From the desk of Sophia Rose: For several years beguiling authoress Alexa Adams has enjoyed warping our comfortable and familiar Jane Austen stories into quick, deliciously revolting variations that readers can experience with a tingling sort of shock at the new outcome. Her cold, conniving Jane Bennet, in Jane and Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling (2013),... Continue Reading →
The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries, by Emma Thompson – A Review
Nominated for seven Academy Awards®, the 1995 movie Sense and Sensibility remains one of my most cherished interpretations of a Jane Austen novel. Everything about this film project seems to be touched with gold; from the award winning screenplay by actress Emma Thompson; to the incredible depth of British acting talent: Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman,... Continue Reading →
Sense and Sensibility Movie (1981) – A Review
This 1981 BBC seven-part miniseries of Sense and Sensibility is a solid but flawed adaptation of Jane Austen’s masterpiece. In my mind, the character of Marianne Dashwood is always the benchmark for a superior adaptation. She is a complicated creature driven by emotion and racked with vulnerability, and if the actress portraying Jane Austen’s most... Continue Reading →
Sense and Sensibility Movie (1971) – A Review
I was quite excited when the news hit the blogosphere that the elusive 1971 mini-series of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility was being resurrected from the vaults and reissued by the BBC. It originally aired in the UK, but had never jumped the pond until this re-issue. Now, I think I know why. If you... Continue Reading →
Sense and Sensibility Moment
Mrs. Jennings was a widow, with an ample jointure. She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and she had now therefore nothing to do but marry all the rest of the world. In the promotion of this object, she was zealously active, as far as her ability... Continue Reading →
Jane Austen Illustrators: Heather Sleightholm
"It is very pretty," said Mr. Woodhouse."So prettily done! Just as your drawings always are, my dear. I do not know any body who draws so well as you do. The only thing I do not thoroughly like is, that she seems to be sitting out of doors, with only a little shawl over her... Continue Reading →
Jane Austen Illustrators: Imagining Sense and Sensibility
"Four years you have been engaged?" said she with a firm voice. "Yes; and Heaven knows how much longer we may have to wait. Poor Edward! It puts him quite out of heart." Then taking a small miniature from her pocket, she added, "To prevent the possibility of mistake, be so good as to look... Continue Reading →
A Preview of Sense and Sensibility (2008) on Masterpiece Classic PBS
"I am afraid," replied Elinor, "that the pleasantness of an employment does not always evince its propriety."Â "On the contrary, nothing can be a stronger proof of it, Elinor; for if there had been any real impropriety in what I did, I should have been sensible of it at the time, for we always know... Continue Reading →
Parting injuction
INJUNCTION As soon as they entered the house, Marianne with a kiss of gratitude, and these two words just articulate through her tears, "Tell mama," withdrew from her sister and walked slowly up stairs. Elinor would not attempt to disturb a solitude so reasonable as what she now sought; and with a mind anxiously pre-arranging... Continue Reading →
No conscience
CONSCIENCE "A man who has nothing to do with his own time has no conscience in his intrusion on that of others." Marianne Dashwood on Colonel Brandon, Sense & Sensibility, Chapter 31 This is a profound statement from a young lady who herself, has nothing to do with her own time! Isn't this like calling... Continue Reading →
Cold insipidity
INSIPIDITY There was nothing in any of the party which could recommend them as companions to the Dashwoods; but the cold insipidity of Lady Middleton was so particularly repulsive, that in comparison of it the gravity of Colonel Brandon, and even the boisterous mirth of Sir John and his mother-in-law, was interesting. Lady Middleton seemed... Continue Reading →
Exquisite enjoyment
EXQUISITE His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment. They read, they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were considerable; and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which Edward had unfortunately wanted. The Narrator on Mr. Willoughby, Sense & Sensibility, Chapter 10 From first appearances, John Willoughby is a gentleman whose ardent attentions to... Continue Reading →