MovieChat Forums > Wives and Daughters (2002) Discussion > Book Vs. Mini-Series

Book Vs. Mini-Series

posted 9 years ago by jora_dyn
4 replies | jump to latest

So I just finished reading the book. and I actually didn't know that Mrs. Gaskell passed away before completing the novel. Reaching the end of what she had wrote, left me grieving for her untimely death. Reading the book has reignited my love for this story! I love the book, and I love the BBC mini-series, and I want discussions! So here I am.

First off having read the book I have to say how happy I was to discover how well the script reflected the book lines seemed almost word for word and it really felt like every scene was taken from the novel. However there were things some alterations, and honestly I definitely felt they were for the better.

So for those who don't know, the book ends with Rogers waving goodbye before setting off to catch his coach in the rain for Africa, his love unpronounced to Molly, though Mr. Gibson knows of it from their previous conversation a scene earlier.

The ending with the rain and the final scene of them in Africa was created by the screenwriters. I have to say although I absolutely love the ending it was very modern. As people have mentioned in some other threads, a man taking his new bride to a foreign, dangerous and wild land would probably have been unheard of at that time. Especially as he almost died out there on his previous trip, and she herself in the book was sick for a very long while. Her "invalid" state in the books, which occurs after Aimee comes to the hall and while Molly is caring for her in her depression over Osborne's death. This is probably my least favorite aspect of the book and the greatest omission from the mini-series.

Other things I really loved that the mini-series added were little details into Molly and Rogers natural science interests, having little scenes where Molly is drawing bugs in books, or the microscope scenes. The map that Molly makes of Rogers travels, is amazing! They did such an incredible job conveying Molly's care and love for Roger in very quiet beautiful details and scenes.

I love this series even more just thinking about it. Anyone else have any thoughts on the differences and what they preferred from the book or the mini-series?

[–] ida96 8 years ago

It's a wonderful series -- so long and satisfying in its complexities. Full marks to Justine Waddell who's so charming in every frame.

Re: the modernness of the ending in Africa, I love that this version of Molly had such a sense of adventure as to face uncertainties and hardships that such a trip would entail in the 19th century. But my biggest concern would have to be birth control. What would they have done, besides abstinence--which I couldn't believe for this couple--to ward off pregnancy while exploring and traveling? Lady Harriet's hair was a shock, but are we to believe Molly had a diaphragm?

I haven't read the book(s), but I'm sure Mrs Gaskell would not have written this ending, satisfying as it is to us in the 21st century.

[–] jora_dyn 7 years ago

Haha! I never thought much about that! Sorry back to running this mini-series in the background, and forgot to check up on this thread.

I'm not a herbalist but perhaps they already had some concoction that was regularly taken up to help prevent pregnancy. I'm curious to read what homeopathic or early methods there were, if any back then now too! The other post is also very exciting.

[–] Unwanted_Birdtamer 8 years ago

Around the time that Gaskell was writing this, Samuel and Florence Baker had just returned from a 4 year trip to Africa looking for the source of the Nile. A few years later the two returned to Africa heading up a military expedition to end the slave trade, spending another 4 years. Florence accompanied her husband every step of the way. Not only that, but as she found dresses too cumbersome, she made outfits of pants and loose tunics for herself (and Samuel) to wear on their travels.
There were other Victorian women explorers, mostly single or widowed women, like Isabella Bird, Mary Kingsley, Ida Laura Pfeiffer, Hester Stanhope, or Alexandrine Tinne. Besides the many women who accompanied husbands/fathers/brothers to British colonial outposts around the world. I'm not saying Gaskell would have written Molly going to Africa had she finished the book. Just that women going wasn't outside the realm of possibility for the time.

Come, we must press against the tide of naughtiness. Mind your step.

[–] jora_dyn 7 years ago

Oh my gosh! Thanks so much for this information! This is brilliant!

I'd love to imagine Mrs. Gaskell was inspired by the Bakers at that time and perhaps an African adventure was in Molly and Roger's future. In any case, I stand corrected, and happy for it!