Jane Austen: The Queen of Chick Lit

by Clarabela on May 31, 2010 · 35 comments

in Chick Lit,The Classics

Born in 1775 in Hampshire, England and daughter of a clergyman, Jane Austen wrote her first story after a failed romance in 1799. The story, ‘First Impressions’ would eventually become one of the most beloved novels of many women, Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen is probably one  of the best loved women authors of all time. She has been studied and anylized. But perhaps we know her best by her novels and the movies they inspired. The life of Austen is portrayed in  the movie Becoming Jane, starring Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy. In Becoming Jane, Hathaway show us the  young, love-struck Jane Austen in the untold romance that inspired Pride and Prejudice. The handsome Scotsman, James McAvoy plays Tom Lefroy, young penniless law student sparks  a passionate romance with Jane. It is a must see for true Jane Austen fans.

The Austen Novels

From 1811 until her death in 1816, Jane Austen wrote her best known works;  Sense And Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816), and , Northanger Abbey and Persuasion which were published posthumously.  Talk a about a string of hits. In five short years, Jane Austen wrote some of the most enduring love stories of all time and became the crowned Queen of Chick Lit.

Read the Works of Jane Austen on Your Kindle.

The Movies

Jane Austen’s other books have been made into movies as well.  Gwyneth Paltrow starred in Emma with Jeremy Nothham and Toni Collette. Gwyneth seems to have stepped right off the pages of a Jane Austen novel. She is perfect as the meddling, matchmaking young Emma Woodhouse

Ang Lee directs Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet in  Sense & Sensibility , the story about the on again and off again romances of the Dashwood sisters. Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant star as their love interests.

I first watched Frances O’Connor, Jonny Lee Miller in Mansfield Park at a slumber party. I loved the story of  the smart and a independent Fanny Price, who is sent to live with her rich cousins. They are supposed to teach her how to be a proper lady, but she teaches them a thing or two as well.

There is even a mini-series called Lost in Austen, about a real Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice fan who finds herself back in 19th century England, entangled in the lives loves of her favorite characters.  Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) is bored with  the modern world’s and her boyfriend’s  lack of romance. She longs for the romance she finds in Austen’s novels. But she gets more than she bargained for when she finds herself living in the home of the Bennets, where she ignites new romantic twists and turns and almost ruins the love the story between Darcy and Lizzie.

Pride and Prejudice

The love story between the arrogant and proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and the high-spirited Miss Elizabeth (Lizzie )Bennett. Not only a classic love story, study of the social and moral values of her day. Jane Austen’s story of two passionate people who has touched the hearts of women for more than two hundred years. Can yo believe that? How many times have we read the book and loved it? How many times have we watched the movie?

There are several versions of Pride and Prejudice. Greer Garson and Laurance Olivier stared in the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice. Keira Knightly, Matthew MacFadyen, Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland starred in a recent 2005 movie version of Pride & Prejudice.  There is even a Bollywood re-make called Bride and Prejudice, which I really like. However, if you really want to get the full sense of Jane Austen’s book, you should see the five-hour BBC version of Miss Austen’s most-famous work. In this lavash mini-series, Colin Firth plays Darcy and Jennifer Ehle plays the role of Lizzie.

Win the Pride and Prejudice DVD

Emmy Award winning miniseries on two digitally restored DVDs.  Color-enhanced and completely digitally restored from hi-def source materials for the first time on DVD and backed with bonus features: Lasting Impressions, An Impromptu Walkabout with Adrian Lukis and Lucy Briers; Turning Point; Uncovering the Technical Restoration Process.

You could  win a copy of the 2-DVD BBC miniseries,Pride and Prejudice. Leave a comment and tell me your favorite Jane Austen movie. What is it you love about the movies and stories by Jane Austen. The deadline is June 12, 2010. A random comment will be chosen from comments left on this post. The winner will be chosen on June 14th.


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Katie Lou June 10, 2010 at 10:02 pm

I believe Amanda Price said it best, ” I love the love story. I love Elizabeth. I love the manners and language and the courtesy. It’s become part of who I am and what I want.” in Lost in Austen.
Jane Austen captured a snapshort of a form of courtship, formality, respect, and human interaction that does not exist any longer.

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Rachel C June 7, 2010 at 11:02 pm

I’ll have to go with Persuasion on this question. Fun giveaway!

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naazia June 7, 2010 at 10:33 pm

i LOVE the BBC version of pride and prejudice.. it’s my fav. fingers crossed!!

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cherie June 5, 2010 at 11:08 pm

I absolutely LOVE the 1940′s Pride and Prejudice as well as the BBC miniseries version. The story is a wonderful blend of elegance and wit. Sometimes I wish I were one of the Bennet sisters!

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Liza June 5, 2010 at 7:32 pm

I like Sense and Sensibility the best, mainly because of the great story. Keeps you guessing!

Thanks for the chance to win!

–Liza

ejm6x (at) yahoo (dot) com

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Delilah June 5, 2010 at 3:44 pm

Great post! I love all things Jane Austen.
Stopping by from the Lady Blogger Tea Party!

xx,
Delilah

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Janet June 5, 2010 at 1:57 pm

Actually Pride and Prejudice is my favorite. Caught it on PBS last fall.

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Connie Bryant June 5, 2010 at 11:43 am

Hi! My favorite would be Pride and Prejudice. Second favorite is Emma.
Thank you for a wonderful giveaway! :)

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Wehaf June 5, 2010 at 10:38 am

My favorite Jane Austen book is Persuasion, and my favorite movie is the 1995 movie adaptation of Persuasion with Amanda Root as Anne. I love that Austen’s books feature intelligent, complex character navigating an intricate social world – they’re intellectual books about society and furnish both entertainment and valuable social commentary.

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very married June 5, 2010 at 8:24 am

oooo! i want this so bad!

my favorite Jane Austen movie is the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice with Laurence Olivier.

ms(d0t)verymarried(at)gmail(d0t)com
very married´s last blog ..Favorite High School Memory. My ComLuv Profile

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Nancy June 4, 2010 at 12:01 pm

My two fav’s are Pride & Prejudice, & Sense & Sensibility.

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Ian June 4, 2010 at 9:54 am

Jane Austen is utterly my most favourite female writer of all times. Coming from south-east Asia, I’ve never heard of Jane Austen. But as I had to study her marvellous work in school when I was in England, she totally blew my mind away. I even get to watch the BBC mini-series of Pride and Prejudice in class. Absolutely amazing..

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Jenna Wood June 4, 2010 at 1:57 am

I think I most identify with Emma in real life.
six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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Julia June 4, 2010 at 12:21 am

Oh, the BBC Pride and Prejudice IS my favourite! I do really enjoy Sense and Sensibility too, for the lovely cottage settings, but there’s something about Firth and Ehle’s rigid spines that is so entertaining. One reason I love the movies is all the fantastic settings, another is the sparring conversations. Thanks for the giveaway!

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Dani June 3, 2010 at 11:58 pm

i love emma! studied it in school and fell in love with emma and mr knightley!

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Ali June 3, 2010 at 10:51 pm

It’s a tie between Mansfield Park & Sense & Sensibility, I mean I adore Pride & Prejudice, but if I had to pick… I still couldn’t! Emma is great too… Well I did a report in high school comparing the movie and the book – Emma – so let’s go with that one.

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Sue June 3, 2010 at 8:54 pm

My favorite is absolutely Emma! I love it because the characters have flaws and are relatable–and of course the love story! :)

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Shannon June 3, 2010 at 8:17 pm

It’s so hard to pick, but really Pride and Prejudice is my favorite. I have 3 sisters and my mom collects all the different movie versions of P&P. Such a great story!
Shannon ´s last blog ..Memorial Day Weekend My ComLuv Profile

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Sarah L June 3, 2010 at 7:10 pm

I loved Emma. I love all of the movies and books because the people are so polite to each other! They take the time to be concerend, and stay in touch with each other, and though, like Emma was mischevious at times, she truly did have the best intentions, and interests for everyone, even those she didn’t care much for.

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Ashley H. June 3, 2010 at 7:03 pm

My favorite is Emma. I love how she plays matchmaker to everyone but herself.

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Ashley June 3, 2010 at 6:52 pm

Pride & Prejudice is my favorite!

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Karen June 3, 2010 at 6:03 pm

I loved the PBS Emma mini series. I love the story line and their costumes.

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Heike June 3, 2010 at 5:44 pm

The Jane Austen Movie I like most is “Sense and Sensibility” (1995) The movies and stories of Jane Austen have their origin in past times, but their content can be also related to our present time.

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Heidi Kratzke June 3, 2010 at 5:37 pm

I just love Pride and Prejudice. What I love about all of her stories is how true to life they are. Her characters seem more like friends than casual acquaintances.

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Billie June 3, 2010 at 5:27 pm

Emma

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Ang June 3, 2010 at 4:32 pm

The BBC version of Pride and Prejudice is my favorite, but Sense and Sensibility is a close second. I love being drawn into the drama and the time period. Thanks for the giveaway!

ang

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sandy June 3, 2010 at 3:49 pm

I love Pride and Prejudice. I like the theme about love and class.

slblog@post.com

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Amy June 3, 2010 at 3:37 pm

Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant is my fave thus far!

Thanks for the giveaway!

Amy
artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

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Emily June 3, 2010 at 1:03 pm

I LOVE Emma.

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Cynthia June 2, 2010 at 3:54 pm

I’ve never seen a Jane Austin movie but I acted in Pride and Prejudice when I was a teen.
Cynthia´s last blog ..Happy Town Returns Tonight on ABC My ComLuv Profile

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dayes May 31, 2010 at 11:37 am

What I love about Jane’s books is that they really suck you into the story so that you feel like you know the characters. I was indignant when Darcy proposed to Elizabeth and would’ve high-fived her for the way she tore a strip off of him. I felt completely humbled too when I (alongside with Elizabeth) realized he wasn’t he pompous jerk that he first appeared to be. My favourites have always been Pride & Prejudice, and Persuasion. I really think it’s a shame that Jane didn’t get the recognition that was her due when she was alive. Her books are phenomenal and I only wish there were more.

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Molly May 31, 2010 at 11:33 am

My favorite Austen inspired movie is CLUELESS. It’s sooo, funny and quotable. Cher, like all the Austen heroines, has such spunk which is precisely why I’m a Jane Austen fan… her strong female characters who are flawed yet endearing.
Molly´s last blog ..Why I Liked Sex and the City 2 (even though it wasn’t that good) My ComLuv Profile

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Carol June 11, 2010 at 10:02 am

My favourite Jane Austen story is Emma and I loved Gwyneth Paltrow’s portrayal of her.

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