Crossed in Love

Let me just say that I’m beyond excited to officially join the Austen Variations group today. Thank you all for the warm welcome.

I’ve been poking around the Austen Variations website for a little while now, and I’m impressed with the collective knowledge on display, as well as the excellent writing talents. I’m honored to be invited to join the group and (to put it as Jane might), I shall endeavor to live up to your expectations.

Like Holden Caulfield, J.D. Salinger’s character in The Catcher in the Rye, I don’t like lengthy introductions or ‘…all that David Copperfield kind of crap,’ so I’ll try and keep my bio brief.

 

I was born in Washington DC and grew up in northern Virginia; recently my husband, our dog, two parakeets and I relocated to South Florida. I’ve been writing romantic comedy under the pen name of Katie Oliver for nearly four years now. Publication was something I long aspired to; but two kids, a job, and a lengthy commute left me little time to pursue my dream (or even, for that matter, to write).

If you’d told me ten years ago that three of my own variations of Jane Austen’s beloved novels would eventually be published, I’d have fallen off my chair laughing. Because, like Colin Firth, I’d never read Jane Austen until I watched the 1995 BBC production of Pride & Prejudice. (I hastened off afterwards to acquaint myself with Austen’s books right away. And I was not disappointed.)

Back then, I wasn’t yet a full-fledged ‘Janiac.’

So it’s ironic that my first published book was a romantic comedy, Prada and Prejudice. It had little to do with Austen’s original, being set in the present day and promoted by my UK-based publisher as ‘chick lit.’ It concerned one girl’s obsession with all things Prada and one man’s prejudice against silly, fashion-obsessed girls….so Natalie Dashwood and Rhys Gordon did, at least, share Elizabeth and Darcy’s initial (and prejudicial) dislike of one another. And like Lizzy and Darcy, they managed to fall in love by the end of the book.

‘Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of.’ — Pride and Prejudice

I’ve since become a devoted fan of of Miss Austen and her oeuvre. I’ve read the books, learned a bit about Regency language, carriages, clothing, and customs, and watched the films and television adaptations, from the aforementioned Pride and Prejudice to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. And there’s really not a clinker in the lot – not surprising considering that comedy, drama, suspense and unexpected plot twists abound in Austen’s novels.

Which brings me to the subject of today’s post and a tie-in to this month’s Austen Variations theme – Movies in May. Although Pride and Prejudice holds a special place in my heart (both the BBC and the Keira Knightley/Matthew Macfadyen versions; which one is better is a spirited debate for another day), I’m also a huge fan of Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility (the screenplay as adapted by Emma Thompson is wonderful, the acting amazing, and the story is imbued with emotion and depth).

But if pressed, I’d have to say that my favorite Austen film of all, the one I never tire of watching, is…Emma.

While that choice might prove as questionable as Emma’s romantic motives, I have good reason. Yes, Emma is a snob. Yes, she’s meddlesome and not very attuned to anyone but herself. And yes, her determination to orchestrate everyone’s lives leads to disastrous consequence.

EMMA-2

‘Harriet, here is what I think you should do…’

And yet…

Emma is also a devoted daughter who cares deeply for her father and runs his household with efficiency and grace. She’s a good friend (in her fashion) to Harriet and to Mr Knightley. Her interference in Harriet’s life, however misguided, is well intentioned. She’s charitable…even if her charitable actions are more a result of duty than concern. It’s amusing that Emma, irritated as she so often is by Mrs Elton’s incessant boasting, fails to recognize her own, more subtle, snobbishness.

‘I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other.’ — Emma

Emma Woodhouse is a contradiction. She’s flawed, just as all of us are. But these very imperfections and contradictions are what make her believable, and honest, and real – just as Austen intended. It’s why, despite everything she does, we end up caring for her. We want her to win not just Mr Knightley’s approval, but his love. Her very human flaws make her final realization – after Knightley takes her to task for her inexcusable unkindness to Miss Bates – all the more moving, and all the more believable.

Because, after all, being forgiven means the most when we deserve it the least, doesn’t it?

Jane-Austen-20

36 comments

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  1. Welcome to Austen Variations, Katie!

    1. Thank you, Susan!

    • Sheila L. M. on May 4, 2016 at 10:07 pm
    • Reply

    Yes, welcome to this wonderful group of authors who write the best!

    1. It’s a real honor to be included, Sheila. I’m thrilled!

    • Wendy on May 4, 2016 at 10:14 pm
    • Reply

    So glad you’re posting on this site now. I look forward to hearing more from you.

    1. Thanks so much, Wendy. I look forward to contributing now and then…this is a wonderful Norfolk, talented group!

  2. Welcome to Austen Variations and great post about Emma! You’ve made me want to go watch it now (both the Gwyneth Paltrow and the Romola Garai versions).

    1. Lol…me too. Of course, I look for ANY excuse to watch Emma again. And again. And again…

    • HelenJC on May 5, 2016 at 3:08 am
    • Reply

    Welcome!

    1. Thank you so much, Helen! I’m very pleased to be here. 😉

    • Kristine Shore on May 5, 2016 at 7:34 am
    • Reply

    Welcome!

    1. Aw, thanks, Kristine! 🙂

  3. So thrilled to have you on board, Katie!

    1. I’m thrilled to be here. Looking forward to it!

  4. Welcome, Katie!!

    I may not be a fan of Emma–her foibles are just too much for me, and I continually want to slap her–but I am indeed a fan of both Sense and Sensibility movies. As much as I adore Ang Lee’s with Emma Thompson’s Oscar-winning screenplay (and her acceptance speech was classic!) and half the cast of the Harry Potter movies, I also have a soft spot for Dan Stevens’ agonized portrayal of Edward Ferrars in the 2008 film, and I appreciate that the actresses are more of age with Marianne and Elinor.

    Welcome to Austen Variations! So glad to have you here!!

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. I’m ashamed to admit I have never seen the 2008 film. How can that be? I love Dan Stevens so it follows I’ll love him as Edward Ferrars. Time to hie me off to Netflux, methinks…

      Thanks for the warm welcome. xx

    • Stephanie L on May 5, 2016 at 12:43 pm
    • Reply

    Emma remains my favorite! Welcome!

    1. Yay! I’m not the only one who loves Emma! Lol. Thank you for the welcome, Stephanie. 🙂

    • Mary Simonsen on May 5, 2016 at 1:18 pm
    • Reply

    Welcome, Katie. It’s good to have someone so versatile join AuVar. We kiddingly call ourselves AuVarians.

    1. AuVarians! I love it. It’s quite an impressive (and very welcoming) group. I’m so pleased to be here.

    • Deborah on May 5, 2016 at 2:27 pm
    • Reply

    Nice to meet you Katie Oliver. I too was introduced to Jane Austen later in life by my hubby through the 2005 film around 2010 and haven’t looked back since.

    1. Lol! Better late than never, right? Thanks Deborah, nice to meet you too. x

    • Kara Louise on May 5, 2016 at 2:31 pm
    • Reply

    Welcome, Katie! Lovely to have you here!

  5. Welcome, Katie!!
    I so enjoyed your post 😉 .
    Delighted to have you on the blog!

    1. That’s so kind, Marilyn. Thank you! So happy to be here. x

  6. Thanks so much, Kara! Thrilled silly to be here. 😉

    • Carole in Canada on May 5, 2016 at 3:48 pm
    • Reply

    Hi Katie! Welcome and thrilled to have you here at Jane Austen Variations! I did not find Jane until the 1995 production and have been going strong with all things Jane ever since! We all have our favourites and strong opinions on each of the movies. I guess we each have a vision in our head of what each of the characters look and act like. Emma is not a particular a favourite of mine and I found Gwyneth just a bit too whiney! Loved Kate Beckinsale in her portrayal of Emma and Ms. Romolo Garai.

    1. Thanks for the welcome, Carole! Kate and Romola were both excellent Emmas, I agree. I didn’t expect to like Gwyneth’s version, but I did. I thought she did an excellent British accent. I’m just happy to see any Austen film, I suppose. I love them all!

  7. Katie! So glad to have you with us!

    1. Thanks a bunch Leslie! What a nice group! xx

    • Ginna on May 5, 2016 at 9:20 pm
    • Reply

    The particular “Emma” that you have pictured also has Jeremy Northammmmmmmmm in it, which is a terrific reason to love “Emma”! 🙂

    1. Ummmm, yes! Confession – he’s the REAL reason I watch this version of Emma over and over. ^_~

        • Ginna on May 5, 2016 at 9:35 pm
        • Reply

        Yah, Duh! I knew ~that~! This “Emma” and “An Ideal Husband”, too!
        No shame there.

        1. No shame at all! Lol

    • Anji on May 19, 2016 at 4:29 pm
    • Reply

    Got a bit behind in my blog reading and just doing a bit of catchup.

    First of all, welcome, Katie. You’ve joined a fantastic group of authors.

    Having seen all of the versions of Emma over the past 20 years, my favourite version is still the Kate Beckinsale/Mark Strong version from1995., although I do admit that Jeremy Northam is rather easy on the eye. Gwyneth Paltrow to me was obviously “acting” the role.

    1. Thanks for the welcome, Anji! I’m thrilled and honored to be a part of the group. I’m still pinching myself!

      I too loved the Kate Beckinsale version. I cannot WAIT to see her in Love & Friendship. But I digress…

      I thought Gwyneth did a credible job and I really couldn’t fault her British accent. And yes…Jeremy Northam is, as the Brits might say, rather scrummy. But just between you and me and the lamppost, I think Kate was the superior Emma. 😉

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