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Jane Austen: The BBC Radio Drama Collection
A collection of BBC radio full-cast dramatisations of Jane Austen's six major novels Jane Austen is one of the finest writers in the English language, and this volume includes all six of her classic novels.
Full chapter listing:
Chapters 1-10: Mansfield Park ;
Chapters 11-13: Northanger Abbey ;
Chapters 14 and 15: Sense and Sensibility ;
Chapters 16-18: Pride and Prejudice ;
Chapters 19 and 20: Emma ;
Chapters 21-23: Persuasion.
Mansfield Park: On a quest to find a position in society, Fanny Price goes to live with her rich aunt and uncle.
Northanger Abbey: Young, naïve Catherine Morland receives an invitation to stay at the isolated Gothic mansion Northanger Abbey.
Sense and Sensibility: Forced to leave their family home after their father's death, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood try to forge a new life at Barton Cottage.
Pride and Prejudice: Mrs Bennet is determined to get her five daughters married well, so when the wealthy Mr Bingley and his friend Mr Darcy move into the neighbourhood her hopes are raised…
Emma: Emma Woodhouse declares she will never marry, but she is determined to find a match for her friend Harriet.
Persuasion: Eight years ago, Anne Elliot rejected a marriage proposal from a handsome but poor naval officer. Now her former love has returned…
With an all-star cast including David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch, Julia McKenzie, Jenny Agutter, Toby Jones, Eve Best and Juliet Stevenson, these BBC radio adaptations are full of humour, romance, love lost and love regained.
Full chapter listing:
Chapters 1-10: Mansfield Park ;
Chapters 11-13: Northanger Abbey ;
Chapters 14 and 15: Sense and Sensibility ;
Chapters 16-18: Pride and Prejudice ;
Chapters 19 and 20: Emma ;
Chapters 21-23: Persuasion.
Mansfield Park: On a quest to find a position in society, Fanny Price goes to live with her rich aunt and uncle.
Northanger Abbey: Young, naïve Catherine Morland receives an invitation to stay at the isolated Gothic mansion Northanger Abbey.
Sense and Sensibility: Forced to leave their family home after their father's death, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood try to forge a new life at Barton Cottage.
Pride and Prejudice: Mrs Bennet is determined to get her five daughters married well, so when the wealthy Mr Bingley and his friend Mr Darcy move into the neighbourhood her hopes are raised…
Emma: Emma Woodhouse declares she will never marry, but she is determined to find a match for her friend Harriet.
Persuasion: Eight years ago, Anne Elliot rejected a marriage proposal from a handsome but poor naval officer. Now her former love has returned…
With an all-star cast including David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch, Julia McKenzie, Jenny Agutter, Toby Jones, Eve Best and Juliet Stevenson, these BBC radio adaptations are full of humour, romance, love lost and love regained.
14 pages, Audiobook
First published March 3, 2016
48 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Jane Austen
3,820 books74.3k followersJane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.
The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.
The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
May 11, 2025
Second Read for 2025
I’ve listened to this several times now, and with the original novels in hand; for me some fiction can help to fill in some gaps of how things worked before as much as nonfiction. Also, doing it this way is more fun.
In Pride and Prejudice it’s a fantastic moment when Elizabeth stands up to the pressure by Darcy’s aunt not to marry him. In Persuasion the many scenes where Mary comes across as an impetuous child is funny in how she is just annoying. But what never occurred to me before are both are showing an etiquette that was followed back then. I don’t fully understand it all yet, but it’s very fascinating.
First Read for 2025
{3.5 – 4*}
Not having the time this year to read the main known 6 novels by Jane Austen, this was a lucky find on Libby. In one audio book it includes all six adaptations for audio / radio drama. I like listening to audio dramas, this is a very different experience from watching stage plays or movies.
And to squeeze a Jane Austen novel in just two hours or more is a tall task, making quite a lot of demand on the script, the direction and the editing process. As an overall experience this was enjoyable, and I would borrow this again, especially to listen to Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, but I’d actually end up listening to all of it, for me the bonus of this audiobook is it makes getting to know these six Jane Austen novels fun.
the adaptions for audio drama included:
=================================
Northanger Abbey
Mansfield Park
Sense and Sensibility
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Persuasion
I’ve listened to this several times now, and with the original novels in hand; for me some fiction can help to fill in some gaps of how things worked before as much as nonfiction. Also, doing it this way is more fun.
In Pride and Prejudice it’s a fantastic moment when Elizabeth stands up to the pressure by Darcy’s aunt not to marry him. In Persuasion the many scenes where Mary comes across as an impetuous child is funny in how she is just annoying. But what never occurred to me before are both are showing an etiquette that was followed back then. I don’t fully understand it all yet, but it’s very fascinating.
First Read for 2025
{3.5 – 4*}
Not having the time this year to read the main known 6 novels by Jane Austen, this was a lucky find on Libby. In one audio book it includes all six adaptations for audio / radio drama. I like listening to audio dramas, this is a very different experience from watching stage plays or movies.
And to squeeze a Jane Austen novel in just two hours or more is a tall task, making quite a lot of demand on the script, the direction and the editing process. As an overall experience this was enjoyable, and I would borrow this again, especially to listen to Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, but I’d actually end up listening to all of it, for me the bonus of this audiobook is it makes getting to know these six Jane Austen novels fun.
the adaptions for audio drama included:
=================================
Northanger Abbey
Mansfield Park
Sense and Sensibility
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Persuasion
August 7, 2020
This production made me enjoy Mansfield Park, so five starts for that alone!
April 7, 2020
I loved this radio-drama! However, it wasn't the best quality. If a character whispers, you can't hear them at all.
And David Tennant only appears as a side character in the first one, and Benedict Cumberbatch only appears in the first one as well.
Sadly, no Cumberbatch Darcy!!! That would've been awesome.
This is great for someone who has already read the books, and just wants a general overview of the tales.
And David Tennant only appears as a side character in the first one, and Benedict Cumberbatch only appears in the first one as well.
Sadly, no Cumberbatch Darcy!!! That would've been awesome.
This is great for someone who has already read the books, and just wants a general overview of the tales.
dnf-partly-read
July 28, 2018Persuasion: I liked the narrators and the sounds but unfortunately the background sound was often too loud to understand clearly the dialogue. I haven't read Persuasion for a while but I think all the important scenes are shown. 3.5 stars. (18.-19.07.2018)
November 9, 2025
I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men."
"Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything
I enjoyed every second of listening to this!
May 4, 2020
BBC radio adaptations of all six of Jane Austen's novels. These were delightful. Very well acted, great adaptations. I hadn't read all the novels previously, and after listening to this I am itching to pick up Northanger Abbey. It seems like this audiobook is hard to come by, but I found it in my library's digital audiobook collection. I strongly recommend it if you can find a copy.
May 21, 2025
For Jane Austen fans, this is a perfect and fun way to relive the stories while driving or doing chores. As a radio drama it mostly focused on dialogue, which made it easy to follow (for me at least...knowing the stories well probably helps too, haha).
My only complaint is that when the characters were whispering/speaking quietly, sometimes it was too hard to hear them or understand them.
I will always prefer Austen's actual novels, and all of the wonderful TV and movie adaptations to this format, but I can never get too much of these stories!
My only complaint is that when the characters were whispering/speaking quietly, sometimes it was too hard to hear them or understand them.
I will always prefer Austen's actual novels, and all of the wonderful TV and movie adaptations to this format, but I can never get too much of these stories!
January 31, 2019
I really struggle with audio books. Being 'read at' just sends me to sleep or has my mind wandering off all over the place. People rave about audio books but they don't work well for me. Poor concentration? Probably.
My local library now offers e-audiobooks so I've been experimenting. I quickly learned that it's much easier to concentrate on a 'dramatisation' than a straight reading. And so I picked the BBC's Jane Austen collection - a set of six professionally produced and abridged versions of all the classics.
Some worked well for me, others not so. Mansfield Park didn't really sink in. Northanger Abbey, S&S and P&P all worked really well - mostly as I was driving whilst listening. I enjoyed those a lot. Emma didn't hit home - by that stage I think I had totally overdosed on silly young girls thinking about marriage. And I confess when it came to Persuasion I just decided to call it a day.
I must have read all of the books in the past, some several times, but I resisted the temptation to claim multiple 'reads' for my Goodreads challenge.
Of course Austen was a genius. Of course she captured the spirit of the time. Of course her themes are repeated again and again in modern reworks of her stories. But ultimately there's only so much vapid romantic fluttering a girl can take in a short time.
I had no choice but to rush these as my 'loan' was only for 3 weeks. If you were to BUY the collection, you could spread them out in a much more healthy way. I felt like I'd been gorging at a buffet of frilly confections instead of having a bun once a week and I was left over-stuffed with bonnets and marriage proposals.
If, like me, you're a bit of an audio 'cynic' and struggle to concentrate, I definitely recommend dramatisation over straight reads. But if you can take the time to spread them out, that's a better way to 'consume'.
My local library now offers e-audiobooks so I've been experimenting. I quickly learned that it's much easier to concentrate on a 'dramatisation' than a straight reading. And so I picked the BBC's Jane Austen collection - a set of six professionally produced and abridged versions of all the classics.
Some worked well for me, others not so. Mansfield Park didn't really sink in. Northanger Abbey, S&S and P&P all worked really well - mostly as I was driving whilst listening. I enjoyed those a lot. Emma didn't hit home - by that stage I think I had totally overdosed on silly young girls thinking about marriage. And I confess when it came to Persuasion I just decided to call it a day.
I must have read all of the books in the past, some several times, but I resisted the temptation to claim multiple 'reads' for my Goodreads challenge.
Of course Austen was a genius. Of course she captured the spirit of the time. Of course her themes are repeated again and again in modern reworks of her stories. But ultimately there's only so much vapid romantic fluttering a girl can take in a short time.
I had no choice but to rush these as my 'loan' was only for 3 weeks. If you were to BUY the collection, you could spread them out in a much more healthy way. I felt like I'd been gorging at a buffet of frilly confections instead of having a bun once a week and I was left over-stuffed with bonnets and marriage proposals.
If, like me, you're a bit of an audio 'cynic' and struggle to concentrate, I definitely recommend dramatisation over straight reads. But if you can take the time to spread them out, that's a better way to 'consume'.
November 15, 2023
A great collection of dramatized radio plays for all of Jane Austen's finished novels. I've had this lying around for ages, but finally felt in the mood for it and listened to all of them in the span of a few weeks.
Emma ★★★★★: Great adaptation! The chemistry is spot on and all the side characters shine. Pretty funny to have Tom Holland perform here in a small role."
Sense & Sensibility ★★★★★: Actually a perfect adaptation?! I've never loved this novel, but this adaptation was so touching and perfectly acted, you could really feel the deep affection between the sisters and their personalities shone through. Recommended!!"
Persuasion ★★★★☆: Hard to adapt into audio, but admirably managed. The coda after the letter scene is a little expanded (like in the 1995 film), which I'm not sure I felt was necessary. Juliet Stevenson as Anne is very good!"
Pride & Prejudice ★★★★☆: not gonna lie, I was about to give this three stars because it's a pretty loose adaptation and I don't like all their choices, but one extra for the fluffy and tender extra scene of them being married at the end, MY HEART"
Northhanger Abbey ★★★★☆: I've never read the novel but I liked this a lot, it's very satirical but unlike Mansfield Park, the protagonist comes across as charming instead of insipid
Mansfield Park ★★★☆☆: I don't really like the novel, and the adaptation is decent but doesn't really elevate it. It is, however, very fun to listen to David Tennant play the disreputable older brother."
Emma ★★★★★: Great adaptation! The chemistry is spot on and all the side characters shine. Pretty funny to have Tom Holland perform here in a small role."
Sense & Sensibility ★★★★★: Actually a perfect adaptation?! I've never loved this novel, but this adaptation was so touching and perfectly acted, you could really feel the deep affection between the sisters and their personalities shone through. Recommended!!"
Persuasion ★★★★☆: Hard to adapt into audio, but admirably managed. The coda after the letter scene is a little expanded (like in the 1995 film), which I'm not sure I felt was necessary. Juliet Stevenson as Anne is very good!"
Pride & Prejudice ★★★★☆: not gonna lie, I was about to give this three stars because it's a pretty loose adaptation and I don't like all their choices, but one extra for the fluffy and tender extra scene of them being married at the end, MY HEART"
Northhanger Abbey ★★★★☆: I've never read the novel but I liked this a lot, it's very satirical but unlike Mansfield Park, the protagonist comes across as charming instead of insipid
Mansfield Park ★★★☆☆: I don't really like the novel, and the adaptation is decent but doesn't really elevate it. It is, however, very fun to listen to David Tennant play the disreputable older brother."
April 17, 2022
Each Jane Austen novel in this audio version well dramatised with full cast of characters. Sense of the era in authentic conversation and background pianoforte setting. Excellent narrator performances, I fully enjoyed these favourite stories brought to life .
Persuasion
Pride & Prejudice
Sense & Sensibility
Emma
Mansfield Park
Northanger Abbey
Persuasion
Pride & Prejudice
Sense & Sensibility
Emma
Mansfield Park
Northanger Abbey
December 31, 2024
There’s nothing like Jane Austen dramatised. Definitely one of you’re a classics fan and audiobooks listener.
October 30, 2024
It’s hard to rate an entire radio drama collection that contains 6 different books. So, in addition to my overall rating, I will rate and review each individual dramatization.
Mansfield Park: 3/5 stars. The voice cast was good, but more depth could have been provided in places in terms of characterization and plot development. Mansfield Park is one of Austen’s more complicated and nuanced works, and there were some places where I wished that the dramatization had spent more time in showing what was happening. Also, the version I listened to through Libby did not include one of the chapters in the middle of the story.
Northanger Abbey: 4/5 stars. I liked this audio drama of the story much more than Masterpiece movie version from 2007. The dramatization really captured Catherine Morland, and the narration was excellent and kept the tone of the novel.
Sense and Sensibility: 2/5 stars. This was the worst drama in the whole collection. The drama started several chapters into the book, meaning the critical information from the early chapters was only quickly mentioned in passing. The drama didn’t even introduce Edward Ferrars until after the listener knows Elinor is in love with him, and the drama cut out the youngest Dashwood sister Margaret entirely. The drama did not include a narrator either, which I think was a mistake because the scene shifts were not always clear.
Pride and Prejudice: 4/5 stars. A strong adaption with great voice acting.
Emma: 4/5 stars. Another strong adaptation with great voice acting. I enjoyed hearing Tom Hollander as Frank Churchill.
Persuasion: 5/5 stars. I liked this audio adaptation the best in the set. The narration was well-used, and characters internal thoughts were included and clearly differentiated from the spoken dialogue.
Mansfield Park: 3/5 stars. The voice cast was good, but more depth could have been provided in places in terms of characterization and plot development. Mansfield Park is one of Austen’s more complicated and nuanced works, and there were some places where I wished that the dramatization had spent more time in showing what was happening. Also, the version I listened to through Libby did not include one of the chapters in the middle of the story.
Northanger Abbey: 4/5 stars. I liked this audio drama of the story much more than Masterpiece movie version from 2007. The dramatization really captured Catherine Morland, and the narration was excellent and kept the tone of the novel.
Sense and Sensibility: 2/5 stars. This was the worst drama in the whole collection. The drama started several chapters into the book, meaning the critical information from the early chapters was only quickly mentioned in passing. The drama didn’t even introduce Edward Ferrars until after the listener knows Elinor is in love with him, and the drama cut out the youngest Dashwood sister Margaret entirely. The drama did not include a narrator either, which I think was a mistake because the scene shifts were not always clear.
Pride and Prejudice: 4/5 stars. A strong adaption with great voice acting.
Emma: 4/5 stars. Another strong adaptation with great voice acting. I enjoyed hearing Tom Hollander as Frank Churchill.
Persuasion: 5/5 stars. I liked this audio adaptation the best in the set. The narration was well-used, and characters internal thoughts were included and clearly differentiated from the spoken dialogue.
Read
February 12, 20242019: Mansfield Park
28 January 2023: Sense and Sensibility
28 January 2023: Sense and Sensibility
August 14, 2022
4 ⭐️ this is getting a high rating because i really enjoyed the production. the music, rain, carriage, tea, etc. sound effects were very immersive and put you in the world. i listened to this to get an idea of the austen novels, and i decided i’m going to read northanger abbey first!
(i know this isn’t really a book, it’s more like abridged play versions of the novels, but i’m counting it anyway.)
(i know this isn’t really a book, it’s more like abridged play versions of the novels, but i’m counting it anyway.)
October 25, 2022
Lovely audiobook for when you want a bit of Jane but don't have time to set and read print book. It's how I read Sense and Sensibilty,Mansifield Park, and Emma for my #YearofJaneAusten.
My only complaint is I wish there was a List of what actors are doing what voices.
My only complaint is I wish there was a List of what actors are doing what voices.
August 12, 2019
I didn’t think the adaptations of S&S and Emma were great. S&S omitted most of Austen’s humor, and Emma was just too short and rushed. The other 4 dramatizations were excellent. 4.5 stars
June 2, 2021
Great stuff, if a bit over-abridged. Full review over at Audio Theater Central:
https://www.audiotheatrecentral.com/2....
https://www.audiotheatrecentral.com/2....
September 6, 2023
Some of the adaptions were better than others, but overall well done. I’m confused by the casting of David Bamber (aka Mr Collins in P&P 1995) as Mr Knightley in Emma!! - that was seriously distracting.
January 8, 2020
Lautstärke Abmischung ist manchmal nicht ideal.
January 31, 2023
One needs to have read the books first, as it gets confusing to understand who is talking and to follow what's happening.
September 13, 2025
what a fun way to experience Jane Austens works
Read
October 22, 2021Mixed feelings overall: some of the adaptations were absolutely wonderful, but some just totally flattened all of Austen’s brilliance. Surprise of surprises, I think Mansfield Park was the best?!
I found it a good comfort listen: just a short, nice way to enjoy Austen for someone already familiar with her novels. (Other than maybe Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey,) I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the others for people who haven’t read the books though, since they are pretty significantly abridged and you do lose quite a lot of the themes and emotions in some parts!
Thoughts on the individual adaptations in my progress updates!
I found it a good comfort listen: just a short, nice way to enjoy Austen for someone already familiar with her novels. (Other than maybe Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey,) I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the others for people who haven’t read the books though, since they are pretty significantly abridged and you do lose quite a lot of the themes and emotions in some parts!
Thoughts on the individual adaptations in my progress updates!
August 30, 2021
Although it was nice, this is made for people who knows already all of the books in this adaptation. I wanted to discover Austen's book with this, but found it hard to follow as I have never read any of her books.
January 16, 2020
Oy. That was a big meal. I was quite full after the first course, but I powered through all six. Very similar flavor profile throughout.
July 21, 2021
It's hard to keep voices straight. And tennant and cumberbatch are only on the first book.
April 13, 2022
Mansfield park and Pride and Prejudice are the real standouts for me. The others are just fine I guess, hence the three stars.
October 31, 2019
3.5 Stars in total.
I have never before read anything by Jane Austen nor seen any movie adaptations of her work, so this was my introduction to her. I think this audio drama is well suited for this purpose. Obviously the stories are shortened and I expect a lot of scenes have been left out (I wouldn't know exactly of course).
I think they did a really good job and overall I enjoyed the book, but I want to rate the 6 stories individually.
Pride and Prejudice: 3 Stars
This isn't the first one in the audio book but it is the first one I listened too. I had somewhat high expactations since it is her most famous work, and sadly I was a bit disappointed. The love story just didn't really work for me. I think it is because the change in their feelings was too abrupt for my liking. Still I want to read the book one day, because I hope that there are a few additional scenes that can sell the love story to me.
Mansfield Park: 3.5 Stars to 4 Stars
I was surprised to enjoy this one much more that P&P. Maybe I first needed to get used to Austen's writing style. Or maybe because this one had a friends to lovers trope instead of enemies to lovers, which I tend to enjoy more. Overall, I just had a much better time with this one and it made me invested in the audio drama as a whole.
Northanger Abby: 4 Stars
This was definitely my favourite story of them all. I enjoyed following a protagonist that was understanding far less if what was happening around her than we did. I liked the often very mundane problems such as too rainy weather for walks or misunderstandings in planning. I just had a very fun time and I really want to read the original book.
Sense and Sensability: 3.5 Stars
This took me a long time to get into but I ended up liking it after all. The two sisters are very well written, believable characters and I love how close they are to each other even though they are so different. The love stories were good as well, especially the one with the younger sister that went in a different direction than I would expect from Jane Austen. I have since seen the movie and enjoyed the story even more after this.
Emma and Persuasion: both 2 Stars.
Not much to say. I couldn't get into either of the stories. It might have to do with the audio format because I kept confusing the characters and couldn't really follow the plot. I might enjoy it more in written format.
I have never before read anything by Jane Austen nor seen any movie adaptations of her work, so this was my introduction to her. I think this audio drama is well suited for this purpose. Obviously the stories are shortened and I expect a lot of scenes have been left out (I wouldn't know exactly of course).
I think they did a really good job and overall I enjoyed the book, but I want to rate the 6 stories individually.
Pride and Prejudice: 3 Stars
This isn't the first one in the audio book but it is the first one I listened too. I had somewhat high expactations since it is her most famous work, and sadly I was a bit disappointed. The love story just didn't really work for me. I think it is because the change in their feelings was too abrupt for my liking. Still I want to read the book one day, because I hope that there are a few additional scenes that can sell the love story to me.
Mansfield Park: 3.5 Stars to 4 Stars
I was surprised to enjoy this one much more that P&P. Maybe I first needed to get used to Austen's writing style. Or maybe because this one had a friends to lovers trope instead of enemies to lovers, which I tend to enjoy more. Overall, I just had a much better time with this one and it made me invested in the audio drama as a whole.
Northanger Abby: 4 Stars
This was definitely my favourite story of them all. I enjoyed following a protagonist that was understanding far less if what was happening around her than we did. I liked the often very mundane problems such as too rainy weather for walks or misunderstandings in planning. I just had a very fun time and I really want to read the original book.
Sense and Sensability: 3.5 Stars
This took me a long time to get into but I ended up liking it after all. The two sisters are very well written, believable characters and I love how close they are to each other even though they are so different. The love stories were good as well, especially the one with the younger sister that went in a different direction than I would expect from Jane Austen. I have since seen the movie and enjoyed the story even more after this.
Emma and Persuasion: both 2 Stars.
Not much to say. I couldn't get into either of the stories. It might have to do with the audio format because I kept confusing the characters and couldn't really follow the plot. I might enjoy it more in written format.
April 6, 2024
Although this wasn’t technically a book, I loved every minute of it! I was hoping to listen to these abridged dramatic versions of all of Austen’s novels before I traveled to England for my Jane Austen pilgrimage I just did over Spring Break. However, I was still on the wait list and it didn’t become available until a week after I returned. Nevertheless, it was so delightful to listen to these wonderfully talented actors portray such great characters. I think I liked listening to this even more after my trip because I could so easily picture all of the scenes in Bath & the countryside so much better than before! Of course they are heavily abridged so I’d recommend these radio dramas only to someone who has already read the book or seen a film adaptation in order to keep up with plots & many characters more easily. Many on here feel that the background sounds were too distracting but I loved that aspect. I do listen to audiobooks constantly so I think it’s nice to have a change and have the added audio to truly visualize a scene. It was like listening to a movie in the other room!
The more I listen/read/watch Jane Austen’s stories, the more obsessed I become! I also find it harder & harder to rank my favorites in order, after P & P, of course. 😉 Her characters (whether comedic, villainous, or heroic) & plots are so well written that I never tire of them. I continue to dream of the Regency era and another trip to the U.K. in my future to visit even more of Austen-themed locations that I missed the first time around!
The more I listen/read/watch Jane Austen’s stories, the more obsessed I become! I also find it harder & harder to rank my favorites in order, after P & P, of course. 😉 Her characters (whether comedic, villainous, or heroic) & plots are so well written that I never tire of them. I continue to dream of the Regency era and another trip to the U.K. in my future to visit even more of Austen-themed locations that I missed the first time around!
September 16, 2019
Well I finally got around to "reading" Jane Austen.
I put it off for so long because I was convinced that I would hate it but kept being urged to by friends who absolutely love her stories.
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I loved them. Austen was a revolutionary feminist and pointed out in her stories how stupid the things that I was worried about were - namely women knowing their place, marrying simply for influence, and men thinking they were worthy of a woman's time because the women were inferior and the men had shown them attention so immediately had claim.
I loved the way the scenes were acted out. I really felt like I knew what it was like living in the 19th Century.
And in Mansfield Park, hearing world renowned actors acting like they couldn't act was very funny.
My favourite novel out of all of them is Northanger Abby. I just couldn't stop listening. And Sense and Sensibility had me on the edge of my seat.
I did not like Emma - funnily enough it is not noted on the cover that it is in this collection so I kept forgetting - she is just so unlikable. And I have to say that I don't understand the appeal of Mr Darcy. Give me Mr Tilney or Mr Wentworth any day.
Now I think I'll take a break and read something that doesn't have marriage as an end goal.
I put it off for so long because I was convinced that I would hate it but kept being urged to by friends who absolutely love her stories.
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I loved them. Austen was a revolutionary feminist and pointed out in her stories how stupid the things that I was worried about were - namely women knowing their place, marrying simply for influence, and men thinking they were worthy of a woman's time because the women were inferior and the men had shown them attention so immediately had claim.
I loved the way the scenes were acted out. I really felt like I knew what it was like living in the 19th Century.
And in Mansfield Park, hearing world renowned actors acting like they couldn't act was very funny.
My favourite novel out of all of them is Northanger Abby. I just couldn't stop listening. And Sense and Sensibility had me on the edge of my seat.
I did not like Emma - funnily enough it is not noted on the cover that it is in this collection so I kept forgetting - she is just so unlikable. And I have to say that I don't understand the appeal of Mr Darcy. Give me Mr Tilney or Mr Wentworth any day.
Now I think I'll take a break and read something that doesn't have marriage as an end goal.
April 22, 2022
As a child my mother would put on radio shows. Actors playing parts. My siblings would talk and act up while they were on, but I lived for them. It was like books coming to live. Almost as good as movies!
These adaptations of Miss Austen’s works were fantastic to listen to! Benedict Cumberbatch and David Tennant acting out Mansfield Park!
Of all of her works I have to say I love Persuasion the most. Anne and Frederick never getting over each other!😍
After I listened to each radio show I went and watched a movie or BBC tv production of the book just to see it come more alive. And, even though not many of the movies/tv shows truly follow the books, it’s fun to see the costumes and the main romantic characters chemistry. Like in the 2007 BBC version of Persuasion ( Rupert Penny—Jones🤤) or the Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibility ( Alan Rickman😍).
These adaptations of Miss Austen’s works were fantastic to listen to! Benedict Cumberbatch and David Tennant acting out Mansfield Park!
Of all of her works I have to say I love Persuasion the most. Anne and Frederick never getting over each other!😍
After I listened to each radio show I went and watched a movie or BBC tv production of the book just to see it come more alive. And, even though not many of the movies/tv shows truly follow the books, it’s fun to see the costumes and the main romantic characters chemistry. Like in the 2007 BBC version of Persuasion ( Rupert Penny—Jones🤤) or the Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibility ( Alan Rickman😍).
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