We’re taking the Fifth
Several Alert Janeites sent us the news that Andrew Davies, “adapter” of several Jane Austen novels for the small screen, was the victim of Dog Rage.
Mr Davies told how he had tried to defend his timid rescue dog Daisy – an adult mongrel who looks like an alsatian puppy – from the snarling bull terriers.
“I drove one of them off,” he said. “I shouted, ‘Go on! Get out of it!’ and sort of aimed a kick at it, which was never really meant to connect, and didn’t.
“The dog got the message and went off. But his owner shouted, ‘Don’t you ******* touch my dog!’ and ran up and headbutted me and punched me in the eye.
“It knocked me clean off my feet. He was a big guy and I am quite little.”
There is no truth to the rumor that said thug shouted “JUSTICE FOR JANE AUSTEN!” as he took down Mr. Davies. No truth at all, because we’re starting the rumor right here. 
Since Mr. Davies seems to be recovering well, we wish to sincerely commend him on his defense of his doggie! She looks like a sweetie. Thanks to Alert Janeites Lisa, Patty, Laurel Ann, and Maria L.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:59 am
He added: “I wish I’d had my sword with me – or a riding whip.”
He must have adapted too many period dramas…
April 14th, 2008 at 11:10 am
“As the assailants ran off, one was heard to shout back over his shoulder “And THAT’S for Fanny Price!” ”
(Really awful thing to be snarking about. Glad he’s recovering.)
April 14th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Fanny Price? Davies didn’t have a thing to do with the recent MP.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Where is my brain! Well, substitute George Emerson.
April 14th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Yes, if he’d done Mansfield Park, we would have seen Maria and Crawford in full flagrante delicto and he would have found an excuse to show Billie Piper naked with Edmund watching….
Still I wish him a speedy recovery and he gets points for having a mongrel.
April 14th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Some rumours are worth spreading ;-D LOL!!
But I sincerely wish him speedy recovery.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Very entertaining information (I mean rumors) lol
Hope he gets well soon.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
My friend who works as a marketing director for an opera company watched The Complete Jane Austen and remarked that “she always knew that critics were dogs”!
Best wishes for a quick recovery Mr. Davies.
Cheers, Laurel Ann
April 15th, 2008 at 12:37 am
I feel guilty for LOLing, but I couldn’t help mself. Hope he feels better soon.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:46 am
If he really had been badly hurt, I wouldn’t have posted snark, but he’s well enough to pose for the newspapers, he’s well enough to tease.
April 15th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Laural Ann
>“she always knew that critics were dogs”!
Which ones - the mongrel or the *other* ones?
These snarks are in true JA style !!
Anyone familiar with her letters would know that. LOL!!
I know, I know the letters were for Cassandra’s eyes only - but *I* have read them
April 16th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
You people are despicable. This is an entirely inappropriate thing to laugh about, no matter what the outcome.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
You’re so right.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
It never ceases to amaze me how people can call themselves Jane Austen fans and so totally fail to have anything resembling a sense of humor.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
You think there is something humorous about an elderly gentleman being attacked and beaten up? Singular.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:43 am
No, I think it’s humorous that several of the people who sent in the link jokingly suggested that an enraged Janeite was the culprit. But without a sense of humor, one would, of course, miss the finer gradations of a joke.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Relax anonymous!!
Some people live in a world where they see the multidimensional aspect of things while acknowledging the flat one dimensional situations like sorrow, tragedy and catastrophies.
Quote from Emma ch 7;
One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.”
Just consider yourself from the other half and we’ll say no more
- unless you want to