Even smaller conversations like this are perfectly timed –4. Welch completely nailed the timing of the series, lengthening scenes only when necessary and giving fair time in the early years to allow the character of Jane to truly develop. Fortunately, the novel was directed by Susannah White and adapted by Sandy Welch, who also created the popular 2004 North and South adaptation and the 2009 version of Jane Austen’s Emma. To truly get the full nuances of the novel, television offers far more time and this adaptation’s 4-hour running time meant that it captured everything vital.However, it could have dragged on in the earlier and later scenes, as others have done. The 2011 movie particularly suffered in how it was adapted, trying to squeeze in far too much into a short run-time, yet still managing exceed Mrs Fairfax’s necessary screen time (the fact she was played by Judi Dench was likely the reason for this).
Some in charge of reworking the novel can put it into a short 1-hour play, whilst others will take out the early school scenes in favour of Jane’s time at Thornfield Hall.
