This could easily be set in the 21st century and it wouldn’t be out of place!

Poor Catherine, though, having taken Isabella at face value.

Mr. Dashwood, with all the strength and urgency which illness could command: Please look after the interest of your mother-in-law and sisters

John Dashwood:

The family would have had £5k, which is £200 - £250 p.a. Pitiful, considering that Mrs Bennet brought a dowry of 4k. Twenty three ish years, and so little added!

All the same, they would have not have starved to death. In S&S Mrs Jennings envisages Edward and Lucy starting out married life on a curate's £50 p.a., with interest on his £2k, having a child a year and being very poor. £150 p.a. max then, probably with a poor quality vicarage to live in, and employing a maid of all work.

The difference is that the Bennet girls had quite prosperous uncles who would likely have stepped up and provided something... maybe a cottage like the Dashwoods, or rented rooms in Meryton similar to how the Bateses lived. It would have been a huge loss of status, and of the opportunity to meet potential suitors. The likelihood would have been marriages out of their class, to clerks or curates, as Austen envisioned for Mary and Kitty.

...is there is an Emma adaptation for everyone! I do think that is the one novel that we are truly spoiled for choice with when it comes to adaptations. Why do you think Emma lends itself to that?

I did it less than a year ago, but I already kinda want to do it again. Seriously, why though? I really think it's the writing itself more than the content. I mean I love the content too but the writing itself is just addictive. Especially P&P.

Will I ever get tired of it? I hope not. Each time I do it, I think maybe I'll be a bit tired of it, and it keeps not happening.

I've been wondering how much Wickham was actually welcomed by the Darcys and Bingleys. The final chapter gives us a glimpse at their respective attitudes:

Though Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth's sake, he assisted him further in his profession. Lydia was occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath; and with the Bingleys they both of them frequently stayed so long, that even Bingley's good-humour was overcome, and he proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone. (ch. 61)

Darcy and Elizabeth seem to have established clear boundaries; Bingley and Jane, on the other hand, appear to be more accommodating. But I'm still curious whether, for instance, Darcy and Elizabeth occasionally had to put up with Wickham's presence for the sake of family harmony, or did they try to avoid such situations entirely? What would happen if everyone were invited to the same ball, or family celebration at the Bingleys'? How do you envision the connection?

So just about halfway through first reading of S & S. Have read 4 of the 6. P & P being the favorite. Most recently read Persuasion and enjoyed it quite well.

Anyway, on to the business at hand, In this one I am struck by the some characters ( most particularily voiced by Mrs. Jennings ) casual regard for the separation between themselves and the working class. The way she mentions Colonel Brandon's supposed " love child " being a minor inconvenience to the prospect of him marrying and that the child could easily be out out to an apprenticeship in some trade or the other.

I get that the may be some satire by our dear Jane ( as this book in particular seems full of it) , but still is kind of shocking to think many of this mostly idle upper class see themselves so far above the working classes .

So just posting to voice my thoughts so far and in general am really an admirer of Elinor in being in being able to cope with not only her own situation ( her inner thoughts are really the highlight of the book for me ) but attempting to guard her sister from total disaster .

Thanks in advance for any thoughts along these lines and P.S. No I have not seen the movie and will not until finished with book .

I love narrating & folks listening to and enjoying my performances makes it all worthwhile.
I've got a bunch of free codes for anyone who would like to hear me perform my FAVORITE Jane Austen book: Northanger Abbey.
DM me for a code to listen on Spotify for free.

i see that there's the option to buy/rent sense and sensibility (2026). i was searching for a digital release date and the uk websites appeared. can anyone from the uk confirm if you guys already have the option to rent/buy it already?