Page 98 - All About History - Issue 54-17

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HISTORY HOLLYWOOD
Fact versus fiction on the silver screen

BECOMING JANE

Director: Julian Jarrold Starring: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters,
James Cromwell, Maggie Smith Country: Britain/Ireland Released: 2007
Did Jane Austen really plan to elope, or is Becoming
VERDICT Beyond the character names, there’s
Jane more historical fiction than hard fact? little fact in this romantic fancy.

Jane Austen and Thomas There was no sensitive, Although the image of Jane never met her Tom and Jane didn’t meet
01 Lefroy did meet at Christmas 02 awkward Mr Wisley 03 Jane and Tom bound for 04 namesake, Tom’s eldest 05 in middle age and, unlike
in 1795. Taking a break from his legal in real life. Although Jane did Gretna Green is a romantic one, and daughter, and she certainly didn’t the film, no poignant looks were
studies, the young Irishman and receive and reject a proposal from her rejection of him borne out of read aloud to her amid a crowd of exchanged during a reading of Pride
the budding author danced together a gentleman named Harris Bigg- principle, it’s also entirely fictional. adoring fans. Not only that, but And Prejudice. In fact, once Tom
at three balls. Jane wrote to her Wither, Mr Wisley is a figment of the The couple never planned to elope Jane Lefroy wasn’t named after left Hampshire in 1796, no evidence
sister to let her know how much she filmmaker’s imagination, so Jane together, and they certainly didn’t Jane Austen, but in honour of her exists to suggest that the couple ever
enjoyed their encounters. couldn’t have accepted his proposal. flee to the border. maternal grandmother, Jane Paul. saw one another again.

© Alamy

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