Spinning Austen or Jane has the last laugh
Jane Austen spin-offs, prequels, sequels and mash-ups in book and movie form are big, big business. What would she think of it all? 
“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours and laugh at them in our turn?” – Jane Austen
It seems we just can’t get enough of Miss Austen. My favourite to date is a funny novel with Jane as a rather gentile member of the undead who still can’t seem to cash in on her own immense popularity.
For Jane fans here are a few to try (literary purists need not read/watch any further):
Featuring Jane as sleuth, vampire and her love life revealed:
Jane and the madness of Lord Byron by Stephanie Barron
Jane bites back by Michael Thomas Ford (my favourite!)
Lost memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James
Sequels:
Mr. Darcy takes a wife by Linda Berdoll
The Independence of Miss Mary Bennett by Colleen McCullough
Spin-offs:
Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
Jane Austen ruined my life by Beth Pattillo
Mash-up versions and their prequels of Jane’s novels:
Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith – a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Graham-Smith
Movies (a very, very short list):
Becoming Jane
Bride and Prejudice
Lost in Austen (TV Series)
If she could, Miss Austen would be laughing… all the way to the bank.
For more Jane fun and reviews checkout Austenblog.
-Jane (really!)
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