POSTMODERN PERSUASIONS: REIMAGINING JANE AUSTEN IN LOVE, LIES, AND LIZZIE

Abstract

This study explores the postmodern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in Rosie Rushton’s Love, Lies, and Lizzie, a contemporary young adult adaptation. Drawing on postmodern concepts such as intertextuality, fragmentation, and cultural relativism, the research examines how Rushton deconstructs Austen’s Regency-era social critiques to align with the priorities of modern youth culture. The novel transforms Austen’s themes of class, morality, and gender into a framework that critiques consumerism, social media, and adolescent relationships. By embracing metafictional elements and satirical undertones, Rushton crafts a narrative that both honours and subverts Austen’s original text, challenging traditional literary hierarchies. The study highlights how the adaptation employs hyper reality to recast romantic ideals and societal norms in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences. Ultimately, this paper claims that Love, Lies, and Lizzie serves as a cultural translation of Austen’s legacy, revealing the enduring relevance of her narratives in a postmodern context.