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‘Miss Austen’ imagines the motives behind Jane Austen’s sister burning her letters

BBG News

For many years, the works of English author Jane Austen have served as a continuous wellspring of inspiration for movie makers and television producers adapting her stories, as well as writers seeking to broaden and deepen our appreciation of her fictional universe.

The novel “Miss Austen,” written by Gill Hornby in 2020, centers around Cassandra, Jane Austen’s sister. In this fictional work, it explores Cassandra’s choice to discard many of Jane’s letters from throughout their lives – a decision based on real events. “Miss Austen” is the first book in a trilogy by Hornby that delves into the intriguing lives of Jane and her tight-knit family, which the author found incredibly engaging.

Hornby noted that everyone was remarkable and somewhat unusual, but Jane stood out even more. “In the daytime,” he added, “she wrote her work, and at night she’d share it with the entire family.” This is a common practice they all followed.

Hornby’s novel shares similarities with a work by Jane Austen, featuring sharp wit, banter, heartache, and romance. However, what sets this novel apart is its focus on the profound bond between sisters Jane and Cassandra, a theme that has been brilliantly brought to life in a new television adaptation.

Starting this Sunday at 9 p.m. Pacific Time, “Miss Austen” – a four-part miniseries – will make its debut on PBS during “Masterpiece.” Each subsequent episode will air every Sunday, with the final two episodes scheduled for May 18th. You can catch the series on both the PBS app and PBS.org. Initially premiering in the U.K. on BBC One in February, the period drama featuring Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen garnered positive reviews.

At the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Sunday, Hornby was accompanied by Christine Langan, executive producer from Bonnie Productions (the team behind “Masterpiece”), during a screening of “Miss Austen.” They talked about the enduring impact of Jane Austen and the process of transforming the book into a TV series. It marks Bonnie Productions’ debut in television series production.

In response to your question, “Langan stated that she deeply enjoyed reading it, which was her reason for producing it. The story moved her to tears by the end, offering a fresh perspective on an author she’s admired for years, and it was immediate, engaging, and resonated with her personally.

In a previous career span, Langan has created critically acclaimed shows and movies such as “Cold Feet,” “The Deal,” and “The Queen.” Recently, she expressed her enthusiasm for restoring the tarnished image of Cassandra, who served as a constant positive influence, source of support, and fountain of love for one of the world’s renowned authors.

In the TV show, Cassandra is somewhat more youthful compared to her character in the novel, a difference partially attributed to Hawes’s talent for both dramatic and humorous performances which greatly contributed to the portrayal of the role.

Langan explained that we chose to portray Cassandra as slightly younger than her character in the book. The reasoning behind this is that middle-aged women often go unnoticed in our society just like elderly women do. However, Hawes’ adaptability and elegance won us over, and when she joined us with equal enthusiasm and commitment, it was a perfect match.

Review

‘Emma’ proves the spirit of Jane Austen never gets old

Under the guidance of director Autumn de Wilde, and featuring Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role, this contemporary adaptation of “Emma,” penned by Jane Austen, maintains the high standards set by previous versions.

“Keely has a huge and brilliant reputation in the U.K. She’s hugely loved,” she added.

Contrasting with Cassandra, often criticized by historians studying Jane’s sister, she destroyed almost all of Jane’s letters except for 160. These remaining letters could have offered scholars and enthusiasts a richer understanding of the author and her personal life. There are several hypotheses about why Cassandra decided to destroy them: one being to shield Jane from negative judgment, and another being to safeguard her sister’s literary legacy.

The show, much like the book, aims to present Cassandra in a more favorable light, including her reason for safeguarding Jane’s letters. This involves keeping them hidden from relatives such as Mary Austen (portrayed by Jessica Hynes), who was married to James Austen, brother to both Cassandra and Jane. The narrative also includes flashbacks featuring young Cassandra (Synnøve Karlsen) and Jane (Patsy Ferran), as the letters’ events unfold, shedding light on their authentic nature.

The narrative predominantly unfolds in the quaint Hampshire village of Kintbury, England, which has been Hornby’s home for over three decades. It was here that she encountered Cassandra for the first time. In her own words, “It feels as if Cassandra came to me.

In this narrative, I find myself immersed not just in Miss Austen’s correspondence but also in the lives of her significant figures. One such person is Cassandra, my character, who was engaged to Tom Fowle, a resident of Kintbury. Unfortunately, Tom lost his life during a sea voyage to the Caribbean, succumbing to yellow fever. Heartbreakingly, Cassandra never found a husband after him.

In the last Christmas they shared, I was certain that Cassandra was present, and on a frosty January dawn, she bid farewell to Tom at our gate, never to see him again. Her story has lingered with me ever since, as I’ve always had an intense fascination for the enigmatic women of history.

This year, as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, it’s worth re-evaluating Cassandra’s impact on Jane’s life. As mentioned by Hornby, it was Cassandra who supported Jane when she was ill and managed their household, enabling Jane to concentrate on writing her six masterpieces, considered among the greatest in English literature. Even two and a half centuries later, Jane Austen’s tales continue to captivate readers and spark creativity in authors like Hornby and Langan.

Hornby mentioned that she writes about everyday experiences such as growing up with a mom and sister, experiencing love, having a home, discussing the weather, and dealing with annoying neighbors – things we all can relate to. Unlike other writers in her generation, she communicates in a unique, relatable way.

“And she’s fantastically funny,” Langan adds.

Delving into the world of the Austen clan has proven a rich source of inspiration for Hornby, as evidenced by his subsequent works, “Godmersham Park” and the forthcoming novel “The Elopement,” set to debut in the U.K. in May and the U.S. in October, which continue to focus on this fascinating family.

Hornby’s collaboration with Langan remains ongoing, as the producer has already secured the rights for “The Elopement.

2019 sees significant milestones for both the 30th anniversary of the TV series “Pride and Prejudice” with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, as well as its film adaptation’s 20th anniversary featuring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen. Notably, Netflix has also given a nod to a new limited series. Intriguingly, the show “Miss Austen” incorporates elements from the novel, making this year’s premiere an exciting full-circle moment.

Hornby found it captivating that she’s persisting, he noted. ‘She’s remarkably successful even after her death,’ Hornby added, ‘and she yearned for success herself. Her intelligence allowed her to realize that what she was creating was truly exceptional.’

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2025-05-02 13:32

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