Remona Aly’s love letter to the 1995 Pride and Prejudice series was a reminder to me, a fellow fan of the show and all things classic, to slow down and enjoy the slow burn (‘Looks so sizzling they could fry an egg!’ How the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice adaptation changed my life, 9 September). Regrettably, a recently attempted rewatch found me craving a little more instant drama and maybe a little more instant kissing.
I sacrilegiously switched to Bridgerton halfway through, a sin that has haunted me since. Aly’s piece highlights why.
The elegance, acting, casting, costumes, soundtrack and subtlety of the 1995 adaptation are perfect. And yet, I wonder, has the world of scrolling, 30-second videos, Netflix and 1,000 pieces of stimulus at all times taken away our ability to appreciate the classics?
We still crave period pieces, the language, the angst and especially the costumes, but I’m worried that the adaptation wouldn’t make the history it did if it were created today. And this is horrifying. I hope Dolly Alderton’s upcoming adaptation somehow achieves the impossible task of attracting both Austen fans (me) and those pesky, unengaged youth (also me).
Best believe, after reading Aly’s article, I downed the phone, bought a Penguin classic and had a good hard think about my behaviour.
Grace Gooda
Victoria, Australia
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