Lost in Austen

I just wanted to share a literary treat in case you don't already know about it—a treat in video form and currently available on Hulu (although for who knows how long). It's a four-part miniseries called Lost in Austen. 

It tells the story of a modern-day woman, an avid fan of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, who changes places with Elizabeth Bennet and causes everything we know and love in the novel to hit the fan. People don't marry who they should and others marry who they shouldn't.

And George Wickham even turns out to be GOOD. He's likable and kind, though still a bit sneaky at times, and he always shows up just when he's needed. After a particularly helpful moment, the main character makes a whirring sound and says to herself as he's walking away, "Hear that sound, George? Duh-uh-uh-uh-uh. That's Jane Austen spinning in her grave like a cat in a tumble dryer."

There are other treats, like seeing sides of characters we've never seen. While Hugh Bonneville is always amazing, his Mr. Bennet has some faults, and it's refreshing to see Mrs. Bennet eventually gaining a little backbone. And we get to meet a few of Mr. Collins' equally revolting brothers.

Let me just say that there are probably some crass moments, but they were so British that I remained mostly ignorant of their real intent. So if you watch, keep that in mind. Besides that, the show is pretty funny and especially delightful if you've seen the five-hour BBC version with Colin Firth. Definitely a fun romp through Austen's England.