Guest post written by author Nikki Payne
By day, Nikki Payne is a curious tech anthropologist asking the right questions to deliver better digital services. By night, she dreams of ways to subvert canon literature. She’s a member of Smut U, a premium feminist writing collective, and is a cat lady with no cats. Her Debut novel Pride and Protest is a Multicultural Jane Austen retelling that Kirkus calls “A lively, sexy, and fresh take on a beloved classic.”
There are enough Jane Austen adaptations to satisfy any appetite. In Pride and Protest, Liza Bennett is a local DJ who is in for a steamy nine months! But Lady Janes serves up so many genres. You want action adventure? You want slapstick comedy? You want Teen angst? Jane Austen adaptations bring it all. Here are my top five.
Clueless is a masterpiece.
Can you believe it’s been over 20 years since Clueless gave us Emma as privileged ’90s Beverly Hills teens? Cher loves plaid, had computer software to design her outfits and most unbelievable of all, had Paul Rudd as a step brother that she never noticed was a “total Baldwin”
1995 was a Banner year for adaptations
Am I worth my salt if I don’t mention 1995 Pride and Prejudice?
Or the Lesser known title, the one where Colin Firth goes for a swim. This is a mostly faithful adaptation and what I love about it honestly is that it dares to be so long. The watcher can absolutely luxuriate in Austen for hours. When the opening credits come on and that lettering swirls across that white silk, you know you’re going to be safe and whatever disaster happened at work or at home can wait.
Bride and Prejudice
Did you know Bollywood queen Aishwarya Rai took a turn at Lizzy as well? It’s not all giddy show-stopping production numbers, silk swirls, and lively song- though I wouldn’t be mad if it were. It’s a gorgeous movie with songs I still sing to this day. My two qualms with the movie- is anyone going to believe that Aishwarya Rai is the second prettiest of anyone? Second, they toned town elements of what make Bollywood movies exciting, so sometimes it felt like Tikka Masala Hold the Masala.
Emma Thompson’s Sense and Sensibility
Yes, I called it Emma Thompson’s Sense and Sensibility. I said what I said. How do you make Elinor compelling without being boring? How on earth can you make Edward Ferrers an attractive lead? Spoiler (Hugh Grant) Alan Rickman’s rolling sonorous voice in the pining Colonel Brandon is legendary. But the best part…that ultimate release of emotion from Elinor at the end when she realized Edward asks for her hand. When I tell you it gets me every time. I will never say no to a rewatch of this gem.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
I know I’m stepping on toes here. But can you imagine being in the pitch room for this idea. Someone definitely started with their hands raised saying “ok.. hear me out.” The premise is so out there it’s going to be great or the worst thing ever. In this story, upper crust English families send their children to Japan or China to learn the secrets of martial arts to fight (you guessed it) zombies, and the fighting actually works, ya’ll.
As they kick zombie butt across England, Darcy has time to gaze at Lizzie with so much longing my heart still fluttered. It’s kick ass and still romantic AF.
