I've been enjoying reading it, but Austin's language is so formal and flowery that sometimes I have to read and re-read a paragraph just to understand what the character is really saying.
Often I try and translate passages into modern language.
"Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining room, for there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is. Make haste, and come down this moment."
Becomes this:
"Eliza! Get the hell down here. You've got to see this to believe this. Hurry the hell up!"See how much better it flows?
This is hilarious. I think you should republish this book, but with your change in vernacular. They do it with the Bible all the time!...Sure would've made my English classes much more interesting!
ReplyDelete