The author of the iconic Bridget Jones novels, Helen Fielding, has named her favourite author, and it is another classic writer with a gift for telling romantic tales.
It should not come as a surprise to anyone that the author of choice is, of course, Jane Austen. An author whom Fielding has taken inspiration from when writing the Bridget Jones saga.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post on Austen, Fielding said: “She is my favourite author and the first novelist to write realistic portrayals of real women – with wit, intelligence, irony and understanding. She’s an observer and social commentator, and an absolute master novelist.
“She is witty, intelligent, brave, decent, hilarious, ironic, moral, kind and timeless. My heroine.”
She also revealed that she borrowed elements of the plot for her series from Austen, explaining that it is loosely based on Pride and Prejudice, which is where the nod to Mr Darcy comes from.
Recently, while speaking at FLEM Literatura Expandida a Magaluf, a literary festival in Magaluf, Spain, Fielding explained that she took inspiration from Austen and added that she wrote the role of Mark Darcy for Colin Firth
She added: “I was always in love with Mr Darcy/Colin Firth, so I wrote the part for Colin and insisted that he should play the part. It was really exciting that he said yes.”
While at the FLEM festival, Fielding also shone a light on some more modern authors, too. She highlighted Gabrielle Zevin and her novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow as someone whose work has recently stood out to her.
Fielding said: “It’s about modern love relationships and it really is storytelling.”
On Austen, Fielding also told the Yorkshire Post: “Her novels, which appear so lightly written, carry a huge understanding of human nature,” Fielding says, “a great sense of humour, an insight into character – particularly female characters, an irresistible, unique voice, an ear for dialogue, a razor sharp skewering of character, and excellent plotting.
“They are set in small worlds but bring a tremendous awareness of the wider world and time in which they were written – wars, politics, economics, sociology, major issues (slavery being one,) money, and the powerlessness of women – unless you happen to be a rich widow, or plucky enough to say no to Mr Darcy.”
