Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field: A Novel

Plays on Pride and Prejudice rarely work, and neither does this one. Although the narrative and dialogue were ok, neither of the leading characters were particularly engaging and there were too many minor characters ( seemingly twice what there were as each also had to represent an Austen character). Missed the mark for me.

If you, like me, never get tired of Austen's greatest love story, no matter how many film adaptations you've seen or book adaptations you've read, add this novel to your collection. This is a very witty, romantic, and well-written book that you'll want to savor, but you'll find you simply can't put it down. Henry Noble is a perfect modern Darcy and Jazzy, although perhaps a bit more abrasive here and there than Elizabeth Bennett, makes a charming and believable heroine. All the supporting characters are fleshed out and compelling as well. I loved this book and plan on reading it again.

This most excellent novel from Melissa Nathan is NOT an Austen rewrite - you can hand this to your girlfriends with just as much assurance of enjoyment as one of Sophie Mason's novels (Society Girls/Playing James etc). Thoroughly modern, Jasmin writes a social column and loves to observe others,perpetuating the Austen tradition of acerbic wit and social commentary, whilst having a perfect belief in her own superiority. As a journalist she is innured to the many charms of Stars, and is highly amused when she is invited to take part in an amatuer production of Pride & Prejudice. Harry Noble is directing the production, and as an Oscar winning movie star, Jasmin expects every flaw she sees (and there are many, beginning with his pulling the London Underground to a halt upon their first encounter). When Mr Noble casts Jasmin, her sister, and friends in the play it soon takes over their lives... The delightful irony of the main cast being unable to see their similarity to their roles, and the delightful way the author swims along with the plot as her characters serendipitiously fall in line with Austens original novel. Now other authors could have stomped all over this script, wrecking the humorous and individual flavor, never allowing the plot to blossom. The story accompanies the original & one is constantly delighted in discovering the similarities, for it has such charm on it's own that even anticipating the possible changes, one eagerly anticipates seeing just how true Nathan holds to the original cast & plot. Delightfully done! Kotori 2005

As a retired teacher who has taught PRIDE AND PREJUDICE several times and who considers it one of the greatest of all novels, I found this modern tale to be a delightfully clever reworking of the familiar plot. The device of placing the characters in the cast of a theatrical adaptation of Austen's novel works very well. Of course, those familiar with the original will know in general what is coming, but Ms. Nathan is quite skillful in creating a fine balance; the correlation of incidents is clear, but the transfer to modern situations gives them a new twist which is both believable and unexpected. There is plenty of originality in the plot to keep it from being just a copy.The dialogue is witty and fresh. The characters are well drawn, especially Jasmin/Lizzy, Harry/Darcy, and George/Jane. The development of the relationship between Jazz and Harry, while predictably following Austen's model, is well-motivated and consistent with the personalities and backgrounds of the two main characters. Those who are familiar with PRIDE AND PREJUDICE will certainly get more from Nathan's novel, but there is no reason why it should not be very enjoyable to those who know nothing of the original plot. My main problem while I was reading the novel was the temptation to look ahead and skim later passages to see how the author was going to handle certain key situations that I knew were coming. I hope that readers of this work will be led to read (or reread) Austen.

When New Brit chick lit collides with classical English literature, you must find this book after the dust settles. Jazz is the new Lizzie Bennett, and Harry Noble is perfect as Mr. Darcy. Mellissa Nathan brings to light not just the most obvious, but also the subtle characteristics of Austen's characters.Jazz and her sister and best friend audition for a new production of P & P, directed by the great Harry Noble, actor extrodinaire. An initial overheard conversation sets Jazz's opinion of him firmly. Her sisters, George and Josie, the handsome and charming Wills, Harry's best friend Jack, Jazz's best friend Mo, and a oily former colleague complete the books cast of characters, and correspond perfectly with P & P charaters.I don't think that Nathan either watered down or fudged the original story. Jazz and Harry are as strong as Lizzie and Darcy, only the setting changed. Even the sense of humor was as subtle and clever as Austen's own. Definately a must-buy.

I love Jane Austen, but I'm not the type of fan that automatically looks upon the authors of the sequels and adaptations as automatically evil. This book makes no pretense about trying to be anything other than what it is, which isn't deep earth shattering literature. But it's good. If you like Pride and Prejudice, and the BBC miniseries, and you look on this type of adaptation thing as a testament to the universiality of the book, rather than with immediate disdain, then go for it. I thought it was very well updated for the times, and I could very easily see Jazz being exactly a modern day Lizzie. I read it rather quickly, and though he's not Darcy, I found the Harry Noble character very appealing. So if you're a Austen fan with an open mind, I would definitely say go for it.