It starts as a lark for Jasmin Field, the charming, acerbically witty columnist for a national women's magazine. She joins a host of celebraties gathering in London to audition for the season's most dazzling charity event: a one-night only stage production of Jane Austen's immortal Pride and Prejudice, directed by and starring the Academy Award — winning Hollywood heartthrob Harry Noble. And nobody is more surprised than Jasmin herself when she lands the lead of handsome Harry's love interest, Elizabeth Bennet. But things start to go very wrong very quickly. Ms. Field's delicious contempt for the arrogant, overbearing Harry Noble goes from being wicked fun to infuriating. Her brief moment of theatrical glory looks as if it's going to be overshadowed by the betrayal of her best friend, the disintegration of her family and the implosion of her career. And suddenly she can't remember a single one of her lines. But, worst of all, Harry Noble — who, incidentally, looks amazing in tight breeches — has started to stare hard at Jazz with that sort of a glimmer in his eyes...
Fresh, wild, wonderfully romantic and absolutely hilarious, Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field is Jane Austen as the great lady herself never imagined it.
The tube train was stifling and packed. Jasmin Field-- Jazz to her friends -- couldn't read her book because someone's entire body was in her private space. Pinned to the door, she shut her eyes and imagined a cool breeze gently nudging a weeping willow as she swung lazily in her hammock. Somewhere 'in the distance a woodpigeon cooed and the smell of freshly cut grass wafted by. She smiled drowsily and hoped she wouldn't have to move a muscle ever again.
Then the man next to her farted and the moment was lost.
'It's Harry Noble!' shrieked someone suddenly and the squash eased as a mass of sticky bodies shot to where the words had come from. Jazz was grateful for the extra room. The train had been stuck in the station now for ten minutes -- some poor bastard had fainted in the front carriage apparently. Jazz was certainly no Harry Noble groupie, but she was grateful to him because now at least she could move her book up into the right position and start reading again.
Then, as one, the entire carriage moved to the widows. Not a word was spoken, of course -- this was the London Underground -- but a silent, almost mystic power of understanding bound everyone together. It's a common enough phenomenon when a mass of people all repress the same emotions -- in this case, exhaustion, resentment and fascination -- and it's one that happens every second of every day on the tube. But this time it was 'increased to the nth degree and you could almost hear it buzzing. Jazz looked up from her book and watched in wonder.
And then there he was.
Unbelievably, Harry Noble strode past them all, just a foot away, down West Hampstead Station'snow empty platform. It was like being in a film. No one made a sound, they all just stared at him as he walked, elegant and tall, his neck straight, his eyes fixed ahead, to the exit. He was beautiful. Jazz was sure his lips were moving, as if he were talking to himself. He could have been on a desert island he was so wholly unaware of his audience. So this was the real reason the doors were still shut, surmised jazz. No fainting passenger, just a famous one, who expected star treatment wherever he went. Suddenly, one young woman could hold back no longer -- even if she was on the London Underground. She didn't care, dammit. She banged on her bit of the window and screamed, 'HARRY!' in a voice fill of longing and heartache.
He didn't even turn his head. His eyes kept staring straight ahead, as if no one was there.
'HARRY!' came more voices, plaintive and hoarse.
Eventually, ever so slowly, he turned his majestic head and smiled a curt smile. And then everyone forgot their reserve. Now every carnage took its turn shouting, banging on windows and squealing as he passed them by. It was like a Mexican soundwave of passion and loss. It was quite moving, thought Jazz. And Harry Noble, of the illustrious Noble theatrical dynasty, heart-throb English actor who had gone to Hollywood and got an Oscar for his troubles, had the decency to look touched. He even winked at one girl who caught his dark, brooding eye.
And then he was gone.
There was silence for a moment and then, miracle of miracles, commuters actually started talking to each other.
'Oh my God, he's even more gorgeous in real life!'
'He winked at me! He winked at me!'
'I think I'm going to faint!'
'My daughter won't believe this!'
'He winked at me! Did you see him wink at me!'
Jazz marvelled that these people, who had unwittingly been kept in a stuffy, enclosed space for fifteen hellish minutes just so that one man could get out faster and easier than them, could make such fools of themselves. He's just a man, thought Jazz. A man who has to go to the toilet like them, who gets headaches, verrucas and wind.
Her smile widened as she wondered what these people would say if they knew she was actually about to meet the pompous twat. And with that thought, she returned to her book. Ten minutes later, the doors finally opened and the train haemorrhaged its dazed and sweaty passengers onto the platform.
Once out of the Underground, Jazz walked to the monstrous Gothic church at the end of a nearby road. She was meeting Mo, her flatmate, and Georgia, her elder sister, at the audition, and couldn't have moved fast in the hot, airless atmosphere engulfing north London if she'd wanted to. There was no sign of the famous Harry Noble. He must have been picked up by a limousine, she thought. Shame she hadn't been able to catch up with him -- she'd have cadged a lift.
Much more of a shame, though, was the fact that she wasn't in the least bit nervous about doing this stupid audition. It would have made excellent copy for her column: she always wrote well about suffering from nerves. But she just couldn't work up a sweat about performing in front of the great Harry Noble, the director of what was intended to be the celebrity fundraising theatrical experience of the millennium -- Pride and Prejudice, An Adaptation. She'd tried, but it was all too ridiculous. So there would be no self-deprecating humour about sweaty palms and a faltering voice. Damn. Not for the first time, Jazz cursed the fact that she could never write what wasn't true.
She was glad that she wasn't going to tomorrow's audition, which was for the steaming masses. Today's was for specially selected actors, writers and personalities as well as anyone lucky enough to be personally invited by one. As a journalist, Jazz fitted into the second category, and had...
Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field. Copyright © by Melissa Nathan. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.Anonymous
Posted June 26, 2008
I have seen three film versions of Pride and Prejudice, have read two spin-offs, and have read the original Austen. Ms. Nathan is very witty, and the story unfolds in a beautifully modern adaption. Changing the story enough so it fits in the modern world, yet retaining the main plot, Ms. Nathan has produced a work that should be cherished and read time and time again.
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Posted March 10, 2008
i have read many pride and prejudice adaptations and this is by far the best, one of the few i plan to keep. it is similar to the layout and storyline of the original book, including set in england, but with modern twists. it does not focus on just the play and lets you hear the thoughts of the other main characters, enough to keep you satisfied. wonderful book, easy read.
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Posted June 23, 2004
This book has become one of my favorite contemporary novels. As a big fan of P&P, I stumbled upon this book and have been delighted on the twist the author takes on the classic story. My first assumption was that this book would be entirely about the characters involvement and interaction with a production of P&P. But I was delighted to discover how this book's plot and character's parallel the those of Pride & Prejudice, yet are completely different. It's like re-discovering P&P in a light hearted and endearing way!
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Posted November 2, 2002
This was awesome. I love the way Nathan writes; it's humorous and witty. Jasmin Field is a great Lizzy... I wish she would have developed their relationship on paper more, but, as we see from P&P, it's not to be .... Great read, highly reccommend!!
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Posted August 20, 2002
I couldn't put this book down! It's witty, charming, romantic, and a must read for summer. I loved how Melissa Nathan was able to bring a version of Pride and Prejudice to the 21st century and I loved the characters...Jasmin and Harry IS Liz and Darcy! Hoorah for Melissa Nathan...i can't wait to see more from her!
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Posted August 21, 2002
I thought this book was wonderful. Jazz was very fresh and real. Harry was superb and very likable. I love Jazz' 'devil may care attitude,' and of course how this modern love story mirrored the classic one.
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Posted July 8, 2002
If you liked Pride and Prejudice this is a must read! Melissa Natham did an outstanding job of combining the two stories. I look forward to seeing more from her.
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Posted August 14, 2001
This book was great! I am a serious Pride and Predjudice fan and Melissa Nathan was able to bring the story to our day. I loved how she made the scandal so plausible. Bravo! I'll be looking for more from Melissa Nathan!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Honestly, I have read this book several times, always beguiled by the charming witticisms and subtle humor of Jasmin Field, feminist-journalist-and hopeless romantic. I love the plot of Pride and Prejudice and often find myself reading different versions and sequels. I was far from disappointed when I randomly picked up this book at a a bookshop. The story is a fantastic modern adaption to the classic tale of a couple who rubs each other the wrong way yet still wind up finding themselves utterly besotted with their 'antagonist'. Even if you have not yet read the immortal book by Ms. Austen, God forbid, you will not feel like you are missing out on something. Rather, you might feel like rushing to the store and buying your own copy of Pride and Prejudice.
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Posted October 18, 2005
Since this is a spinoff of P&P there are no surprises in store. Melissa uses P&P as her script and does nothing new with it. However if one must be a copycat Austin is not a bad choice:)
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Posted November 26, 2002
"Pride, Prejudice, and Jasmin Field" is a good book, if you've read and loved the original. Most of Austen's characters are in this book. From page one, you know who Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are. At first, it's not very exciting, since you know the ending, but by the middle, you're really rooting for Jasmin and Harry Noble, even though you're sure that it will happen.
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Posted February 7, 2010
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Posted November 14, 2008
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Overview
It starts as a lark for Jasmin Field, the charming, acerbically witty columnist for a national women's magazine. She joins a host of celebraties gathering in London to audition for the season's most dazzling charity event: a one-night only stage production of Jane Austen's immortal Pride and Prejudice, directed by and starring the Academy Award — winning Hollywood heartthrob Harry Noble. And nobody is more surprised than Jasmin herself when she lands the lead of handsome Harry's love interest, ...