Quotes from Jane Austen

These are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling between February 6 and February 12, 2014. All but the last are from Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen.

“Much as you know already, there is a great deal more for you to learn.” Mrs. Norris is speaking to Maria and Julia, having first emphasized how much they know.

“I can never be important to any one.” Fanny to Edmond, when she thinks she is to be sent to live with Mrs. Norris

“Not all her precautions could save her from being suspected of something better.” Mrs. Norris has put a good deal of emphasis on having a spare room for a friend, which she does not intend for Fanny.

“They were much to be pitied on the occasion, not for their sorrow, but for their lack of it.” Maria and Julia on their father’s departure to Antigua.

“She really grieved because she could not grieve.” Fanny’s reaction to Sir Bertram’s leaving.

“Their vanity was is such good order that they seemed to be quite free from it.” Describing Maria and Julia enjoying the social round in the absence of their father.

“She could not abandon the remnant.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Marna, when she finds a mummified body after the plague.

Review of Mansfield Park DVD (BBC 1986)

All of Jane Austen’s completed novels have been made into films. This includes Mansfield Park, though I get the impression from reviews that in some the original plot is unrecognizable. The DVD I am commenting on here, however, is the only one I’ve watched, though I’ve ordered two more recent ones.

One of the things that came up during the Pride and Prejudice bicentennial was that as far as video was concerned, most people tended to like best the first video they saw. For me, that was the BBC version with Colin Firth as Darcy. That may be part of the reason I find the 1986 BBC video of Mansfield Park so much to my taste – it was the first I saw. Quite aside from that, it is very close to the book, with much of the dialog taken directly from Austen. The characters are very much true to those originally drawn by Miss Austen, and I particularly like Mrs. Norris, who is almost a caricature.

In reading reviews, I get the impression that people who liked the book like this video. People who find Fanny Price boring (I don’t) often preferred film versions that changed Fanny considerably from the way Jane Austin created her. I look forward to the arrival of other versions, but I doubt that I will like them any better.

I had hoped to find a film trailer for this DVD, but instead I found that the entire DVD is up on YouTube, chopped up into short segments. So I selected one of the shorter sequences, a conversation between Tom and Edmond Bertram and Mary Crawford, to give you a taste of the style. (NB: The YouTube episode says 1983, but it is clearly taken from the movie I am reviewing.)

Quotes from Jane Austen

Last year, in celebration of the bicentennial of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, I tweeted quotes from that work for one week each month. This year is the bicentennial of Mansfield Park, and while I do not plan to post regular reviews of spinoffs (there aren’t that many) I will tweet quotations from that work, and give their contexts here. Normally this will be the second or third Wednesday of the month, following a week of tweets. This is the first of these blog posts, and the first six of the quotations below are from Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen.

“There certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them.” Narrator’s comment on the lucky marriage of Miss Maria Ward to Sir Thomas Bertram.

“A girl so brought up must be adequately provided for.” Sir Thomas, when they are discussing the idea of raising Fanny.

“Do not let us be frightened from a good deed by a trifle.” Mrs. Norris, who throughout the book deludes herself into thinking she is responsible for taking Fanny from her poor family and giving her a better life at Mansfield, but who in fact gets out of every obligation.

“It being a wicked thing for her not to be happy.” Mrs. Norris has managed to make Fanny think that Fanny’s failure to be overflowing with happiness at being taken away from her home and siblings is a fault.

“There is moderation in all things.” A good principle in itself, but not as Mrs. Norris applies it to Fanny’s homesickness.

“The favorite holiday sport of the moment, making artificial flowers or wasting gold paper.” Fanny’s cousins are far more interested in other things than in getting to know Fanny.

“Don’t let it be obvious that you’re acting.” Tourist Trap, by Sue Ann Bowling. Lai’s advice to Roi as Zhaim’s trial approaches.

Mansfield Park (Review)

Last year was the bicentennial of Jane Austen’s classic novel, Pride and Prejudice. I took part in the celebration hosted by austenprose.com, which involved reading or watching (and reviewing) a number of spinoffs and DVD’s based on the book. I also added Pride and Prejudice to the books from which I put short quotes on Twitter @sueannbowling, and then explained the contexts on Wednesdays on this blog.

This year another of Jane Austen’s books has its 200^th anniversary: Mansfield Park.

This is a book many critics tend to put near the bottom of Jane Austen’s works. Certainly it has far fewer spinoffs, retellings, or adaptations than Pride and Prejudice, and many readers tend to dismiss it because the heroine, Fanny Price, is merely good, rather than spirited and a bit kickass, like Elizabeth Bennett. This is particularly true since Fanny is set up against Mary Crawford, who seems everything that an Austen heroine should be.

I don’t agree.

Yes, Fanny is a quiet, modest girl who adheres to the mores of her time. But she does not lack a kind of quiet heroism of her own, as when she refuses the outwardly eligible Henry Crawford. And her observations of the other characters, and Jane’s drawing of those characters, is wonderful. I’ve read and reread many of Jane Austen’s books, and I would group Mansfield Park with Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion as far as the number of re-readings gives a ranking.

I’ve heard that Jane’s intention was to give Fanny only goodness, and to purposely show the contrast between the quiet, principled Fanny and the far more engaging but less scrupulous Mary Crawford. Yes, her uncle, especially after his return from Antigua, thinks her “very pretty,” but she is not set up as a great beauty, nor does that seem to be nearly as important, in the marriage market Austen describes, as are wealth and social position.

In fact all of Austen’s heroines are basically good, principled people. They may be naïve in various ways, but there is not a one of them who is not careful of the feelings of others or who would not view adultery (in either sex) with horror. Mansfield Park is the novel in which this characteristic appears in its purest form.

Quotes from Jane Austen and her Hero

These are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling between December 5 and December 11, 2013. Those from Mr. Darcy’s Guide to Courtship were tweeted as if Mr. Darcy were the author.

“In such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable.” Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. Elizabeth is speaking to Jane for the first time about her change of feelings and engagement to Darcy.

“Do anything rather than marry without affection.” Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. Part of the same conversation of Jane with Elizabeth, Jane speaking.

“These violent young lovers carry everything their own way.” Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. Mr. Bennett, after he realizes what Darcy has done for Lydia.

“I have no inclination to expend effort on those who have not taken the trouble to learn to read.” Mr. Darcy’s Guide to Courtship, by Emily Brand. As a writer, I have to agree with Mr. Darcy here, though of course he did not have access to audiobooks.

“In plain words, there should be no ‘falling in love,’ except with suitable persons.” Mr. Darcy’s Guide to Courtship, by Emily Brand. Clearly Darcy wrote this before he met Elizabeth!

“No matter how extensive your income, they will always exceed it.” Mr. Darcy’s Guide to Courtship, by Emily Brand. Part of Darcy’s description of the “artful female” who marries for money. (Of course he has no such strictures on the man who marries for money.)

“No sense staying in bed.” Tourist Trap, by Sue Ann Bowling. Penny’s thought when she wakes while Roi and Flame are still asleep.

Pride and Pyramids, by Amanda Grange and Jacqueline Webb (Review)

Pride and Pyramids, by Amanda Grange and Jacqueline Webb, is a sequel to Austen’s masterpiece, set some fifteen years after the wedding. It’s been a pleasant fifteen years, and fruitful – there are now six little Darcys. But with peace in Europe and the youngest children old enough to read and benefit from travel, they are tempted into a family trip to Egypt by Col Fitzwilliam’s younger brother, Edward. Elizabeth asks Charlotte’s younger sister, Sophie, along as a companion, as well as an artist, Paul Inkworthy, to record the trip. Mrs. Bennett invites herself, as fond as ever of her wayward daughter Lydia and Lydia’s even more wayward husband, Wickham. Those two aren’t included in the party, but they sneak after the Darcys and Wickham is as always the villain of the piece.

As a general rule I like my Austen sequels without paranormal trappings, but the fantasy elements in this one, based on ancient Egyptian curses, work as a part of the storyline. You can treat them as superstition (as the characters generally do) or as the real results of an ancient magician’s curse, and the story works either way. It’s not Jane Austen, but it is true to the characters she wrote while being an enjoyable read.

I read Mr. Darcy’s Diary near the beginning of this challenge, and frankly I much prefer Pride and Pyramids. The Diary was pretty much a rehashing of the original book; this one has a life of its own and some enjoyable new characters.

Might add I’m about halfway through Linda Berdoll’s Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and while I enjoy some of the humor, I tend to side with those who prefer to keep the bedroom door shut.

Quotes from Jane Austen

These are the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling from November 7 through November 13, 2013. All but the first are from Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

“Angry people are not always wise.” Caroline Bennett persists in making unfavorable comments about Elizabeth, which are not advancing her case with Darcy.

“If she heard me it was by good luck, for I am sure she did not listen.” Elizabeth’s Aunt Gardiner in a letter to her neice mentioning Lydia’s behavior before her marriage.

“We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing.” Elizabeth to Jane, who has been trying to convince her that she and Bingley meet only as indifferent acquaintances.

“Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be unpardonable in me.” Jane after her engagement to Bentley, when her father says they will be so generous as always to exceed their income.

“Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I can never have your happiness.” Elizabeth to Jane, shortly after Jane’s engagement, when Jane is hoping Elizabeth might someday be as happy.

“What did you say of me, that I did not deserve?” Darcy to Elizabeth, speaking of the first time he took it for granted she would accept his proposal.

“What can I do to help?” Tourist Trap, by Sue Ann Bowling. Penny is wondering if there is any way she can help Roi to Heal the stricken horse, Token.

P.S: That second winter storm (snow mixed with rain) has hit, and the roads are so slick school has been cancelled and the DOT is advising everyone who can to stay off the roads.

Betrothed to Mr. Darcy by Violet Bedford (Review)

The engagement of Elizabeth Bennett to Mr. Darcy must have had some rocky spots, especially considering Mrs. Bennett’s partiality (and willingness to express it) toward Lydia and her husband. Ms. Bedford has written a book covering the time between Elizabeth’s acceptance of Darcy and the actual wedding (if it takes place at all) in which the truths of Darcy’s first proposal and those expressed by Lady Catherine de Burgh, and the possible effect of the marriage on Georgiana, come home to both Elizabeth and Darcy. Georgiana cannot bear to hear Wickham’s name; how will she react to having him as a brother-in-law, especially when Mrs. Bennett is so fond of him and completely oblivious to the pain she may be inflicting on others?

Mrs. Bennett is wonderfully drawn, and if possible even more difficult than she was in the original book. Elizabeth, Darcy, and Georgiana remain true to their characters also. Mr. Bennett I am not so sure of. In the original book he is if anything relieved to be indebted to a “violent young lover who will carry everything his own way;” in this he is more jealous of his own pride.

The story perhaps has a tendency to quote too much from the original Pride and Prejudice, and the ending is a little abrupt. But on the whole it was an enjoyable read.

(I should mention that I was introduced to this book by a blog hop in which I regularly participate: the Weekend Writing Warriors. I first saw it eight sentences at a time, and was intrigued enough to get the book on Kindle when it came out.)

Quotes from Jane Austen

Here are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling from October 3 though October 9, 2013. All but the last are from Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

“’Till this moment, I never knew myself.” Elizabeth, after rereading Darcy’s letter telling of his association with Wickham (and Wickham’s behavior to Darcy’s sister.)

“Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father.” Lady Catherine de Burgh, urging Elizabeth to stay longer.

“I should infinitely prefer a book.” Mary, responding to Lydia’s description of the fun they had greeting Elizabeth.

“You will never be able to make both of them good for any thing.” Elizabeth to Jane, who is trying to think the best of both Darcy and Wickham.

“Your profusion makes me saving.” Elizabeth to Jane, saying that Jane’s regret and compassion takes away from her own need for both.

“A scheme of which every part promises delight, can never be successful.” Elizabeth, when the proposed pleasure trip to the Lakes must take her away from Jane.

“I don’t invite myself to meals empty-handed.” Horse Power, by Sue Ann Bowling. Roi’s explanation for why he is adding things to Amber’s shopping basket and why he is paying for them.

Quotes from Jane Austen

These are contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling from September 5 through September 11, 2013. All but the last are from Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

“Adieu to disappointment and spleen.” Elizabeth after the Gardiners have invited her to accompany them on a pleasure tour.

“I must have my share in the conversation, if you are speaking of music.” Lady Catherine de Burgh, interrupting a conversation between Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam.

“We neither of us perform to strangers.” Darcy’s comment to Elizabeth, referring to her playing and singing, and to his own conversational abilities. (At Rosings, before the first proposal.)

“He likes to have his own way very well.” Col. Fitzwilliam, speaking of Darcy to Elizabeth.

“Our habits of expense make us too dependant.” Col Fitzwilliam, explaining why as a younger son he must marry for money.

“Disguise of every sort is my abhorrence.” Darcy, justifying the wording of his proposal to Elizabeth at Rosings.

“That is a true masterpiece of both understatement and forbearance.” Homecoming, by Sue Ann Bowling. Lai, speaking of Davy’s comment that the people on his planet weren’t very tolerant.