The Best of Jane Austen

Description

Collection of four BBC adaptations of novels by Jane Austen. ‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1995) follows Elizabeth Bennett (Jennifer Ehle) as she clashes with Mr Darcy (Colin Firth) while her sister Jane (Susannah Harker) falls in love with Mr Bingley (Crispin Bonham-Carter) and her sister Lydia (Julia Sawalha) is embroiled in scandal. In ‘Sense and Sensibility’ (2008) Marianne Dashwood (Charity Wakefield) wears her heart on her sleeve when she falls in love with the charming but unsuitable John Willoughby (Dominic Cooper), ignoring her sister Elinor (Hattie Morahan)’s warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Elinor, sensitive to social convention, struggles to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Will the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love? Romola Garai stars as matchmaker Emma Woodhouse in ‘Emma’ (2009). Despite the protestations of Mr Knightly (Jonny Lee Miller) for her not to become involved, Emma’s meddling has unforeseen effects when she persuades her young friend Harriet Smith (Louise Dylan) to reject the advances of a local farmer in favour of the dashingly eligible Mr Elton (Blake Ritson). Finally, in ‘Persuasion’ (2007) Anne Elliott (Sally Hawkins) has spent years regretting her rejection of Captain Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones)’s proposal of marriage, her family having been against the match on grounds of class. When he returns from sea they meet but, instead of finding romance, are kept apart through a series of misunderstandings. Anne is being pursued by her cousin, Mr Elliott (Tobias Menzies), while Captain Wentworth is regarded as a very eligible bachelor and has a stream of young women with marriage in mind beating a path to his door.