Jane Austen

The lady seems to be somewhat in vogue again, what with a new biography and Death at Pemberley being dramatised by the BBC.  I regret to say I really didn't get on with that book, for the same reason as any other sequels or prequels to Austen leave me cold.  It's the prose.  Austen's is utterly unique.  Impossible to capture.

I pick up a copy of Emma and open it completely at random.  This is what I find:

Chapter 14:  Some change of countenance was necessary for each gentleman as they walked into Mrs Weston's drawing room....

Some change of countenance.  How perfect, especially in the case of Mr Elton who is so utterly shallow...

Chapter 31:  Emma continued to entertain no doubt of her being in love.  Her ideas only varied as to how much.....

Brilliant, brilliant.  Character, wit, satire, plot, all packed into two sentences. 

And another - from Chapter 42:  Mr Knightley had done all in his power for Mr Woodhouse's entertainment. 

How can we not love Mr Knightley now that he's takes such care of a foolish old man.  Had done all in his power.... the energy and compassion behind that simple phrase?

Need I go on?  It's a game anyone can play.  It's that smile, that turn of phrase, that minute observation that gets me every time.  Sometimes (I confess to being a Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle fan) something of this is captured by an adaptation.  If there's enough joy, enough fun, enough feeling.  But when Austen is extracted from her own work.   Oh dear.  What's the point?