Texting Tess, Digital Darcy and Hashtagging Heathcliff; would classic romance survive in a digital age? Thursday 18th February
Reworkings of classic love stories by Jane Austen, Emily Bront and Thomas Hardy illustrate how digital communication could have ruined romance
Literature experts have updated the books which now feature internet dating, Tinder swipes, selfies, instant messaging addiction and dodgy Wi-Fi
Distraction by digital devices is revealed as one of the biggest romance killers for modern Brits
One in five plan to say I love you via text, instant message or email this Valentines Day
TV channel Drama commissions updated classic romance novels ahead of its Romantic Sundays season every Sunday from 11th February
The modernised classics, which include rewritten passages and new cover illustrations, are free to download from drama.uktv.co.uk/modern-romance
Three of the nations favourite love stories have been given a dramatic digital makeover to show the devastating effect that digital devices could be having on modern romance.
Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen), Wuthering Heights (Emily Bront ) and Tess of the dUrbervilles (Thomas Hardy) have all been meticulously reworked to incorporate modern digital memes such as internet dating, social media addiction and Wi-Fi issues. The revised novels provide a stark warning for modern love as new research reveals that overuse of digital devices is one of the biggest passion killers for Brits.
Academic Professor John Sutherland (Lord Northcliffe Professor Emeritus of Literature, University College London) worked closely with a team of writers from TV channel Drama to reimagine key passages from each of the books. The project was commissioned to celebrate the channels Romantic Sundays season including classic love stories such as Pride and Prejudice, Emma and North & South (Sundays from 11th February, 12pm on Drama).
The updated books feature new and rewritten passages to show how these famous romances could have played out in a world of Tinder swipes, WhatsApp distraction and social media addiction and suggest that a Digital Darcy and Hashtagging Heathcliff may have been a turn off.
Examples of the modern additions to the reimagined classics include: Pride and Prejudice
The reimagining explores how Darcys narcissistic personality is accentuated by his popularity on Tinder, as well as how Elizabeths courtship of him is affected by WhatsApp distraction and the perils of accidental tagging.
Example passage - Elizabeth accidentally causes a Twitter storm of epic proportions by inadvertently tagging Mr. Darcy in a photo she takes of him swimming in the lake:
She immediately reached for her phone to take a photo of Mr. Darcy emerging, white shirt clinging to his chest, water falling from his thick dark hair, rendering him absolutely the most exquisite sample of male perfection she - and later Twitter - would ever see.
Indeed, out of pure habit, she immediately posted the image on Twitter with the caption: OMG. Neither was she conscious of the fact she had also tagged Mr. Darcy himself!
It was only when they were within twenty yards of each other, that he seemed to notice her and what she was doing. Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of both were overspread with the deepest blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immovable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility managing to ignore the phone in her hand that had just incited - unbeknownst to either - a Twitter storm of epic proportions.
Wuthering Heights
Heathcliffs stubborn pride drives him to leave discourteous comments on Nellys Twitter poll: Who should Catherine choose?. The novel is reimagined as a series of blog entries posted by Mr Lockwood - which amass both welcome and unwanted attention in the Comments section.
Example passage - Nelly cannot believe that Cathy has fallen for Edgar Linton after he displays such bad manners on social media:
Worst of all. And now, say how you love him? You cant have happened to miss the fact that he never comments on any of your Facebook photos, doesnt watch your Instagram stories and scarcely replied to your WhatsApps even though he knows you can see the blue ticks?
Tess of the dUrbervilles
Angel ignores matching with Tess on Tinder, setting in motion a chain of unhappy events which could have easily been averted. Readers are left questioning the depth of Angels love for Tess after seeing his preoccupation with Instagram and Pinterest.
Example passage - A dead phone battery leads Angel Clare to miss a chance of a dance with Tess at the May Ball:
His phone, now in his pocket, retired from his secret filming, did vibrate, causing him to rummage for it and look upon the screen mournfully. He had meant to turn off his Tinder notifications, but alas had forgot. Somebody Super Liked you! the screen read. Find out who. Angel swiped and once swiped his strange melancholy intensified. It was the girl he had grossly neglected in the dance. The pretty maiden who watched him still from afar. However, before he could respond, his phone battery died. It could not be helped, and turning, and bending himself to a rapid walk, he dismissed the subject from his mind.
The new novels also include bespoke cover artwork featuring the romantic heroes and heroines interacting as they may have done using digital devices. The eBooks are available to download for free at drama.uktv.co.uk/modern-romance.
Professor John Sutherland says: Even though were certainly a nation that uses modern technology to communicate, by inserting these devices and methods of communication into a series of classic romances - themselves believed to be some of the most romantic novels according to the nation - highlights
