Alert Janeites SylviaM and Patrizia sent us word that Rupert Penry-Jones will play Captain Wentworth in Persuasion 2007. Sylvia also found out that Anthony Head (yes, Giles on Buffy) will play Sir Walter Elliot. (We know quite a few Janeites who also love Buffy so this will be delightful news to them, we are sure!)

“Altered beyond his knowledge.” Anne fully submitted, in silent, deep mortification. Doubtless it was so, and she could take no revenge, for he was not altered, or not for the worse. She had already acknowledged it to herself, and she could not think differently, let him think of her as he would. No: the years which had destroyed her youth and bloom had only given him a more glowing, manly, open look, in no respect lessening his personal advantages. She had seen the same Frederick Wentworth.

*fans self*

More? You want more? Oh, all right!

There was a momentary expression in Captain Wentworth’s face at this speech, a certain glance of his bright eye, and curl of his handsome mouth, which convinced Anne, that instead of sharing in Mrs. Musgrove’s kind wishes, as to her son, he had probably been at some pains to get rid of him; but it was too transient an indulgence of self-amusement to be detected by any who understood him less than herself; in another moment he was perfectly collected and serious, and almost instantly afterwards coming up to the sofa, on which she and Mrs. Musgrove were sitting, took a place by the latter, and entered into conversation with her, in a low voice, about her son, doing it with so much sympathy and natural grace, as shewed the kindest consideration for all that was real and unabsurd in the parent’s feelings.

Here is a link to a Rupert Penry-Jones fansite with a lovely gallery. Swoon away, you naval enthusiasts (and you know who you are).

(Although it occurs to us that perhaps we should not get too excited, for the news has not been verified anywhere that we can see. It could have been an overzealous fan sending in the news to the IMDB. We are treating this as an unconfirmed rumor for the nonce. Remember Orlando Bloom’s sister playing Charlotte Lucas? That was on IMDB, too.) ETA August 31: See comments–Clerkenwell Films site now confirms Sally Hawkins, Penry-Jones and Julia Davis (possibly Miss Elliot?) in the cast.

Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot’s character; vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held in society. He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot, who united these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect and devotion.

Here is his official site, which confirms his role in the film on the News page. Tony is so totally going to rock in this role, in our not so humble opinion. But do you think he might need to rouge a bit in daylight hours? *falls over laughing at own wit*

Dorothy: pass out the sporks and have the Tullamore Dew ready to hand. Andrew Davies talks NA 2007 in the Telegraph, and we have developed a throbbing pain directly above our left eye.

He believes the Austen novel, written in 1798, gives him “the opportunity for a little bit of discreet nudity”. He has Catherine unclothed in a bath scene in which one of her admirers “happens to catch a glimpse of her naked, tipping a bucket of water over herself after a hard ride” - and there is, naturally, “a stirring of the loins”.

Oh, we’ll just bet.

Davies said that while Pride and Prejudice, because of its dense plotting, was “quite a fiendish bit of compression”, Northanger Abbey was “very straightforward”.

Depends on your definition of “straightforward,” one supposes.

He also admits to “taking the liberty” of imagining one scene. This is when Catherine’s rather false friend, Isabella, goes off with Capt Frederick Tilney, who is a bit of a rogue with beautiful young women and a serial seducer. In the book Austen does not spell out what happened to them.

Davies said: “I was quite sure that the captain would regard her as a silly girl that he knew for certain he could get into bed.” So he wrote in a seduction scene.

What, is he kidding? Isabella Thorpe give it up to anyone without her marriage lines? She’s much too cunning for that. In fact, we would think that might be why Freddy got bored with her.

He said that adapting Northanger Abbey and Tipping the Velvet were quite similar in that it could be done in the way the book was laid out.

COULD be, yes. (she said sardonically)

With Austen, he said, there was often a “very discreet back story” that she invented to comply with the conventions of her time. “It contains quite a number of seductions. Not exactly rape, but a certain number of abductions of under-age girls with a hint at all kinds of rude things. She never actually writes the scenes. You just sort of hear about them.”

Sir, with all due respect: what the hell are you talking about?

For the five thousandth time–please pay attention! NORTHANGER ABBEY IS A PARODY OF GOTHIC MELODRAMA. A PARODY!

No one was abducted, no one was seduced. There were little faux abductions (such as John Thorpe whisking Catherine away from her date with Henry Tilney and then the General whisking her away to the Abbey under Thorpe’s nose) but we take pains to point out that Catherine went WILLINGLY on these occasions. They are little in-jokes meant as a wink at books such as Ann Radcliffe’s that employ such devices. There is a rich mine of comedy in the book that Mr. Davies seems bent on ignoring in quest of titillation, and while we are no prude by a long shot, we think that he should be ashamed of himself for that if nothing else.

Thanks to ever-Alert Janeites HeatherL, KelleyB, and SylviaM for sending the link.

The Winterthur Museum in Delaware will be holding a Jane Austen Day on Sunday, October 15, 2006.

Immerse yourself in the world of author, Jane Austen. Learn about the etiquette of taking tea, listen to selections of her novels, and try a letter box hunt through the garden. Fans will love hearing Elizabeth Steele, of the North American Jane Austen Society, present “Jane Austen, Mistress of Irony.” And more!

Admission to this event is included with general admission.

Elizabeth Steele is the regional coordinator of the Eastern Pennsylvania/Delaware Valley Region of JASNA and a Friend of AustenBlog. We are certain that her talk will be excellent.

Visitors to Winterthur at that time may also see costumes from the 1995 film adaptation of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY at the “Fashion in Film” exhibition.