Jane Austen Boxset

Jane Austen Boxset

Triple bill of television adaptations based on novels by Jane Austen. In 'Mansfield Park' (2007), at 10, Fanny Price (Billie Piper) goes to live at Mansfield Park, the estate of her aunt's husband, Sir Thomas (Douglas Hodge). Clever, studious, and a writer with an ironic imagination and fine moral compass, Fanny becomes especially close to her cousin Edmund (Blake Ritson), Thomas's younger son.

Fanny is soon possessed of beauty as well as a keen mind and comes to the attention of a neighbour, Henry Crawford (Joseph Beattie). Sir Thomas promotes this match, but to his displeasure, Fanny has a mind of her own, asking Henry to prove himself worthy. In 'Northanger Abbey' (2007), Catherine Moreland (Felicity Jones), a spirited young beauty from the country, enters into the depraved society of Bath with dreams and fantasies sparked by her love of gothic romance novels.

There she meets two men vying for her affection - the dashing and jealous John Thorpe (William Beck) and the gentle and sincere Henry Tilney (J. J. Field). Despite the advice of her mischievous new friend Isabella (Carey Mulligan), Catherine treats neither as more than a dear friend.

That is until Catherine accepts an invitation to Northanger Abbey from Henry's grave and severe father, General Tilney (Liam Cunningham). In 'Emma' (1997), Kate Beckinsale stars as the eponymous heroine who is intent on finding partners for everyone - but only if she thinks they are the right coupling. Her efforts create confusion, and the outspoken Mr Knightly pours scorn on her matchmaking - although he may have ulterior motives for doing so.