S02E01 Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 1 to 5

In this episode, we read the first five chapters of Sense and Sensibility. We give a brief publishing history, and talk about the themes of sense and sensibility, the lack of dialogue in the first chapter, how much money the Dashwoods have, the emphasis on caring about the arts, how very young the girls are, and the lack of presentation of Edward. 

 We discuss the characters of John and Fanny Dashwood, then Ellen talks about wills and marriage settlements, and Harriet gives an overview of the popular culture adaptations, modernisations, continuations and variations on the book. 

Things we mention:

References:

Claire Tomalin, Jane Austen: A Life (1997)Edward Copeland [Editor], The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility (2006)Sheila Kaye-Smith and G.B. Stern, Talking of Jane Austen (1943) and More Talk of Jane Austen (1950)

 Adaptations of the book: 

BBC, Sense and Sensibility (1971) – starring Joanna David and Ciaran Madden (4 episodes)BBC, Sense and Sensibility (1981) – starring Irene Richard and Tracey Childs (7 episodes)Columbia Pictures, Sense and Sensibility (1995) – starring Emma Thompson and Kate WinsletBBC, Sense and Sensibility (2008) – starring Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield (3 episodes)

 Modernisations of the book: 

Sri Surya Films, Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) – starring Tabu and Aishwarya RaiMGM, Material Girls (2006) – starring Hilary Duff and Haylie DuffMWM Studios, From Prada to Nada (2011) – starring Camilla Belle and Alexa PenaVegaSilver Peak Productions, Scents and Sensibility (2011) – starring Ashley Williams and Marla SokoloffJoanna Trollope, Sense & Sensibility (The Austen Project #1) (2013)YouTube, Elinor and Marianne Take Barton (2014) – starring Abi Davies and Bonita Trigg

 Variations on the book: 

Amanda Grange, Colonel Brandon’s Diary (2008)Ben H. Winters and Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (2009)

Creative commons music used:

 Extract from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 12 in F Major, ii. Adagio. Extract from Joseph Haydn, Piano Sonata No. 38. Performance by Ivan Ilić, recorded in Manchester in December, 2006. File originally from IMSLP.Extract from