Watch Presumption – A Documentary of the Life of Jane Austen Online

Persumption: Billed as the first comprehensive television biography of Jane Austen’s life, this 1995 BBC television production aired following the premiere of the acclaimed miniseries Pride and Prejudice in the UK. It includes many prominent Austen scholars, biographers, authors, and enthusiasts including David Nokes, Elizabeth Jenkins, Deirdre Le Faye, Nigel Nicholson, Emma Tennant, Maggy Lane, and P D James. Film clips from several of the adaptations, family residences and travel locations are also featured. I found it very interesting to put faces to the authors of many of the books in my library, and Elizabeth Jenkins author of Jane Austen: A Biography (1949) was most enjoyable. When the interviewer asks her why she never married, she sidesteps their effrontery as deftly as Jane Austen might herself.

This is part one of five. You can view the remaining four directly at Youtube complements of inmypooropinion.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Miss Austen Regrets Preview

The premiere of the new biopic on Jane Austen's later years, Miss Austen Regrets, is quickly approaching on Sunday, February 3rd. at 9:00 pm. Presented by Masterpiece Classic, it is a co-production of WGBH/BBC and is highly anticipated by many Janeites. The story line focuses on the last few years of Jane Austen's (Olivia Williams) life, as she advises her niece Fanny Knight (Imogen Poots) on courtship and marriage, and attempts to help her navigate her choice of the correct match.

After Last summers biopic Becoming Jane, and the controversy surrounding the producers promoting the story with tag lines like "Jane Austen's Love Story Was Her Own", I admit to being a bit gun shy of further biographies of Jane Austen's life story. From the PBS press release, it appears that the writer Gwyneth Hughes has closely based the story on Jane Austen's letters, and family memoirs. That's a relief. You can read further details on the production at my other blog, Austenprose.

Did you know that in addition to Becoming Jane, there are several documentaries available on Jane Austen's life and world? You may want to check out these DVD's and put them in your Netflicks que, or order them for your own library.

• Biography: Jane Austen , A&E Home Video (2006)
  
  
• Great Women Writers: Jane Austen, Kultur Video (2000)
  


• The Famous Authors Series: Jane Austen, Kultur Video (1996)
  


• Jane Austen's Life, Arts Magic (2005)
  


• Jane Austen's Society, Arts Magic (2005)
  


• Jane Austen's Work, Arts Magic (2005)
  


• Becoming Jane, Miramax (2007) pre-order (release February 12th 2008)

Posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose