Recently the series of adaptations of six Jane Austen’s novels has been finally released in Poland. So I bought the whole set of course, although three of them I’ve seen already, that is 1995 Pride and Prejudice, Emma with Kate Beckinsale, and Persuasion with Amanda Root (is there any other adaptation of it?)

I decided to watch the three remaining then. And well, Sense and Sensibility wasn’t impressive in any way, but watchable at least, what unfortunately cannot be said about Mansfield Park. I’m falling asleep at my every attempt to see it!

However, Northanger Abbey was a very pleasant surprise. Has anyone seen it? I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I must say I agree with Annmarie about the book. It’s my least favourite. Do not misunderstand me. I know that it’s a parody, and I enjoy Austen’s humour there, but I just can’t appreciate Catherine. She’s so silly I have real troubles to identify with her. But the film was really good, and Jane Austen’s world shown perfectly. I learnt some things about Bath (it was interesting to see the ladies actually bathing there!), and the many sets – parks, buildings etc – were chosen perfectly. I would prefer if Katharine Schlesinger was prettier, but otherwise she played her role very well, and Peter Firth as Henry Tilney was better than I had pictured the character while reading the book. (Is that a rule? Maybe only the men called Firth should play Austen’s characters? ) Anyway, it’s a film I would strongly recommend to Austen’s fans.

Sylwia