My Favourite TV: Lost in Austen

Amanda Price (played by Jemima Rooper) is a typical 21^st century city girl who loves to read Jane Austen to escape into a world of romance so unlike her own. Her particular favourite is Pride and Prejudice which she knows virtually word for word. When her boyfriend unexpectedly proposes to her Amanda’s world is thrown into turmoil so, with a wine glass in one hand and Austen in the other she escapes – until she hears a noise coming from her bathroom. Expecting a burglar she is astonished to find Miss Elizabeth Bennet standing in her bathtub. Seemingly the longing for Austen’s world to be real has created a doorway between the two realms. Intrigued by the 21^st century Lizzie offers a Jemima a deal - for a short time they will swop places. After some agonising Amanda agrees and steps through the doorway. Things are exactly as she has imagined them until, with Lizzie away, things begin to spiral out of control. Knowing the story well Amanda tries ever harder to put things back on track but the more she tries the more things slip from her grasp. Can she put things back together the way they should before lives are ruined and what is she to do about Mr Darcy?

I only saw part of this (the last 2 of 4 episodes) when it was first shown on TV back in 2008. So when it came out on DVD I jumped at the chance of owning it. As a huge fan of P&P I did have some misgivings about the whole thing. I certainly didn’t think that they could improve on things and they had many opportunities to ruin the whole thing! Fortunately the director is a great Austen fan so it seemed to be in safe hands. There were many funny moments as Amanda Price attempted to fit in with early 19^th century society – failing completely of course! She was just too modern and had problems controlling her use of modern idiom and a modicum of swearing. She was inevitably far too independently minded to stand for the way women were treated back then and, again inevitably, caused a degree of scandal – especially in Mrs Bennet’s eyes. Mr Bennet, after the initial shock, quite took to her which I thought was rather cool. I loved the way Amanda caused confusion by referring to Darcy as “OK, but no Colin Firth” and, much later on convincing him to walk out of the lake in riding boots and a flowing white shirt described it as a “wonderfully post-modern moment”. Briefly back in the present she asks her best friend to join her back in the 19^th century. Being black, and being aware that such a thing would not no unremarked back then, she turns Amanda’s offer down. “Anyway”, she said “I can’t live without my phone, toilet paper or chocolate” to which Amanda replies “Oh, but they have chocolate!” Finally there was my favourite comment of the show – spoken by the much changed Mr Wickham. Whilst dressing Amanda in Paris finery she remarks “But aren’t we at war with France?” to which he replies “We are always at war with France, but never at war with Paris”. OK, it does sound a little corny but in context it was very funny.

Whilst not exactly anywhere as good as the original – what could be – this was a fun 3 hours in the company of people who loved Austen. Particular accolades go to the great Hugh Bonneville who played Mr Bennet as someone I’d love to spend an evening with in his library/study and the intriguing Mr Wickham played by Tom Riley. Definitely one for Austen fans unless you’re something of a purist – in which case you might have some serious issues!