Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Yes, it really exists. In this particular update of Jane Austen's novel, the Bennet sisters are martial arts warriors (naturally) and Darcy's good looks remain unruffled despite the plague of undead roaming 19th-century England.
Not convinced? It has become a best-seller, been developed into a video game and a film is on the way. Not surprising, really, when it features such classic lines as "apart from the attack, the evening passed off pleasantly for the whole family... despite having their gowns soiled with blood and brain, Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough never to be without their partners, which is all they had yet learnt to care for at a ball."
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters swiftly followed late last year. And then, the pièce de résistance: Elton John's film company announced the development of Pride and Predator, where - and we're not joking - an alien killing machine drops into Longbourn and mows down anything in its path, perhaps singing Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting as it goes.
All great fun - but there is a serious point to be made here. We're familiar with the lavish costume drama adaptations of the 19th-century English writer's books, but the cult of Jane Austen shows no signs of abating. Every generation reads the originals and adapts them for their own ends.
Not all involve blood spurting everywhere, of course; Bridget Jones' Diary, with its foolish matchmaking mother and - a bit more obviously - a Mr Darcy, is Pride and Prejudice given a chick-lit sheen. But how is it that a woman who wrote about a barely recognisable world of duty, honour and status can be so relevant almost 200 years on?After all, Austen wasn't a Shakespeare-style writing machine: she published just six books.
A new book edited by Susannah Carson, A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen, aims to answer that question via the thoughts of writers past and present. It's brilliantly compiled: W Somerset Maugham's essay on the structure and technique of Pride and Prejudice is hard up against a treatise by Martin Amis on the same novel, which suggests a steamy 20-page scene between Lizzy and Darcy. Fay Weldon proposes that the bad girls in Mansfield Park have more fun, just after the philosopher Alain de Botton has investigated the book's moral and status hierarchies. It finishes with Jay McInerny confessing to his crush on most of Austen's heroines - but not before we've had classical essays from Rudyard Kipling and Virginia Woolf. And it all began with an overheard television commercial for yet another Jane Austen film.
"It was an especially fluffy one, and I had the thought right away - wouldn't it be nice if all these people who love Jane Austen had access to some of these essays," says Carson, by way of explanation. "That way, they could go back to the originals and really, really enjoy them, rather than having to get their fix from watching all these stories that are merely Austen-esque."
The book soon snowballed into something bigger than that initial, rather scholarly, conceit. She spoke to contemporary authors whom she believed had something of the Austen essence in their writing and asked them to contribute. She got in touch with non-fiction authors, who could offer a perspective on the cultural phenomenon of the writer.
And perhaps most intriguingly, she spoke to a filmmaker.
Amy Heckerling's contribution to A Truth Universally Acknowledged is crucial, if only because Clueless - her 1995 film starring Alicia Silverstone, where Emma is transposed to Beverly Hills - is widely regarded as being the best adaptation of recent decades.
As Heckerling writes in A Truth Universally Acknowledged, "Emma is better than modern, it's timeless and universal. It had the perfect structure for the growth of an optimistic person. Could anyone have laid out a better teenage romance film?" Such adaptations do, though, play fast and loose with the originals. Heckerling considered the Jane Fairfax character a bore, so she left her out. So as a signed-up Austen devotee, does Carson take the modern adaptations - zombies and all - with a pinch of salt?
"I am interested in these mash-ups," she says. "Especially since I think Jane got there first anyway, with the gothic-romantic spoof Northanger Abbey. In general though, the idea is fun but the execution is mediocre, and I've been waiting for one to come along that's not just a curiosity piece but just plain good."
Carson does, however, like Michael Thomas Ford's Jane Bites Back, with Jane Austen as a vampire, Love, Lies, and Lizzie by Rosie Rushton and Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard. And of course, Clueless. "Amy's film is classic. It makes sense though: all of Austen's heroines - with the notable exception of Anne Elliot - are in their late teens and early 20s, so they translate easily into modern adaptations for a slightly younger age group."
Go up an age demographic, and there's been the feel-good book and film The Jane Austen Book Club - where said group ended up in scenarios mirroring the themes of the novels they were reading. On television, Lost In Austen featured a girl transported into the events of Pride and Prejudice. Even the all-ages costume dramas played pretty straight are hugely popular - as 2008's Senseand Sensibility by the BBC proved. But what's often overlooked is that the original books are still immensely popular, which for Carson is a huge excitement.
"Spending time in Jane Austen's world is something readers can't get enough of," she agrees. "It's easy to dismiss the notion of that world as a matter of high-waisted dresses and barouche-landaus, but in the end there's something about her great scope, her capacity for joy, the depth of her characters, the surface rhythm of her sentences. All the way down to the detail of the trimmings on a bonnet, it all really does matter.
"Jane Austen famously critiqued her own Pride and Prejudice as 'rather too light, bright, and sparkling' - but how could we not want to live for as long as possible in such a world? And Austen is funny. We emphasise the romance of the novels, but at heart they're each infused with a wry but generous humour from beginning to end."
And that's why whole subgenres of chick-lit evoke Jane Austen, BridgetJones included - because in a sense chick-lit evolved from Austen's books. Carson - as you'd expect - can talk for hours on the reasons why Austen has not only endured but actually become more popular; she talks of the surge of feminism, of films being able to technologically capture more of the novels, of our nostalgia-heavy culture where writing and receiving letters, candlelit evenings, even village life are held up as laudable aspirations.
"There are lots of possible reasons for her enduring popularity," she says. "But the reason behind them is that Austen gives us a feeling of belonging. Whether we belong to an academic community or a book club, we're already part of a welcoming, friendly readership that extends through time and across all sorts of ages, personalities, languages, and cultures. I just found out that there's to be an edition of my book in China, and Jane Austen has a great fan club in Brazil. I can only wonder what it's like to read her in the Middle East."
So perhaps people are still obsessed with Austen because her novels influenced the sorts of people we have become - or would like to be. They're easy to transpose to ridiculous zombie scenarios because there's no need to explain the characters - we're familiar with their language and their mannerisms, even their behaviour.
"I'm going to say something stronger," says Carson. "I genuinely believe Jane Austen has changed the world as we live it. We have her thoughts on money and happiness, her thoughts on marriage and romance, her thoughts on morals and what the 'good life' is.
"All of that is timeless, and we recognise it when we go back to Jane Austen because it came from Jane Austen in the first place?whether we know it or not. Her beautiful philosophy infuses our literature: the stories we read, watch, tell, and bring into our own lives."
A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen (Penguin) is out now.
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Brackets denote aggregate score
Tuesday:
Roma (1) v Shakhtar Donetsk (2), 11.45pm
Manchester United (0) v Sevilla (0), 11.45pm
Wednesday:
Besiktas (0) v Bayern Munich (5), 9pm
Barcelona (1) v Chelsea (1), 11.45pm
Read more about the coronavirus
Oppenheimer
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Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner: Mamia Al Reef, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
3.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner: Jaahiz, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner: Qanoon, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.
4.15pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Cup Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 1,700m.
Winner: Philosopher, Tadhg O’Shea, Salem bin Ghadayer.
54.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yassoob, Fernando Jara, Irfan Ellahi.
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
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Results
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EElite%20men%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Amare%20Hailemichael%20Samson%20(ERI)%202%3A07%3A10%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Leornard%20Barsoton%20(KEN)%202%3A09%3A37%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Ilham%20Ozbilan%20(TUR)%202%3A10%3A16%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Gideon%20Chepkonga%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A17%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Isaac%20Timoi%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A34%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EElite%20women%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Brigid%20Kosgei%20(KEN)%202%3A19%3A15%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Hawi%20Feysa%20Gejia%20(ETH)%202%3A24%3A03%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Sintayehu%20Dessi%20(ETH)%202%3A25%3A36%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Aurelia%20Kiptui%20(KEN)%202%3A28%3A59%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Emily%20Kipchumba%20(KEN)%202%3A29%3A52%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Buy farm-fresh food
The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.
In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others.
In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food.
In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
The UAE's journey to space
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
more from Janine di Giovanni
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
