Modernizing Victorian literature: Here's how 3 novels turn out
Joanna Troloppe released a modern update of "Sense and Sensibility" two years ago. (The title is still "Sense and Sensibility".) Many readers thought it was possible, as Jane Austen would fancy making good people looked bad. But a keen reader knew her characters were unable to say the right things. It seemed British, but it could be anyone. It wasn't difficult to picture an individual who had relationship problems.
There's a difference between modernizing a written piece and a reimagination of it. The mash-up genre can be the latter, and the outcome might not be far from the author's vision. (Anna Karenina had an affair with an android. Leo Tolstoy might be tempted to revise his novel.) But modernizing a book can be a trap. Some novels would allude to a particular period, and a modern update might lost its value. Let's take the case of Victorian literature.
Fictional works published during the Victorian era reflected the events culminating into the Great War. What happened after World War I and before World War II turned the political landscape in Europe upside down. "Orlando" was supposed to be a statement on the plight of womenfolk. Virginia Woolf might be unable to think of the premise after traveling for a year. This would be an exception, though.
Let's look at the other notable works in Victorian literature:
Heart of Darkness. Africa is still reeling from the effects of colonialism. Instead of white settlers, locals must deal with compatriots who studied overseas and whose families benefited during the colonial era. Charles Marlow was unable to say a word after he saw the severe effects of global warming. (Desertification was about to threaten the Congo Basin.) What would be left of the continent? The captain (of the river steamboat) vowed not to return to England.
Women in Love. Gerald and Gudrun, a young couple from Telford, were on a holiday in the Mekong. They were aboard a slow boat, on the way to Luang Prabang, Laos, about to get bored from the green and brown. And then they noticed another bored couple. They were from England too. Rupert and Ursula have been backpacking for more than a year. They didn't miss their work shifts in Sutton, happy to teach English to young monks instead. Gerald was envious of Rupert, also curious about his whereabouts. The young lad from the Midlands was drawn to the Londoner, while their girlfriends became friendly with each other. A bit too friendly.
Death in Venice. Gustav chose the wrong season to spend the holiday in the Adriatic. He was suffering from colds. He would find something unusual and beautiful, even if the infection was getting worse. And then he met a ravishing brunette, who reminded him of his mother. She was too young for him, but it didn't stop him from stalking her.
What do you think?
