❤️✍️ The Jane Austen Books and Films I Most “Ardently Admire and Love” ❤️🎬 SEE HERE:

Dearest Friends, Family, and Passersby,
(I'm convinced Jane Austen, herself, would begin her letter in such a way.)

This February, the Hallmark Channel is planning to enchant viewers with their Loveuary movie event that focuses on the charm of Jane Austen's beloved romance novels.

Like many readers, I have a warm affection for Jane Austen's novels. Sure, the film adaptations focus on the romantic side and some frivolity, but I believe Austen's books are far deeper than that. As the daughter of clergyman, Jane Austen's words reflected her faith and her characters highlighted the good and bad qualities of those who either lived according to or strayed away from the church's teachings.

It never ceases to amaze me how Jane Austen's lively and clever words still continue to reach generation after generation of readers (and movie watchers, too) with her wit, wisdom, and introspection into human nature.

Whether you consider yourself to be a Janeite (a true Jane Austen fan... *I can't help but imagine devoted followers waving Victorian-style fans here*) or simply an admirer from afar, I wanted to share with you all various versions of Jane Austen's original books, along with dramatized film adaptations and TV movies throughout the years that are loosely based on Austen's novels... and more!

Jane Austen Books:

The first Jane Austen book I ever read was Emma, and to this day, it is still my absolute favorite of all Jane Austen's works. (I must admit, Pride and Prejudice is a very close second!)

Meddlesome Emma Woodhouse thinks she is clever in love the way she plays matchmaker to everyone around her, until she gets caught up in her own schemes! Oh, how delightful it is to read about Emma's errors and entanglements. She's a bit of a busybody, at times, which she, herself, detests, and Emma seems to lack some diligence in completing her own simple tasks. It's refreshing to see even our heroine in this story has some character flaws that make her all the more authentic and loved by readers.

While Emma remains my favorite of Jane Austen's books, I have also enjoyed many of the other Austen novels featured below.

May these books from classic literature touch your heart as they have mine, and may we all discover the deeper message Austen conveys through her works, which is the timeless lesson on morality, Christian virtues, diligence, purpose, prejudices, and, most importantly, godly character.

---------------------------- *Please Note: The items below contain affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. Thank you all for your support.
----------------------------

Click on your selection below...

1. Greatest Works of Jane Austen (Set of 5 Books Paperback Box set)

2. Emma by Jane Austen (Paperback)

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Paperback)

4. Emma by Jane Austen (Puffin in Bloom, Hardcover)

5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Puffin in Bloom, Hardcover)

6. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Puffin in Bloom, Hardcover)

7. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (Paperback)

8. Persuasion by Jane Austen (Paperback)

9. The Jane Austen Novel Collection (Deluxe 6-Book Hardcover Boxed Set)


*You can also find at Amazon - Jane Austen audiobooks and Jane Austen books on kindle.






Jane Austen Movies:

The next best thing to reading a Jane Austen novel, is watching one of the many film adaptations. I've noticed how closely these films mirror Jane Austen's novels. No need for editing, I suppose, when the original is near perfection.

I've tried to choose a favorite among them, but I have four that I dearly enjoy watching, including both the Gwyneth Paltrow and Romola Garai versions of Emma and the Pride and Prejudice films with Jennifer Ehle & Colin Firth and Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. If you're a fan of Jane Austen, these four films are a must-see, as well as Sense & Sensibility starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet.

*Please note: Depending on what version you watch, some of these ladies do wear low-cut dresses, and immorality may be briefly shown or discussed; however, it is done in such a way that the viewer is made aware that such behavior is looked down upon in the society of this time period.

Click on your selection below...

1. Pride and Prejudice DVD - starring Jennifer Ehle & Colin Firth

2. Emma DVD - starring Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller

3. Emma DVD - starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam

4. Pride & Prejudice - starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen

5. Sense & Sensibility DVD - starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant

6. Sense and Sensibility DVD - starring Hattie Morahan, Charity Wakefield, and Dan Stevens

7. Northanger Abbey DVD - starring Felicity Jones and J.J. Feild

8. Mansfield Park DVD (PG-13) - starring Frances O'Connor and Jonny Lee Miller

9. Persuasion DVD - starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones





Jane Austen-inspired TV Movies:

Before the Hallmark Channel premieres four new Jane Austen-inspired Loveuary films this February, let's take a look back at five previous Jane Austen-themed movies from the network.

Plus, in addition to the Hallmark Channel, both UPtv and Great American Family have premiered Jane Austen-style movies of their own, which goes to show you how important these literary classics remain in filmmaking today.

Of all the Jane Austen-inspired TV movies listed below, my personal favorites are Unleashing Mr. Darcy, starring Cindy Busby and Ryan Paevey, and Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe, starring Lacey Chabert and Brendan Penny. These movies are, of course, loosely based on Jane Austen's stories, with a modern twist on her regency-era romances.

Click on your selection below...

1. Hallmark Double Feature: Unleashing Mr. Darcy & Marrying Mr. Darcy DVD - starring Cindy Busby and Ryan Paevey

(Unleashing Mr. Darcy - available on Amazon Prime)
(Marrying Mr. Darcy - available on Amazon Prime)


2. Christmas at Pemberley Manor DVD - starring Jessica Lowndes and Michael Rady

(also available on Amazon Prime)


3. Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe DVD - starring Lacey Chabert and Brendan Penny

(also available on Amazon Prime)


4. Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen DVD - starring Erin Krakow and Luke Macfarlane

(also available on Amazon Prime)


5. Pride and Prejudice, Cut - available on Amazon Prime (currently free with ads)


6. Lights, Camera, Romance (Happily Ever Emma) - available on Amazon Prime (currently free with ads)





For those of you who especially love Jane Austen's books and movies, like I do, here are some devotionals, notebooks, games, and more!

These also make great gifts for any Jane Austen fan...

Click on your selection below...

1. Jane Austen Coffee Spoon Engraved Stainless Steel - "How Ardently I Admire and Love You"

2. Jane Austen Coffee Mug - Austen's Most Famous Quotes and Depictions, Comes in a Fun Gift Box

3. Pride and Prejudice Coloring Book

4. Jane Austen's Table: Recipes Inspired by the Works of Jane Austen

5. The World of Jane Austen 1000 Piece Puzzle by Laurence King

6. Jane Austen Pride and Peppermints Breath Mints

7. Marrying Mr. Darcy Board Game

8. Jane Austen Novels Glass Christmas Ornament

9. Jane Austen Blanket - Made of 100% fluffy and rich flannel

10. Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen

11. Jane Austen Gifts - Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler with Lid and Straw

12. The Jane Austen Escape Room Book

13. A Jane Austen Devotional (Devotional Classics Series)

14. Jane Austen Composition Notebook/Journal with 200 pages for you to fill

Hopefully, the four new Jane Austen-inspired movies the Hallmark Channel is premiering this February will honor the author's work in a classy, elegant way. I'm also most intrigued by the stunning costumes from that era - seen in each film.

Paging Mr. Darcy

Premiere Date: February 3, 2024

Starring Mallory Jansen and Will Kemp

Love & Jane

Premiere Date: February 10, 2024

Starring: Ali Sweeney and Ben Ayres

An American in Austen

Premiere Date: February 17, 2024

Starring: Eliza Bennett, Nicholas Bishop, and Nell Barlow

Sense and Sensibility

Premiere Date: February 24, 2024

Starring: Deborah Ayorinde and Dan Jeannotte

Click here for story details and images for each film.

Your friend...

Sincerely,

Net✍️

Great American Family March 2023 Movies 💕 SEE DETAILS:

Great American Family leads off the month of March with a new movie premiere and the launch of their all-new Great American Book Club, which begins Saturday, March 4th! You can sign up to join the book club - here. The first book being discussed by group members is Jane Austen's Emma, which, of course, was perfectly chosen to accompany the timing of the premiere of Happily Ever Emma, a modern take on this classic story.

Details on Great American Family's March movies are gradually being released, and I will update this post below as more information on the Saturday movies is given.


**********************

Happily Ever Emma

Starring: Monica Moore Smith and Dan Fowlks

Premieres: Saturday, March 4, 2023

Storyline: Actress Emma Hutton is determined to help find her friend Hope a perfect match, but in doing so, she accidentally tramples on several hearts (including her own).

Movie Reviews:

💕 (May contain Spoilers) Interesting one this - it scores at a lowly 5.6 on IMDb and there are harsh reviews about both the plot and acting. I'm only vaguely familiar with the Jane Austen novel having read only Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley/ Matthew MacFadyen movie was my favourite with MacFadyen surprisingly good as D'arcy) and Sense and Sensibility. I just accepted it as a regular Rom.Com - nothing you wouldn't have seen before but I found it pleasant and it held my interest. It was family friendly and I really liked the two leads Monica Moore Smith and Dan Fowlks both of whom I was unfamiliar with. I found the acting fine and the secondary cast blended in well. Lifetime friends who eventually realised they loved each other while both were dating other partners. I would have liked this to happen much earlier in the movie as I love a bit of angst!. While I regularly agree with IMDb, I'm at odds with this one - I would rate it a good 7.5 - Florence

💕 Happily Ever Emma is a brilliant movie! –Maria

💕 Happily Ever Emma is family friendly (Review Contains Spoilers) about Emma is an actress who always acts like she’s in love for work but knows little of true love is. When Emma realizes she has always loved her good friend Gray, she learns how loves works ~Anonymous

💕 Happily Ever Emma - I'm a die-hard Jane Austen fan. I tried very hard to like this movie, but couldn't. I deleted the recording. ~Namegirl

💕 Happily Ever Emma – If you want a lighthearted, wholesome movie to watch that is light on the Jane Austen theme, this movie would fit the bill. The character, Emma, in this story, however, is just too perfect for my taste. Her friends are kind and understanding, but to a fault, as well, since they all seem to do whatever Emma asks of them, although, her two best friends are wise to her matchmaking schemes. At one point, I was nearly hoping Knightley would end up with someone else who appreciated him, since Emma often took him for granted. Overall, this movie is an okay afternoon watch, but this attempt to recreate Jane Austen’s Emma is unfortunately a miss for me. ~Net




**********************


UPDATE: SCHEDULE CHANGE!

Instead of movies airing on Saturday, March 11th, Great American Family will have a marathon of Murder She Wrote episodes instead.



**********************


Please be sure to stay tuned... as more details are released on Great American Family's March 2023 movies and schedule line-up!

If you'd like to share a review, please do so in comments.

Happy movie-watching! 

Net

20 Questions for Period Drama Week at Elegance of Fashion

It is Period Drama Week over at Elegance of Fashion from Sept 4th-10th. She has asked many of us to participate by answering these questions below on our blogs.


So, here goes... hope I won't leave anything out!



1. How did you get into period dramas?


My Mother, Sister, and I first began watching Anne of Green Gables many years ago ... and then, we were hooked!

2. What is it that you like about period dramas?

Everything - the way they dress, speak, and behave.

3. Do you usually read a book and then watch the adaptation or do you watch the adaptation and then read the book?

Just depends... I love to read - sometimes I read it before - sometimes after. Either way, it's fun to see how close the movie is or isn't to the original story

4. What are your top three period dramas and why?


Emma, Pride & Prejudice, and Anne of Green Gables - all are beautiful stories about family and love

5. From those three period dramas that you picked, who are your favorite characters in each one?

Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Shirley

6. Which author do you like the adaptations of their works best?

Jane Austen

7. Which period drama characters are the funniest to you (Keep it under three)?

(Hmmmm, still thinking...Any Suggestions???)

8. Which period drama characters are the most annoying (Keep it under three)?

Jane Fairfax, Mr. Elton, Mrs. Elton


9. Which period drama characters are in your top three?

Emma, Knightley, Anne Shirley, and Gilbert Blythe (I squeezed in one more!)

10. When you watch period dramas, what is it that you pay the closest attention to (ie. costuming, scenery, etc.)?

Relationships and witty conversations - I try to catch every detail!

11. Which period drama which you haven't seen yet do you most want to watch? (Suggested by Miss Laurie from Old-Fashioned Charm)

Hmmm.... Maybe the Mandie Movie Series

12. Which period drama has the prettiest soundtrack or background music? (Suggested by Miss Laurie from Old-Fashioned Charm)

Emma (both versions! However, the New 2009 is even better!).... I have all the Soundtracks and it is absolutely Beautiful !!!


13. Which period drama has your favourite screenplay/script? Why? (e.g if it is similar to the original text, if there is one, or if it has been improved in some ways) (Suggested by Abby from Newly Impassioned Soul)

Emma, Pride & Prejudice, and Love Comes Softly - all follow the books fairly close.

14. Do you like having multiple versions of some period dramas? Do some period dramas need a newer version? Or are the older versions better? (Suggested by Abby from Newly Impassioned Soul)

Yes, I love a variety of movie versions.... that way I can choose my favorite!

I personally think we need a new Persuasion Movie (by Jane Austen). It's time it receives a new upgrade. My apologies to the actresses, but I would like someone else to portray Anne Elliott. I adored the book, but not the movies, thus far.

15. "What is the longest period drama you've seen?" (Suggested by Charity U from Austenitis)

Perhaps Mini-series like Cranford, Wives & Daughters, Pride and Prejudice, or Buccaneers, or maybe even Anne of Green Gables & Anne of Avonlea.


16. Who are your favourite actors/actresses from period drama? (Suggested by Maria Grazia from A friendly meeting place to read and discuss anything Austen...)

Definitely Megan Follows as Anne Shirley and Romola Garai as Emma and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet

17. Do you prefer watching a regular-length movie or a more in-depth mini-series? Why?(Suggested by Melody from Regency Delight)

Either.... as long as they are good. Mini -series are wonderful though - because the story we are enjoying will go on even longer...

18. What period drama has one of your favorite actors/actresses in it?' (Suggested by Miss Raquel from God's Daughter)

Anne of Green Gables - Megan Follows

19. Which heroine from which movie was your least favorite? Why? (Suggested by Jen Corkill)

Anne Elliott - Persuasion

20. Which three period dramas are your least favorite? (Okay, I added in that one, but it was inspired from Jen Corkill's suggestion)

Based on movies I've seen vs. the original books- Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Love's Abiding Joy


Thank you for reading along...


I have enjoyed answering these questions and if you would like to participate, too... be sure to take a step back in time and visit the web-site : Elegance of Fashion!







God bless you all...

Emma ~ PBS Masterpiece Theatre ~ Jane Austen

MOVIE REVIEW

Emma ~ Masterpiece Theatre

Network: PBS

Original Air Date: in America ~ February 2010

CAST:

Romola Garai ... Emma Woodhouse
Jonny Lee Miller ... Mr. Knightley
Michael Gambon ... Mr. Woodhouse
Dan Fredenburgh ... John Knightley
Poppy Miller ... Isabella Knightley
Robert Bathurst ... Mr. Weston
Jodhi May ... Anne Taylor
Louise Dylan ... Harriet Smith
Rupert Evans ... Frank Churchill
Laura Pyper ... Jane Fairfax
Blake Ritson ... Mr. Elton
Christina Cole ... Mrs. Elton
Jamie Glover ... Henry Knightley
Jefferson Hall ... Robert Martin
Joshua Jones ... James Knightley
Tamsin Greig ... Miss Bates
Valerie Lilley ... Mrs. Bates
Veronica Roberts ... Mrs. Goddard
Pauline Stone ... Mrs. Martin
Eileen O'Higgins ... Miss Martin #1
Sarah Ovens ... Miss Martin #2
Liza Sadovy ... Mrs. Cole

PLOT:

from PBS Masterpiece Theatre:

Emma Woodhouse (Romola Garai, Atonement) was born with the sun shining down on her. The radiant, privileged girl grows into a remarkable talent for matchmaking, as observed by her loving but disapproving father (Michael Gambon, Cranford) and childhood friend Mr. Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller, Endgame).

When the decidedly less privileged Harriet Smith arrives, Emma meddles with fate to find her a match, until her flawless intuition is called into question. Dissuaded from more matrimonial predictions, Emma nonetheless continues to cheerfully contemplate superior men — and meets one of her own in the handsome, gleaming Frank Churchill. But after being so busy managing everyone else's heart, does Emma know her own?

A fiercely funny new version of the Jane Austen novel, Emma was adapted by Sandy Welch (Jane Eyre).

Movie Review:

Absolutely Wonderful!!!

I thought nothing could compare to the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma Film Version... I was so wrong!

I LOVE them both!!!

This Mini-Series Style Adaption was Beautifully Made for PBS. They had a terrific Cast and I loved the Gorgeous Scenery and lovely Background Music! All the little details were perfection!

The Most Important thing, however, is a good Emma & Knightley. If they are chosen wrongly - then forget it. Trust me, though, again in this movie, like the feature film, they were perfectly casted and the actors romantic chemistry together was fantastic! Everything about this was simply wonderful.

Emma, played by Romola Garai... was everything you expect of Emma Woodhouse... playful, teasing, lovely, sweet, kind, meddlesome, pretty, clever, witty, and irresistibly charming! She had the biggest and most beautiful smile and laughter... I loved it!

Mr. Knightley, played by Jonny Lee Miller... was also an ideal Knightley... clever, mature, controlled, handsome, self-assured, and confident. There's something unique about the Knightley character - he speaks with purpose or he doesn't say anything, at all. His expressions often speak for him.

The movie, Emma, is not only a Beautiful Love Story, but a precious tale of a family, dear friends, and towns people in Highbury. I loved how the screen writer added in so many more scenes that included Emma's Sister, Isabella...  played by Poppy Miller. I loved her addition to this Movie... she was absolutely perfect in her role. Most of all, I adored her sweet expressions - especially the moment when she read in a letter of her Sister Emma and Knightley's engagement - she gushed and giggled perfectly with excitement! I liked her very much as the older sister to Emma - Perfect, Indeed!!!

Frank Churchill, played by Rupert Evans, was fantastic, too! I think most young ladies have known a Frank Churchill in their time - a flirt, a charmer, one who teases, one who doesn't exactly mean what he says... in short, somewhat of a 'player'. I think Emma was wise to him, a good judge of character after all... well done!

Jane Austen's stories have a way of weaving into them such real people - character traits of good and bad - and yet, you can't help from liking each and every one!

"The Most Beautiful thing in the world is a Match well made" ... and everything about this Movie version was ... well made!!!

"Well, Done ... Emma!"

See or Skip:

An absolute SEE for any Jane Austen fan!

--