The Cinematic Jane Austen: Essays on the Filmic Sensibility of the Novels »

David Monaghan is a professor of English at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Ariane Hudelet is an associate professor at Université de Paris 7 and lives in Paris, France. John Wiltshire is professor emeritus of English at La Trobe University in Melbourne. He lives in Eltham, Australia.

Jane Austen's novels are loved because they possess a comedic power that is often conveyed through the singular voice of the narrators. Film adaptations, however, have often been unsatisfactory because they lack or awkwardly render features, particularly the voice of the narrators.

This work argues for a fresh approach that begins with a reading of the novels that emphasizes their auditory and visual dimensions. Building on their examination of Austen's inherently cinematic features, the authors then develop productive new readings of the films.

Preface 1

Introduction. Jane Austen, Adaptation and the Cinematic Novel: Theoretical Considerations David Monaghan Monaghan, David 5

1 Jane Austen: Sight and Sound John Wiltshire Wiltshire, John 17

2 By Candlelight: Jane Austen, Technology and the Heritage Film John Wiltshire Wiltshire, John 38

3 Beyond Words, Beyond Images: Jane Austen and the Art of Mise-en-Scene Ariane Hudelet Hudelet, Ariane 57

4 Deciphering Appearances in Jane Austen's Novels and Films Ariane Hudelet Hudelet, Ariane 76

5 Mr. Darcy's Smile John Wiltshire Wiltshire, John 94

6 Reinventing Fanny Price: Patricia Rozema's Thoroughly Modern Mansfield Park David Monaghan Monaghan, David 111

7 "A Cheerful Confidence in Futurity": The Movement Motif in Austen's Novel and Dear/Michell's Film Adaptation of Persuasion David Monaghan Monaghan, David 129

8 The Construction of a Myth: The "Cinematic Jane Austen" as a Cross-Cultural Icon Ariane Hudelet Hudelet, Ariane 148

9 Afterword: On Fidelity John Wiltshire Wiltshire, John 160

Chapter Notes 171

Bibliography 185

Index 193