Wit Beyond Measure

Hi! We are Wit Beyond Measure, a Jane Austen podcast where hosts Catrina and Elle talk everything Austen. Here is a brief introduction to the podcast. Let us introduce ourselves and let you know what you can expect from this podcast. As literature and history lovers, we are excited to step into Austen's world with you as we read through her published works.

Happy Holidays! To celebrate the season, Catrina and Elle have created a couple of special Pride and Prejudice themed specials just for you! Enjoy the 12 days of Pride and Prejudice Christmas and Lizzy's Night before Christmas. See you all in 2021! 

This week Wit Beyond Measure welcomes Barley Bookish to the podcast to talk everything Clueless!We dive deep into the nostalgia of the 90's and revisit this awesome teen romcom. Does it hold up in 2021? Is it still a relevant film? Do we still love it? Has Paul Rudd actually aged?Most importantly, how does Clueless compare to Emma? Do we still get a realistic look at life at the time? Do we get a bit of romance? Does the film hold true to the book, or does modernizing it lose what makes it Emma?Be sure to check out Barley Bookish (@barleybookish on all platforms). Barley Bookish is a classic literature & modern classics podcast with an unavoidable modern-day POV. Join Rachel & a guest every week as they discuss something new.   Wit Beyond Measure is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to atFrolic.media/podcasts  

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 1-7Our first episode discusses the beginning of Pride and Prejudice. We meet the famed Bennet family and begin to get an understanding for who each family member is as a character, where they are in society, and how they might progress throughout the novel. We also take a look into the sociology-economic landscape of Austen’s regency England. 

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 8-12Pardon our recording quality! We are still new to this whole recording process and because of that, this episode - being only our second episode - is not up to our quality standards. Please be kind as this isn't how future episodes will sound.In this episode we look at what it means to be a guest, a host, and an "accomplished lady" in the world of Pride and Prejudice. We get to see how Lizzy handles herself when left alone with the Bingleys and Mr. Darcy. But most importantly, we get to see the true character of Miss Caroline Bingley, the hostess turned jealous competitor for Mr Darcy's heart.

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 13-18This episode includes a visit from Mr. Collins, a long-lost relative whose intentions are more than they seem, the arrival of Wickham, a dashing officer who quickly captures our fair Lizzy's heart, and the long-awaited Netherfield ball... wait, Darcy can dance?!  Let's discuss polite dissing, how one-sided stories can spread doubt throughout a small town, and of course, the propriety of not interrupting one's dance - looking at you Sir William.

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 19-24If you haven't heard enough about Mr. Collins, this is the episode where he really "shines." Yes, we've finally get to discuss the infamous proposal of Mr Collins to Lizzy Bennet. Probably one of the most iconic scenes of Pride and Prejudice, followed by one of the best lines in all of the books. While completely cringe-worthy in itself, this proposal sets up so much of what follows in this classic romance. Alternative titles:No is a complete sentence, Mr. Collins.4 proposal attempts and funeralThe luxury of never having to speak to your crazy mother again.Charlotte Lucas knows exactly what she wants and how to get it.

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 25 - 33A lot happens to the Bennet sisters between Christmas and Easter. Both Jane and Lizzy go on a trip. Jane gets a pretty cold welcome in London by Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst. Lizzy, on the other hand, is welcomed by the newly-wed Collins family. We finally meet Lady Catherine in person. But what is this? Mr. Darcy and his dashing cousin Col. Fitzwilliam decide to visit Rosings while Lizzy is there? This couldn't possibly be awkward - or at least not until a little love triangle starts forming. Also, conflict between the hosts! Who stands up for Mr Darcy and who condemns his actions with no regard to the fact that he is super cute and flirty in these episodes? (It's certainly not who wrote this description.)

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 34 - 40 Darcy has proven that he is an awkward man, but nothing is more awkward than his proposal to Elizabeth. Full of declarations of love and insults to her family. How romantic? Of course, Lizzy takes this opportunity to tell Mr. Darcy off. This conversation prompts a decidedly long letter what causes Lizzy a bit of an existential crisis.

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 41- 45Lizzy Bennet finally gets to see the estate she could have been the mistress of - and she starts to regret her decision. She is in awe of the grounds, and so are we. Let's just say that Pemberly is better at flirting than Mr. Darcy.While on vacation with the Gardiners, her really cool aunt and uncle from London, the three of them decide to go to the famous Pemberly. As you might expect, Lizzy is nervous, but is assured Mr. Darcy isn't home. Well, that is until he shows up. Now Lizzy has to deal with the embarrassment of finding herself touring the house of the man she refused to marry! Awkward...Oh, and Lydia goes to Brighton with her newly wed friend and the militia. It's totally going to be fine though.

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 46-51Ungovernable Lydia + Sketchy Wickham = Trouble for the BennetsLetters, letters, letters. So. Many. Letters! Why, you ask? Because Lydia has  absconded with Wickham in the night! (GASP) She believes she’s going to Scotland to be married to him, but there's no proof of this and the structure of the Bennet’s domesticity is destabilized.  Lizzy’s trip is cut short, Mrs. Bennet is teetering on the edge of insanity (more than usual), Mr. Bennet is run off to find the lovers, Kitty and Mary are, well, Kitty and Mary, and Jane is carrying the brunt of the stress on her shoulders.  How could this possibly be resolved? What are people going to say about the entire affair? 

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 52- 56We finally have one, everyone! We finally have a proper and welcomed proposal! It's taken a while to get here, but at least someone knows what they are doing.But first - we have the most tea ever spilled in an Austen novel. Lizzy hears back from her aunt about WTF happened at Lydia's wedding. Why was Darcy there? Well, turns out, he did a lot more than just attend the nuptials. Lets just say that Darcy has finally warmed even Catrina's heart!Back to that proposal. There is love and happiness and joy. We swoon. It truly is a happily ever after - except it isn't the end.

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 56 - EndWe have finally made it to the end of this amazing book! We have so much to say that we had to break episode 10 into two different parts! In part 1 we have a showdown between the Queen of Slay, Lady Catherine, and fan favorite, Lizzy Bennet. These two heavy weights battle at Longbourn about the potential marriage of Mr. Darcy. Lady Catherine doesn't hold anything back, but Lizzy Bennet holds her own. In what is one of the best exchanges between two fictional characters ever written, who will come out on top? More importantly, can we do this justice?Also, Mr. Collins dares to send another letter.

Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 56 - EndThis is part 2 of episode 10, so make sure you go back and listen to part 1 - unless you want to start in the middle of our convo, we won't judge.Mr. Darcy has returned to Longbourn and Lizzy is both excited and extremely nervous. The two manage to get some alone time together - finally - and Mr. Darcy finally becomes the romantic hero we have wanted to see this entire book. Prepare to swoon.Lizzy manages to stun Mrs. Bennet into silence before her and Jane finally marry the loves of their lives. But how does it all end for the rest of the Bennets? Is it a happily ever after for everyone?

Our review of Pride and Prejudice as a whole.Catrina examines the idea of marriage and marital advice, while Elle explains how this is actually a YA novel in their end reviews of Pride and Prejudice. We also discuss the idea of putting this book on a pedestal and how it might hurt first time readers. We also poke fun at how English majors think we are better than everyone else cuz we read big books - don't @ us!Plus, superlatives! Who will win cutest couple or biggest gossip? More importantly, who is secretly a serial killer?

Firth or Macfadyen? Knightley or Ehle? Empire waists or relaxed styles? Which is your favorite, the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice mini-series, or the 2005 Joe Wright Pride and Prejudice film?Catrina and Elle discuss these two film adaptations of Austen's popular work. They discuss their favorite parts, their least favorite parts, and what each did well. Don't worry, this isn't a cut throat fight propping up one version over the other - though it's not likely either will change their mind about which is their favorite. Part 1 focuses mostly on the 1995 version. 

Who's your Darcy? Do you prefer a 6-part mini series, or a gorgeous romantic period film? Which is your favorite, the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice mini-series, or the 2005 Joe Wright Pride and Prejudice film?This is the second half of Catrina and Elle's discussion of these two film adaptations. They continue to discuss their favorite parts, their least favorite parts, and what each did well. While there isn't any fighting, Catrina does have an interesting theory about Mr Darcy preferences.  Part 2 focuses mostly on the 2005 version. This episode also mentions Abby Cox youtube video discussing the costuming of Pride and Prejudice 2005 - link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bVXmS20Teg&t=1s

This week Catrina and Elle take a look at Pride and Prejudice from a different point of view. Well, actually, two different points of view. We have moved on from film adaptations to looking at a few book adaptations. Catrina tackled "The Other Bennet Sister" by Janice Hadlow. This novel takes readers through most of the events of Pride and Prejudice through Mary Bennet's point of view. However, this book goes far beyond P&P's happy ending. Don't worry though, Catrina won't spoil a thing.Elle takes a look at "Mr. Darcy's Diary" by Amanda Grange. This book follows the original text very closely, so there aren't too many spoilers to be had, however there is certainly a lot of insight into our favorite romantic hero. Both books are available for purchase in our bookshop store - https://bookshop.org/shop/booksnbull

This week Catrina and Elle read two Pride and Prejudice modern adaptations. One a modern romance set in Cincinnati, and the other a Young Adult novel in Bushwick. Elle reads the rom-com, Bachelor inspired retelling Eligible. It follows Liz Bennet in her late 30's as she deals with her family drama, a reality show star arriving in town, and her sister's pregnancy. To top it off, she runs into a prideful new surgeon she can't seem to get out of her head.Catrina reads the hit YA novel Pride.  Zuri Benitez, loves her family and her loud, colorful, close-knit neighborhood. Enter the Darcy family who have turned the most run down house in the neighborhood into a mansion. What happens when Zuri and the arrogant Darius Darcy start clashing?

 This week Catrina and Elle discuss two Pride and Prejudice adaptations that feature a multicultural point of view. One follows Ayesha Shamsi in a modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice love story set in Canada. The other is the story of Trisha Raje, an Indian-American story of family and love set in San Fransisco.Catrina shares her reading of Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaludin. Elle raves about Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev.  Both books are available for purchase in our bookshop store - https://bookshop.org/shop/booksbeyondmeasure 10% of each purchase goes to local bookshops across the country and 10% helps support our podcast.