You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you

Pride and Prejudice Adaptations

Confession: I didn’t finish the book I said I was going to read for the Austen challenge this month. The writing was excellent. The setting was intriguing. But for a variety of reasons, it turned out this was not the book for me.

In my day job, I’m a librarian. And in the library world, there’s something known as the “Five Laws of Librarianship” which were developed by library pioneer S.R. Ranganathan. Over the years, I’ve found the Five Laws helpful to my work. They give a framework for how to view libraries and library collections, and they serve as good reminders of why we do the things we do as librarians. But I’ve also found that the principles behind them impact me as a reader. Most notably, the second Law—Every reader their book—has influenced my approach to finishing and/or quitting a book. If a book is not for me, I stop reading.

Fortunately, Pride and Prejudice has so many adaptations that I was able to find another one quickly. One that was the right book at the right time for me.

I picked up Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa the same weekend that the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film hit theaters for its 20^th anniversary re-release. This was my first time seeing the 2005 adaptation, and while I am still a Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle devotee, Matthew Macfadyen can walk through the mist to tell Elizabeth he loves her any time. Suffice it to say, it was an excellent weekend.

Novoa’s adaptation takes a unique look at the Pride and Prejudice source material. Instead of Elizabeth Bennet, we meet Oliver Bennet, a trans boy navigating the expectations of early 19^th Century marriage politics. Novoa handles Oliver’s journey with deft grace. The fears Oliver has regarding discovery of his true self are real, but the love and care Oliver ultimately receives leave the reader with a sense of hopefulness.

Because I can’t get enough Pride and Prejudice in my life, what other adaptations are you reading? Suggest them below!

Up Next

In May, I’m reading Mansfield Park for the first time. The adaptation I plan to read in June is This Motherless Land by Nikki May

Writing Update

The Spreadsheet Situation has a publication date! Look for more information on my author Substack or follow me on Threads and Bluesky!