Beautiful piece. I loved visiting her cottage, and surroundings too. There was an amazing BBC documentary about her life this year, you may be able to find, if you haven't seen it.
Wonderful article, Anu. Love the pictures. I first read Pride & Prejudice when I was 13 or 14. And then I read every Jane Austen book in my school library.
I have read Pride & Prejudice at least 5 times since. And watched the movies too.
Despite the anachronism with my life then, the strong female lead had a very strong appeal.
The strength of character, brilliance, strong sense of independence, and grace of Elizabeth Bennet were so attractive to me as an impressionable teenager.
I wonder if these books would have had the same effect if I had read them much later in life.
Thank you Priya. I have not read Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey and would love your opinion on those. But yes her books remain strong favorites and repeat-comfort reads to this day. In my eyes, there is no heroine more classy/witty/willful/strong and uninhibited as Elizabeth. No one else comes close. And I agree that I too read these characters at a young, impressionable age when they hit the mark bulls-eye.
Ok - after all the Jane talk, I found myself at the library and decided to pick up an Austen book. I was going to do Persuasion but I chose “Sandition and Other stories”. I don’t think I have patience to read like I did in college. So will go for shorter works. 🙂
I think they had to appear a certain way no matter their financial situation, in order to secure a good marriage! Also, Pride & Prejudice has been adapted several times to the modern day and age, as well as Emma. Recall the serial Trishna in India in the late 80s (which was excellent) , and then the disastrous Bride and Prejudice movie by Gurinder Chadha! Clueless was an adaptation of Emma, and it is still such a popular movie. I am glad her stories are still relevant and have stood the test of time.
Confessions of an English major focusing on women writers - I read Northanger Abbey in a class and skimmed through P&P. I did go to Bath England and imagined all the parties and balls. (Anu - loved the photographs from the museums!) )
But the story didn’t click for me - until I saw the movie Bride and Prejudice. Yes it’s bad acting, cheesy dances and didn’t fit anything. BUT I got it - Mrs Bennett wanted to marry all her daughters off. The youngest one running off was a scandal in Indian context and 19th century England. I feel like I missed that window when I would’ve appreciated Elizabeth Bennett more at a certain age. I was a Brontë fan and Jane was my girl.
Yes I think it matters WHEN you read it for the first time and how impressionable you were at that age. It struck me at the right time! And hence I hated all desi adaptations that followed - Bride & Prejudice, Unmarriageable etc. But I do love Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights passionately too!
What a beautiful and compelling write-up!
Thank you, Pooja!
Beautiful piece. I loved visiting her cottage, and surroundings too. There was an amazing BBC documentary about her life this year, you may be able to find, if you haven't seen it.
Thank you, will be sure to look it up!
Wonderful article, Anu. Love the pictures. I first read Pride & Prejudice when I was 13 or 14. And then I read every Jane Austen book in my school library.
I have read Pride & Prejudice at least 5 times since. And watched the movies too.
Despite the anachronism with my life then, the strong female lead had a very strong appeal.
The strength of character, brilliance, strong sense of independence, and grace of Elizabeth Bennet were so attractive to me as an impressionable teenager.
I wonder if these books would have had the same effect if I had read them much later in life.
Thank you Priya. I have not read Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey and would love your opinion on those. But yes her books remain strong favorites and repeat-comfort reads to this day. In my eyes, there is no heroine more classy/witty/willful/strong and uninhibited as Elizabeth. No one else comes close. And I agree that I too read these characters at a young, impressionable age when they hit the mark bulls-eye.
Ok - after all the Jane talk, I found myself at the library and decided to pick up an Austen book. I was going to do Persuasion but I chose “Sandition and Other stories”. I don’t think I have patience to read like I did in college. So will go for shorter works. 🙂
I think they had to appear a certain way no matter their financial situation, in order to secure a good marriage! Also, Pride & Prejudice has been adapted several times to the modern day and age, as well as Emma. Recall the serial Trishna in India in the late 80s (which was excellent) , and then the disastrous Bride and Prejudice movie by Gurinder Chadha! Clueless was an adaptation of Emma, and it is still such a popular movie. I am glad her stories are still relevant and have stood the test of time.
Confessions of an English major focusing on women writers - I read Northanger Abbey in a class and skimmed through P&P. I did go to Bath England and imagined all the parties and balls. (Anu - loved the photographs from the museums!) )
But the story didn’t click for me - until I saw the movie Bride and Prejudice. Yes it’s bad acting, cheesy dances and didn’t fit anything. BUT I got it - Mrs Bennett wanted to marry all her daughters off. The youngest one running off was a scandal in Indian context and 19th century England. I feel like I missed that window when I would’ve appreciated Elizabeth Bennett more at a certain age. I was a Brontë fan and Jane was my girl.
Yes I think it matters WHEN you read it for the first time and how impressionable you were at that age. It struck me at the right time! And hence I hated all desi adaptations that followed - Bride & Prejudice, Unmarriageable etc. But I do love Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights passionately too!