I have two of the dvd's you showed, Cranford and Jane Eyre. I agree about both. Britbox has three of the ones you showed, I hope to watch those soon. Thank you so much.
I absolutely loved North and South, the novel and the film version. I'm reading Daniel Deronda right now, and I can't wait to watch the film starring Romola Farsi and Hugh Fancy (keeps changing my d to an f). It's tough to be patient, but I can't bring myself to watch it until I finish the book.
Yaaas! I might pull a teen-Katie this month and watch some of these despite NOT having read the book. [hides in a bush] but for real, my reading pace is sooo slowly at the moment, but I don't wanna miss out on all the Victober vibes. I think I might even go with North and South, because I've seen some amazing GIFs of Richard Armitage and I. AM. SWOONING. :D
There's nothing wrong with that :P I quite enjoy reading a book when I've already seen the adaptation and then feeling like I'm getting bonus story and content from the stuff they're missed out! And yes, North and South - go and watch it and you'll want to immediately read the book!
Highly recommended, true to the short stories, fine acting by THE best SH actor, and it's not that Cumberbatch crap BBC is spewing these days! I believe most episodes are lurking around in RU-vid for free!
I want I read He Knew He Was Right and watch the series: sounds amazing. I have watched the first episode of The Way We Live Now and I'm watching it along with reading the book.
I love your recommendations! I've seen many of them and I agree that Jane Eyre, Bleak House and Little Dorrit are all fantastic. And, I definitely need to read "North and South". What is your opinion of "The Mayor of Casterbridge" with Ciaran Hinds? I think it was so faithful to the novel and I loved it.
I will put in a word for _Barry Lyndon,_ (1975) directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Ryan O'Neal and Marisa Berenson. I've just finished reading the novel (by Thackeray). The tone of the two presentations is oddly different: the novel is first-person by the saucy, braggadocious Redmond Barry, later Barry Lyndon. The film is much more fatalistic, presented by a third-person narrator (nicely read by Michael Hordern); the narrations frequently quote directly from the novel. I prefer much more the attitude of the film. The film is an aesthetic work of art, the detail lavished on it, the beauty of the cinematography inspired by the late 18th century artists (William Hogarth); the interior lighting was a break-through in film technique. The music, variations based on Handel's _Sarabande in D,_ was perfect. Kubrick also made some changes to the story, including adding a final duel between Barry and Lord Bullingdon to provide some appropriate closure. I highly recommend this film experience.
BBC does the best renditions of Victorian novels and Shakespeare! I have watched every Jane Eyre adaptation and I prefer the 1983 version even though the acting is horrible lol. I can't wait to watch David Copperfeild.
I have only recently discovered your channel and I love it. Like you, I started to read 19th century literature when watching BBC productions, in the late 1970's. My favourites are Austen, and Gaskell. I really wish they would televise Mary Barton. I introduced my daughter to these books in the same way. I agree with so many of your selections. I understand that you are not such a huge fan of George Eliot. I would have included the BBC versions of Daniel Deronda and Middlemarch. Interestingly, I was not a huge fan of Margaret in the TV version of North and South and the change to the end really annoyed me. I much preferred Wives and Daughters (my favourite Gaskell). Completely agree with you on your preferred version of Jane Eyre. I am a Trollope fan and re-watched He Knew He Was Right recently and I love this adaptation. I did enjoy The Way We Live Now, but I seem to remember there was a change to a part of the story, which I found unnecessary and irritating at the time, but I can't remember what it was now. Both Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House are also favourites of mine. There was an earlier Bleak House, from the 1980's I think, which I remember enjoying, but I haven't seen it again since then. I will continue to work my way through your back catalogue.
Love this! I haven't seen nearly as many adaptations as you have, so I'll have to check some of these out (especially Wives and Daughters - once I've finished the book!). My favorite Victorian adaptations are the more recent Far From the Madding Crowd (I think Carey Mulligan is so good in it, but I do see what you mean about it being too short to do full justice to the book). And I know lots of people love the 2006 Jane Eyre miniseries, but I will go to the mat for the Cary Fukunaga Jane Eyre film with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender - ugh, I love it so much, and the scene where he's begging her not to leave killlllls me. I also just remembered that Villette has never been adapted into a film, which is especially upsetting because I've spent two years trying to dreamcast that movie/miniseries and would be happy to brainstorm it with the BBC team! 😂
Even worse, Villette was actually adapted into a screen adaptation in like the 1980s but all records of it have been lost forever and the footage is gone - it is unbelievably gutting! The Wives and Daughters adaptation is brilliant, so I hope you like it. I have seen the Jane Eyre 2011 film, but it just doesn't match the 2006 one for me, probably because I saw the 2006 first!
I think I saw that when I was trying to figure out if there was a Villette screen adaptation - and it's completely wiped from the record - so bizarre! And yes, I do believe that the first Jane Eyre adaptation you discover/adore with will always be your true love, and all the other ones will just St. Johns in comparison ;)
Andrew Davies wrote adaptations of two George Eliot novels that I really enjoyed watching. Middlemarch from 1994 starred Juliet Aubrey, Rufus Sewell, Jonathan Firth, and Treyvn McDowell among many others. I felt the actors did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. When I reread Middlemarch this year, I saw these faces as I read. Mr. Davies also did a wonderful job with Daniel Deronda in 2002. Hugh Dancy plays the titular character - and I thought he was brilliant. I also loved Jodhi May as Mirah. Thank-you for your list - because you like all the ones I also like and I've not seen the adaptations of Trollop you mention - nor Bleak House - I have some new ones to see. I realize you made this six years ago and I am late to the party - but I still enjoyed this very much.
Thanks! And yes, I really enjoyed both of those adaptations. George Eliot isn't my favourite Victorian writer, and I have to say, I slightly preferred those adaptations to the original novels! Andrew Davies is a great adaptor. I cannot recommend the Bleak House adaptation enough - such a wonderful watch.
I want to see the newest David Copperfield, but now I have to watch that 2001 mini series! Seeing a commercial of that version of The Way we Live Now is how I found out about it. I love that adaptation of Jane Eyre, but I have a soft spot for the 2011. Wish I had my copy of North and South, but I gave it to my aunt and she's in another state, so until I can safely visit her sadly I don't have it to watch. I have quite a bit to watch it seems.
I loved the BBC adaptations of Little Dorrit, Bleak House, Our Mutual Friend, Jane Eyre and of course North and South (though I have to say I've only read Jane Eyre out of these, plus Our Mutual Friend which I'm now reading for the first time in your readalong). North and South also has one of my favourite soundtracks ever; I'm so mad it was never officially released! I also love the Jane Eyre movie with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender, even though it is a little inaccurate, just because the cinematography and the soundtrack are so beautiful, though I agree that Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson were the ultimate Rochester and Jane. Another one that I love (if it counts) is the 2002 The Importance of Being Earnest movie, with Colin Firth and Rupert Everett. I've yet to see the David Copperfield one with baby Daniel, and I've been meaning to for literally more than a decade, ever since my early Potterhead days!
You must watch David Copper with baby Daniel! He's so good and so tiny. I love the Importance of Being Earnest film too. I'd like to rewatch the Jane Eyre 2011 film, as I like both of the actors, even though they won't ever be Jane and Rochester for me as much as Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson :)
Loved this! Was planning to read in bed after an extra long day at work but now want to watch one of your picks. Maybe Cranford? I could use a laugh! As I was watching, kept wondering, "Is she going to pick North and South" Yes! 🤓
This is such a wonderful video. Your enthusiasm is positively contagious. I came here out of curiosity because of this year's Victober screen adaptation challenge, and I'm leaving with a whole list of adaptations to watch (only of the books I've read 😉) this year. Thanks for providing such thoughtful reviews!
Thanks for the video, but it looks like you've got some years wrong. The Way We Live Now is from 2001, not 2006, He Knew He Was Right - 2004, David Copperfield - 1999 and Cranford - 2007.
Oh my gosh! I thought Daniel Radcliffe broke into acting through HP!! How had I not heard of that movie and that he'd previously worked alongside Maggie Smith!?
My age makes a big difference - by the time these were made, I had read most of these books several times, and my criterion for judging an adaptation is its closeness to the book. So - while I like the casting in the 2006 Jane Eyre, there are two earlier adaptations in 1973 and 1983 that are much truer to the book, reproducing more of the dialog - the 1973 version is almost completely verbatim (including voice-over narration) and includes little things no other adaptation does. Also Jane would never have lain on the same bed with Rochester without being married to him, even without the other wife. As it is, the scene in the 2006 version is grotesque. The earlier ones do more with the childhood and St. John Rivers episodes as well. There is a 1976 adaptation of Our Mutual Friend with Jane Seymour as Bella that includes some things the more modern one leaves out, like Bella and Lizzie sitting together and confiding in each other after Betty Higden's death. You'd probably like that one too. Also, Lady Deadlock forever will be Diana Rigg for me. I agree with you about He Knew He Was Right and Wives and Lovers and Little Dorritt (definitely a favorite). I love the North and South adaptation, but miss the book's ending.
I do really need to dwell into some of the 1970s and 1980s adaptations. I've seen the 1980s Bleak House and North South, both of which I enjoyed, but I'd like to see the earlier Jane Eyres, Our Mutual Friend. I always find it really interesting to compare how different adaptations adapt the book.
I just got the DVD of the 1983 Jane Eyre and watched the whole thing. Things this version does better than others: 1. The timeline at Gateshead - Jane doesn't go straight to Lowood after the red room incident. They include her fainting and the kindness of the doctor and her traveling alone. Two whole episodes are about Jane's life before Thornfield. 2. Lowood - Pretty much everything about Lowood is included, so we have Miss Temple feeding Jane and Helen, writing to the doctor to confirm Jane's version of the story, we have the inedible breakfast, the typhus. Strangely we don't have Jane crawling into bed with Helen and Helen's death. We have Miss Temple marrying. There is more of Jane grown up at Lowood that is not in the book. 3. Adele's relationship with Rochester. I don't like versions where they he is affectionate with her. 4. Jane's time wandering on the moors after leaving her parcel on the coach. This is very powerfully done, with the incidents depicted in some detail. And Jane goes to Moor House but is shut out by Hannah, rather than St. John finding her passed out on the moor, which I find more plausible. 5. The relationship with Diana and Mary and with St. John. In general, this version pays much more attention to Jane's life away from Thornfield, which is a definite strength. However, Timothy Dalton is just too good looking. When he asks Jane if she finds him handsome, it's just not believable that she would say no while we are looking at his profile.
What did you think of the 60s film version of FFTMC. I saw the DVD with Julie Christie in HMV and wondered whether it was worth seeing. I did not like the Carey Mulligan version so much. There was what I thought was a good BBC radio version of FFTMC, but it disappeared off the BBC website before I could listen to it. I fancy that Little Dorrit DVD; Claire Foy is a fab actress. McFadden was wrong in TWWLN, he was too sympathetic. The 1980s version of Bleak House with Diana Rigg was better (except Mr Guppy). I saw the 80s version of The Woman In White on RU-vid; that was good.
I have seen the 1980s version of Bleak House as well, which I like, but I love the newer one more (partly, I think, because pre-1990s costume dramas tend to look dated to me, just because they're from before my era.) I must confess that I really didn't like the 1960s film of Far from the Madding Crowd, although possibly the very clearly 1960s haircuts put me off. Troy was wildly out of character in it.
Could you do a vid ranking Xmas Carol screen adaptations? There are certainly no shortage of them. More VicLit goodness. :-) What's the best from '09-'17 & pre-1998? Certainly some shows must stand out from the crowd.
Pre-1998, probably the 1994 Middlemarch, which I love, and post 2009, maybe the recent Far from the Madding Crowd. I'd like to see the 2012 Great Expectations film, which I missed (I hated the 2011 TV adaptation.) I haven't actually seen many Christmas Carol adaptations, but luckily another Booktube, has made the precise video you're looking for: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZAig-LhZFMU.html
I'm reading the Picture of Dorian Grey right now. I think you might like the TV show Penny Dreadful. I marathonned it with my dad a few weeks ago and it inspired me to read more Victorian lit. It uses characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Dorian Grey in it. I'd describe it as a thriller/horror series about how outcasts can band together. Somehow it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling despite being pretty vulgar and violent at times.
I do think the tv adaptations help us as teenagers to get into literature :) hehe I watched BBC's Pride and Prejudice at 12-13 and then I went after the book, which by then I didn't even know existed (we don't study English literature in school in Brazil obviously hehe, just Portughese). I loved Bleak House.... I still have to read it though. Jane Eyre I also watched before reading
I'm surprised you didn't mention the greatest tv mini series of all time:1995 Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth Bleak house and little dorritt are my 2 favorite dickens adaptations.But I didn't like Our Mutual friend,the production looked cheap in comparison to BH & OF.
Romola Garai is perfect as Gwendolen, and the Gwendolen story is beautifully done. I had to reassess Hugh Bonneville altogether after seeing him as Grandcourt, though he doesn't look the part - he is chilling. I wish they had done more with the Mirah/Mordecai story.
I am so glad you made this video, Katie! I was actually going to write a comment asking for a video like this. Really well-done adaptations are so great! Now I do have another question for you. Did you ever watch the BBC series Dickensian? If you did, what are your thoughts? It sounds like an interesting concept. It is about to be released soon here in the US, and I knew I could really trust your opinion. Thank you!
Hi! I watched the first half of Dickensian but lost track of it due to busyness at the time - I'd like to get it on DVD and watch it at some point, as I enjoyed many aspects of it. I had a few issues with the way some of the characters were presented but for the most part it was an interesting program and quite fun :)
Books and Things Thank you for your reply, Katie! I do think I'm going to get it on DVD and compare what I know vs what they changed. I hope you are having a lovely Victober, and I'm so glad I'm participating. Also, watching your 'what the Dickens' videos inspired me to read all of his work over the next few months :)
I have indeed. I found it interesting and liked the writing, but it doesn't really effect my reading of Jane Eyre - I can separate them enough I think. What are your thoughts on it?
I was wondering what you thought about the ending of the adaptation of North & South. I don't want to detail it here, but I know you said you don't mind adaptations changing the story if they capture the spirit of the book - do you believe the ending did that?
To a certain extent - I prefer the ending of the book. When I first read the book, having already seen the television adaptation, I found the ending a bit abrupt, but I now much prefer it to the ending of the adaptation. The ending of the adaptation is a bit too hollywood for me, but I still enjoy the visuals of it, and it's very nicely acted, like the rest :)
I agree. When I read the book after watching the movie (probably several times!;), I was shocked at the ending. But after that, when I watched the movie again, I found the ending a bit sappy. I wanted some of the dialog found in the book, where they both actually talk about what was going on! And I was shocked at the beginning - how they changed Thornton's character as well.
You see, I like Tom Hardy in it, but it just isn't Wuthering Heights to me. I just don't think I can handle adaptations of it because I keep being like Nelly Dean wouldn't see that!! and I love the ambiguity of the novel so much!
@@katiejlumsden that's actually a great point! ha! I never thought of that...But I did love the little moments in it and the landscape....it's like a treat for the eyes.
I thought you'd mention Persuasion. Along with TWWLN, Bleak House, Jane Eyre and Little Dorrit I suppose my top 5 is complete. I'm astonished at the way Ms. Havisham has been portrayed in recent adaptations. Very odd.
This is about screen adaptations of Victorian novels, and Persuasion is not Victorian! Which Persuasion do you like? I love the 1997 version but am less fond of the later one.
I've always thought of it as such but I guess you're right. Too early. I like the one with Sally Hawkins. I think she is great plus I like the cinematography. The scenes on the old Tudor stones by the sea. The Bath scenes were done well too. I'm not sure I've read the book, surely I have but I don't specifically recall it for it would have happened ages ago. I just recently bought the Penguin Classics Hardcover Jane Austen set, the one that looks too Girly (sorry) to be read by a hillbilly. But I'm an Jane-o-phile. I like your videos. Thanks!
Amanda Root is a wonderful Anne, but the street scene with the circus is like something out of Fellini. There is an adaptation I just found from 1971 that is much closer to the book and is not badly acted, if you can get over some of the ugliest wigs and gowns ever. The Charles and Mary are perfect.
A video from so long ago, don't know if you will see this comment, but I recommend Jane Eyre with Timothy Dalton as Mr. Rochester. I think it's BBC, but not sure -- loved, loved, loved it!!
I thought the BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre was very underwhelming... I don’t think the actress or actor playing Jane and Rochester truly embodied the book versions of their characters. They also changed way too much of the dialogue :/
I'm surprised; I adore it. I guess I saw the first episode before I read the book, so Ruth Wilson and Toby Stevens have always been Jane and Rochester to me.
I love these adaptations, especially Little Dorrit, Jane Eyre and North and South! Unfortunately I have a problem with the 1998 adaptation of Far From The Madding Crowd, it's extremely faithful to the novel and perfect until the ending. They changed important aspects: Gabriel bringing technology to the farm that can take people's jobs is the most out of character thing I've ever seen; the fact that they choose to show other workers leaving the farm and not only Gabriel creates an impression that Bathsheba is just using him when asking him to stay; their last dialogue doesn't have the witty tone of the book (she never smiles in this version, for example) and the last few seconds with Bathsheba closing the door with that miserable face makes no sense to me. What did you think of these choices?
So, I don't really remember the technology very well, but I love the interpretation of Bathsheba and Gabriel Oak at the end, because to me in the novel the ending is not all completely happy - Bathsheba can be contented with Gabriel, but she'll never feel as passionately about him as Troy, and a bit of her regrets that. That's always been my reading, and I love how the ending of that 1998 adaptation hints at the complicated reasons why Bathsheba chooses Gabriel in the end.
@@katiejlumsden Don't get me wrong, I think the ending is complex, yes. But especially when I read the last paragraph of the penultimate chapter, Hardy seems to defend that a love based on friendship and shared experiences is much more resistant, lasting and superior than a passionate love. Or rather, that a "love" based purely on desire isn't love at all. Especially because her relationship with Troy was very empty and they knew nothing about each other. I have always found it interesting because it challenges the traditional view of romantic love. It seemed to me to exemplify the difference between youthful passion and mature love. But each one with an interpretation, I guess.
I loved the adaptation of North and South so much that when I read the book I was slightly disappointed. I wouldn't say the TV show is perfect, it has its flaws, but it made me feel more than the book did. Because the book came out serialized the pacing is somewhat strange and I couldn't feel the chemistry between Thorton and Margaret so strongly. I still liked the original, but I like the adaptation better. Maybe I'll have to re-read the book later. ^.^
Books and Things Maybe if I haven't seen the adaptation three times and once right before reading the book I would enjoy it better. ^▽^ I know I'll reread the book. I enjoy the writing style of authors from 18-19 century UK and I've been neglecting them for some years now. Time to change it. ^.~
