For women of a certain age, there is nothing more soul satisfying than the prospect of spending four or five hours totally immersed in the grace and civility of a Jane Austen story. In years past, we have had lavish productions of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park….all of Austen’s novels have been made into movies before,……multiple times, but this newest production of Emma is especially beautiful.

The world of 19th Century England is so very seductive. There is an order and an innate beauty in the daily rhythms of life. Callers are announced, proper introductions are made and every visit begins and ends with a slight bow and curtsey. There was grace and symmetry in every interaction. Almost. For if everything happened according to plan it would make for a boring story indeed.

Our heroine, Emma Woodhouse, is a rare creature. Rare because she is a happy woman, and she seems to know instinctively that happiness doesn’t come from getting what you want, but rather from wanting what you already have. Emma is supremely happy with her lot in life and she would like to see all of her friends and loved ones equally pleased with their lives. Thus, the seeds of trouble are sewn and problems arise.

Emma is a beautiful story, beautifully produced. The English countryside is lovely. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and all of the characters are totally engaged with one another. No one is poking the buttons on their damn cell phone. Life was good.

Would I have liked another four hours of this production of Emma?

Oh, yes please, as soon as possible.

For anyone who missed Emma on Masterpiece Classic, the DVD is available at PBS