This weekend, I had the opportunity to go see the new musical, Austen’s Pride. This is the first musical I have seen at CNU, and all I can say is what an absolute shame it is that I have not seen more! Witty, beautiful, clever, classic and new, Austen’s Pride is the inspiration for this week’s “Odds and Ends.”
The show follows the growth and “self-discovery” of author Jane as she brings to life her most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice. In honor of both this fresh new musical and Austen’s 250th birthday this year, let’s take a moment to look closer at the world renowned author, Jane Austen. Most well known for novels like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion, Jane Austen’s works captured snapshots of people’s lives while commenting on social expectations, society’s expectations and individual growth. Her works created an entirely new genre of novel, the novel of manners. This genre deals primarily with the societal conventions of the 19th century, offering commentary on these standards as seen in Austen’s general focus on the feminine experience through her characters. These life-like accounts were relatable to audiences then, and are still prominent in the modern day.
Austen’s literary following has remained strong for over two centuries, engaging readers across generations. But Austen’s influence goes deeper than you might think. From pop culture romcom must-sees like Clueless (1995) and Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) to books such as Austenland (2007) and Death Comes to Pemberly (2011), Austen’s characters have permeated modern ideas of romance as iconically as they did in the 1790s.
