Re: Persuasion

    Posted by Tony A on June 19, 2006, 7:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Persuasion"
    216.132.90.200

    I happen to have both. The 1971 miniseries, being some four hours long, has the advantage of better coverage of the book. However, the Amanda Root version has the advantage of, in my opinion, more natural acting, and surprisingly well-written that it seems to be very true to the novel. The former has more the feel of a stage play. Each has its merits, and, for a few bucks, I think they are both worth owning.

    I can’t help recalling Bingley’s sentiment, “When I am in the country, I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.”

    My copy is part of the Jane Austen Collection DVD, purchased from Amazon at around $36. However, the individual volume is also available for less than $9. This adaptation has become unpopular with most of the reviewers on the site, most complaining that it goes too much into detail. Honestly, I consider this being true to the book. If you want a digest, then by all means, stick with the Masterpiece Theatre adaptation (Amanda Root). But my guess is that the general sentiment on this board will place more value on the more complete version.

    Anyone who has seen the Masterpiece Theatre version of The Woman in White and read the book will realize right away that the film falls far short of the novel. Fortunately, Persuasion is short enough that even the two-hour adaptation was able to capture the essence of the work. So my advice to serious fans of the book is to get both. Better yet, get a copy of the (unabridged) audiobook. You may find that listening is a more gratifying experience than reading the text. Just be sure to sample the audio before buying, since there are a number of versions out there. The one I consider the best is the version read by Nadia May.

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