(The movie that made Firth a star; the perfect Mr. Darcy)
(The illustrated companion book)
My own history with Austen goes back to grade 12, fall of 1966, when we read and studied Pride and Prejudice beginning in September. This classic opened up what was to be a memorable mind-blowing year for me which included Hamlet, Hardy’s moody, tragic, romantic Return of the Native, Shaw’s witty Arms and the Man, O’Casey’s political satire Juno and the Paycock, and the classic poems of Wordsworth, Keats, and other English greats. All directed by a male (they had them back then) teacher who loved what he was sharing and even humorously read the parts of characters including the wry Mr. Bennet in P & P.
Later, in the mid-2000s, I briefly joined the local Jane Austen Society at the suggestion of U of A English prof Raymond McMaster and attended an Austen conference in Lake Louise with only a few males! Quite unique, memorable, and giving many insights into the Janeites as they strolled in costume around the lake waxing eloquent about the philosophy and psychology of Austen and her 5 books.
Anyway, this week I returned to P & P to watch the ultimately faithful and beautiful 2-part (originally 6 episodes) 5 hr. BBC production which is still keenly viewed around the world by women in many cultures, Austen being both an icon and heroine.
The Firth-Ehle version is definitive and this companion set with 1 extras DVD and a lovely book will satisfy the most ardent Austen fan.
In a nutshell, for me, P & P features the first strong, independent, intelligent woman protagonist in English lit and it illuminates the severely limited choices women of the day had. It deservedly remains the most influential women’s novel ever, both smartly and wittily penned. The insights into men, women and their relationships are plentiful and wide-ranging. *If a man wants to better understand women better through literature, I can think of no better place to start.