EMMA - Book review

 EMMA

 

Jane Austen’s longest novel was completed in 1815 and thanks to the self-willed and very self-satisfied character of Emma Woodhouse, it is a firm favourite.

Austen’s characters are indeed fascinating, whether that’s the loquacious Miss Bates (‘I am rather a talker’ [p274]), the insufferable Augusta Elton, Emma’s hypochondriac father, the secretive rich Frank Churchill, the poorly done-by Jane Fairfax and the long-suffering Mr Knightley.

Emma began match-making, finding a suitable husband for her governess Miss Taylor, and felt so satisfied with this happy outcome she determined to seek a suitor for her new friend, docile pliable Harriet. However, it all goes embarrassingly wrong, with confusion piling upon misunderstanding.

Austen’s wit and humour shines through, even after all these years. Her phrase: ‘She could fancy such a man’ (p253) could have sprung from countless modern novels, even.

On beginning Emma, she declared: ‘I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.’  At the outset it appears Emma is conceited, self-opinionated, even snobbish and quite bossy; however, she is also beautiful, intelligent, quite lively, strong-willed (‘Emma denied none of it aloud, and agreed to none of it in private’ [p279]), dutiful to her father. And she hides most of the time her sensitivity. A complex character.

My edition (1969) has an introduction and notes by Arthur Calder-Marshall.

Minor editorial comments:

From a modern standpoint, stylistically, there’s an over-emphasis of exclamation marks and em-dashes, but this may be typical of the period.

Many paragraphs are far too long.

I’d hope that later editions of mine have corrected the typo on p355 – ‘… and return it into the purple and gold ridicule by her side…’ when ‘ridicule’ should have been ‘reticule’.

 

Book review - Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor

This is the first Jane Austen mystery penned by Stephanie Barron (1996). In the manner of other ‘recently found manuscripts’ – stretching from Watson MD, to Flashman and plenty in between, this is a detective adventure penned in the famous author’s ‘own words’ in diary format.

Francine Stephanie Barron Matthews had published two cop mysteries before embarking on this book. Since then she has been quite prolific, also writing a spy series based on the CIA.

There are at present twelve novels in the Jane Austen series, the most recent being Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas (2014), so she has doubled the output of the erstwhile author she emulates!

It is December 1802 and Jane Austen is staying with her recently married friend Isobel, the Countess of Scargrave. Unfortunately, the Earl of Scargrave is taken gravely ill and dies, purportedly from overindulgence. Yet Jane observed that ‘It was not an excess of claret that plagued the Earl, but a surfeit of family; and of this, no one was likely to cure him.’ (p35) Poor Isobel’s misfortune is compounded when she receives an anonymous letter accusing her of the murder of her husband.

I’m no expert on Austen, though I’ve read her books, but it seems to me that Barron exquisitely captures the voice: ‘The living ever feel unease, when the dead are in residence… The Earl is to be buried tomorrow. These two days past, he has lain in state in the hall, a vast and draughty place peopled by his ancestors, as though all the dead of Scargrave have assembled for this dreary wake…’ (p37)

Throughout, apparently aided by study of Austen’s letters, Barron invests her heroine with wit and acute observation: ‘The lot of woman is indeed a cruel one – either die an old maid, reviled and unprovided for, or die of hard work and childbed, both too liberally bestowed.’

The Earl is not the only one to die, either. On discovering a body amidst the hay, Austen recoiled, but was still made of stern stuff: ‘… and something very like terror held me in its grip for the space of several heartbeats. But I recoiled at the knowledge of my faint head, and determined to go on rather than back. I reached a gloved hand to the hay and pulled it aside.’ (p147)

And she is not averse to playfully throwing in an aside: ‘Fanny and the Lieutenant. So little sense, allied with so much sensibility.’ (p162)

Towards the end, Jane visits a friend in prison and again we’re exposed to her feelings and her keen sense of observation: ‘London’s afternoon fog curls now beyond Scargrave House’s many windows, blotting out the forms of carriage and horse as they pass in the street below. There is a like obscurity in my soul, a darkness bred of too much sadness; I have spent the better part of the morning enshrouded in perpetual night, in the depths of Newgate prison. That I rejoice in my deliverance from that place, I need hardly add… but I carry something of Newgate with me still, in the grime and odour of the interior, which sits heavily upon my person.’ (p253)

To sum up, Jane proves herself a firm friend and a persistent detective. As one character observes, ‘Friends, in my experience, are like ladies’ fashions, Miss Austen. They come and go with the seasons, and are rarely of such stout stuff as bears repeated wearing. I am glad to find you formed of better material.’ (p316)

I found two infelicities, no doubt due to Barron being American: I doubt if Jane Austen would refer to the Christmas season as the ‘holiday season’ (p158) and an English Lord would not refer to the ‘British Navy’ but rather the ‘Royal Navy’ (P363). In every other sense, she has captured the idiom and voice of the period, and she is a joy to read.

And there are at least eleven more diary entries to savour: wonderful news, indeed! Stephanie Barron’s website is here

If, after reading this book and its sequels, you still want more Austen style reading matter, you could try Pride and Regicide by Cathy Bryant (‘the first Mary Bennet mystery’) here

as it has to date 5 good reviews on Amazon.

Hampshire authors

Before we moved to Spain, we lived for several decades in Hampshire, England. The county is not unique in boasting of several famous authors. For example, Hertfordshire has connections with the following: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, Victoria Glendinning, Graham Greene, John Le Carré, George Orwell and Anthony Trollope.

                                                            Jane Austen portrait 1873 - Wiki commons

 

Jane Austen was born in the village of Steventon, near Alton, in 1775. She lived much of her life in Chawton and died in 1817, being buried in Winchester Cathedral. Hampshire locales, as well as Bath, figure prominently in her novels. She was educated at home and acquired a good knowledge of English literature. Two of her brothers rose high in the Navy and she learned much about the society in which they moved. She has been described as overly respectable, calculating and puritan. Yet in her works she displays a great sense of fun, a telling appreciation of the comic in character, a precise observation of behaviour, and an ability to dissect real snobbery. She created some great comic characters, notably Mr Collins and Mr Bates.

                                                                                                              Dickens - Wikipedia commons

Charles Dickens was born, in 1812, in 393 Old Commercial Road, Portsmouth that is now a museum dedicated to him. He lived here until 1817. He lived in several other homes, uprooting family and chattels, mainly in London until his final move in 1856 to God’s Hill Place, Higham, near Rochester in Kent, where he died in 1870. He cared for justice and his pen-portraits of cruel and stupid despots, and his satire of bureaucracy, had an effect on society. Much loved, he could move the hearts and minds of those who had previously been indifferent to cruelty and stupidity. He too created memorable characters and he has lent his name to the English language – Dickensian.

 

Olivia Manning, 1930s - Wikipedia commons                                                              

Novelist and journalist Olivia Manning was born in Portsmouth (I’ve seen three dates of birth for her, 1908, 1911 and 1914 in different sources!) and she died a ferry ride away in Ryde, Isle of Wight, in 1980. She is best known for her Balkan Trilogy and The Levant Trilogy, collectively known as Fortunes of War, which were televised with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. These books were based on her experiences in WWII (I read and enjoyed these six books in the 1980s). A photographic portraitt of her is in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.

Print is mightier than the electron

Well, maybe for a little while longer, anyway.

Ricoh Americas Corporation researchers interviewed over 800 readers and discovered that, regardless of media hype regarding electronic publishing, ‘Nearly 70% of consumers feel it is unlikely that they will give up on printed books by 2016.’  Why they chose 2016 is anybody’s guess. Anyway, the majority of those questioned claimed to have an ‘emotional, visceral and sensory attachment to printed books. Despite their perceived popularity, 60% of e-books downloaded in the US are never read.

Apparently, since 2012, the growth of e-books has slowed noticeably as dedicated e-reader sales decline and tablets are increased which offer alternative forms of entertainment.

College students prefer printed textbooks rather than e-books as they ‘help with concentration’.

The top three reasons given for preferring printed books are: lack of eye-strain, the look and feel of the physical book, and the ability to add the book to a library or collection. (I make that four reasons, since ‘look’ and ‘feel’ are two separate sensations. [Sourced this from a market item in Writers’ News, February 2014.]

I’m happy with my home library of about 4,000 printed books and 150 e-books. I’m surprised that college students don’t seem to have taken to the e-book, as the search facility must be useful in their learning process. Both media have their place and although it isn’t mentioned I suspect that e-readers have encouraged young people to read. And of course the sales in erotic fiction has climbed considerably since nobody can see the book’s possibly lurid cover!

 

Happy reading!

 

My e-books are:

Blood of the Dragon Trees (Crooked Cat Publishing)

 

Spanish Eye (Crooked Cat Publishing)

 

Write a western in 30 Days (John Hunt Publishing)

 

Bullets for a Ballot (BTAP Publishing)

 

Death is Another Life (out of print)

 

When the Flowers are in Bloom (Solstice Publishing)

 

My paperbacks are:

Blood of the Dragon Trees (Crooked Cat Publishing)

 

Spanish Eye (Crooked Cat Publishing)

 

Write a western in 30 Days (John Hunt Publishing)

 

Death is Another Life (out of print)

 

When the Flowers are in Bloom (Solstice Publishing)

 

 

'The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.' - Jane Austen

 

Books read – 2013

This year I read 46 books. Of that number, inevitably, a fair portion for the first half of the year were books published by Solstice Publishing which I read as editor or copy-editor.

I’m pleased to say that I haven’t read a bad book, though some shone more than others.  Those asterisked at the bottom can be viewed in my ‘top 12’ list. As with any list, it’s subjective, if not controversial. In no particular order…

Rachel Blackburn by Doreen McNicol

Victorian melodrama, the sequel to Rachel Weeks.  These two books have heart and capture the period. There are some moving scenes and the reader really wants to root for Rachel through all her struggles. Blurb: London, 1855. Rachel Wicks survived the workhouse and a terrible marriage to the vile and evil Emerson Blackburn. Her life should have been smooth thereafter, but she hadn’t reckoned on the interference of Mrs Worchester, a relative of Blackburn’s. For the sake of her daughter, Rachel throws in her lot with the Worchesters. But people and events from her past haunt her and threaten to forever darken her daughter’s future. And true love beckons – or is it yet another trick of fate, to be snatched away from her? She must be brave and true to her ideals, no matter how much rumours malign and pain her.

Hustle Henry and the Cue-ball Kid by Jack Strandburg

An hilarious western about pool hustlers, love and double-cross. Clarence Flannery changed his name to Hustle Henry, his pal Skinner became the Cue-Ball Kid, and the eleven men they recruited would go down in history as The Hole-in-the-Table-Bunch, known far and wide for hustling wannabe pool sharks out of their life savings.
 
Old Fashioned Detective Work by Devon Ellington
One of a supernatural detective series, written with a sure touch. Jain Lazarus is a hexbreaker. This is a sequel to Hexbreaker. Blurb: Detective Wyatt East finds himself the primary suspect when hex breaker Jain Lazarus disappears after their romantic weekend in Vermont.  In spite of these suspicions, Jain's boss, Maitland Stiles, hires Wyatt to track her down, forcing him to face aspects of his own painful past and revealing more about hers.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Classic, still works for me. Review can be found here

The Cauldron by Steve Carter

They don’t write men’s adventures any more. Well, so I thought. But I was wrong. Steve Carter has embarked on a series of adventures that bring to mind author H Rider Haggard, albeit with added expletives and sex; the style is old-fashioned, but highly readable, and laced with humour and poignancy. The first in the series, The Cauldron relates John Saxton’s coming of age. Sax is aided and abetted by his mentor, Marcus Brown – a Maasai warrior and friend of the family. This is the age of trade clippers and slavers, the early days of the Civil War, and it’s great to meet a young honourable man who fights for what is right and good against self-seeking and greedy men. Carter’s creation of Marcus Brown is a worthy successor to Umslopogaas.

Expatriate Bones by M. Howald

Murder mystery set in Montreal. Bounty hunter Leonard Marsland feeds on the hunt, the kill, and has been feeding his entire life.  When Christine Duma, a med student is murdered, Marsland steps closer to the last two names on his hit list, and Detective Austin Del Rio steps into the crossfire between Marsland’s revenge and a war crimes cover-up.

The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye

An epic tale. See my review here

The Maxwell Vendetta by Carl Brush

This historical thriller, the prequel to another gripping novel, The Second Vendetta, is set nearly one hundred years in the past, yet The Maxwell Vendetta embodies themes as contemporary as racism, political corruption, and sexual exploitation. In short, contemporary America mirrored in a novel of 1908 California. An excellent first person narrative. I seemed to live through the trials and tribulations - and there were many! - of Andy Maxwell. It was that believable. The book has it all - action, suspense, horror, drama and humour.

Combstock Lode by Louis L’Amour

The Comstock Lode was one of the richest finds in silver and L’Amour’s story is rich in characters and events, filled with drifters, schemers, dreamers, builders and thieves.

Shattered Prism by Rebeca L. Frencl

Fantasy. Robyn and Aerin have been down this road before as they hunt for the other seven Starbearers who will once more drive back the Darkness that wishes to unravel civilization and drive mankind back into howling barbarism… First in the Star Circle Trilogy.
 
Lenin’s Harem by William Burton McCormick
Mcormick has produced a book of vast scope yet deep intimacy. His feeling for the period, the country and the Latvians and Russians shines through on every page of this first person narrative… A book of betrayal, survival, brotherhood, identity and love that will linger in the mind after the last page has been turned.
 
Bond on Bond by Roger Moore
Lavishly illustrated reminiscences and coverage of the Bond movies, with Moore’s usual tongue-in-cheek delivery. Amusing and interesting!

Painting by Numbers by Tom Gillespie

This isn’t a thriller, but it is a psychological suspense page-turner. On the surface, I can see why some people might liken it to Dan Brown’s oeuvre – esoteric knowledge about artwork and mathematics, for example, and a quest to a foreign land. That’s as far as such comparisons should go, however. If any comparisons should be made, I’d refer to Christopher Priest – notably his The Affirmation. Priest, like Gillespie, is a wordsmith… bravura storytelling about dislocation, obsession, grief, guilt, fidelity and intrigue. The ending is perfect. 

The Filey Connection by David W Robinson

First in the Sanford Third Age Club (STAC) series of cosy crime novels, this was a pleasure to read. If you’ve enjoyed Simon Brett’s Mrs Pargeter novels, then you’ll like these too.  A whodunnit and a whydunnit, this is a quick read with plenty of chuckles along the way.

Cast-Iron Star and other stories by Robert J. Randisi

This is a good collection of western short stories by a master storyteller. If you’ve never read any Randisi, this is a fine place to start… ‘The Ghost with Blue Eyes’ is a moving tale about an aptly named gunman called Targett who accidentally kills a child and how he achieves redemption. It’s a tear-jerker and worth the cost of the collection alone. Never sentimental, the writing is spare but powerful.

Shaman’s Drum by Ailsa Abraham

This is a good fantasy tale of relationships set in the near future when our organised religions were banned, eventually replaced by paganism and magic. Civilisation is still as we know it, complete with Internet and mobile phones, cars and taxis, but without the angst of religious guilt or conflict. Needless to say, without conflict there is no story. And of course even in a supposedly ideal world there is still crime, jealousy, and a lust for power… A satisfying read and I’m already curious about the prequel!

Solo by William Boyd

Another ‘literary’ author tackles James Bond, following in the recent footsteps of Sebastian Faulks and Jefferey Deaver. To all intents and purposes Boyd continues where Fleming left off as far as the historical timeline goes, so we’re in 1969… The writing was accomplished in parts, and the narrative kept me turning the pages, but I wasn’t emotionally involved. And I felt the ending was rushed.

The Ladies’ Paradise by Emil Zola

The source book of the TV series, though there are many differences. In its own right, it’s a fascinating read and the strength of character of the heroine Denise shines through, Woman Victorious.

West of the Big River: The Lawman by James Reasoner

A fictional tale about a real lawman, Bill Tilghman. He’s sent to the Oklahoma territory settlement of Burnt Creek to sort out a spate of rustling and discovers that the town’s lawman and mayor are in cahoots with the rustlers. Finely drawn characters, fast paced and well written, as one would expect from such an accomplished author.

Rim Road 1 - The Lost and Found by Patricia A. Matrinelli

Fantasy. Rim Road starts out with the main character not too happy with her current life choices and decides to make changes. The first of her new choices lands the woman into a world where she will have to make the right choices just to stay alive.

Making of Pride and Prejudice by Sue Birtwistle – review here

The Boston Connection by Dick Moomey

Murder mystery. ‘a bubbling pot of passion and intrigue is The Boston Connection. Dick Moomey takes us to a small private school named Ramsdell somewhere in the Boston vicinity and lifts the lid on a stew of intrigue.’

The Expressmen – research for the Old West. Vital.

 
Roman Dalton by Paul Brazil
A collection of six short stories about a werewolf private detective in a nameless city, this is bound to appeal to a wide modern audience. It’s surreal, sleazy, dark, humorous, and a quick read, laced with music riffs. Brazil has a good ear for the amusing phrase, in the wisecracking private eye manner.

Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster

Review here

Chapters of Life by Tina K. Burton

The book fulfils its promise on the back cover: ‘This diverse group of people, brought together by their love of reading, forge lasting friendships and make some unexpected discoveries about themselves and each other.’ Overall, a worthwhile read, with some mystery, suspense and tragedy to affect the group’s equilibrium. Bound to be a popular read.

Against the Ropes by Jack Tunney (Terrence McCauley)

This short novel provides all of the atmosphere, the ambiance and the thrills of the 1920s. Combine that with the stupidity of Prohibition, the rackets and the fight game and this becomes a bout of heart-pounding excitement where the audience is rooting for the good guy Quinn, yet realising that the odds are severely stacked against him. The dialogue is as sharp as a toothpick, as foreboding as the next incoming storm of punches, and full of character. By the end, I was punch-drunk, the fight sequences were so gruelling and realistic.

Death comes in pairs by Loretta Jackson and Vickie Britton

The prolific writing sisters have written over 40 novels, in a number of genres. This is a traditional western with a strong mystery element… This is a potent mix for a whodunit western-style and the authors don’t disappoint. Well written with plenty of colourful description and characters, it’s an enjoyable read that keeps you turning the pages to the satisfying conclusion.

I Know You Know by Helen Howell

This is a slow-build suspense novella which is worthy of 3.5 stars, in my opinion. The two characters Janice and Kipp are delineated well.  The narrative style lends itself to being a quick read.

Dark Voices by Darren Sant

Fifteen mostly short tales, many with stings in their tails… If you’re brave enough, enter the dark world of Darren Sant with this wide-ranging collection. You won’t come away unaffected.

Look you on Beauty and Death by Livia J Washburn and James Reasoner

Husband and wife writing team pen a fantasy short story that cries out for a series. Swordsmith Ralna is an intriguing character and ripe for more development.  Good description, plenty of action, a few dashes of humour, and you have a recipe for a good read.

Tarzan – the epic adventures by R.A. Salvatore

It was great to read a 'new' Tarzan adventure and there were many elements from the original, thanks to the teleplay by Burt Armus, though I suspect blending aspects of The Return of Tarzan with Tarzan at the Earth's Core meant it would be a rushed job, too much, too soon. Point of View was all over the place and I'd have liked more of Tarzan's POV; the humour was a nice touch, but I thought the hand-to-hand combat scenes were over-elaborate. Still a worthy addition to the Tarzan books, even if it clearly didn't capture a reading public who wanted more of the same.

Holt County Law by Richard Prosch
Holt County has the potential to be a long-running series. As one dying man says, ‘Holt County’s a good place. There’s good people here. Don’t let a few bad apples (spoil it).’ The western will never die, because writers like Richard Prosch are able to enthral us with new stories about the Old West. Taggart by Louis L’Amour
Adam Stark’s found gold. But it’s in Apache country… On the run, Taggart stumbles upon Stark, his wife and sister and tensions mount between them all… with gold in the mix,

One book was ready to publish but the author pulled the plug, so I won’t mention it or him; a shame, it was a damned fine book, too.

* - the following already discussed in …

Jane by Robin Maxwell

September Wind by Kathleen Janz-Anderson

The Singing Mountain by Anne E Summers

World without End by Ken Follett

Tarzan Centennial by Scott Tracy Griffin

The Satanic Gospel by William Patrick Hackett

The Elephants of Shanghai by Stephen Jared

Breath of Africa by Jane Bwye

Game of Thrones by George R R Martin

A Limited Justice by Catriona King

Playing on Cotton Clouds by Michela O’Brien

Bad Moon Rising by Fraces di Plino

 

THE MAKING OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

THE MAKING OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Sue Birtwistle & Susie Conklin, 1995

 

This BBC/Penguin book accompanied the TV series starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. It is lavishly illustrated with photographs, drawings, design notes and sample music scores. The authors are the producer and script editor. 

Adapting a treasured book is always going to be difficult. Andrew Davies was well aware that he wanted the story to be more visual – a lot in the book happens off-stage, is reported. So he purposefully created scenes that did not contain Elizabeth. He observes that ‘the central motor which drives the story forward is Darcy’s sexual attraction to Elizabeth. He doesn’t particularly like her, he’s appalled by the rest of her family, her general circumstances, the vulgarity of her mother and some of her sisters and he fights desperately against this attraction…’ All this is perceived between the lines in the book. Here, in the dramatization, it’s made flesh (in the nicest possible way). In the book, several quite lengthy letters are pertinent – again, Davies re-imagines these visually, to good effect.

There’s a section on casting, which posed a problem as the production was planned to take five months, so actors had to be available for a lengthy time. Another section relates the difficulties of location hunting – ideally finding villages and homes within easy reach of each other – with a map. For example, Angela Horn, owner of Luckington Court, which served as Longbourn, the Bennetts’ house. The crew virtually took over the place and Mrs Horn cried when they left, though was consoled by the thought that she would ‘now have enough money to re-roof the west wing.’ The Wiltshire village of Lacock, owned by the National Trust, became Meryton. Five months of negotiation, then preparations, consultation with the residents, traffic diversions, security etc – all for a week’s filming…

The entire process takes months in the planning stages – more like a military campaign, assembling all the tactical, technical, personnel, and logistics for the duration.

Other chapters cover production design – from furniture to wallpaper, creating the right ambience; costumes, make-up and hair designs; the music and the dancing, both integral to the visual and dramatic scenes; the lighting, where there were practical problems in the old, historic and protected houses.

A section describes a typical filming day, which can last up to twelve hours. Finally, there’s a chapter that covers post-production, including editing, sound dialogue, the effects and dubbing.

This is an excellent book which provides insight into the making of a film and goes some way to explain why such productions are expensive to stage. It's also of help to budding scriptwriters.

FFB - Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

It’s many years since I read this. I rarely have the opportunity to re-read books, even favourites, as I own so many I still have to read even once. It was a pleasure to reacquaint myself with Elizabeth, Jane, Lydia, Mr & Mrs Bennett and of course Darcy. I made a point of re-reading this after viewing the BBC television series featuring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as the star-crossed lovers (filmed in 1995). There have been many versions before and since, but in my view this – perhaps due to its generous length – captures the book most perfectly.

 

            It isn’t surprising that the book has been popular ever since its publication in 1813, as the wit and spirit of Elizabeth captivates readers of all ages. Typical of its period, the book uses the omniscient point of view, but it works thanks to the easy style and humour of Austen. The title of the book originally was First Impressions but was changed to reflect a quotation from Fanny Burney’s novel Cecilia, when the lovers are united and the author declares that ‘the whole of this unfortunate business has been the result of pride and prejudice.’
            Considering her small output, Austen’s works have been dramatized a remarkable number of times and have been forever in print and in the hearts of romantics worldwide.
            The first paragraph of Pride and Prejudice has been quoted time and again and is certainly one of the most famous beginnings of any novel: ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’ That, in a nutshell, is what the book’s plot is about – Mrs Bennett finding suitable men for her daughters to marry. Well, on the surface, of course. It’s more subversive than that, however. It reveals Elizabeth as a strong-willed woman of independent mind if not means. And it’s a book about the enigmatic Darcy, too – a man who is tired of the artifice of his female acquaintances and finds himself stirred by the alarmingly refreshing Elizabeth Bennett.
            All of the characters spring alive, thanks to Elizabeth’s acute observations, whether they be her scatter-brained mother, detached father, the odious Mr Collins or the dreadful Lady Catherine de Bourgh. In the main, their characters are conveyed by their speech, and it’s masterfully done.
            This book (1995) also features stills from the TV episodes.

Editor’s note: even classics can suffer from typos – and I don’t mean the old spellings of ancles (ankles), chuse (choose), your's (yours) and the like. There are at least twenty to be found in this copy. Whether they’ve been around since 1813 or introduced at subsequent reprinting, when books were typeset, I cannot say. Regardless, the typos don’t interfere with the reading enjoyment.