Devotees of Jane Austen are being encouraged to discover an inventive take on Pride and Prejudice. Lost in Austen, which debuted in 2008, introduces a fantastical twist to the 1813 literary classic.
Plot and Premise
The story centres on Amanda, a contemporary Londoner who stumbles upon a mysterious doorway in her bathroom that whisks her into the world of the Bennet family. When Austen enthusiast Amanda encounters Elizabeth Bennet materialising in her bathroom, she initially dismisses it as fantasy, before pursuing the character through a hidden passage and becoming stranded in Longbourn, the Bennets' residence, at the story's outset.
The Apple TV description reveals: "A twist on Jane Austen's classic novel sees disillusioned modern working girl Amanda Price 'swap' her life for Austen's celebrated heroine, Elizabeth Bennet." It continues: "Trapped in the unfolding fiction, Amanda must try her utmost to fit in among the Bennets, Bingleys and Darcys, but her presence in the characters' lives sets unforeseen episodes in motion."
Cast and Crew
The cast features Jemima Rooper, Alex Kingston, Elliot Cowan, Tom Mison, Hugh Bonneville, Gemma Arterton, Tom Riley, Lindsay Duncan, and Christina Cole.
Fan Reactions
Lost in Austen has earned praise as "brilliant" and "delightful" from viewers, with one describing it as a "gem", enthusing: "Pure delightful escapism! If I could rate it higher than 10, I would! Bravo!" Another viewer declared, "Well, I loved this adaptation," while a third gushed, "This is probably my favourite version of the classic Pride and Prejudice story; I cannot get enough of it."
One viewer remarked: "I've enjoyed Jane Austen's writing, but I wouldn't consider myself a big fan. However, I loved Lost in Austen, and I found it to be a reader's fantasy come true." Another gushed: "Emotional Austenite appreciation: utter and complete," while a fellow fan declared it "one of my favourite series of the year!"
Praise continued to pour in, with one enthusiast stating: "Hard to imagine how this could be better. The casting is close to perfect." "Almost better than Pride and Prejudice," chimed another, as a further viewer enthused: "I am utterly captivated by this refreshing take on Austen."
Behind the Scenes
Ahead of Lost in Austen's first airing on ITV in 2008, star Jemima Rooper spoke of the role, writing in The Guardian: "I guess the best way to describe the programme is that it is about a modern-day, young woman living in London who is slightly obsessed with Pride and Prejudice. She loves the idea of the Georgian lifestyle - the etiquette and morals of it - and is very dissatisfied with her life. Her boyfriend is a bit c**p, she's tired of the hustle and bustle of London life and people being rude on public transport - she is feeling a bit lost."
She added: "I was already a big fan of Austen novels and this breathes new life into these characters. Guy Andrews' script is so clever and beautiful. I guess it's a vague comment on our times. Through Amanda's eyes, we are comparing our society with the Georgian world, but it's not overly romanticised, otherwise she would live happily ever after with Darcy."
Lost in Austen is available to buy on Amazon Prime Video.
