Kathy Hamilton Sanditon by Jane Austen has delighted and frustrated fans since it was first published- in fragment form. What was this book, which occupied Jane’s final months on Earth, going to be about? Does it hint at the brilliance or decline of its author? Would it focus on Romance or Social Satire? Both?! The bad news is- we’ll never know. The good news? That hasn’t stopped anyone from trying to work it out.
Jane Austen’s Final Work
When Jane Austen died in July 1817 she left behind three books in varying stages of completion. Two of them, Northanger Abbey, a much earlier work, and Persuasion, her final completed novel , were eventually published posthumously. But a third fragment, just over eleven chapters in length, remained. That fragment, now known as Sanditon, has been the focus of lengthy debate and opinion ever since it became available to the public until 1925. Partially because so very little of it was written.
Sandition by Jane Austen could have been, if you believe the critics, the author’s most ambitious, mature and least romantic work. In the tiny portion we have available to us she showed a breadth and scope to her writing that moved her far beyond the provincial settings she is known for today. On the other hand. If you believe E.M Forster. It’s just the tepid ramblings of a bitter spinster overshadowed by the spectre of imminent death. Lovely!
So, What is Sanditon About?
Yet the fascination with Sanditon has endured. At the outset it appears to focus on a tirelessly – and tiresome – enterprising landowner named Mr Parker. His determination to transform the village of Sanditon into a popular watering hole and capitalise on the popularity of towns like Brighton drives the early plot. However, in order to do this he relies on the assistance (monetary of course!) of his neighbour, the wealthy but tightfisted Lady Denham. Thrown into this mix, Charlotte Heywood, Sanditon’s erstwhile heroine observes proceedings with the cool eye of an outsider.
However, before the plot can really begin in earnest Jane was forced, by illness, to put down her pen. Sadly, for everyone, she would never get the chance to pick it up again. This means that from promising beginnings the plot of Sanditon remains open to conjecture. Would it have developed into a George Eliot style epic observation of the up and coming middle classes? Or would she have returned to form in a close reading of human nature. My best guess is a little bit of both.
How to Interpret an Unfinished Book
In typical Jane fashion, she left behind no clues or hints as to where she was going with the book. As a result, no one has ever known quite what to do with it – although many have tried!
The most recent attempt is an upcoming 8-part adaption for ITV written by the award winning screenwriter, Andrew Davies. In case you’re unfamiliar he comes with lofty credentials in Book to TV adaptions. He’s the man behind the 1995 adaption of Pride and Prejudice, with that famous Darcy scene! Now he’s turning his attention to the problem of what to do with Sanditon.
Early indications suggest this adaption of Sanditon is Jane Austen but not as you know her. It looks sumptuously filmed and is packed with a who’s who of British acting talent. Plus with twists and turns of the plot that take viewers from the West Indies to the rotting alleys of London it’s sure to surprise.
Is it really an adaption of Sanditon by Jane Austen?
Now for some reservations. When it comes to Sanditon, can we really ever say anything is a true adaption? Jane Austen left us so little to go by that, when it comes to plot, it really is an open book. Previous attempts to finish Sanditon by Jane Austen have been interesting to say the least. From a plot that descends into a tale of smugglers, pirates and high romance to a modernised mini webseries adaptation set in California. And everything in between!
So, where does the most recent adaptation come in on this sliding scale? I’m not sure. Andrew Davies certainly has the ability to do justice to Austen’s style. However, with comparisons to Downton Abbey and Poldark already being thrown about I’m a little concerned it will trade T.V drama for honest interpreation. Additionally, descriptions of Charlotte as spirited and unconventional and Jane Austen’s “most unconventional” heroine are intriguing, given the scant evidence for this in the original text. Not to be an Austen purist, but I think this might be an attempt to create a heroine that matches our modern ideals rather than one that the author herself might have written. Although wouldn’t it be nice if she had?
Worth watching?
Almost certainly! Reservations aside, I’m excited to see where they go with this adaptation of Sanditon by Jane Austen. With so little to go on script writers will have been able to really get creative with the direction of the plot. I think readers love to hate adaptations because we can enjoy picking holes in them. But Sanditon offers a unique opportunity because none of us know what Jane Austen really had in mind when she was writing. From this perspective, it will be nice to watch a period drama that I haven’t been able to read first! And honestly, what’s better than settling down on an autumn evening to watch a Jane Austen adaptation?
What do you think? Will you be watching the new adaptation of Sanditon by Jane Austen when it airs on ITV later this year?
