(Not Really a) Review: Five Books That Should Be Adapted

Plenty of books get adaptations. Some get several. Then there are the unfortunate ones that get none. And some books that should be adapted are overlooked. This is a short list of the five (...sort of) books that I really want to see adapted (again).

The Prisoner of Zenda has been adapted before. Several times. The quality of those adaptations ranges from "excellent" to "atrocious". But the last really good adaptation was in 1937(!). Same goes for its sequel Rupert of Hentzau, which hasn't been adapted since 1964 -- and that adaptation's lost. It's high time someone made a film or miniseries based on these books. The more faithful to the source, the better.

Barnaby Rudge is Charles Dickens' least-known novel. Which is a pity, because it's both a good story and is set during an equally little-known part of history. Its most recent screen adaptation was in 1960. If people want to make a new miniseries based on a Dickens novel, they should stop adapting A Christmas Carol for the umpteenth time and turn to this book instead.

Mary Barton was Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel. Thematically it's very similar to North and South. It was last adapted in 1964, but that version's lost. Apparently the BBC planned to adapt it in 2012, but nothing came of that. I hope someone raises the idea again.

Emily of New Moon has been adapted before, but I'd like to see film or series versions of the entire trilogy someday. Unfortunately there's a high chance any modern adaptation of it will go the way of Anne With An E. I don't think I could bear to see them butchered like that. Anyone planning to adapt them had better make sure they actually stay close to the books.

All right, so The Eustace Diamonds is the third in a series. The ideal solution would be to adapt the entire series. (This was done back in the 70s, but I've never been able to enjoy 70s period dramas.) If that sounds too complicated, there's very little connecting this book with the rest of the series. A little bit of work and it would be a good standalone film/miniseries.

Of course there are other books that deserve adaptations. But these are the ones I especially want to see, and there's currently no sign that any of them will be adapted. Certainly not any day soon 😔

Review: The Eustace Diamonds

This is the second Anthony Trollope novel I've read. I was surprised to find I liked it much better than The Way We Live Now.

The Eustace Diamonds is an 1871 novel by Anthony Trollope. It's the third in the Palliser series, but can be read without knowledge of the previous books. (In fact I didn't realise at first that it was part of a series!) It was adapted into part of The Pallisers miniseries in 1974.

Our "heroine" (I use that term very loosely) is Lizzie Eustace, whose late husband owned the titular diamonds. The plot revolves around her theft of them, and her attempts to keep hold of them after she stole them. If you don't think that sounds like an interesting story, just read the book. You'll be surprised.

It must be said, some of the scenes in the novel didn't make a lot of sense when I first read it. I couldn't figure out why a minor character like Lady Glencora was given so much importance in the narrative. When I discovered this is a sequel to earlier books it made more sense. Knowledge of the previous books isn't required, but it might be a help.

Trollope has never been as popular as Dickens, and it must be said that in my humble opinion he isn't quite as good a writer as Dickens. Yet in this book at least he created characters who are more like real people than Dickens' larger-than-life eccentrics. Lizzie Eustace and Frank Greystock are loathsome in a more restrained, realistic way than the utter vileness of Fagin or Squeers. Lucy Morris, though weak-willed and far too forgiving, isn't as perfect as Kate Nickleby or Lucie Manette.

Speaking of Lucy, the resolution of her subplot utterly infuriated me. She knew Frank had betrayed her. He had done nothing to show he was sorry. He wasn't even sure he intended to marry her! Most women would never marry a man like that. But she married him, and this was portrayed as a happy ending for her?! 😒

Lizzie's final fate is likewise disappointing. It's darkly funny and serves her right, but after everything she did she gets off more or less scot-free. Being married to a snake like Mr. Emilius isn't exactly a happy ending, but she was never punished for her crime. I thought she would at least get some comeuppance.

Before this book I never realised Trollope could be funny. The Way We Live Now was rather lacking in humour, while The Eustace Diamonds certainly isn't. Several scenes made me laugh out loud.

Unfortunately the book has some moments when the Victorian era's Antisemitism shows all too plainly. I cringed every time "Jew" was used to describe some villainous characters 😣

If you can ignore those parts and focus on the main story, this is a very interesting book. Apart from anything else, it's a fascinating character study of a pathological liar.

Is it available online?: Yes, on Gutenberg.

Rating: 8/10.