If there is one book that I had been yearning to read for the longest time, it was Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I love female-lead classics which show the daily life of characters. Classics which explore romance, family, and friendships through the simpler things in life, like going on a walk in spring and drinking tea while reading a book. I had one problem, though: I wanted to read the book in English, and I live in a hispanic country. It is a matter of personal preference and a little bit of stubbornness. I asked for the book every time I went to a new bookstore, and the answer was always the same. They didn’t have it. So one day it occurred to me, maybe I could find an audiobook. So I opened Spotify and searched for the book. And sure enough, there it was. The first option was produced by Ballarat National Theatre, so I decided to give it a try. The project was created in the midst of the pandemic, and it has brought joy and comfort to readers around the world. It is safe to say that it became my favourite read of 2022. I fell in love with the story, but the quality of the production made reading it an outstanding experience. There are four main reasons why I loved it so much. The cast Yes, you read that right. This audiobook has a cast for the recordings. Starring Olivia French as Elizabeth Bennet, and Ryan O’Connor / James Ao as Mr. Darcy, and directed by Liana Skewes. The production team did an amazing job to bring each character to life. Each member portrayed the characters accurately and with feeling. It was an absolute joy to get to listen to the characters come alive. The background music and sound effects Classical music during ball scenes and fire crackling during tea time. Reading about Elizabeth’s and Mr. Darcy's iconic scene in the rain with actual thunder and rain sounds in the background made the book immersive. It completed the experience and made it all so vivid. Being true to the story The audiobook remained true to the classic, and enhanced it when it could. For example, not every dialogue had a “she said” when the cast voices were clear. The letters had the overlapping voice of both the reader and the writer. All in all, I believe Jane Austen would have felt pride in this production. The ending notes! I could never skip an ending note of a chapter. They were a few seconds of appreciation to the production team, plus a funny note, an impersonation, or another comment depending on the mood of the chapter. It also acknowledged the traditional custodians of the land (the Wadawurrung and Djadjawurrung people). It culminated each episode while creating and strengthening a community of listeners and producers. You might also be interested in reading: Jane Austen Writing Analysis, Background Information, and Books Ranked If you love Jane Austen’s work, I encourage you to listen to this podcast and support Ballarat National Theatre. You can listen to it now for free at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. They are also creating a Persuasion audiobook, complete with more than 10 unique themes, which will be released soon. Paula Argudois an Ecuadorian writer who weaves culture and magic into her stories. Her work has been featured in literary magazines such as SeaGlass Literary and Ice Lolly Review, and she was an international finalist in the Metamorphosis contest. When not writing, you can find her dancing, baking, or daydreaming.
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