Austen and the undead
You've got to wonder about a person who looked at "Pride and Prejudice" and thought, "You know what would make this book better? Zombies."
But apparently that's just what author Seth Grahame-Smith did.
The aptly named "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" is 80 percent original Jane Austen, but Grahame-Smith added a plotline involving the undead, according to this Washington Post article.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. On the plus side, I might have found a way to get my husband to read my favorite book. On the other hand, this seems a little too ridiculous for words.
The book is getting surprisingly good reviews. And it seems there is a bidding war for the movie rights.
Because you know the only thing better than a book that injects zombies into a classic work of literature? A movie based on a book that injects zombies into a classic work of literature.
Apr 24, 2009 at 5:26 p.m.
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Not gonna lie: I'm kind of a fan of the tv commercials with Abe Lincoln wrestling.
Apr 24, 2009 at 5:21 a.m.
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It's been announced that Grahame-Smith's next book will be "Abe Lincoln, Vampire Hunter."
Apr 22, 2009 at 7:24 p.m.
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Icky...where on earth did the picture accompanying this blog come from! EWWW! I am not sure I'd be a fan of this remake - I am a pretty traditional literature lover!
Apr 21, 2009 at 10:35 p.m.
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Hey! Classic literature is classic because it is interesting, thought provoking and original. Putting a silly spin on it can be funny or semi-interesting sometimes but at what point do we realize there is a definite lack of originality in the arts? Um, by the way, does anyone know when Saw 6 will be out? Nuff said. *s*
Apr 21, 2009 at 11:50 a.m.
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Even better will be Pride and Predator -- an adaptation using the alien hunter from various movies.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/feb/...
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I think there's a Hollywood rough patch right now where they've even run out of things to do straight adaptations or sequels and are now getting into mash-ups. I mean, here you have something that's probably worth five to 15 minutes of film, beyond which -- unless you have exceptional writing and directing -- the joke is dead.
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In any case I think it's interesting that there's been such a resurgence of interest in Austen in my lifetime. I know when I was growing up the books were considered quaint artifacts and let's face it, anti-feminist, but now we have each work getting multiple treatments, some of them in the "street clothes Shakespeare" style such as Emma -> Clueless. Who'd have thunk that a woman who grew up in the 18th century in a very stilted society beyond which she rarely herself ventured would have so much to say to us in the 21st? At least Shakespeare left Stratford for rockin' London.
Apr 21, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.
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I find this amusing, and actually think it's a great way to get the best stories retold. I've always thought Jane Eyre would lend itself well to vampires, and perhaps du Maurier's Rebecca could be a fitting werewolf tale! On second thought, no -- crazed women locked in secret rooms and creepy housekeepers are just as scary as vamps and wolves. Maybe we should stick to Austen, and zombies.
Apr 21, 2009 at 11:26 a.m.
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This is better than a Billy Mays invention! One of those, "Why didn't I think of that??", moments. Next up, Romeo and Juliet Walk, Return of the Living Hamlet, and Night of the Living Macbeth.
Apr 17, 2009 at 7:23 p.m.
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I am disappointed to find that RockCat doesn't have this book...although apparently there are books describing ways to crochet little zombies, ninjas and pirates.
The Washington Post article and this blog make me laugh, though. Out loud!
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