The new period drama everyone's talking about - and Keeley Hawes stars
It’s been far too long since we had a great new period drama to look forward to, but there’s one that’s about to deliver the dose of escapism we’ve all been craving. Enter Miss Austen – a new four-part drama that takes a literary mystery - Cassandra Austen notoriously burning her famous sister Jane’s letters - and reframes it as a fascinating story of sisterly love.
Sound appealing? We thought so. Starring an A-list cast including Keeley Hawes (who plays Cassandra), Rose Leslie and Jessica Hynes, the drama coincides with Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary and we can’t think of a better way to mark the occasion. With just over a week to wait until its release, here’s everything you need to know about the new series…
What's the story of Miss Austen?
Adapted from Gill Hornby’s bestselling novel, the drama begins in 1830, many years after Jane has died. Cassandra rushes to visit Isabella (Rose Leslie), the niece of her long-dead fiancé, who's about to lose her home following her father’s death.
Though Cassandra is there to help Isabella, her real motive is to find a hidden bundle of private letters which, in the wrong hands, she believes could destroy Jane’s reputation.
Through various flashbacks, we also get to meet a young Jane (Patsy Ferran) and get a taste of the romantic infatuations, family feuds and dashed hopes that laid the foundations for her incredible stories.
"It feels like a classic costume drama, in the vein of Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice, Keeley told The Guardian. "Modern takes like Bridgerton are brilliant but this feels like part of the Austen canon, so her fans will be pleased. I read it and thought: 'Why hasn’t this story been told before?'"
Who's starring in Miss Austen?
The cast of Miss Austen includes:
Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen
Rose Leslie as Isabella Fowle
Patsy Ferran as Jane Austen
Jessica Hynes
Mirren Mack
Phyllis Logan
Kevin McNally
Max Irons
Alfred Enoch
Calam Lynch
Liv Hill
How can I watch Miss Austen?
Miss Austen begins Sunday 2nd February on BBC One and iPlayer.
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