Saturday, January 30, 2010

Penguin Classics On Air Features Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell




Following recent airings on PBS of the movies “Return to Cranford” based on works by Elizabeth Gaskell and “Emma” by Jane Austen, Penguin Classics On Air has produced a four part series comparing and contrasting the works of these two famous British novelists. In these segments introduced by Steve Morrison, the editor in chief of Penguin books, topics include: differences in Austen and Gaskell’s books, ways their lives were quite different, why Austen is more frequently adapted, and how Gaskell might be a little more socially conscious than Jane Austen. These broadcasts are informative and very entertaining! To hear these fascinating talks go to: http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishersoffice/radioroom/0110/pcoa/gaskell_austen.html#vmix_media_id=9528197

Monday, January 18, 2010

Masterpiece Classic Tempts Janeites With a New Version of "Emma"


A fresh and fiercely funny new three-part adaptation of Jane Austen's comic masterpiece, starring Romola Garai (Atonement) as the "handsome, clever and rich" Emma Woodhouse, a young woman who dominates her small provincial world of Highbury. Misguidedly believing that she is a skilled matchmaker, Emma repeatedly attempts to pair up her friends, often with dire results. Jonny Lee Miller (Endgame, Eli Stone) plays Mr. Knightley, Emma's shrewd and attractive neighbor, and Michael Gambon (Cranford) is her affectionate, neurotic father. --From: "Masterpiece Classic" website http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/emma/index.html