Becoming Meg Dashwood

De: Rebecca Humphries

Narrado por: Emma Thompson, Erin Doherty, Naomi Ackie, Imelda Staunton, Jessica Gunning, Liz Carr, Greg Wise, Paterson Joseph

Executive produced by, and starring, Emma Thompson, 'Becoming Meg Dashwood' picks up where Sense and Sensibility left off. A bold imagining of what it might have meant to rewrite the rule book in 19th century England.

‘When you are thirteen years old, Margaret, you will witness your sister Marianne being made a fool of for love. You will make an oath that you will never love a man and lose yourself.’

Marriage is not for Margaret Dashwood. Where others see duty, Margaret sees entrapment. And rage.

But when an invitation from family friend Mrs Jennings hurls her into the chaotic heart of Covent Garden, Margaret discovers an intoxicating world beyond afternoon tea and polite society. Here she meets three women who live unapologetically: Nelly, an impulsive actress; Hester, a witch who works in the textile factory; and Inge, a sex worker who loves money and knows exactly how to get it. Here, Margaret’s rage is celebrated, along with her musical talents, and in their fierce company she is reborn as Meg: artist, and woman of hidden fires.

All four women dare to imagine a life dictated by pleasure, politics, and possibility. But such a life demands sacrifice. Especially when Meg’s feelings for Nelly - tender, electric, terrifying - begin to deepen. How does one fall in love, when that love has no name?

Becoming Meg Dashwood is a riotous, rebellious period drama. A pleasure story, not a love story.

Except, of course, that it is.

Starring Emma Thompson, Erin Doherty, Naomi Ackie, Liz Carr, Jessica Gunning, Paterson Joseph, Golda Rosheuvel, Greg Wise, Hedi Honert and Imelda Staunton. Plus a full ensemble cast starring Alex Austin, Robyn Holdaway, Rebecca Humphries, Gordon Kennedy, Clare Lawrence Moody, Ashley McGuire, Timothy Renouf, Sam Swann, Delilah Tahiri, Harry Trevaldwyn, Harley Viveash, Martha Bobroff, Ella Read and Chloe Raphael.

Featuring a dynamic new score by Natasha Khan, known as Bat for Lashes, written by Rebecca Humphries and directed by Jo Tyabji.

An Audible Original produced with Thomas Carter Projects.

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

©2025 Rebecca Humphries (P)2025 Audible Ltd.

A story to fit the time and struggle

Love Emma Thompson and the idea of Having Margaret’s story and how Marianne’s love trauma impacted her look on love and her independence was a necessary plot to her story to intertwine with the stagnation of women and men complete control over all aspects of their lives. I would recommend this story

an interesting take on a well known story

Good character development and a couple of twists and enjoyable story. I love trying to imagine myself and my friends during this time and how different things were, then thinking about which of my friends would fit the characters! Enjoy 😊

Brilliant and witty!

This was a true joy for any Jane Austen fan! So imaginative and fun! I wish it was a movie! And thank God for including a gay love interest in that time period because it has existed in ALL times and makes all people feel seen hopefully for their true selves!

It’s not you, it’s me.

Maybe it’s my neuro spicy brain, but as much as I love the theatrics, the noises and chaos in the background left me feeling so overwhelmed, overstimulated and anxious that I couldn’t finish the story.

A coming of age for English women of olde

I love Emma Thompson whose performance was instrumental in this story. Enjoyed Nellie’s voice as well as many others to make the story come alive. Characters were portrayed genuinely and the tale is well told. Overall, a lovely portrayal.

Chaotic fun

Emma Thompson is a treasure. I love that Meg adores Mrs. Jennings and being oneself is the goal, not marriage. Very modern but who cares. Narration is superb but the sound effects can be a bit too loud and drown out the dialogue. But not too much.

Uniquely imagined but don’t expect a pure extension of Jane Austin

I found both the story and performances thoroughly entertaining and Emma Thompson’s performance especially makes this a success. Readers expecting a seamless continuation of Austen’s world may find this novel jarring. Although told through Margaret Dashwood’s perspective, its modern diction and themes intentionally break from the restraint and wit characteristic of Austen’s style. Though other reviewers seemed put off by it, I found the voice acting and accompanying foley enriched the piece as a whole. You’ll be transported through time and will find yourself in immersed in no time.

Brilliant

An actor, a musician, a prostitute, and a witch. Read to see what happens next.

Needless death and trauma

It was actually traumatic.

Also some problematic language. Working hard is not akin to being enslaved and it is racist AF when White women make that comparison.

I really loved getting another side to Mrs Jennings.

I did not love that everyone expected Meg to bend herself to suit her mother's need for married daughters. Toxic, which is the point of the story o think.

But the pointless death was graphic, jarring and horrible. The book would have been better without it

NOT Jane Austen fan fiction

This is a modern story placed in an historical context. It ranged from awkwardly campy to mildly amusing. Excellent production quality and performances.