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The story begins with Cassandra Austen determined to find letters her sister Jane wrote in “Miss Austen on MASTERPIECE” – May 4 at 9 pm
< < Back toKEELEY HAWES TO LEAD IN ADAPTATION OF GILL HORNBY’S INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING NOVEL
MISS AUSTEN on MASTERPIECE
Starting Sunday, May 4 at 9:00 pm
Miss Austen takes a literary mystery – Cassandra Austen notoriously burning her famous sister Jane’s letters – and re-imagines it as a fascinating, witty and heart-breaking story of sisterly love, while creating in Cassandra a character as captivating as any Austen heroine.
The drama begins in 1830, a while after Jane has died. Cassandra (Keeley Hawes) races to see her young friend Isabella (Rose Leslie) who is about to lose her home following her father’s death. Cassandra is ostensibly there to help her friend, but her real motive is to find a stash of private letters which, in the wrong hands, could destroy Jane’s reputation. On discovering them, Cassandra is overwhelmed as she is transported back to her youth. In flashback, we meet Young Cassy and Jane (Patsy Ferran) as they navigate the infatuations, family feuds and dashed hopes which shaped their lives and laid the foundations for Jane’s unforgettable stories.
Cassandra’s re-evaluation of her past eventually leads her to realize how blind she has been to the real cause of Isabella’s heartache and distress. Finding a way to
guide Isabella towards true happiness, Cassandra is finally able to understand and celebrate the sacrifices she chose to make for her brilliant sister, Jane.
Executive Producer, Christine Langan said: “To have this hugely entertaining female-driven story told by such a stellar cast, led by Keeley Hawes, as Bonnie Productions’ first drama is genuinely a dream come true. Gill Hornby has found an ingenious way into the Austen world, creating female characters modern audiences can empathize with and delight in. I’m so honored to be bringing this wonderful novel to the screen in collaboration with the deeply
talented trio of writer, Andrea Gibb, director, Aisling Walsh and producer, Stella Merz.”
Susanne Simpson, MASTERPIECE Executive Producer added: “Miss Austen is a beautifully told story about the loves and losses of the Austen sisters. I’m thrilled that this heartfelt, romantic, and funny adaptation is in the hands of a remarkable ensemble cast led by the incredible Keeley Hawes.” MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by GBH Boston.