Lost in Austen

Lost in Austen (2008) is TV miniseries which is loosely based on Jane Austen’s ever popular novel Pride & Prejudice. The story is written by Guy Andrews and directed by Dan Zeff. It stars Jemima Rooper, Hugh Bonneville, Gemma Arterton,Tom Mison, among others.

Lost in Austen (2008)

The story begins with Penguin Classic PRIDE & PREJUDICE in view along with the famous opening line delivered a bit differently, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that  … we are all longing to escape..”. The protagonist, Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) is a young woman working and living in London, and of course an ardent Pride and Prejudice fan. She reads the book and suddenly starts imagining Austen’s world, as is the case with most of us, Austen fans. 

Morven Christie (as Jane Bennett)
 and  Jemima Rooper (as Amanda Price),
Lost in Austen

One day, while reading the book, she hears some disturbance in her bathroom and finds out, to her immense surprise that Elizabeth Bennett has somehow entered into her flat. Miss Bennett points out a door and tells her that it was through this door that she found her way. Amanda Price climbs through the door to the other side, which is, Longbourn, Bennett’s place. The door then shuts up and Amanda gets stuck in Pride and Prejudice plot. Everything that follows is a platter served with confusion, characters, chaos and of course sprinkled with lots of comedy. Look out for the one liners because they are funny. Especially, Mr. Bennett’s (Hugh Bonneville) lines are full of sarcastic wit, my favorite.

Hugh Bonneville
(as Mr. Bennett),
Lost in Austen

In the first episode, the plot is set and progresses a bit too. I think of it as the best of all the four episodes. You get the taste of the great confusion coming in the consequent episodes, here itself. The second episode brings along Wickham. He’s cute (and ought to be cute, I wouldn't have liked him any other way) I am sure, but Bingley (Tom Mison) is definitely the cutest of all (at least by my standards), but you’ll find that Wickham is full of GAIETY. The good thing about this miniseries is that, though its four episodes long, the story never loses pace; there is always something up and coming. In the third episode, well, there’s a cut on entertainment, I think. It definitely helps in the progress of the plot but a little dull on entertainment. Don’t think that I am describing the story plainly, there’s a lot to say actually but it would all be spoiler. There are a number of one liners that I would like to quote here and scenes I would like to describe, but it will ruin the story for you, so just keep your patience and read along. The fourth and the final episode, the “things” don’t seem to get settled until at least the very end – an end designed with good deal of imagination and beauty!   

Tom Mison (as Mr. Bingley)
and Elliot Cowan (as Mr. Darcy),
Lost in Austen

Jemima Rooper has done a great job as the shocked, out-of-place yet helpful girl, Amanda Price. One could even say that at many places throughout the series she has carried the scene away on her shoulders alone, despite of other characters. As always, Hugh Bonneville has done amazingly well, the character with the best lines and has delivered them with full justice. The rest of the ensemble has done a good job in keeping the series in good fun. I know I must not write it all, but I am really itching (although ladies are strangers to the itch) to give some of my opinions which are sure to delight you yet ruin the series watching for you, still –

Wittiest Character- Mr. Bennett

Most Handsome -    Mr. Bingley

Most Beautiful -      Jane Bennet

Most Evil -              Caroline Bingley

Sweetest Couple (ever) – Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennett              

Queen Bee -           Amanda Price

I was a little disappointed in Darcy, until of course I witnessed the line in the scroll, which wiped out all the demerits, if only I could tell you what was written.

Amanda Price and Darcy, Lost in Austen

So, that’s about Lost in Austen, very nice, well written and comic TV series to watch, especially if you’re an Austen fan. The best part of the series, the “unspoken assumptions” behind Jane Austen’s story. I would suggest you this one, all ages and moods and I know most of you would love it, just like me.

Do tell me how you liked it.