I was skimming through Netflix one day when I found this television series called Death Comes to Pemberley. Imagine my surprise that it was a continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I was immediately hooked and watched the whole series in 2 days. From there I researched to see if there was a continuation by Jane Austen. There wasn't but other authors had taken their pens to paper and pursued. I bought the P.D. James version on my Kindle and started reading. However, about 100 pages in I really wanted to read Jane Austen and see the Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen movie. So I did both. I bought the movie from Amazon, and found the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. Here is a comparison of all 3.
First, I loved each version very much, but in order of favorites I have to go with Jennifer Ehle, Elizabeth Bennett, and then Keira Knightley. While I know most people would say Elizabeth should be before Jennifer because she is the original, Elizabeth was very hard to imagine. Jane Austen does a great job of conveying the emotions in each character but Elizabeth always seems so hard for me to grasp. One minute she is hurt and obstinate towards Darcy and his friends, except Bingley, but then the next instant she is becoming comfortable with Wickham, who automatically is a red flag because of his attention to Elizabeth's sisters. It seems like she purposely makes herself blinded by what's going on around her just so she can be angry and, to me, it reminds me overmuch of her mother. However, Jennifer makes the character more realistic in that I can see her desire to avoid becoming her mother. It's not a purposeful blindness in that she is doing it because of angry. Its a purposeful blindness in that she is desiring to not be like Lydia, Kitty, or her mother. Mrs. Bennett makes her feelings well known from the start, and Elizabeth is trying to avoid that avenue by being somewhat more respectful, but her own feelings (her anger) doesn't allow her to be anything other than herself. Its more like Elizabeth is fighting her own fears. Keira Knightley, however, felt more melodramatic.
Being at Pemberley is my favorite scene in both book and BBC television show because I feel that is where Elizabeth feel in love with Darcy. It wasn't the land or the house, it was Mrs. Reynolds and her high regard for Darcy. It was also being caught by Darcy and his civility towards her uncle and aunt. It was seeing the quick look of surprise over his face when he met them, and she was vindicated in her feelings. All these things at once made me acknowledge that both individuals were wrong about the other, and that they still had more to learn. I, especially, enjoyed when Miss Darcy was introduced, though in the book Austen does not go into their conversation. I would have liked to know more or "heard" more of Miss Darcy's reaction.
Over all Pride and Prejudice is still one of my favorite classics. Jane Austen does a brilliant job of catching society and their regard for females. How important marriage was and with whom was a very high degree to hold everyone to, and not many could meet the mark. For Jane Austen I rate 5 out of 5 stars, and encourage everyone (males included) to read this book. It will teach one to not judge a book by it cover, and that first impressions are not always the last impression.
First, I loved each version very much, but in order of favorites I have to go with Jennifer Ehle, Elizabeth Bennett, and then Keira Knightley. While I know most people would say Elizabeth should be before Jennifer because she is the original, Elizabeth was very hard to imagine. Jane Austen does a great job of conveying the emotions in each character but Elizabeth always seems so hard for me to grasp. One minute she is hurt and obstinate towards Darcy and his friends, except Bingley, but then the next instant she is becoming comfortable with Wickham, who automatically is a red flag because of his attention to Elizabeth's sisters. It seems like she purposely makes herself blinded by what's going on around her just so she can be angry and, to me, it reminds me overmuch of her mother. However, Jennifer makes the character more realistic in that I can see her desire to avoid becoming her mother. It's not a purposeful blindness in that she is doing it because of angry. Its a purposeful blindness in that she is desiring to not be like Lydia, Kitty, or her mother. Mrs. Bennett makes her feelings well known from the start, and Elizabeth is trying to avoid that avenue by being somewhat more respectful, but her own feelings (her anger) doesn't allow her to be anything other than herself. Its more like Elizabeth is fighting her own fears. Keira Knightley, however, felt more melodramatic.
Being at Pemberley is my favorite scene in both book and BBC television show because I feel that is where Elizabeth feel in love with Darcy. It wasn't the land or the house, it was Mrs. Reynolds and her high regard for Darcy. It was also being caught by Darcy and his civility towards her uncle and aunt. It was seeing the quick look of surprise over his face when he met them, and she was vindicated in her feelings. All these things at once made me acknowledge that both individuals were wrong about the other, and that they still had more to learn. I, especially, enjoyed when Miss Darcy was introduced, though in the book Austen does not go into their conversation. I would have liked to know more or "heard" more of Miss Darcy's reaction.
Over all Pride and Prejudice is still one of my favorite classics. Jane Austen does a brilliant job of catching society and their regard for females. How important marriage was and with whom was a very high degree to hold everyone to, and not many could meet the mark. For Jane Austen I rate 5 out of 5 stars, and encourage everyone (males included) to read this book. It will teach one to not judge a book by it cover, and that first impressions are not always the last impression.
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