Lost in Austen
I have to admit to being bemused by the disappointing audience figures and sometimes savage critical reaction to ITV's drama series Lost in Austen. Jemima Roper stars as Amanda Price, a modern day devotee of the works of Jane Austen who finds herself living in the world of Pride and Prejudice. A cursory glance around the internet suggests that most of the reviewers have dismissed the programme as a Life on Mars rip-off, which might be part of the reason why it was commissioned, but underestimates the prevalence of such time travel and parallel world stories in science fiction. And this series is science fiction - although with a more female bent than often is the case.
I'm not claiming that Lost in Austen is great art, but it is a well-acted and enjoyable series which imagines what the result might be if a reader were to enter the book and tried to influence events. I can think of plenty of counterfactual novels (like Philip K Dick's Man in the High Castle where the characters inhabit a world in which Germany and Japan won WWII), and books and films that rework existing fictional characters (too many to mention, but there are a number based on Pride and Prejudice, including Pemberley and An Assembly Such as This) but I'm struggling to think of existing stories that are transformed by outside intervention in this way. My friend Karen has alerted me to the comic fantasy series Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde, but I can't think of any others. Let me know if any occur to you.
I'm finding Lost in Austen diverting, and unpredictable. I was aghast to see that in this upside down version of Pride and Prejudice, Jane has to marry Mr Collins. Mr Collins, that fawning creep!? The pressures that force Jane into this alliance bring into focus a central preoccupation of the novel - money. Amanda Price may loved Pride and Prejudice for the romance, but she is discovering the vice-like grip of convention and the absolute power of economics in 18th-century England, aspects of the novel that aren't always highlighted in adaptations. I'm sure that it will have a soft-focus happy ending, but I think that this series is far more fun and inventive than any number of Ugly Bettys or Desperate Housewives. Episode 3 is on tonight.
On a darker note, I watched the two episodes on ITV.com's catch-up service, and the quality was very poor. At certain points the image disintegrated into a slideshow, only to improve dramatically when it reached the advertisements. Not impressed.
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So true Ellen. I am loving this series as something fresh and fun which manages to be very knowing without being too camp and twee.
I am also rather shocked that ITV are doing something so fantastic as they haven't had a great imaginative drama for quite a while.
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I'm really enjoying "Lost in Austen" too. nd the TV critics I've read, admittedly not that many, seemed to like it too, I thought? But maybe I was wrong?
Anyway, it's great entertainment and episode 3 last night was utter genius.
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Lots of people I know haven't even bothered checking the series out because of ITV's recent track record (shows from the past like Prime Suspect being honourable exceptions) so I think a number will have missed it.
I'm also pleased that the tone generally hits the mark, although I thought the business with the fan and Mr Darcy with a wet shirt were laboured. Still very good.
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"the TV critics I've read, admittedly not that many, seemed to like it too, I thought?"
I've seen quite a lot of vitriol Smilealright - most notably Rachel Cook in the New Statesman, "This dumbed-down take on a literary classic patronises its female audience"
and Hugo Rifkind in the Times, "the whole project is a really, really bad and stupid idea that will be incomprehensible to almost everybody".
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Ellen, those quotes certainly are vitriol!
Does looks as if other critics liked it though...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_In_Austen#Critical_reception
I think the "bad" reviewers must have taken it too seriously, even though it's obvioulsy a is a romantic comedy and not the next "Prime Suspect".
I agree with you that people probably haven't bothered with "Lost in Austen" because they don't expect much from ITV now. Pity, because they're missing a treat.
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Thanks for that Smilealright, although Nancy Banks-Smith's description of Lost in Austen as "fruity and frothy like a jam omelette" is rather revolting (the description only works in context). I encountered the enraged reviews before any positive ones, and I think the tide now might have turned in favour of the show. A good thing too.
It's amusing to note, however, that all of the comments posted in this Wikipedia entry are glowing, when this doesn't reflect the general reaction from critics. Now I wonder who could have created such a page.
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I agree with this review totally. Lost in Austen is a refreshing take on the 'Alice in Wonderland' mold which brings new depth to previously fairly two-dimensional characters. The portrayal of Mrs Bennett as a hard-as-nails woman within the confines of delicacy was a genius move, as was the somewhat knowing portrayal of Lady Katherine. I can barely wait for the final installment tonight to see how Elizabeth had been faring in the 21st century.
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Oh no! You've reminded me that I missed the final part of the series last night and am going to have to grapple with the catch-up again.
No spoilers please until I've watched it!
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I am delighted to state that I have recently purchased the two disc DVD of LOST IN AUSTIN. Innovative and stylish LOST IN AUSTIN I believe is a big hit. I love the series.
The down side to the DVD is that a very greedy copyright owner of 'Down Town' has forced the deletion of the song from the DVD. What a pity!! The song is essential to the plot. The exclusion means that an exciting song will never be part of a superb drama series.
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It's such a pity about Down Town being excluded! Do they film that scene with another song?
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Hi Ellen,
Re Down Town. The song is cut: no replacement at all. The scene begins with the party in the music room after dinner: then crash cut to the end of the scene. The result is an odd cut.
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That is so weird - especially when Miss Bingley keeps taunting Amanda about her singing. That must seem really random to people who haven't seen the 'Down Town' scene...
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Weird is so right!
Do you think LOST IN AUSTEN should be nominated for a Bafta?
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I don't know - I've still got to see the final episode! I really liked it, but I'm not sure I'd start giving it awards...
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I absolutely loved this series, I had the dvd on pre-order for weeks and I watched it as soon as it arrived. I was so disappointed that the downtown scene was deleted that I have created an online petition. Please sign it and hopefully we can get itv to re-release the dvd with the scene included. http://www.petitiononline.com/downtown/petition.html
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Well done corbs36! Got my signature asap.
Ellen: Last episode, Miss Price falls in love with D'Arcy who declares his love for her. Elizabeth returns to 21st Century London.
The DVD costs £9:90p in Woolworth's. £15:00s in HMV.
I guess Austen fans can look forward to Lost in Mansfield Park or Lost in Emma. Maybe Lost in Dickins or Lost in Catherine Cookson!!??
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That's enough quoting of the DVD price! I'll be told off for promoting a commercial product if you're not careful ;-)
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Oops! sorry I forgot the Beeb is non commercial! I guess I should not state then that Jonathan Ross is overpaid for doing very little apart from irritate lots of educated viewers.
Lost In The BBC will make avery good drama series don't ya know.
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