Does no one say "No" any more?

Ursula K. LeGuin wonders what possessed a publisher to commission a re-write of Jane Austen- set in Cinncinnati?

Most of her readers would agree, I think, that Jane Austen’s heroines, even the witty Elizabeth Bennet, do not indulge in hateful or spiteful talk. Of these good-mannered, good-natured women, Emma Woodhouse is the most self-confident, even to the point of self-congratulation, and thereby runs a risk, for her author sees presumptuousness as a fault to which even diffidence is preferable. The turning point of Emma and its most shocking moment is Emma’s slight but stinging gibe at poor, talky, tiresome Miss Bates. Miss Bates says:

“I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, shan’t I?” – (looking round with the most good-humoured dependence on every body’s assent) – “Do not you all think I shall?” 

Emma could not resist. 

“Ah! ma’am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me – but you will be limited as to number – only three at once.” 

Miss Bates, deceived by the mock ceremony of her manner, did not immediately catch her meaning; but when it burst on her, it could not anger, though a slight blush showed that it could pain her.

Emma is not ashamed of this until Mr Knightley tells her, with controlled but passionate anger, that her words were cruel, that “it was badly done”. At this (the final blow of a disappointing, frustrating day) Emma is ashamed, indeed humiliated, grieved beyond words. And she cries silently in the carriage all the way home.

Well, that’s a different world from this one:

To Liz’s surprise, both Lydia and Kitty exclaimed with delight hearing at dinner of Charlotte’s charades invitation. “I hope you know I’ll kick your asses,” Lydia said, and Mary said, “By cheating, you mean?” 

“What if we’re on the same team?” Liz asked. “Is your ass-kicking restricted to your opponents or is it indiscriminate?” 

“Do you ever pass up a chance to use a big word?” Lydia replied. “Or do you find that circumlocution always magnifies life’s conviviality?” 

“That wasn’t bad,” Liz said. “Especially for someone who scored as low as you did on the verbal part of the SATs.” 

“Stop quarrelling, girls,” Mrs Bennet said. “It’s unbecoming.” 

“They’d never speak to one another otherwise,” Mr Bennet said...