Scrolling through the “guide” on my television the other day, in dire need of pure entertainment, I came upon the 2005 Pride and Prejudice, though barely recognizable by its description – it read:
A convoluted courtship begins between a young woman and
the handsome friend of a wealthy bachelor.
And thus a major classic of the English language reduced to sixteen words, with nary a mention of Jane Austen, not to mention Elizabeth or Mr. Darcy! I was quite sure I had slipped off the guide into the Hallmark Channel!
If you had the assignment to do a write-up on any of Austen’s novels in 16 words or less, what would you write?? [I was asked this once in a radio interview and I had a complete brain-cramp and froze up, not my greatest life moment! – one should always be prepared for such a question, don’t you think?]
So Gentle Readers, please comment with your capsule of Austen! – think Twitter but even shorter…
Jane Austen in Vermont 
Sense and Sensibility:
Two sisters, quite unlike in dignity, love men who are not allowed to requite them.
Persuasion:
Age grants wisdom to Anne and proximity grants self-knowledge to Frederick so that they wed at last.
Northanger Abbey:
Wistful, wishful neo-Gothic quasi-heroine is enthralled in a feigned mystery but is loved anyway. The End.
Emma:
Highbury Society leader makes matches for everyone but herself. Her Knightley offers an Abbey and love.
Pride and Prejudice:
First impressions having skewed perceptions, Darcy and Elizabeth court almost by accident until they are betrothed.
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Wow Sandi! where were you during that radio interview!
Thank you for your very short words of wisdom!
Deb
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I won’t even begin to try to outdo Sandi. What fabulous “briefs”!!
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Oh come on Marcia, I know you are better than that – you can come up with something!
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Sandy WINS!!!!
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Here are my contributions. I was inspired by the idea of what might appeal to attention-deficient channel-surfing viewers…
Northanger Abbey:
An over-imaginative teenage girl romances an earnest preacher, despite the objections of his pompous military father.
Persuasion:
After making the biggest mistake of her life, Ann Eliot is given one more chance to find love.
Sense & Sensibility:
Adrift after their father’s death, two sisters each make bad choices about men.
Emma:
A wealthy young amateur matchmaker finally meets her match in an older family friend.
Price & Prejudice:
Elizabeth has always relied on her first impressions — until a haughty ultra-rich suitor arrives in town.
Mansfield Park:
An impoverished girl moves in with wealthy relations, but is challenged by the family’s freewheeling ways.
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Silent Doug wins!!!!! Doug you shouldn’t be silent…LOL! I think that was perfection!!!
Sandi, your was very good too but you give away the end of the story – not good for a movie description!
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Thank you Doug! These are wonderful – the TV industry needs you!
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Emma
Flighty young thing is surprisingly well rewarded for meddling in the lives of others.
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Hahaha! Excelent Joe!
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Very nice Joe! – are you really surprised that Emma is so well-rewarded in the end??
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