This is a good one for anyone who’s totally suffered through the stuffy, Britannic eons of fussing and formality in Jane Austen novels, just to get to the juicy parts (ooh, Mr. Darcy): according to British screenwriter Andrew Davies, who is practically single-handedly responsible for the PBS “Masterpiece Theater” genre of television adaptation (i.e. video Cliff’s Notes), Ms. Austen was just as into sex as the rest of us girls.

“Sex,” says Davies, who has adapted, like, every single Jane Austen novel for the silver screen, “is in the air.”

It’s just that in Austen’s time, it was was more about what wasn’t shown, than what was.

In Davies’ adaptations, all that covert, Victorian sexuality is busted into the open by emphasizing all the physical details: you know, sweaty horse-riding, deep cleavage, men in tight breeches. Quoth Davies: “I’m just trying to bring out the sexual motive, which is so strong in those stories.”

So, everyone take a moment and say thank you to Mr. Davies for bringing our Comp-Lit fantasies to fruition, and introducing the world to Colin Firth in a clingy, wet shirt.