So, I was vaguely aware that a series of novels written from the male protagonists’ perspectives of each of Jane Austen’s six novels existed, but I’d never sought them out. I was more focused on finding LGBTQ adaptations or contemporary adaptations.
That was until I randomly decided in February I was going to read a new-to-me adaptation of each of the novels for Austen’s 250th birth year. And when I was looking for a new-to-me adaptation of some of the less-frequently adapted novels (Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park) these were on the list of some of the best adaptations/inspired by regardless and so here we are.
Let’s start with what I liked about this one. Overall, I think Grange did an amazing job of capturing the time period and following the source material pretty closely. At first I wasn’t sure she was going to reach the same levels of observation and social critique that Austen did, but she surprised me:
There was a great deal of nonsense talked, as is customary in Bath. There was a little acknowledgement of enjoyment, but a great deal more ennui, and I could not help thinking that some of those present would be less bored were they not so boring themselves. But I did my duty and entertained those who were capable of being entertained and listened to those who were not. (97)
I do wonder if the others will have more of it as they were Austen’s more mature novels, but I’m not reading those in the immediate future and I’ll have to remember to look for it.
Grange also did an excellent job of sneaking in irreverence to observations.
My heart is already taken, and by a young lady who neither sings nor plays nor speaks French, at least not particularly well, but who nevertheless amuses me, endears and enchants me. (223)
I liked getting more of Henry’s backstory, but was VERY confused when the novel started because it started before his mother’s death to give his and Eleanor’s perspectives on that, but because this is the novel I’ve read the least out of all of them, I was lost for quite a while. However, I loved the opportunity to get to see more of the sibling interactions. I could’ve done with a little less of the novel they were reading, but with the original being a spoof of a gothic novel, I get why it was so important.
Now for the things I didn’t like. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the fact that we didn’t even meet Catherine Moorland until nearly 100 pages in, a little over 1/3 of the novel. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I guess to me it felt like that meant Grange took a lot more license in those pages versus when she was mirroring the story much more closely.
But, by FAR the thing I did not like the most was General Tilney. You’re not meant to like him in either book, but for some reason the way Grange wrote Henry’s observations of General Tilney I got a much more creepy than sinister vibe. It honestly felt like he had brought Catherine home as a potential suitor for himself than Henry. It was just gross for some reason. I did like that Eleanor’s eventual husband and Eleanor were basically able to override him and render him powerless through his own awe and obsession of rank and title and that just made it worth it in the end seeing it from their perspective.
And then one last random note. Even books that are published by the big companies have typos in them. I will never forget the DARBY typo in my copy of Pride and Prejudice, but this one also had one. At first I thought it was just a different use of it or even a character mispronunciation, but the same character says it about 75 pages later and it is correct:
What deus ex machine can save her from the unhappiness of disappointed love? (174)
‘What we need is a deus ex machina,’ I said to her. ‘If this were a play, then a platform would lower itself from the heavens and the gods would step forth and solve our problems with a wave of their hands. Some unforeseen and unexpected conclusion would present itself to speed a happy ending.’ (251)
Recommendation: I quite enjoyed this one and say check it out if you’re even just a casual fan of Austen. Grange did a good job of writing to the source material and added enough newness to make it feel like not just an inverse of the original. I do wish I would’ve read the original more recently so I could know how many liberties she took, but I can’t say I’m disappointed. I’ll definitely read the rest of this series and will have much clearer thoughts and opinions on those of which I’ve read the original material more frequently.
Opening Line: “No lessons, no tutors, no Latin, no Greek!”
Closing Line: “The bells rang and everybody smiled. The perfect happy ending!” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
Additional Quotes from Henry Tilney’s Diary
“You have read as many novels as I have – well, almost! It is unthinkable to have a son and heir who is a sober and reliable person. He has to spend his life seducing virtuous young women, or drinking himself into a stupor, or placing bets on whether he can drive from London to Brighton in seventeen minutes and forty-two seconds—” (7)
“I smiled, for Miss Morland certainly had all the hallmarks of a heroine. She was sweet and innocent and honest and loving. She had a great affection for her brother. She was, for the present at least, without a mother, and under the care of her mother’s friend. And if she was not presently threatened by some cruel marquis, well, she was young and there was still time!” (137)
“But she need not have worried, Miss Morland was entranced by the idea. To be in a real abbey was a great excitement to her, and as I watched her I found myself well entertained. To be able to tease a woman is surely as important a part of love as being able to like her or respect her.” (188)
“She drew such a picture of carefree happiness that Eleanor and I were engrossed, for it was a childhood far removed from our own, and although I would like my own children to have a more organized education, I confess I would very much like to see them rolling down the hill at the back of the parsonage, to the scandal – no doubt – of the neighbourhood.” (217)