If you haven't already seen this video, this is the official "video blog" of one Lizzie Bennett. Complete with crazy sisters and an overbearing (southern belle) mother, Lizzie talks her way through the arrival of the rich, handsome new neighbor Bing Lee and his mysterious (and apparently hot) friend Darcy. Thus far, this YouTube series is a very clever spoof on "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.
Since the book was written, there have been countless adaptations of books, movies, stage and television shows. There have been the good (Colin Firth), the bad ("Pemberly Ranch" or "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" anyone?) and the decidedly odd ("Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts"** - no, I'm not kidding). Everyone has an adaptation that they love and in honor of the above video, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.
This book was one of my first adaptation reading experiences. In this book, Londoner Jasmin Field is a columist for a woman's magazine. At the beginning of the story, Jasmin is coerced into auditioning for a role in a stage production of "Pride and Prejudice" that will raise money for charity. To everyone's surprise (including her own) Jasmin scores the leading role of Elizabeth Bennet. Playing opposite her as Mr. Darcy is wealthy, talented, Oscar-winning and arrogant actor Harry Noble. In addition to starring in the play, Harry Noble is also acting as director and financier to the production. Of course, sparks fly between Harry and Jasmin and the classic story is played out in the modern setting, with a complete cast of characters. I think what I liked best about this version is that it is just different enough to make me feel as though the author wasn't adapting sentence by sentence. The characters have their own quirks and personalities, while still being true to the original story. I also liked some of the adaptations to modern technologies, for example, Harry Noble saves Jasmin's family reputation by keeping them out of the tabloids.
Funnily enough, I didn't like reading "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" at all. Instead of being amused by the changes to the story, I found myself being put out by the tweaks to some of my favorite lines from the book. Reading that book, frankly, felt like some sort of evil, zombie-loving editor had gone through and added sentences or paragraphs that all looked wildly out of place. I kept visualizing the original graceful prose written in cursive, with the new additions scribbled over it in red crayon (some of the jokes were quite juvenile). Having said all that, when I picked up the graphic novel edition I was completely entertained. I enjoyed the heck out of the illiustrations of the Bennet sisters wreaking havoc on the invading zombie hordes. This story was made to be in graphic novel format - with minimal text and lots of action packed pictures.
By the way, the original "Pride and Prejudice" has also been converted to graphic novel format. If you have reluctant readers in your life, or you just want to have a graphic novel reading experience of this Austen classic, I would absolutely recommend you pick up "Pride & Prejudice" by Nancy Butler. The cover for the book is especially clever, as it has been made to look like the cover of a magazine.
All right! One of my first movie suggestions. "Bride and Prejudice" is a Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and it is, simply put, a blast to watch. Lalita Bakshi is one of four sisters in a family living in Amritsar, India. When Lalita and her family attend the wedding of a friend, they meet London barrister Balraj and his good friend Will Darcy. Darcy is wealthy, arrogant and gives Lalita the impression that he is very disdainful of India and Indian culture. Initially, Lalita can't stand Darcy but as the story progresses her impressions of him change. This leads to misunderstandings, wacky capers and eventually happy endings all around. In addition to a well-done adaptation of the classic story, there are several song and dance numbers that are quite fun to watch.
**I just have to share the summary for "Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts" - I've not read it but I'm half curious to after reading this hilarious blurb from NoveList. "Imagine that Jane Austen had written the opening line of her satirical novel Pride and Prejudice this way: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a good romp and a good wife - although not necessarily from the same person or from the opposite sex." In Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts Mr. Darcy has never been more devilish and the seemingly chaste Elizabeth never more turned on. The entire cast of characters from Austen's classic is here in this rewrite that goes all the way. This time Mr. Bingley and his sister both have designs on Mr. Darcy's manhood; Elizabeth's BFF Charlotte marries their family's strange relation and stumbles upon a secret world of feminine relations more to her liking; and, in this telling, men are not necessarily the the only dominating sex. And of course there's some good old fashioned bodice ripping that shows no pride or prejudice and reveals hot hidden lusts in every page-turning chapter".
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