnet off.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies –“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.” If that doesn’t implore you to keep reading, then maybe this one isn’t for you. But if the pop culture remix of Austen and the undead piques your interest, then give it a stab – in the head, it’s the only surefire way to kill a zombie. The Jane Austen Book Club – The 2004 novel by Karen Joy Fowler, which was turned into a 2007 film of the same name, is a contemporary tale of five women and one man who meet once a month to discuss Jane Austen’s works. Each chapter revolves around one character and one of Austen’s classic novels, with parallels tying the novel to the modern-day entanglements of each character. If you’re not up for a Regency Era zombie apocalypse, you will definitely enjoy this Book Club. Lost in Austen – A four-part British miniseries that merges classic literature with fantasy as a modern-day girl travels back in time to the fictional world of Pride and Prejudice, with disastrous implications for the Bennet family.

A Back to the Future-esque foray in to what would have happened if Mrs. Bennet wasn’t the only one meddling in her daughters’ love lives. And once again, Colin Firth’s performance from the BBC adaptation rears its quite attractive head when the contemporary protagonist tries to recreate the famous wet shirt scene with Mr. Darcy himself. Some may call Lost in Austen blasphemous for even daring to question the OTP (one true pairing) of P&P by posing an alternative to the epic love that is Elizabeth and Darcy – but it works in all its quirky glory. Most Anticipated: The Austen Project –An ambitious enterprise which seeks to present modern-day retellings of Austen’s six acclaimed novels as (re)written by best-selling contemporary authors. Joanna Trollope takes on Sense and Sensibility in the first release this month, to be soon followed by Val McDermid’s Northanger Abbey in March 2014. Curtis Sittenfeld (author of the 2013 summer reading mainstay Sisterland) has signed on to pen Pride and Prejudice, and Alexander McCall Smith was just announced as the author of the Emma 2.0.

The stories will stay true to plot, but take place in the 21st century. Think Anne Elliot finding Wentworth on Facebook and Jane Bennet analyzing the meaning of Bingley’s overuse of emoji. * Jane Austen Tours in 2014: If you want to set off on your own adventure to the real-life Austenland, travel to England on a tour of the places where she lived and wrote, or venture to Ireland to explore the ongoing legacy of the Austen family. Special Group Tours is offering multiple Austen-themed tours in 2014. ‘Week’ with Jane Austen: Jane Austen Hampshire & Heart of England – Spend 10 days exploring the places where Austen lived, wrote, and found inspiration for her novels. Travel through the Heart of England, Hampshire, Cotswolds and the Peak District on an immersive tour of “Jane Austen Country.” Jane Austen’s Family Heritage in Northern Ireland & Donegal – While Ireland may not be the first place that comes to mind when considering Austen’s work, it is a place intregal to her legacy. This tour grants the opportunity to explore Dublin, Donegal and Northern Ireland alongside Dr.

Sophia Hillan, author of May, Lou & Cass: Jane Austen’s Nieces in Ireland. Follow the real-life paths of Austen’s beloved nieces while taking in the history and culture of Ireland. Bridget Jones vs Pride and Prejudice - BBC News BBC News Media playback is unsupported on your device Bridget Jones vs Pride and Prejudice 28 January 2013 Last updated at 17:01 GMT Jane Austen's famous novel Pride and Prejudice may have been published 200 years ago, but it still inspires today's writers. Author Helen Fielding admits she "stole" Jane Austen's plot for her novel, Bridget Jones's Diary. She told BBC News how she was influenced by the 200 year old story. A Guide to 'Pride and Prejudice' Retellings Haunting Mr Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory What happens to the happily ever after when the ever after has already happened? A “spirited” courtship indeed! Jane Austen’s much adored Pride and Prejudice is transfigured in this Regency adaptation.

That fickle friend Fate intervenes when an unexpected event threatens the happily ever after of literature’s favorite love story. The gentlemen from Netherfield have left, winter is upon the land, and after a horrifying carriage accident, Elizabeth Bennet finds her spirit transported as if by magic into Mr. Darcy’s London home. Paranormally tethered to the disagreeable man, it doesn’t help that he believes she is a phantasm of his love-struck mind and not the real Elizabeth. Somehow they must learn to trust, learn to love and learn to bring Elizabeth back to her earthly form before it is too late. Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy by Abigail Reynolds In this sexy Jane Austen sequel, Elizabeth Bennet accepts Mr. Darcy’s first marriage proposal, answering the “What if…?” question fans everywhere have pondered. What if… The last man in the world she could be prevailed upon to marry… is her husband? In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice , Elizabeth Bennet tells the proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy that she wouldn’t marry him if he were the last man in the world. But what if she never said the words?

What if circumstances conspired to make her accept Darcy the first time he proposes? In this installment of Abigail Reynolds’s acclaimed Pride and Prejudice Variations, Elizabeth agrees to marry Darcy against her better judgment, setting off a chain of events that nearly brings disaster to them both… Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date. After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London. Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Pride and Prejudice by Nancy Butler and Hugo Petrus Tailored from the adored Jane Austen classic, Marvel Comics is proud to present Pride and Prejudice ! Two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petrus fathfully adapt the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy’s father manage to marry off his five daughters, despite his wife’s incessant nagging? And will Lizzy’s beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley, or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness? For Lovers of Gritty Realism Longbourne by Jo Baker ‘If Elizabeth Bennet had the washing of her own petticoats,’ Sarah thought, ‘she would be more careful not to tramp through muddy fields.’ It is wash-day for the housemaids at Longbourn House, and Sarah’s hands are chapped and raw. Domestic life below stairs, ruled with a tender heart and an iron will by Mrs Hill the housekeeper, is about to be disturbed by the arrival of a new footman, bearing secrets and the scent of the sea.

The servants take center stage in this irresistibly imagined belowstairs answer to Pride and Prejudice . While Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters fuss over balls and husbands, Sarah, their orphaned housemaid, is beginning to chafe against the boundaries of her class. When a new footman arrives at Longbourn under mysterious circumstances, the carefully choreographed world she has known all her life threatens to be completely, perhaps irrevocably, upended. Mentioned only fleetingly in Jane Austen’s classic, here Jo Baker dares to take us beyond the drawing rooms of Regency England and, in doing so, uncovers the real world of the novel that has captivated readers’ hearts around the world for generations. Pride and Prejudice by Jack and Holman Wang Cozy Classics is a new board book series that presents well-loved stories to children aged 0+ through twelve child-friendly words and twelve needle-felted illustrations. Cozy Classics uses a simple one word/one image format to help babies and toddlers build vocabulary and learn everyday concepts such as body parts, emotions, animals, relationships, actions, and opposites.

Pride and Prejudice is a timeless romance about how a bad first impression can turn into love, and one of the world’s most beloved classics. Now this classic can be shared with children of any age. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahamme-Smith Pride and Prejudice and Zombies features the original text of Jane Austen’s beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton-and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers-and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding A dazzling urban satire of modern human relations? An ironic, tragic insight into the demise of the nuclear family? Or the confused ramblings of a pissed thirty-something?

Bridget Jones’s Diary was first published in 1996 and applauded by critics from Salman Rushdie to Jilly Cooper. A number one best-seller, Helen Fielding’s book has sold over fifteen million copies worldwide and has been turned into an Academy Award-nominated film starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. Bridget Jones’s Diary is followed by The Edge of Reason and Mad About the Boy . Bridget Jones is everyone’s favourite spinster. In Bridget Jones’s Diary she documents her struggles through the social minefield of her 30s and tries to weigh up the eternal question: Daniel Cleaver of Mark Darcy? She is supported through the whole process by four indispensable friends, Shazzer, Jude, Tom and a bottle of chardonnay. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Berni Su and Kate Rorick Twenty-four-year-old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters—beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia.

When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight. When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck-up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets — and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on-screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera — from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents’ unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future — and whom she wants to share it with.

Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before. landed gent for marriage, whist. No parsons, thank you.” In the sixteenth century, Zen monks in Japan developed the haiku, an unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines. Now, in One Hundred Great Books in Haiku, David Bader has applied this ancient poetic form to the classics. From Homer to Milton to Dostyevsky, the great books are finally within reach of even the shortest attention spans! Avoid eyestrain and show off your literary prowess at cocktail parties! It’s the perfect gift for today’s busy reader. This hilarious book of classic novel retellings in haiku is sadly out of print everywhere except Australia, where it’s available from Penguin Books . Second-hand editions can be found on Amazon and elsewhere. Helena Fairfax is the author of A Way From Heart to Heart , a novel about friendship, loss, and the human heart’s enduring capacity for love.

This stunning debut explores one woman’s attempt at survival when her world comes crashing down around her. GET ACCESS TO FREE & BARGAIN EBOOKS Sign up for BookBub's daily deals email. Book Review: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, by Helen Fielding | The Quarter-Life Experiment Book Review: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, by Helen Fielding Title: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Author: Helen Fielding Genre: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Comedy First Published: 2013 Pages: 390 There is a lot to be said about Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy—most of them, good things. I had loved Helen Fielding’s first and second offerings, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason , so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that I would be a fan of Fielding’s third “Bridget” book. But to be honest, it was a big surprise that I liked it at all. Here’s a tiny confession: ever since I heard it was out, I had done my best to avoid reading Mad About the Boy. I was convinced it would be a major let down.

But when my best friend got me this book for the holidays, I knew it was time to finally have a sit-down with dear ol’ Jonesey. The reason for my reluctance to read the novel was that, like most fans, I had heard about its major spoiler long before the book became available in nearby bookstores. In The Edge of Reason, we had left Bridget in what felt like a “happily ever after” scenario with Mark Darcy. The way things were going for the lovebirds, it seemed like their domestic spats would consist of petty jealousies, Bridget’s hyperactive imagination, disagreements on child-rearing—all the good quarrels associated with a healthy marriage. And, like most readers, I would’ve been perfectly happy reading about these things. It would’ve been gratifying even, to find the two in the midst of saccharine normalcy. But instead, we find out that Mark Darcy’s gone—done away in a ‘blaze of glory’ or in a rather gruesome manner, depending on how you look at things.

I had wanted to ask Helen Fielding, “Now why would you do that?” It just seemed cruel to get half the population of women, (a gross exaggeration, I know), to fall in love with a male lead only to kill him off immediately after a fairy tale ending. And the questions kept coming. “Isn’t Bridget Jones supposed to be a modern-day retelling of Pride & Prejudice? How can you have Elizabeth without Mr. Darcy?” But that’s the sad premise of Mad About the Boy. And the book starts off with Bridget, once again, trying to find love in a horridly superficial and ageist world. It’s 5 years after Mark’s death, and Bridget’s 51 with two young kids to look after. Though Mark had made sure that their family was well-provided for, Bridget is left struggling to stay sane while trying out a new career as a scriptwriter, attempting to keep her children well-fed and not raised purely by technology or Sponge Bob, and of course, shedding her dismal add-on poundage and “Born-Again virginity.” The first problem, she tackles by creating a modern script for Hedda Gabbler by Anton Chekhov.

(To you, dear literatus, I know. It’s part of the fun, really.) At the start of the novel, Bridget gets a call from her agent, saying her latest script is ready for film adaptation. This turns out to be an exceedingly humorous, and at times, embarrassing experience for Jonesey. Unfortunately, it also serves as a prop for the novel—at times, completely forgotten, as Bridget goes on her usual love-centric existence. The second situation, I’ll have to say, is the heart of the story. Though one may doubt it sometimes, due to Bridget’s laughable thoughts and whims, our lovable heroine has certainly grown up some since the last book. Her love for her children, Billy (a mini-Mark) and Mabel, is palpable throughout the novel. She does well as a single mother; though not without the help of her perfect babysitter, Chloe, the children’s ‘fun’ godfather, Daniel Cleaver (Yes, *that* Daniel!), and the odd, aloof, and admittedly Daniel Craig-esque sports teacher, Mr. Wallaker.

And lastly, Bridget overcomes her third problem with the help of her ever-hip and ever-reliable posse of Tom, Jude, and Talitha. Sharon, the feminist of the original group, has since moved to the United States after marrying her successful dot.com husband. With the help of her three friends, a touch of Botox, and the diet plan of the local Obesity Clinic, Bridget manages to once again bring out her “wanton sex goddess” side. Her amusing foray on social media, particularly Twitter, also leads her to the handsome boy-toy, which the reader meets at the start of the book. Roxster is, as his handle suggests, quite the rockstar in the bedroom and in real life—if you can categorize smokin’ hot, 30-year-old environmentalists as real-life rockstars (which I do!). Despite the raging chemistry between the two, Jonesey still finds herself in the midst of heartbreak and self-doubt. But that’s to be expected. This is, after all, Bridget Jones we’re talking about. In the end though, she does find what she’s looking for—a lasting love with a great father-figure for her kids.

Though the introduction of this ‘great love’ is quite abrupt, it does work in a multitude of levels. At the very least, it’s a good way to tie up what would’ve been a gloomy story. The Verdict: a well-deserved A. Now, the rest of my two cents. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a feel-good novel that has enough laugh-out-loud moments to keep you turning the page, despite Mark Darcy’s depressing exit. Again, I really don’t agree with killing Mark off just to create a story. I believe that a marriage offers a wealth of ‘stories’ on its own. And no matter how greatly written her new love interests are, there’s simply no replacing Mark Darcy. But, and this is quite a big BUT, that’s also what I loved about the book. Helen Fielding’s treatment of Mark’s death—with Bridget’s private grieving, particularly in that scene with her mother—left me in tears at least a couple of times. Mark is gone and he is missed. There are no over-the-top dramatics with Bridget, but you do acutely feel her loss.

And the new men in her life aren’t Mark, nor are they designed to replace Mark. They are there to show that there is life after a loved one’s death. That, like most women in her situation, Bridget has had to move on, no matter how difficult the process was. In the end, I do believe this is the type of story worth recommending to all fans of the Bridget Jones series. Share this: Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek - The best Pride & Prejudice adaptations and why we... View this post Did you know that there are literally hundreds of books inspired by Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice?” Everything from Modern day re-tellings like “Bridget Jones’s Diary” to unofficial sequels like “Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues” and expanded paranormal tales like “Pride, Prejudice and Zombies.” While there are versions out there of women who are not Elizabeth Bennet, most of the inspired texts cast Fitzwilliam Darcy as the love interest and hero. There are even stories about Modern day women who somehow stumble into Austen’s literary creation where Mr. Darcy falls in love with them. The reason?

As much as we respect Lizzie Bennet, root for Jane & Bingley, and despise the horrible Wickham…every girl who has ever fallen in love with this book, fell in love with Darcy. (If this is not true for you, I’d love to hear what you fell in love with) I have had many discussions with fans of the novel and films where someone asks the question ‘Where is my Mr. Darcy?’ Darcy is the quintessential Romantic hero. He’s a bit of a jerk, he’s pompous and he’s so rich he can look down at everyone else with reason. He is shy, a great big brother, and a socially awkward. Darcy is willing to admit when he is wrong and most importantly he is capable of righting those wrongs. Did I mention he is rich and will completely ignore the opinions of his family when it comes to marrying the woman he loves? Darcy is not perfect and it’s his imperfections that make him the perfect fantasy hero. It is Darcy’s charm and his complicated relationship with the strong willed Elizabeth Bennet that brings not only readers and authors, but also filmmakers and moviegoers back to this story over and over again.

Below is my list of favorite adaptations inspired stories. Pride & Prejudice(1995)- Starring Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle A true book adaptation should probably always be broken up into more than one film or made into a mini-series or TV show. So much happens in a book, we’re taken on many rides and meet many people. There isn’t enough time in a 2 hour film to give us a true adaptation. In 1995, the BBC produced what is probably the best retelling of Jane Austen’s classic. They wrote all the characters, took us to all the locations and went scene by scene beautifully. Colin Firth in his first appearance as Darcy alongside Jennifer Ehle who plays a beautifully charming Elizabeth Bennet, is gold. And let us never forget Colin Firth’s wet shirt. Pride & Prejudice (2005)- Starring Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfayden. Director Joe Wright’s “Pride & Prejudice” is stunning with beautiful locations, follows a very classic storytelling strategy and relies heavily on performance to entertain the audience.

While it is not a true retelling, in the sense that it cuts out sequences, locations and characters, it is probably the most entertaining. Most books do not adapt well to cinema, because part of what makes a book so great is what goes on inside the heads of the characters. Most films just cannot bring that to life. What’s great about the 2005 version is that it took some very strong liberties. It cuts in half Bingley’s family and houseguests. We don’t need more than one sister to get that the Bennet’s are not quite up to the rich societies standards. While Firth’s Darcy is legendary, I love Macfayden as Darcy. He brought an awkward and socially inept Darcy to life. We see a version of Darcy that does not dance, because he’s too shy to speak to strangers. He is a man who completely sabotages his marriage proposal, because he doesn’t know the correct things to say. Suddenly, Darcy is more than prejudiced; he’s a clumsy geek who doesn’t know the right way to approach a girl. Love it.

I also think Knightley is the best Lizzie, she brings a sort of rogue, feminist warrior to the part. Not sure if that’s what Jane Austen was going for exactly, but I loved it. Runner up: Pride & Prejudice (1940) starring Greer Garson and Sir. Lauerence Olivier Lost in Austen(2008)- starring Jemima Rooper & Elliot Cowan Lost in Austen is about an average modern day British young woman, who finds she’s swapped places with Austen’s fictional creation Elizabeth Bennet. She runs around Longbourn making a mess of everything. The characters end up marrying the wrong people, Mr. Collins is even more disgusting than we imagined and with Elizabeth Bennet in the real world who is Darcy going to fall in love with? This mini-series is literally every girls dream. Who doesn’t wish they could take a trip to Austen’s England, hang out with the Bennet sisters by day and fall in love with Darcy by night? This film is four episodes of absolute delight. A must see for an Austen fan.

Pride, Prejudice & Zombies – written by Seth Grahame-Smith Fave quote: “5 daughters and no Ninjas. I never heard such a thing!” I listened to an audiobook of “Pride, Prejudice & Zombies” while going to the gym. I find that audiobooks make the workout less tedious. I was mostly interested in how zombies could possibly fit into my favorite classic romance. The answer is surprisingly well. I absolutely love this book. Seth Grahame-Smith, does such a beautiful job of not only inserting zombies, but effectively altering the characters so that they are not only true to Austen’s original work, but completely make sense in their capacity as zombie hunters. This book is well done and just really over the top entertainment. Best Modern Day Retelling “Bridget Jones’s Diary- starring Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth After seeing the 1995 BBC mini-series and reading the book for the first time, I became obsessed with “Pride & Prejudice.” I watched and read everything I could get my hands on that was remotely connected.

I became obsessed with Colin Firth and had to watch “Bridget Jones’ Diary” and its sequel “The Edge of Reason.” That wasn’t enough. I wondered how close the movies were to the books and how close the books were to Austen’s original work, so I read both books. I love Bridget Jones. I do. I think it’s so well done. It is “Pride & Prejudice,” but it is also “Bridget Jones’s Diary.” There is enough nods to Austen’s book, to keep us all happy, but mostly it’s about a girl in her 30s who wants to be married. It’s a sweet love story. It also has a great reworking of Mr. Wickham in the form of Hugh Grant’s immoral Daniel Cleaver and the ever-handsome Colin Firth as Mark Darcy. If you haven’t seen Bridget Jones, go, now, see it! I haven’t brought myself to read any of the sequels. No matter how awesome the writer, I cannot imagine that they could possibly reach Austen’s heights, so below are just a list of films that I think fans of “Pride & Prejudice” will enjoy.

If You Like Retellings of Classics | Reclusive Bibliophile If You Like Retellings of Classics 14th If You Like… is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love. This week’s post includes recommendations for retellings of classics. If you like retellings of classics, you might like… Books The Dashwood Sisters’ Secrets of Love by Rosie Rushton: Modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility. Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice with Lizzie and Will in High School. Epic Fail by Claire Lazebnik: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice in Hollywood. Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood: A boarding school featuring classic writers and their characters. Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding: The book is better than the movie. Pride and Prejudice in England. Recommended by Jessica @ I Read to Relax : Jane by April Linder: In modern times, Jane Eyre falls for a reclusive rock star.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor: Alyss Heart must return to Wonderland to save her friends from her evil aunt, Redd. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard: Callie travels back in time to 1815 and meets a Lord that she just cannot get along with… Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson: A different version of the classic, Peter Pan. Going Bovine by Libba Bray: Don Quixote gets a modern and hilarious retelling. Wicked by Gregory Maguire: Maguire speculates how a girl became The Wicked Witch of the West. Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman: Persephone meets Hades and chooses to become his wife. Recommended by Ashley @ Book Labyrinth : The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook: Inspired by The Scarlett Letter, Hailey has to find strength and learn about herself when her friends desert her. Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg: Title = pretty self-explanatory. Very cute/funny. Tighter by Adele Griffin: A modern re-imagining of The Turn of the Screw. Death, ghosts, and trippy secrets.

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard: Enchanting and adorable Pride & Prejudice retelling where modern day Callie hits her head while on a school field trip and wakes up in 1815. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay: Juliet is murdered by Romeo, and the two face off against each other as immortal enemies. Epic Fail by Claire Lazebnik: Adorable Pride & Prejudice retelling that pays homage to the original without being ridiculously repetitive or cliche. Jane by April Lindner: Modern day Jane Eyre where Jane is a college dropout and Rochester is an aging rockstar. Remembrance by Michelle Madow: Starcrossed lovers with a shared past life. Partial inspiration and references to Pride & Prejudice. Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors: Mimi is transported to Shakespearean Verona and tries to give Juliet a happy ending. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney: The student-run vigilante justice society is inspired by To Kill A Mockingbird. Movies and TV Shows Recommended by Isaiah @ From Yes : Easy A : A clever retelling of The Scarlet Letter set in high school, this is perhaps the best teen comedy in years.

The film brims with wit and heart, helped along by a gifted cast. Don’t miss scene-stealing supporting turns by Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci. The Hours : Michael Cunningham reinvigorated Virginia Woolf’s already beloved Mrs. Dalloway when he re-imagined the classic for his award-winning novel. Surprisingly, the film accomplishes even more than the novel could. By giving Woolf a voice through Nicole Kidman, watching the film makes rereading Mrs. Dalloway a more engaging and touching journey. How many films can boast such an accomplishment? Recommended by Tahleen @ Tahleen’s Mixed-Up Files : Bride and Prejudice : Pride & Prejudice told Bollywood-style, taking place in England. Bridget Jones’ Diary : Both the movie and the book by Helen Fielding. I love the movie so much! Based on P&P. Clueless : Movie starring Alicia Silverstone, based on Emma. Also, Paul Rudd is absolutely adorable in this movie. Recommended by Jennifer @ YA Book Nerd : Clueless : The movie that got me interested in Jane Austen – a modern retelling of Emma.

Recommended by Ashley @ Book Labyrinth : Alice : This mini-series provides such an imaginative look at Lewis Caroll’s Alice stories. Plus Andrew Lee Potts makes the most adorable/funny Hatter ever. Lost in Austen : I completely adore this mini-series’ retelling of Pride & Prejudice. Revenge : One of the most awesome new shows this fall, I swear. Loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo. Bride and Prejudice : Pride & Prejudice meets Bollywood. So much fun! Bridget Jones’ Diary : Loose connections with Pride & Prejudice. (Also a novel by Helen Fielding.) She’s the Man : I can’t help it, this Amanda Bynes retelling of Twelfth Night makes me laugh every time. Music Chick/Lit: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary – Shameless Magazine December 31st, 2012 by Guest Blogger Comments by Carolyn Dineen I mentioned in my previous installment of Chick/Lit, I am not a great reader of chick lit. Instead, I read Jane Austen.

As such, I find it suitable that one of the genre’s most famous novels, Helen Fielding’s 1996 Bridget Jones’s Diary, would draw its inspiration from Pride and Prejudice. In my mind, Austen is very much the ancestor of modern-day chick lit, and certainly an influence on the work of many women writers. So what earns Austen a seat in literary canon and on university course syllabi (and a six-hour long BBC miniseries), while Fielding is relegated to the categories of “fluff” and “rom com”? What exactly is the big difference between Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’s Diary? As I read, I felt as though there wasn’t much of a difference between the two heroines, their love interests, and the overall plot trajectory. But I wasn’t so sure that gave Fielding credibility as a master of women’s literature; and nor did I think Austen didn’t deserve her impressive accolades. Both novels centre around the idea of the accomplished woman - more specifically, how each heroine does not live up to the expectations on women of their time and yet still manage to overcome such personal and situational flaws to find rich and handsome men.

In 1813, the accomplished woman, according to Darcy, must “have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, all the modern languages [and] possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions [and] must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.” Meanwhile, Bridget’s long list of New Year’s resolutions might give a hint at what is expected from the late 20th century accomplished woman: go to the gym, eat healthy, be thin, be clever, have a successful career, possess “inner poise,” and, of course, maintain a “functional relationship with [a] responsible adult.” Both heroines are, in their eyes and those of their mothers, failures at being so-called accomplished. Elizabeth is only “tolerably” handsome, cannot play piano well, does not draw or speak any other languages, and cannot hold her tongue. Bridget’s weight escalates and crashes, she smokes and drinks excessively, and cannot hold her tongue.

Bridget Jones is meant to be a modern, urban reincarnation of Elizabeth Bennet in the late nineties, and so too should her definition of the accomplished woman reflect the shifting expectations on women over nearly two centuries; and yet, Bridget’s world - or at least her narration of it - isn’t terribly cosmopolitan or diverse either. Like Austen, Elizabeth’s class and gender limited her social circle to those very similar to her, excluding those of drastically different classes and ethnicities. On the other hand, Bridget, living in 1996 London, should, in theory, have a wider variety of people and versions of womanhood to draw on in dispelling the myth of the accomplished woman as being too strict a definition. Instead, readers get little representation of femininity besides a dichotomous set-up of cynical singletons versus smug wives. (Fielding’s perception of masculinity has perhaps evolved even less since Austen’s time, still pitting the Hugh Grant playboy type against the tough, cold-hearted Byronic hero who needs a quirky woman for redemption.

Though there is, of course, Tom - Bridget’s utterly stereotypical gay best friend.) Even in 1813, Elizabeth realized what Bridget could not: that the ideal accomplished woman does not actually exist. In response to Darcy’s long list of qualities a 19th-century woman needs to earn his admiration, Elizabeth says: “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.” Perhaps Elizabeth’s 19th-century dispute of this ideal is not based on an acceptance of women of all shapes, races, professions, and sexual identities, but we might consider it advanced for its time and 19th-century England setting. Bridget, meanwhile, seems to have taken a step backwards from Elizabeth’s proto-feminism. Her diary is essentially one long, self-loathing lament that she cannot conform to a stereotypical femininity that is disturbingly narrow and exclusionary for a single thirty-something living in one of the world’s most diverse cities in the late nineties. So what is the difference between Elizabeth and Bridget, between Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’s Diary? In the end, not much.

Both move in pretty homogenous peer groups and have lives that centre on the pursuits of boyfriends and superficial self-improvement. Both are in love with two stereotypical typecast men and end up with the richer of the two. And perhaps the fact that they are the same is what makes them so different - what makes one literature and the other a light read that lacks real substance. For Elizabeth, her character and the tale of her using her cleverness and quirks, rather than her feminine wiles, to marry into wealth far surpassing her family’s, was perhaps unique and adventurous for its time. Her insight into the myth of the accomplished woman is advanced critical thinking that would not often be expressed by a woman in 1813, and certainly not directly to a man far above her in status. In the end, she marries the jerk who proposes to her by insulting her and her family, but maybe we can’t expect a complete disavowal of the values and environment Austen was raised in. We can, however, expect that from Fielding, but she fails to deliver.

Instead, she regurgitates Austen’s classic tale, using sex, cursing, binge drinking, self-help, and a stock gay character to bring it into the 20th century. The same things that readers admire Austen for writing in Elizabeth are not only muted down in Bridget, but in general less impressive in 1996. While she could have performed a unique interrogation of how Elizabeth really would have fared in in the late nineties, she fails to ask the pertinent questions about class, social expectations, and the education of women that Austen hints towards in the 19th century, or the myriad of other issues of race, ability, gender identity, class, or sexual orientation that many 20th century women are marginalized by. Therein lies the difference: Austen belongs in literary canon and on university syllabi because though she is hardly without criticisms, in a historical context, she provided an alternative narrative to a literary stage heavily dominated by white men. But if Bridget Jones is the stick by which to measure chick lit, then the genre is addressing a very narrow slice of chicks.

And, perhaps unlike Austen’s readers in 1813, today we can and should expect more from writers writing about women. Carolyn is a library worker and aspiring writer living in London, Ontario with her husband. She writes and rants at her blog, Cool Beans .

Question: What novel, by Helen Fielding, is a modern-day retelling of "Pride and Prejudice"?
Answer: Bridget Jones's Diary