13 Jane Austen Adaptations To Read And Watch
Jane Austen’s world is one many of us return to when we’re craving elegance, wit, and a love story with virtue seamlessly worked in. And while no adaptation can fully replicate her genius, some come surprisingly close.
In celebration of Austen’s recent 250th birthday, we’ve gathered our favorite ways to revisit her stories, whether by screen or by page. Each pick, whether modern or classic, film or fiction, is romantic, feminine, and rich in all the right ways. They also preserve the best of what Austen offered: strong yet gentle heroines, flawed but redeemable men, and love that’s worth the wait.
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On Screen
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth sparkles with intellect and warmth, while Matthew Macfadyen’s Darcy is all repressed longing. It's less buttoned-up than the 1995 miniseries, but just as satisfying.
Sense & Sensibility (1995)
Emma Thompson’s adaptation balances dry wit with emotion. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood navigate grief, romance, and hardship with sisterly loyalty. Gorgeously acted.
Clueless (1995)
A smart, sunny spin on Emma, set in a Beverly Hills high school. While cheeky, it still reflects Austen’s message: that privilege needs perspective, matchmaking often backfires, and love tends to sneak up on us when we least expect it.
Persuasion (1995)
Subtle and true to Austen’s most mature work. Anne Elliott’s heartbreak and Captain Wentworth’s long-held affection unfold with aching beauty, restraint, and one perfect letter.
Emma (1996)
In this visually delightful adaptation of Austen’s classic, Gwyneth Paltrow plays the charming and meddlesome Emma Woodhouse, a young woman “handsome, clever, and rich” who fancies herself a matchmaker.
Emma (2009)
For a more classic adaptation, this four-part BBC miniseries is a standout with pitch-perfect costumes and more room to explore the full emotional arc of Austen’s novel. Romola Garai’s Emma is flawed but lovable while Jonny Lee Miller’s Mr. Knightley hits the right notes.
North & South (2004)
A spiritual cousin to Pride and Prejudice, this four-part BBC miniseries delivers one of the most satisfying slow-burn romances in period drama history. Principled southern lady Margaret Hale is uprooted to the industrial North of England to clash with the proud and serious John Thornton.
On the Page
The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen
Emma Smallwood journeys to a windswept estate in Cornwall to assist her father, a tutor, only to find herself drawn into a world of hidden secrets. Klassen channels Austen with a hint of Gothic suspense.
The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen
Sarah Summers and her sisters open their seaside home to guests, expecting fragile old invalids, but end up hosting eligible gentlemen instead. Austen-style courtship, family bonds, and character transformation, all wrapped in gentle romance. And it’s part of a series!
A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter
With courtship-by-correspondence, espionage, and swoon-worthy twists, this Regency tale is refreshingly original and entirely wholesome. It channels Austen’s blend of propriety and longing.
In the Shadow of Croft Towers by Abigail Wilson
Think Northanger Abbey with a dash of mystery. When Sybil Delafield arrives at Croft Towers, she's pulled into a world of hidden identities, carriage robberies, and dangerous secrets. Austen fans will find plenty to enjoy.
Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson
Kate Worthington longs to escape society’s expectations and follow her heart, but she must spend a summer in the hauntingly beautiful Blackmoore estate first. Combines Brontë-level moodiness with Austen’s moral clarity and romantic restraint.
Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken
A reimagining of Emma from the point of view of its quietest character. Aiken gives Jane her due, elevating her from the shadows of Box Hill into a heroine in her own right. Perfect for readers who wonder what else was happening off-page.