By Bernie Bell.

We’ve recorded, and are watching, ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ series on BBC 1.   It’s an adaptation of the novel of the same name by  Janice Hadlow based on characters in ‘Pride & Prejudice’  by Jane Austen.

I wondered what I’d make of it, as I very much appreciate and like Jane Austen’s  writing.

There have been various film and television adaptations of Pride & Prejudice, including some which place the story in different times – different eras – but the theme and the tale is always of pride and prejudice.  I see it as the original Rom-com.  Couple are attracted to each other – a mis-understanding arises and is solved – happy ending.

This television series tells the tale through the voice and viewpoint of Mary, the middle Bennet sister.  To paraphrase the beginning of ‘Pride & Prejudice’…

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that being  a middle child can be a bit of a bugger.”

In Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice we don’t get to see or hear much of Mary, who is presented as being dull, ‘bookish’ and a bit of a shadowy figure.

In ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ she takes centre stage and her dull bookishness transforms into a thinking young woman who reads history and philosophy.

There are refences to the original ‘Pride & Prejudice’, which are pleasing to pick up on – but the voice is Mary’s  – a voice which is strong enough to be heard over the clamour of her mother and sisters.

Ruth Jones and Richard E. Grant are most excellent as Mrs. & Mr. Bennet.  From the first scene, which plays true to the novel, I thought they were a very good choice.  Alison Steadmn as Mrs Bennet is a hard act to follow

…but Ruth Jones, so far, fits the part well.

The snobbery, pride and prejudice come into play in a slightly different way in this version of the story.  In the novel, we don’t hear of what becomes of Mary or Kitty.  Presumably, as their sisters have made advantageous marriages, they live with them as dependants when they have to leave their parent’s house.  We’ve only watched the first episode, but I get the impression that Mary – the Mary of this version of the story – wouldn’t be prepared to settle for that.  I can see her cocking a snook at her proud, prejudiced family and going her own way.  I hope so – and I hope she does so with the young Optician, who isn’t  ’A Gentleman’ but who is a gentle man.

We’ll have to watch and wait and see what happens, as we don’t go in for  binge watching or watching streaming things

There are other examples of stories told from the viewpoint of less central characters.  ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ by Jean Rhys is the story of Mrs. Rochester, the mad woman in the attic who obliges the main characters by getting burnt to death so that Mr. Rochester can marry Jane Eyre.  Dreadful people.

And there’s the ‘Journal of Mrs. Pepys’ by Sara George.  Samuel Pepys is well-known as a diarist  – this book gives Mrs. Pepys version of their life together, and makes interesting reading.

Two things about  ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ which I find disconcerting are….Mary looks like Harry Potter and Withnail has turned into the grouchy Mr. Bennett.  Though –  strangely enough – I can see that happening!