This period drama delves into the life of Cassandra Austen, sister of renowned author Jane Austen, shedding light on her often overlooked role in her sister's legacy. The story focuses on Cassandra's efforts to protect Jane's private correspondence from exploitation, highlighting her unwavering loyalty and the complexities of their sisterhood.
Fans of the writer are sure to enjoy this gentle and charming period drama - but I'm not sure it'll spawn any new readers. And our obsession with the beloved author shows no sign of waning, especially in the world of TV. This year will see the BBC air a new spin on one of Austen's less popular characters, Mary Bennett, while Netflix has commissioned an update on Cassandra, who is most famous (or infamous) for burning hundreds of Jane's letters after her death.
Historians and Austen fans have long cursed her actions, accusing her of depriving the world of precious insight into the writer's inner world. This is a redemption tale of sorts: shining a light on the overlooked Cassandra and celebrating her and Jane's sisterhood, without which it is implied Jane's novels may not exist. The plot follows Cassandra as she is rushing to the deathbed of the Reverend Fowle, a close family friend. Ostensibly, Cassandra is there to support Fowle's daughter Isabella (Rose Leslie), who is being unceremoniously turfed out of her home to make way for the new vicar. But it quickly becomes apparent that Cassandra's real motive is to find her sister's hidden correspondence and keep it from those who might wish to exploit it for fame or money, in particular her sister-in-law Mary (Jessica Hynes). This plot is perfectly adequate but as a story centred on the reading of letters, it does, by necessity, involve a lot of Hawes muttering to herself and gazing into the middle distance as she processes her sister's words (although she does both beautifully). More engaging are the flashbacks that come as Cassandra delves into the letters and relives her youth. Young Cassandra is played by Synnøve Karlsen, who is a remarkably good fit for a young Hawes (the two women have previously played mother and daughter in) while young Jane is a playful, witty presence from the standout Patsy Ferran, best known for her Olivier Award-winning work on stage. As the two navigate being young women in a society that only values them as marriage material (sound familiar?), it is their sisterly bond that sustains them. There are all the tropes you might expect from an Austen-adjacent narrative – a regency ball, an overbearing mother, multiple marriage plots and societal scheming. It all preaches to an audience of existing fans, yet never quite reaches the dizzy heights of Jane’s own writing. However, the bones of events are true and tragic: Cassandra’s own love story ended after her fiance died of yellow fever on a naval voyage. Her subsequent determined singlehood marked her out, like her sister, as an oddity in society, and the inferior position of women is central to both timelines: in the present day, Isabella is vulnerable after the death of her father as an unmarried woman with no male guardian. The drama attempts to justify Cassandra’s actions in protecting her sister’s privacy, while also imagining exactly what those letters might have said for the purpose of the drama. The truth is that we will never know what Jane wrote to her friends and that is probably exactly as it should be. This is nonetheless a gentle and charming period drama, filled with classy performances that will delight Austen fans if not necessarily spawn new ones
History Biography JANE AUSTEN CASSANDRA AUSTEN PERIOD DRAMA LETTERS SISTERHOOD HISTORICAL FICTION
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
BBC's Miss Austen Imagines The Untold Story of Jane Austen's LifeBBC's four-part adaptation of Gill Hornby's novel, Miss Austen, offers a compelling glimpse into the life of Jane Austen, exploring her complex relationship with her sister Cassandra and the secrets hidden within their correspondence.
Read more »
Keeley Hawes Stars in BBC Drama 'Miss Austen'Keeley Hawes takes on the role of Cassandra Austen in the upcoming BBC drama 'Miss Austen', a historical series set in 1830, long after the death of her famous sister, Jane Austen. The drama unfolds as Cassandra assists her niece in settling her father's estate while secretly seeking her sister's private letters. This article delves into Hawes's illustrious career, highlighting her prominent roles and personal life.
Read more »
Embrace Regency Era in Bath: A Celebration of Jane Austen's 250th AnniversaryThis article explores the upcoming Jane Austen Festival in Bath in 2025, marking the author's 250th anniversary. It highlights the city's connection to Austen, the activities and attractions planned for the festival, and the opportunity to immerse oneself in the Regency era.
Read more »
The Best Jane Austen Adaptations Of All TimeFrom the BBC’s Pride & Prejudice series to Autumn de Wilde’s Emma, these are the best Jane Austen adaptations of all time.
Read more »
We live in UK city named world’s BEST place to visit – but we’re fed up of boozy tourists on hen dos fight...JANE AUSTEN BATH
Read more »
Is BBC drama Miss Austen out today based on a true story?As the BBC marks 250 years since Jane Austen's birth with a poignant four-part drama about her life, perspective - how accurate is it?
Read more »