The Jane Austen collection
(DVD) 

Jane Austen is a really hot property. Her stories, almost 200 years old, are still enticingly romantic. Her heroines are often thoroughly modern in their resoluteness, courage against social mores, and intelligence. BBC Video has created this boxed set of its Austen pieces produced between 1971 and 1987. For any Austen fan this collection will be a delight. Even with small weaknesses in areas such as production values, costuming, and, occasionally, performance, this set sparkles for its courage in tackling difficult works such as Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. All six programs have been excellently adapted for the screen by six individual screenwriters. Only Persuasion begins to fall apart at the end. Strong among the BBC players is Katherine Schlesinger's Catherine in Northanger Abbey, Doran Godwin's resilient Emma, Elizabeth Garvie's captivating Elizabeth Bennett, and Sylvestra Le Touzel's patient and obedient Fanny Price, although she has been done up painfully plain. The biggest weakness, and one that can't be ignored, is the melodramatic and obtrusive music in Northanger Abbey. Overall, this collection is highly recommended for any literature collection.-Ernest Jaeger, North Plainfield Schs., NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Jane Austen is a really hot property. Her stories, almost 200 years old, are still enticingly romantic. Her heroines are often thoroughly modern in their resoluteness, courage against social mores, and intelligence. BBC Video has created this boxed set of its Austen pieces produced between 1971 and 1987. For any Austen fan this collection will be a delight. Even with small weaknesses in areas such as production values, costuming, and, occasionally, performance, this set sparkles for its courage in tackling difficult works such as Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. All six programs have been excellently adapted for the screen by six individual screenwriters. Only Persuasion begins to fall apart at the end. Strong among the BBC players is Katherine Schlesinger's Catherine in Northanger Abbey, Doran Godwin's resilient Emma, Elizabeth Garvie's captivating Elizabeth Bennett, and Sylvestra Le Touzel's patient and obedient Fanny Price, although she has been done up painfully plain. The biggest weakness, and one that can't be ignored, is the melodramatic and obtrusive music in Northanger Abbey. Overall, this collection is highly recommended for any literature collection.-Ernest Jaeger, North Plainfield Schs., NJ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.