PBS Books Readers Club welcomes beloved British author Helen Fielding to discuss her iconic novel Bridget Jones’s Diary—a clever, laugh-out-loud reimagining of Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of a hilariously imperfect modern heroine. The episode premieres on August 27th at 8PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS App.
As we celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, there’s no better time to revisit Fielding’s wildly popular twist on the Mr. Darcy love story. First published nearly 30 years ago, Bridget Jones’s Diary remains a satirical yet heartfelt exploration of the pressures women face to improve, adapt, and appear effortlessly put-together. Fielding’s Bridget is not a self-improvement success story—she’s a cultural mirror held up with charm, wit, and emotional honesty.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the book, this is a perfect summer read—funny, familiar, and still shockingly relevant. Join us for a lively conversation about Bridget’s legacy, her Austen roots, and what it means to laugh at life’s messiest moments.
PBS Watch-Alike: Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th
Just like Bridget Jones’s Diary, these PBS Masterpiece adaptations draw inspiration from the wit, romance, and rebellious spirit of Jane Austen—whose legacy we’re celebrating in her 250th birthday year.
Start with Miss Austen, a moving limited series that explores the untold story of Jane’s devoted sister, Cassandra, and the secret behind why she destroyed Jane’s private letters—revealing a tender, complicated bond between the sisters.
Then dive into Death Comes to Pemberley, a gripping whodunit that picks up where Pride and Prejudice left off—just as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s happy marriage is upended by an unexpected murder at Pemberley.
And don’t miss Sanditon, the lush, romantic adaptation of Austen’s final, unfinished novel, full of strong heroines, seaside scandal, and sharp social commentary.
 About the Author
Helen Fielding
 About the Author
Charlotte McConaghy
Charlotte is an Australian author living in Sydney with her partner and two children.
She has a Masters Degree in Screenwriting from the Australian Film Television and Radio School, and a number of published SFF works in Australia.
Her novel MIGRATIONS was her first foray into adult literary fiction, published in North America by Flatiron Books, and by Penguin Random House in Australia and the UK. It is being translated into over 25 languages, and adapted to film.
ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES, the New York Times Bestseller, is a romantic mystery about a biologist charged with reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands in order to rewild the landscape and bring a forest back to life.
Her third novel WILD DARK SHORE continues her love of romantic thrillers set in beautiful, remote places, and explores not only what it takes to raise children in a collapsing world, but the impossible choices we make to protect those we love.
