What’s with all these books rewriting the classics? And why do they do so well? Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? It was already a NYTimes bestseller only eight days after its publication in April 2009…I can see how it could be fun to write, perhaps as an exercise for a writer seeking a little fuel for the imagination. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters followed soon after in the same year, but to somewhat less success. I will be honest and reveal that no, I have not read these fantastical mash-ups. But one must wonder if our world is so devoid of originality as to compel folks to rely on reinventions of someone else’s story to make a buck. Sondheim certainly takes issue with it, though the situation was slightly different.
I only wonder this today as Shelf Awareness alerts me to the existence of some “Fresh Takes” on Louisa Mae Alcott’s classic Little Women. Much like the bizarre mini-series Lost in Austen, Emily March falls into the story of Little Women and becomes the “Middle March” (ha, George Eliot joke!) in Little Women and Me. She endeavors to find out why Laurie ends up with Amy instead of Jo (sorry, spoiler…) and decides she wants him for herself instead! ….Well, could be fun, I suppose…
I began research for some kind of “why” to explain how this kind of reimagining happens. Instead all I found were more and more examples, including sequels, prequels, new points of view (My procrastinating self went on Google and all I got were these lousy search results). So, we could go with the “Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between them– there is no third” excuse (thank you, T.S. Eliot). Perhaps it is just some cyclic cultural phenomenon; we are stuck in a mire of retellings until a new classic emerges to then fall subject to its own various degradations.
Can some insight be gleaned from specific examples? Let me count the ways:
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith
Uses 85% of the original text and intersperses Zombie scenes into the narrative. Given “A” ratings by some, called a defamation and “100% terrible” by others. A gimmicky attempt to mesh a popular modern fad (zombies) with a popular classic novel (P&P). Double the popularity=double the money?
The Wind Done Gone, Alice Randall
A parody of Gone with the Wind, in which the original is retold from the perspective of a mixed-race plantation owner’s daughter, who is Scarlett O’Hara’s half-sister. The novel almost wasn’t published, due to accusations of copyright infringement. Social commentary?
Mary Riley, Valerie Martin
Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, retold from the perspective of the doctor’s maid, Mary Reilly, who falls in love with the dichotomous doctor. Julia Roberts starred in the movie. I read this in high school. No comment.
Mrs. DeWinter, Susan Hill; Pemberley, Emma Tennant
Sequels to Rebecca and Pride & Prejudice, respectively. Fan-fiction?
So, what “whys” have we? Money. Commentary. Self-indulgence. Well, the second reason seems noble and amusing enough. As for the rest…I do not really like to generalize. Some of these books, I’m sure, have their own merits. I can’t say I’ve never read one of the sort. Truth be told, I’m reading one right now (not telling). But whatever the reason for them, Kristen Bell always has a fresh perspective.
Though inconclusive, still as ever,
Your new Beau.