Miss Austen - BBC1

[witchycat2]

All episodes are now up on iplayer. It airs weekly on Sunday at 9:05pm from tonight.

I love a period drama. I've watched the first episode on iplayer and liking it so far.

Synopsis below from BBC:

Miss Austen takes a literary mystery – Cassandra Austen notoriously burning her famous sister Jane’s letters – and reimagines it as a fascinating, witty and heart-breaking story of sisterly love.
The drama begins in 1830, many years after Jane has died. Cassandra (Keeley Hawes) rushes to visit Isabella (Rose Leslie), the niece of her long-dead fiancé, who is about to lose her home following her father’s death. Cassandra is ostensibly there to help Isabella, but her real motive is to find a hidden bundle of private letters which, in the wrong hands, she fears could destroy Jane’s reputation. On discovering them, Cassandra is overwhelmed as she is transported back to her youth. In flashbacks, we meet Young Cassy (Synnøve Karlsen) and Jane (Patsy Ferran) as they navigate the romantic infatuations, family feuds and dashed hopes which shaped their lives, and laid the foundations for Jane’s unforgettable stories. Cassandra’s re-evaluation of her past eventually leads her to find a way to guide Isabella towards the path of true happiness.

At Christmas I got The World of Jane Austen jigsaw. 1000 pieces. Set it up the day after Boxing Day and it was just a fantastic treat. Wanted to finish it New Year's Day to start the commemoration year. I really enjoyed it and felt a pang of regret at finishing it.

Few details about locations chosen for this series

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/miss-austen-bbc-location-guide

Just thought I would mention that the Carol Shields biography of Jane Austen is also very good

I've just watched the end of Ep 1 on I Player, having re-watched it during the week. I've read it so I vaguely know what to expect. So Max Irons appears tomorrow evening.
Oh, Mary, how could you say Cassie fell to the floor in grief? No wonder Cassandra burnt that letter! Yes, I know, it's a fiction to wonder what was in those letters which Cassie destroyed.
All of these things need to be re-watched at half speed. It would be good to go through and watch Jane watching the world. So Mamma Austen was a bit of a match-maker, along with Cassandra. Cue Mrs Bennett and Emma and Mrs. Weston and.......

The Elizabeth Jenkins biography is my favourite. Would really recommend it. Reads like a Jane Austen novel. Written in the '30s so not as comprehensive as the Claire Tomalin one, which is also brilliant, but so beautifully written.

I loved it. I thought this was a rare case of the tv adaptation been better than the book (which I found a bit meh).

Binged and really enjoyed it, although it took me a while to work out who was who.
Has anyone here read Fay Weldon's book "Letters to Alice, on first reading Jane Austen" ? It's my favourite book about her and I can highly recommend it.

That sounds good @TamzinGrey I read lots of Fay Weldon when I was in my 20's but I haven't read that one. I'm currently reading the very highbrow A Weekend with Mr. Darcy.

Have binged. Loved it. I’m sure artistic licence but perfect viewing for a cold wet day. Actually perfect viewing for whatever the weather. Sublime from Keeley Hawes and Rose Leslie.

This was recommended by some algorithm
https://www.tatler.com/article/how-accurate-is-miss-austen-bbc-tv-series-real-life

I watched the second episode today. I'm really enjoying it. Oh no. Looks like Jessica Hynes finds the letters next week. 😮

We finished the whole series yesterday. Absolutely loved it.

Watching at TV pace. Loved episode 2. Nervous for the finding of the letters next week...

Has Cassandra got tight hold of the first lot she took, with info about herself in them? I know I said I read it but I audio-booked it and details rarely go in quite as well, so I can't remember.

It's driving me nuts that she doesn't hide them in her luggage and also why the SIL didn't look for them before now. I would have preferred her not to find them in any case so that we could read them!

Yes, it's annoying me she keeps leaving them in an open drawer instead of in her personal bags

If Mary was in the present day she would be an Amanda

Maybe they expect the emotions to be expressed as they would in the 21st century which would be completely anachronisitic for the time period. That's the only reason I can think that they said that because it's full of real emotional depth in such a sublimely subtle way. I'm enjoying it so much.

I wonder if mary is an accurate portrayal if she’s the mary the character mary in Persuasion is based on? Sees offence where none is meant type.

Yes, this. Cassandra shows so much emotion just through her eyes and taut smiles.

I agree @MyOtherProfile
Cassandra/Keely Hawes shows so much emotion just through her eyes and taut smiles.
Fantastic acting 👏🏻

Isn't Max Irons as Henry Hobday very dashing - a combination of his gorgeous mother Sinéad Cusack of Irish acting royalty and the handsome Jeremy Irons.

Wow @deeahgwitch I didn't know that's who he is. Very dashing.

I thought the ending was beautiful. Very moving.

As I'm in a very unusual period of time off work, post-redundancy and pre-new-job, I've been watching this curled up on the sofa on a morning with a cup of tea and a few biscuits and I ADORE it!!! I'm on episode three and have absolutely laughed out loud at a few things Mary (Jessica Hynes) comes out with, and the same with Jane - she's so witty and has a little swagger that makes everyone love her - Patsy Ferrans is perfect in this. I never watch telly, films, series or anything, but I am loving immersing myself in this one.

I must say, thank you so much to everyone for the explanation of who Eliza is!! I was about to Google it as I was really confused and thought I'd missed a crucial detail in episode one. I don't feel so daft now 😅

I think next Sunday I shall watch the last two episodes at once as Call The Midwife isn't on and I can't stand the BAFTAS.