Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 53 to 57

 In this episode, we talk about how Jane Austen keeps up the suspense so close to the end of the book, the fact that Kitty has forgotten Mr Darcy, Elizabeth’s embarrassment at her mother, Bingley and Mr Bennet shooting together, the physical descriptions of Longbourne, the question of how Lady Catherine got her news and the meeting between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth. 

 We discuss the character of Jane, then Ellen talks about what makes someone a gentleman, or gentlemanlike, and Harriet looks at how the adaptations deal with events such as Lady Catherine’s visit. 

Things we mention:

 Books: 

• Claire Tomalin, Jane Austen: A Life (1997) 
• Tom Stoppart, Arcadia (1993) 
• Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) 
•  Sheila Kaye-Smith and G.B. Stern, Talking of Jane Austen (1943) and More Talk of Jane Austen (1950) 
•  Anthony Trollope, The Prime Minister (1876) 

Websites:

• YouTube, John Mullan – Jane Austen’s writing style and voice (2017)
• Ellen Moody, A calendar for Pride and Prejudice (2003)

Movies and television:

• MGM, Pride and Prejudice (1940) – starring Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier 
• BBC, Pride and Prejudice (1980) – starring Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul
• BBC, Pride and Prejudice (1995) – starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth
• Focus Features, Pride & Prejudice (2005) – starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen
• YouTube, Lizzie Bennet Diaries (2012) – starring Ashley Clements and Daniel Vincent Gordh 

Creative commons music used:

• Extract from Joseph Haydn, Piano Sonata No. 38. Performance by Ivan Ilić, recorded in Manchester in December, 2006. File originally from IMSLP.
• Extract from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 13 in B-Flat Major, iii. Allegretto Grazioso. File originally from Musopen.
• Extract from George Frideric Handel, Suite I, No. 2 in F Major, ii. Allegro. File originally from Musopen. 
• Extract from Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major. File originally from Musopen.