Ready for something fun? We’re enjoying the delightful (and hilarious!) story of Jane Austen’s Emma, just for the sheer pleasure of it.

Haven’t read it? Don’t have time to read it just now?

Get familiar with this hilarious story of Jane Austen’s by watching a movie version, and listen to award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig and I talk all about it.

Ken is one of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic people I know when it comes to Jane Austen, and this time together is bound to delight and inspire.

It’s an hour just for you, Mama, so put a movie on for your kids and pour something sweet to tune in!

🗣 WHO: Ken Ludwig is the award-winning playwright of both Lend Me a Tenor and Crazy for You. He’s had 6 shows on Broadway and 7 in London’s West End, has won several Tony and Olivier Awards, and his work has been performed in over 30 countries around the world.

He’s also the author of a book Sarah loves to use with her kids, How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare.

More about the movie versions:

Here are a few movies to choose from.

If you only watch one, both Ken and Sarah recommend the BBC series. The goal is to simply familiarize yourself with the story, so have fun with this!

2009 BBC TV Series (Highly Recommended – we both love this one!)

This series, split into four one-hour segments starring Romola Garai, is especially well done. Find it on Amazon (currently $4.99 to purchase the streaming version of all four episodes). Rated TV-PG


2020 Focus Features Film (New – Ken loved it, Sarah… didn’t 😉)

This new film starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, and Billy Nighy, has been released early from theaters. Does it live up to our hopes? We’ll discuss it at our Special Event. Rent it on Amazon, YouTube, or Google Play for $19.99. Rated PG

1996 Miramax Film

The movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collette, and Alan Cumming. Rent it for $3.99 on Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, or Google Play. Rated PG

If you fall in love…

Not quite ready to leave Highbury after the movie ends? We understand. Try listening to one of these wonderful audiobook versions:

Audible Original Drama (Highly Recommended – both Ken & Sarah love this one!)

Narrated by Emma Thompson and a cast of five others, this 8-hour drama is available here on Audible. Listen to the sample and you may very well be hooked!

Naxos Audiobook (Full Text, Unabridged)

If you’d like a full, unabridged audio version of Emma, Ken recommends this one, narrated by Juliet Stevenson. Find it here on Audible.

Links:

Everything Sarah and Ken mentioned during the hour-long conversation is linked here:

More free resources and booklists

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