PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre has updated their broadcast information to announce “The Complete Jane Austen“, a four-month program beginning January 2008 showcasing adaptations for all six novels plus the new biopic Miss Austen Regrets.

The featured adaptations:

• Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion (recently broadcast March 2007 on ITV)
• Sense and Sensibility (new miniseries written by Andrew Davies, currently in production by the BBC)
• Emma (Beckinsale/Strong, recently rebroadcast March 2007 on ITV)
• Pride and Prejudice (1995 Ehle/Firth miniseries)

According to the press release, this is the first time in television history that Jane Austen’s novels have been broadcast as a complete collection.

“Once we sealed the deal on the four new Austen adaptations, we decided we had to complete the package with Emma and Pride and Prejudice,” says MASTERPIECE THEATRE executive producer Rebecca Eaton. “The biopic Miss Austen Regrets is the frosting on the cake: an intimate portrait of the remarkable woman behind these wonderful stories.”

We’re looking forward to it!

Joyce Carol Oates, apparently no friend of Jane herself, thinks Jane Austen’s novels can be cut. Say what?

And let’s say Jane Austen: too many descriptions of furniture and balls and ballroom gowns.

Um…the only gowns we can remember being described are Henry Tilney describing Catherine Morland’s for her “journal entry,” and that was Henry-piffle and therefore Sacred Writ. Cut it at your peril, madam. The other is Fanny Price’s white gown with glossy spots, which Edmund thinks is like one of Mary Crawford’s, and therefore more in the way of characterization than of fashion. As to furniture, the only descriptions we can think of are of the faux-Gothic pieces in Northanger Abbey, and again therefore important to the story, and the description of the Musgrove sisters introducing extra pieces into their parents’ old-fashioned parlor, and again therefore a piece of characterization. As to balls, dancing is one of the few ways that men and women could be together for a bit in Jane Austen’s world.

Seriously, we are extremely disappointed at Ms. Oates’ statement, as it seems to us to be ill-advised and sloppy and we think her capable of much better.

Thanks to Alert Janeites Tony A., Karen L., and Julie T. for sending us the link.

ETA: Check out an update here.

Alert Janeite Helen B. wrote to let us know that the 1940 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is available on Region 2 DVD, but only at Amazon.fr. We could not find it at Amazon.co.uk; if anyone knows of a link, let us know. In the meantime, Region 2 goodness for our Gentle Readers across the pond.

Many of us knew this already, but Alexander McCall Smith, author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency mystery series, chose Pride and Prejudice as one of his “Five Most Important Books.”

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. Austen’s ability to make small things into big things is unequaled.