Portobello Book Blog

Whenever a book becomes a best seller, you start to hear murmurings about adaptations whether for tv or the big screen. Some people love this and can’t wait to see their favourite stories and characters brought to life on screen. Other people hate it and want to keep their own ideas of how they envisage the characters. Sometimes an adaptation works really well, sometimes it’s not so well received. In this occasional series, I’m going to look at some books which I have read and see what I made of the adaptation. One thing I’m sure we can all agree on: the book is always better!

Today I’m looking at what is probably by favourite classic novel and actually, one of my favourite films too – Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Of course I love Pride and Prejudice too, but I’ve always preferred the story of the Dashwood sisters. Somewhat impoverished following the death of their father, they are force to take a ‘small cottage’ and eke out their meagre allowance. Elinor and Marianne seem such opposites with Elinor being the sensible one and Marianne much more passionate and impulsive. This being a Jane Austen book, there is much about the role of women in society and how few rights and possibilities were open to them. Marriage is the only way they could hope to achieve financial security. The Dashwood sisters experience romance, trials and heartbreak before eventually finding true love.

What did I think of the adaptation?

I think this film is just wonderful and have watched it so many times. Emma Thompson can do no wrong in my eyes and of course wrote the screenplay for this film, winning the Oscar for it. She is perfect as the restrained Elinor, whereas Kate Winslet gives a spirited performance as Marianne. My love of the film has nothing to do with the fact that it has two of my favourite actors in it of course – Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman. Nothing at all… I rather like that this film is where Emma Thompson and Greg Wise (the dastardly Willoughby) met properly and fell in love themselves. Imelda Staunton and Hugh Laurie as Mr and Mrs Palmer have some particularly funny scenes. There are parts of the book missed out or changed as often happens in an adaptation but nonetheless, I think this is an excellent filem.

Where can you watch this?

You can rent or buy the film to watch through Amazon Prime. It often is shown on TV. Or of course, if you still have a DVD player, you can buy a DVD copy.

Have you watched the adapted version? Have you read the book? Let me know what you think especially if you have both read the book and watched an adaptation. Did you think it was a good re-imagining of the book or did it spoil what you thought of the book?