Sister's Incineration of Jane Austen's Correspondence - Exploring the Reasons Behind the Act
Rewritten Article
Capping Off Jane Austen's Timeless Allure: 'Miss Austen' Miniseries and 'Emma'
English novelist Jane Austen continues to captivate our hearts and minds, inspiring countless adaptations and new stories set in her world. Gill Hornby's novel "Miss Austen," published in 2020, delves into the life of Jane's sister, Cassandra, and the decision to burn her letters – a choice rooted in real events.
"Miss Austen" is the first of a trilogy of novels by Hornby that delves into the lives of the Austen family, a close-knit group that the author found "completely captivating." As described by Hornby, they were a vigorous and remarkable bunch, with Jane being the most extraordinary of all. "She would write during the day and then read aloud in the family circle at night, which they all did."
Hornby's novel bears striking resemblance to a Jane Austen novel, brimming with sharp-tongued repartee, heartbreak, and romance. However, it is the bond between sisters Jane and Cassandra that gave birth to this particular work, which has now been brought to life on television.
The four-part miniseries "Miss Austen" will make its debut at 9 p.m. PST on PBS as part of "Masterpiece." (Subsequent episodes air on Sundays, with the final two on May 18; they will also be available on the PBS app and PBS.org.) The period drama, led by Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen, was enthusiastically received in the UK when it premiered on BBC One in February.
At a screening of the series at the our website Festival of Books, Hornby and executive producer Christine Langan of Bonnie Productions, who produced the series for "Masterpiece," discussed Jane's enduring legacy and the process of adapting the book for television. It marks Bonnie Productions' first foray into television.
"I couldn't resist the read," Langan said, explaining her motivation to produce the show. "I was moved to tears by the end, and I found it a unique and gripping look at a writer I've admired for decades."
Langan, an esteemed producer responsible for critically acclaimed series including "Cold Feet," "The Deal," and "The Queen," loved the idea of rehabilitating Cassandra's image, who had long been viewed with a certain disdain by historians of Jane.
In the series, Cassandra is portrayed as slightly younger than her book counterpart, due in part to Hawes' distinctive blend of dramatic and comedic acting abilities that made her a perfect fit for the role.
"We felt the need to make Cassandra a bit younger than she is in the book, as middle-aged women are just as invisible in this society as elderly women," Langan said. "We were captivated by Keeley's versatility and her charm, and she proved to be an equal partner in our vision."
A New Spin on 'Emma': Laughter and Love
Directed by Autumn de Wilde and starring Anya Taylor-Joy, the latest adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel "Emma" has been met with widespread acclaim, satisfying fans and critics alike.
Langan praised Taylor-Joy, stating, "Keeley has a remarkable reputation in the UK. She's adored." This stands in stark contrast to Cassandra, who has long been viewed by some with a certain level of contempt by historians for burning nearly all of Jane's letters. Only around 160 of Jane's original letters remain.
Theories abound regarding Cassandra's reasons for destroying the letters, including the desire to shield Jane from negative scrutiny and to preserve her sister's legacy. The series, like the book, strives to present a more positive image of Cassandra and her intentions for burning the letters, including the desire to keep them out of the hands of family members like the calculating Mary Austen (played by Jessica Hynes), who was married to James Austen, Cassandra and Jane's brother.
The series also features flashbacks of young Cassandra (Synnøve Karlsen) and Jane (Patsy Ferran) as the events in the letters unfold, shedding light on the true nature of their relationship. The story takes place primarily in Kintbury, a village in Hampshire, England, where Hornby has resided for over three decades and where she first learned about Cassandra.
"I felt that Cassandra found me," Hornby said.
While the letters form the heart of the drama, "Miss Austen" delves into the personal and professional relationship between Cassandra and her fiancé, Tom Fowle (Calam Lynch), whose family resided in Kintbury. Tom died of yellow fever during a voyage to the Caribbean, and Cassandra never wed.
"I knew that she was there on the last Christmas they spent together, and that she said goodbye to Tom at dawn on a January morning and never saw him again," Hornby said. "She started to haunt me because I've always been fascinated by the women of history."
With the 250th anniversary of Jane's birth this year, it is an opportune moment to reevaluate Cassandra's role in Jane's life. Hornby credited Cassandra with providing the care and support that enabled Jane to create six of the most remarkable novels in the English language. CBS News
The 'Emma' Legacy: Pride with a Modern Twist
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the TV adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice" starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and the 20th anniversary of the film version, with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. Netflix recently announced a new limited series based on Austen's novel as well. The release of "Miss Austen" this year feels like a full-circle moment in the world of Jane Austen adaptations.
"It's astounding that she's still captivating audiences," Hornby said. "She's a posthumous success and, good as she was, she wanted success. She was smart enough to know that what she was writing was really good."
Hornby's exploration of the Austen family continues in her subsequent works, "Godmersham Park" and the upcoming novel "The Elopement," set for release in the UK in May and the US in October. Bonnie Productions has already acquired the rights to produce "The Elopement."
- Further Reading:
- Voices: Tidying Up, Garage Sale Frenzy – Why We’re Obsessed with Clearing Out Our Belongings
- Donoghue's Queer Love Affairs: Navigating Historical and Personal Love Stories
- Inspiration from Silicon Valley, Sylvia Plath, and an Ironclad Work Ethic: How One Novel defied Genres
- Gill Hornby's novel "Miss Austen," published in 2020, explores the life of Jane Austen's sister, Cassandra, and her decision to burn her letters, a choice that holds a real-life foundation.
- Hornby finds the Austen family, including Jane, captivating, as depicted in her novel, which bears resemblance to a Jane Austen novel with sharp-tongued repartee, heartbreak, and romance.
- The four-part miniseries "Miss Austen" will premiere on PBS, led by Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen, with subsequent episodes airing on Sundays and available on the PBS app and PBS.org.
- At a screening of the series at the Festival of Books, Hornby and executive producer Christine Langan discussed Jane's enduring legacy and the process of adapting the book for television.
- Langan, inspired by the book, produced the show, appreciating the unique and gripping portrayal of a writer she's admired for decades.
- In the series, Cassandra is portrayed as slightly younger than her book counterpart due to Hawes' versatile acting abilities, which made her a perfect fit for the role.
- The latest adaptation of Jane Austen's "Emma" has been met with widespread acclaim, with Anya Taylor-Joy starring in the lead role.
- With the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth this year, it is an opportune moment to reevaluate Cassandra's role in Jane's life, as Hornby's exploration of the Austen family continues in her subsequent works, including "Godmersham Park" and "The Elopement."
Further Reading:- Voices: Tidying Up, Garage Sale Frenzy – Why We’re Obsessed with Clearing Out Our Belongings- Donoghue's Queer Love Affairs: Navigating Historical and Personal Love Stories- Inspiration from Silicon Valley, Sylvia Plath, and an Ironclad Work Ethic: How One Novel defied Genres (this last sentence might need to be adjusted as it's not directly related to the given words)
