Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

published

May 15th 2006 (first published 1813) by Headline Book Publishing

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binding

Paperback, 384 pages

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uploaded 05-02-07 — download it now

characters

Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy

isbn

075533146X (isbn13: 9780755331468)

description

“I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.” Perhaps ...more

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natalee☮ rated it:

(review of isbn 0679783261)

02/28/08

bookshelves: romantic-drama

Read in November, 2005

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I really thought this was a moving book. It is a moving story of romance, hurt, and hope. It is written by Jane Austen, I got this syponosis from GOOD READS:
When Charles Bingley, a rich single man, moves to the Netherfield estate, the neighborhood residents are thrilled, especially Mrs. Bennet, who hopes to marry one of her five daughters to him. When the Bennet daughters meet him at a local ball, they are impressed by his outgoing personality and friendly disposition. They are less impressed, ...more I really thought this was a moving book. It is a moving story of romance, hurt, and hope. It is written by Jane Austen, I got this syponosis from GOOD READS:
When Charles Bingley, a rich single man, moves to the Netherfield estate, the neighborhood residents are thrilled, especially Mrs. Bennet, who hopes to marry one of her five daughters to him. When the Bennet daughters meet him at a local ball, they are impressed by his outgoing personality and friendly disposition. They are less impressed, however, by Bingley’s friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, a landowning aristocrat who is too proud to speak to any of the locals and whom Elizabeth Bennet overhears refusing to dance with her.

Bingley and the oldest Bennet daughter, Jane, soon form an attachment. Any serious relationship between the two, however, is opposed by Bingley’s sisters (who do not approve of Jane as a wife for Bingley because of her mother’s lower status) and by Darcy (who believes that Jane is indifferent to Bingley). Meanwhile, Darcy finds himself attracted to Elizabeth despite his objections to her family. He is drawn to her spirited wit and expressive eyes, and Caroline Bingley’s jealous criticisms of Elizabeth can do nothing to lessen Darcy’s admiration.

As Darcy grows more interested in Elizabeth, Elizabeth continues to despise him and is instead attracted to George Wickham, a handsome and personable militia officer. Wickham tells Elizabeth that his father worked for Darcy’s father and that he and Darcy grew up together. Stating that he was favored by Darcy’s father, Wickham claims that Darcy disobeyed his father’s bequest of a clergyman’s revenue to Wickham out of selfish resentment. Wickham’s tale makes Darcy appear not only proud but cruel, and Elizabeth accepts Wickham’s account without question, disliking Darcy even more because of it.

In the midst of Jane and Elizabeth’s developing relationships, the Bennet family is visited by Mr. Bennet’s cousin, William Collins, a clergyman who will inherit Mr. Bennet’s estate when he dies because of a legal stricture known as an entail. Full of apologies for the entail and praises for his patroness, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, Mr. Collins informs the Mrs. Bennet that Lady Catherine has instructed him to marry and that he plans to choose a wife from the Bennet daughters. He settles on Elizabeth, but is stunned and offended when she refuses him. He quickly turns his attention to Elizabeth’s friend, Charlotte Lucas, who wants to marry for security rather than love, and the two are soon engaged and married.

At the same time, Jane is dismayed to find out that Bingley and the entire Netherfield party have unexpectedly left for London. Caroline Bingley writes to Jane that they do not intend to return, and she predicts a match between Bingley and Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, who is also in London. Although Jane quietly resigns herself to a life without Bingley, Elizabeth is angry for her sister and suspects that Bingley’s sisters and Darcy are trying to keep him from Jane.

Elizabeth visits Charlotte at her new home in Hunsford, Kent, and meets Mr. Collins’ patroness and Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, an overbearing woman who thrives on meddling in other people’s lives. Soon after Elizabeth’s arrival in Kent, Darcy visits his aunt with his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Darcy puzzles Elizabeth with his behavior; he seems to seek out her company, but he never says much. One day, he surprises Elizabeth by proposing to her. Still repelled by his pride and believing Darcy is responsible for Bingley’s separation from Jane and for Wickham’s misfortune, Elizabeth refuses him. The next day, Darcy gives her a letter explaining his role in influencing Bingley away from Jane and details the facts of Wickham’s situation. A careful examination of the facts reveals that Darcy, while proud, is innocent of wrongdoing, leaving Elizabeth mortified at her discovery of how her own pride prejudiced her against Darcy.

After returning home for a month, Elizabeth goes on a trip with her aunt and uncle Gardiner to Derbyshire county, where they visit Darcy’s estate of Pemberley. There they meet Darcy unexpectedly and are all surprised at how graciously he treats them. He calls on Elizabeth at her inn, introduces her to his sister, and invites her to Pemberley for dinner. Darcy is still in love with Elizabeth, and Elizabeth begins to have similar feelings for him.

In the midst of this promising situation, Elizabeth receives two letters from Jane telling her that Lydia has eloped with Wickham, causing Elizabeth and the Gardiners to leave for home immediately. Elizabeth fears that Lydia and the Bennet family are permanently disgraced and that her newly-discovered love for Darcy is hopeless. When Lydia is found, however, she and Wickham marry. After the wedding, Elizabeth discovers that Darcy was instrumental in orchestrating the marriage, thereby saving the reputation and marriageability of the other Bennet daughters.

Bingley returns to Netherfield and soon asks Jane to marry him. Jane, of course, accepts, and Mrs. Bennet’s exultation is only lessened by her irritation at Darcy’s occasional presence. Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s happiness for her sister is interrupted by a visit from Lady Catherine De Bourgh, who has heard a rumor that Darcy and Elizabeth are engaged, which they are not. She lectures Elizabeth on the imprudence of such a match, and then demands that Elizabeth promise not to accept any proposal from Darcy. Elizabeth refuses, causing Lady Catherine to tell Darcy about Elizabeth’s impertinence and to scold him about the folly of an engagement between them. Lady Catherine’s description of Elizabeth’s response to her demands gives Darcy hope that Elizabeth has had a change of heart. He proposes again and Elizabeth happily accepts.
and I am certian that if you like romantic moving love stories you will enjoy this book:)!...less

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Meagan rated it:

(review of isbn 0393976041)

05/24/08

Read in May, 2008

On a note let me say that I enjoyed this edition for its occasional footnote of what the original manuscript looked like or changes that were made and also for it's information into the more obscure slang or such changed words of the time. While most all I could have figured out, it was nice to see the exact translation at the bottom of the page should I want for it. Like it was neat to know that addresses were once simply called directions. :)

AS for the story itself, I found that once I got...more On a note let me say that I enjoyed this edition for its occasional footnote of what the original manuscript looked like or changes that were made and also for it's information into the more obscure slang or such changed words of the time. While most all I could have figured out, it was nice to see the exact translation at the bottom of the page should I want for it. Like it was neat to know that addresses were once simply called directions. :)

AS for the story itself, I found that once I got into the language I enjoyed it quite a lot. At first I was reading the book in short bursts about 15 or 20 minutes a day. This could cause it to be confusing at time due to the number of characters and their many names. For instant Elizabeth, is also Eliza and Lizzy, and on the occasion that Jane be absent, also Miss Bennet. There are a lot of characters and they all have names to keep track of and more often than not they do make a difference later in the story. Reading in longer portions I found they were much easier to keep track of. On that note the longer I sat and read the less willing I was to put the book down as well.

I was a little disappointed that it had "classic" and annoying "romance error" such as bad communication and thinking silly things despite the other person's actions. I did find I like Elizabeth less so than in the movie. Anyway at least when Austin did 1. it was not so over done (or was it?) and 2. There was a reason for it. The simple social requirements of the times prevented such communication and honesty that would other wise had been vital. Though surprisingly having it been written for its own time, Austin does a great job of making these reasons known which I think makes the bad communication easier to stomach. It's not really the characters fault.

Given the time period I think Elizabeth is actually quite forward and I do enjoy her thought pattern. It is honest and she is flawed and there is nothing wrong with that. However I would have preferred a little more spunk from her, that could be my modern wishes.

Jane was almost a little over the top, but since I've actually known people like that she only bothered me in her manner not that it was over done.

(On a side note I like imagining them visiting each other, having dinner, and then playing cards and games. My family still does things like this and it was fun to think of it that way.)

The story of course is just as enjoyable as the movie and if my memory serves me correctly, it is more enjoyable as there is actually more details and certain events take place in certain ways that make them more dear to me. Though it has been a long while since I've seen the movie so I could be remembering things improperly, I still feel I enjoy the book more.

As for the narration I was really pleased with the authority in it. Especially when the narrator felt the need to skip the description of all their travels when Elizabeth is on vacation with her aunt and uncle. The language would have made the description a bit dull, and it was unnecessary. Speaking of the language, while wordy, but normal for the time it was written, is actually clear in its meaning and I think some people might get put off by it or feel it is boring or that Austin lingers on too many unimportant details only because of the style they are written in. These details are actually important.

People don't really write like this today. They do, but not really like this. I think I get why there are people who cling to Jane Austin. The narration has an authority, but also a kind of conversational and at times gossipy, feel to it, which begs my attention even more.

It was so interesting to see what Austin choose to include as quoted dialog or letters and what she summed up, even if the summation was long. I came to trust it so much that when suddenly Lydia's dialog, which all seemed really useless and air heady, began to be quoted I became suspicious. Why so late in the story do we get to see for ourselves just exactly how she is? But of course, there is a reason.
I'm not sure if her style stood out to me so much because of its authoritative narration and easiness of voice (in the characters as well) or because of my being a writer. Either way it added a level of enjoyment to the book for me.

I am glad I decided to read it. I haven't read any of the notes in the back of the book. (This was actually a text book I bought on sale at the bookstore I work at.) I doubt I will any time soon, but they seem to be on interesting subjects that could be worth a look. ...less

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Kristen rated it:

(review of isbn 0679783261)

08/30/07

Read in July, 2007

recommends it for: girls who like nothing more than admiring their own bravery

I have a friend who I dearly love who reveres this book. I say that first to apologizee to her and the other intelligent, worthy, funny, expressive women who love this book and who I already know I am going to insult and offend. I apologize in advance. I had never read P&P until this summer, but my whole life I have met women who thought they should be congratualted for every small thing they did, saying things like "I'm just like Lizzie Bennett." I wanted to meet this Liz...more I have a friend who I dearly love who reveres this book. I say that first to apologizee to her and the other intelligent, worthy, funny, expressive women who love this book and who I already know I am going to insult and offend. I apologize in advance. I had never read P&P until this summer, but my whole life I have met women who thought they should be congratualted for every small thing they did, saying things like "I'm just like Lizzie Bennett." I wanted to meet this Lizzie Bennett. Every time a man has been diagreeable, my friends say things like "He's just pulling a Mr. Darcy. He'll come around." I had to meet this Mr. Darcy who apparently resembled so many of the men I dated, except that he came back in the end. So, this summer, I sat down to read "Pride and Prejudice."
Ugh. This was not the book for me, but I wanted it to be. The first few pages between the Bennett parents was charming and funny, and I knew that I had found someone interesting in Mr. Bennett. But it all went downhill when Lizzie entered. Why so many smart, independent women relate to this snippy, shallow, and wholly uninteresting character is beyond me. The other females in the book, stupid, slutty Lydia (or was it Kitty?); educated and endearingly akward Mary; gentle and kind Jane; calcualted and sensible Charlotte, even overlooked and annoying Kitty (or maybe Lydia? Ah, who cares) were all so much more interesting to me than self righteous, clever, Lizzie. Her story held nothing for me, and her character was not enough to keep me tied to her uninspiring tale.
It is hard to really get involed with a girl who's biggest problem is that, even though she's pretty, isn't rich enough to marry the stuffy rich guy who she doesn't even like until the last 30 pages of the book. People complain about the preditability of rom com's, but I say, blame not the rom-com, blame the inspiration for the genre: Pride and Prejudice and other Austen tripe. Halfway through P&P, I began to long for "Jane Eyre" and I wanted Lizzie to meet Jane Eyre. The unattractive, orphaned girl so poor she becomes a governess for a stuffy, mean, older man who himself doesn't have all that much money but does have a terrible secret and a burning love far more passionate than anything Mr. Darcy could muster up. Now Jane Eyre, there's a girl with problems. And a delightful book....less

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Shannon rated it:

(review of isbn )

05/27/08

bookshelves: 2007, classics, re-read

Read in December, 2007

This is a re-read for me, only I can't remember if I've read it once, twice or how many times before. At least twice, I think, but so long ago that it was like reading it for the first time. I just had this urge to read it again, I can't explain it but I'm glad I did.

I probably don't need to describe the plot, I'm sure everyone knows it by now. I actually never studied this book at school or uni, so I've never delved into it and explored the themes or anything. Some people seem to find it, ...more This is a re-read for me, only I can't remember if I've read it once, twice or how many times before. At least twice, I think, but so long ago that it was like reading it for the first time. I just had this urge to read it again, I can't explain it but I'm glad I did.

I probably don't need to describe the plot, I'm sure everyone knows it by now. I actually never studied this book at school or uni, so I've never delved into it and explored the themes or anything. Some people seem to find it, or elements of it, offensive to modern-day sensibilities, such as the absorption of certain characters in 'catching' a man and getting married. To be honest, I think one of the reasons why Austen's books are still so popular is because of their familiarity (as well as their sense of humour, the clash of characters, and that age-old quest for love): plenty of people are preoccupied with exactly the same things today. The 'meat market' is still there - in the form of pubs, clubs and other 'dos rather than balls. Language and costumes may have changed, but just look at that ridiculous tv show "The Bachelor" - it's catchphrase could easily be "A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." Though, cynically, they're more like Wickham - again, a very familiar character.

Back to the humour for a moment. The wit in the dialogue always makes me chuckle, even when the lines are so well-known I see them coming. There is a dry amusement between the lines when describing the interactions between characters, the way they dance around each other. The skill with which characters like Darcy and Mr. Collins are written is supurb, and even though they are rarely described you get a clear sense of their figure etc. - and personality - through the way they speak. Austen manages in a few well-chosen words to capture an entire scene or personality.

It's so nice to go back to the source and read the original text after watching the series and the more recent movie so many times. There were things, little details, that I had forgotten or barely noticed before, which pleasantly surprised me. Most of all, it confirmed my opinion that the recent movie is an excellent adaptation of a long, detailed book, and easily my favourite. (I've seen the much older series as well, the one where Darcy walks around like he has a stick up his bum. Compared to that, Collin Firth's Darcy was a breath of fresh air.)

I wonder, too, if we can go back to this non-formulaic structure of a love story. How many movies have you seen that are, in structure and basic plot, exactly the same? A few British movies have managed to play around with it a bit, like Bridget Jones's Diary, Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Yet, as much as I love it, even A Room With a View plays to type. What keeps my attention with P&P - and what no doubt makes it a tricky book to capture on film - is the life-like, everyday-ness of the plot, the turns you can't predict unless you're already familiar with the story, that feeling like it really happened because it doesn't feel contrived at all - that kind of structure makes an old book like P&P feel fresher than the latest romantic-comedy release.

At least, that's the way it is for me. I can understand why some people don't like the story at all, or are disinterested. Personally, I appreciated the book much more this time round, at 28, than I did when I first read it just before the BBC series came out in the mid-90s, when I was 16. I got more out of it, and understood the language much better - though there are still a few lines (at one point even an entire paragraph) whose meaning eludes me. I'll get there, cause this ain't the last time I'll read the book that's for sure.

Now I need to re-read the others and see if my opinion has changed any...

A Note On This Edition: This edition is part of a reproduction series of late 19th-century editions. The covers are, of course, new, but the text inside is printed on lovely thick paper, and like the Sandstone editions of books like Jane Eyre, the font etc. is a much older style. P&P is complete with spaces between words and semicolons etc., and illustrations by Hugh Thomson that are often quite funny. There is no ISBN for this book, you can't buy it in a shop. I actually got these from Doubleday bookclub years ago....less

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Henry rated it:

(review of isbn 0140620222)

06/21/08

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: Anyone

Great book. I've seen two video adaptations of the story. The first from 1995 staring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and the second from 2005 with Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley. As suspected, neither was as good as the book, although they did an admirable job. The basic story and many particulars are the same. I'm not a huge Keira Knightley fan although I've only really seen her in two roles, Elizabeth Bennet and Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which my...more Great book. I've seen two video adaptations of the story. The first from 1995 staring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and the second from 2005 with Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley. As suspected, neither was as good as the book, although they did an admirable job. The basic story and many particulars are the same. I'm not a huge Keira Knightley fan although I've only really seen her in two roles, Elizabeth Bennet and Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which my daughter loves. She's too thin to be particularly attractive and doesn't seem to have many different facial expressions. She does a good confused or bemused look but that's about it. I don't know who I'd put in her place to play Miss Bennet but I picture her as different from Ms Knightley, anyway.

A book has so much more depth than a movie. I've tried to express this before but I'll try again here. It is said that a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Very often this is true. On the other hand, there are times when a very few words can take the place of many pictures. For instance, here is a phrase from Pride and Prejudice (a mere 48 words). Simple as they are, they would take many minutes to illustrate in a video or movie production and still might fail to produce the desired result. The advantage in the words is that the author didn't have to come up with words for Lady Catherine that would fit the description. She simply needed to describe them. In a movie, however, that's not always possible and words need to be formed. Since the words chosen need to express the sentiment without necessarily being important themselves, this can be quite difficult and in my opinion, it is rarely done well. Furthermore, this short passage encompasses a length of time that is difficult to present well in a short time in a movie.

"Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the gentlemen, remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was ready to take them all home. [page 138:]"

Perhaps if I watched the video productions again I would feel differently but my recollection of them is that I interpreted the title to refer to Mr. Darcy's pride and Miss Bennet's Prejudice. There is clearly both pride and prejudice on both sides. Upon reading the book, however, it seems that she had at least as much pride as did Mr. Darcy. Furthermore, the movie conveyed, to me anyway, the impression that there was a greater change in Mr. Darcy than in Elizabeth Bennet. The book made it seem the opposite. In fact, his speech on page 284 notwithstanding, he seems to have been a generous man all along. He improved, of course, and there is ample evidence that he was in some ways conceited. In general, however, I think less so than Elizabeth. Also, he loved her from very early on, which I didn't get from the movies.

As to the story itself, it is rightly a classic. I read it as much for its social commentary as for the love story, although it is wonderful as either. Jane Austen gives us a great picture of many aspects of the day. I recently read an interesting article about her view of the clergy, which is evident from this book. I also find the manner of conversation of the day to be quite interesting, although this would clearly have been different in the lower orders of society (i.e. where I live). The story itself is a great Cinderella story and it's hard not to like Elizabeth and Jane and to be happy for them as they find love with men of real character.
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An rated it:

(review of isbn 0679783261)

09/18/08

Read in September, 2008

recommended to An by: my English Teacher
recommends it for: students.

Book title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen.
page: 320
Question #: 2 and 14
This is indeed a very good novel that i've ever read. A romantic story between Elizabeth, a middle-class girl, and Mr. Darcy, an upper-class gentleman. Whether they can pass over the society prejudice.
This story tells us about the Bennets,a middle class family, with 5 daughters; Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine and Lydia. Mrs Bennets is an avaricious women. When she heard that Mr Bingley, a man with ...more Book title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen.
page: 320
Question #: 2 and 14
This is indeed a very good novel that i've ever read. A romantic story between Elizabeth, a middle-class girl, and Mr. Darcy, an upper-class gentleman. Whether they can pass over the society prejudice.
This story tells us about the Bennets,a middle class family, with 5 daughters; Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine and Lydia. Mrs Bennets is an avaricious women. When she heard that Mr Bingley, a man with a large property would come to Netherfield, their hometown, she was so excited and hoped that Mr Bingley would become her son-in-law. The story became more interesting with the appearance of Mr. Darcy, a friend of Mr Bingley. Mr Darcy is descibed to be a very handsome man. And the most important thing, he possessed a property even larger than Mr Bingley. Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennets had a very romantic love. But their love had to face a lot of difficulties because of the differences between 2 classes, society prejudices...
I just read a half of this book but i am really curious about what will happen next. I really like the way Jane Austen start the story:
" It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" (Chapter 1 of the book). With an impressive opening, Jane affirms the truth about giving us attention about a security marriage in Endland at that times. I've just read 25 chapters but in my opinion,I guess marriage in this novel is decided by fortune and social status.
In this novel, Charlotte Lucas is the character that reminds me of Estella in Great Expectations, a book that i read last week. Charlotte Lucas was Elizabeth's close friend and accepted Mr Collins's proposal immediately even though he had been denied by Elizabeth before. Charlotte married Mr Collins because of his money. And Estella married Cumble because of Miss Havisham's revenge plan. Although they have different purposes, they did not consider their marriage based on love. I wonder whether Charlotte could find her own happiness or not...

I'm still working on it. I hope we will find out some more interesting events next week.

Keep reading...

Finally, I finished this book. Pride and Prejudice makes me feel that the time i've spent to read is deserved. After finishing this book, Jane Austen used love to deal with the restrictive ideas and treatments of women in England at that time. At the same time, Jane used love as a tool not only to criticize the discrimination between classes in England but also to mock at the "fake happiness" of the British upper class. I think the reason why Jane Austen wrote this novel is she realizes unfair treatment to women in British society especially in marriage. We can clearly Jane's purpose through Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, Lydia and Mr. Wickham. She wants reader understand how restrictively a British women at that time had to suffer. A woman can not decide her own happiness,her own future. I think at any time, Women still somehow receive an unequal treatment. Nowaday, even though women's position are improved a lot, in some people's opinions, women never replace men's position. For example, Hilary Clinton, a president nominate, could not defeat another men nominate to become the first American female president. Come back with the book, Jane Austen got the idea for the book from the real life that she witnessed.
Through this story, Jane brings readers her feeling about society prejudices. She critizes the marriage based on money and class structure. Pride and Prejudice also helps me recognize the power of true love. I think that with true love, people can pass over all the diffifulties in life. ...less

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Anne rated it:

(review of isbn 0679783261)

04/10/08

Read in January, 1994

recommends it for: mainly women

Critics who consider Austen's works trivial because of their rigid, upper-class setting, wealthy characters, domestic, mannered plots and happy endings are almost totally disconnected from reality, as far as I can tell. What can they possibly expect an upper-middle class English woman to write about in 1813 but what she knows or can imagine? Sci-fi? A history of the American Revolution? A real-life exposé of underage exploitation in the garment district of London? Come on. What other setting ca...more Critics who consider Austen's works trivial because of their rigid, upper-class setting, wealthy characters, domestic, mannered plots and happy endings are almost totally disconnected from reality, as far as I can tell. What can they possibly expect an upper-middle class English woman to write about in 1813 but what she knows or can imagine? Sci-fi? A history of the American Revolution? A real-life exposé of underage exploitation in the garment district of London? Come on. What other setting can she be expected to tackle with authority? Austen's value lies in her portraiture: her characters are believably human in their concerns, vanities, failings and quirks. The plots serve largely to showcase their interaction and thus, her observations of human nature, which are pointed, accurate, and hysterical.

Here, in her best work (my opinion), her technical skill as a writer also shows in Pride and Prejudice's tight plotting and economical casting; there are no superfluous characters or wasted chapters here. My college lit professor used to go on and on about this novel as a revolution of literary form in that dialogue drives the plot as much as exposition; I'll buy that but it doesn't thrill me for its own sake as much as it did her. It does mean, though, that Pride and Prejudice is a relatively smooth and lively read, that we learn about events and characters as much from what they say to each other as from what Austen narrates to us. The banter between Darcy and Elizabeth isn't empty flirting, it's a progression, a chart of their ongoing understanding/misunderstanding and a way to take stock of plot developments as well as an enjoyable display of wit.

Austen's heroines are famously caught between love and money are famously criticized for always getting both in the end. I've got no problem with this wish fulfillment. Keep in mind that being married is basically the only possible 'job' available to a woman of her position--marrying a rich dude is the only viable escape from the life of poor-relation dependency Austen herself lived, there's nothing reactionary or anti-feminist about it. The other option--becoming a governess--is barely respectable, putting a woman into an ambiguous class limbo of social invisibility that translates directly into a loss of safety and self-governance. Expecting Elizabeth to, what, become a doctor? is silly and anachronistic, and perhaps if that's your preference you'd be better off reading Clan of the Cave Bear, with Ayla and her bearskin bra, or what have you.

Pride and Prejudice is simply a joy to read, a dance of manners and affection between the leads and a parade of human silliness in the supporting cast.

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Antheras rated it:

(review of isbn 0679601686)

06/19/07

bookshelves: classics

Jane Austen’s story of love and misunderstanding in late 18th century England is perhaps best known for its opening sentence: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” The Bennett family has five daughters and, since the estate will pass to a cousin on their father’s death, the girls must make good marriages if their futures are to be secure. When the wealthy Mr. Bingley moves into the neighbourhood, Mrs. Ben...more Jane Austen’s story of love and misunderstanding in late 18th century England is perhaps best known for its opening sentence: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” The Bennett family has five daughters and, since the estate will pass to a cousin on their father’s death, the girls must make good marriages if their futures are to be secure. When the wealthy Mr. Bingley moves into the neighbourhood, Mrs. Bennett is determined that Jane, her eldest daughter, will win his heart. All seems to be progressing according to plan until Bingley’s snobbish friend Mr. Darcy whisks him away from Netherfield, leaving Jane devastated and her sister Lizzie sure the cause is Darcy. When Darcy then proposes to Lizzie, she is astonished and roundly denounces him for the pain he caused her family.

Originally published in early 1813, Pride and Prejudice became a literary success before the end of the year. This new edition has been annotated and edited by David M. Shapard, a specialist in European history of the 18th Century. The Annotated Pride and Prejudice follows faithfully the text of the first edition (1813), which was checked by Jane Austen. The only changes made to the text were to make spelling or capitalization of proper names consistent.

The text is presented on the left page and annotations are presented on the right page. Annotations are provided on a wide range of topics: literary interpretations, word meanings, explanations of items such as a “chaise and four” which in some cases include illustrations, and explanations of historical context. While this classic can be enjoyed without the extras, understanding the small distinctions between a phaeton, gig, carriage and “chaise and four” can help demystify social interaction in 18th Century society. For anyone wondering what four or five thousand a year would be today (Bingley's estimated income), Shapard explains the sources of a gentleman's income and what it would be worth today ($250,000 - $300,000 US per year).

Devotees of Austen’s work will find that The Annotated Pride and Prejudice provides a fresh illumination to a favourite work. Those reading it for the first time will find the annotations, maps, and bibliography helpful in understanding this exceptional novel.

Of special interest is the chronology Shapard includes for the events in the novel. The specific dates Austen provides are not consistent with the novel happening in 1811 - 1812. Shapard provides various theories on the debate and as he concludes: "no specific year can be identified as the clearly appropriate one for the novel's chronology, and that the safest course, except for the early part of the novel, is to be precise when possible about the sequence of days, without ever assigning specific calendar days."

Although Persuasion is my favourite Jane Austen novel, Pride and Prejudice is still one I read regularly. Using The Annotated Pride and Prejudice for this year's reading forced me to slow my pace and savour the text anew. Even though this is a novel I've read numerous times, the annotations still provided some new information and helped confirm suppositions made in past readings. I'll be keeping both this new edition and my old faithful copy and future readings will probably be a combination of the two.
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Kirstie rated it:

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12/23/07

Read in April, 1999

recommends it for: people interested in frivolity

I've been thinking about this one now and then since I read it, First, I thought back to it while reading Nafisi's novel Reading Lolita in Tehran as it is one of the Western books put on trial by the class. Most recently, I considered it while reading Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own in which she speaks of early female writers.

I had a Major British Writers teacher at university who was easy for me to like immensely. He lived in a world where television was an anathema and where he watc...more I've been thinking about this one now and then since I read it, First, I thought back to it while reading Nafisi's novel Reading Lolita in Tehran as it is one of the Western books put on trial by the class. Most recently, I considered it while reading Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own in which she speaks of early female writers.

I had a Major British Writers teacher at university who was easy for me to like immensely. He lived in a world where television was an anathema and where he watched films like Naked and read everything from Coleridge to Irvine Welsh. His one true flaw? He also loved Jane Austen. Over the course of our class, he tried in earnest to get me to realize that Austen was a feminist writer. I disagree wholeheartedly and the only reason why this gets two stars from me is because it was written during a time when it was difficult for women to write especially publicly. I also think that Jane was a fairly keen observer of the high society that was taking place and if I enjoyed frivolous poetry that tends to go nowhere, I'd have a much higher appreciation for the writing of Marcel Proust. Really, it's such a shame Marcel Proust was born a century later and wasn't interested in women anyhow. He and Jane could have made the most boring couple in human history.

One thing I want to be considered here and this is where my main justification lies has to do with women in relation to men. Women have always been seen in terms of this alone. That's why the idea of feminism is still considered rather radical today. The idea of woman as a separate identity existing in a way which she has no consideration for men in terms of how it affects her actions and thoughts is rare. John Berger explores this in (I think) his novel G about the poet Goethe and Woolf explores the idea in A Room of One's Own. In Virginia Woolf, we have some examples of the female entity as separate from the male. None can be found in any Austen I am familiar with. Instead, every function of the female is intended to ensnare a male. While it's true that the female protagonist shows some evidence early in the book of being able to function independently, it all predictably falls apart at the end, doesn't it? And what is the true goal of it all? Well, class rank, fortune, and incredibly shallow views of others. I think Jane Austen is somewhat evil actually because she's perpetuated the subconsciousness of thousands of women that these things (and men) matter more than their own identities. I'd even go so far as to say that they perpetuate the idea that these exact things are what identity is instead of the thought processes, actions, and personal history that may be separate from all of this.

True, Austen was a feminist by being a writer in her time period but I would not describe any of her writing as feminist and would instead label them harmful to humanity in subtle ways of course. If you want to read a better example of early female literature that had more of a feminist tone, I'd suggest Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

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Donna rated it:

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08/14/08

bookshelves: 1001-books, 18th-19th-century-novel, britlit, classic-books, romance

Read in August, 2008

I found it very difficult to rate this book. There were chapters that were nothing short of brilliant, and others that seemed to drag on and on. There were times I couldn’t wait again to pick it up and find out what came next, and other times when I was bored with it and had to shift to something different for awhile. But, in the end, I do feel that this is a magnificent piece of literature, and well worth reading if only for its most amazing sense of time and place, and it’s delightfully...more I found it very difficult to rate this book. There were chapters that were nothing short of brilliant, and others that seemed to drag on and on. There were times I couldn’t wait again to pick it up and find out what came next, and other times when I was bored with it and had to shift to something different for awhile. But, in the end, I do feel that this is a magnificent piece of literature, and well worth reading if only for its most amazing sense of time and place, and it’s delightfully amusing depiction of 19th-century British society. I marked several passages that I think are particularly effective at setting the tone for the sorts of social niceties described in this book:

“To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! what could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum.” [Miss Bingley, p. 30:]

“The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well-bred and agreeable.” [p. 110:]

“Do not involve yourself or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against him; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he ought to have, I should think you could not do better. But as it is, you must not let your fancy run away with you.” [Mrs. Gardiner, p. 114:]

And when Elizabeth gave this speech to Lady Catherine, I wanted to stand up and cheer:

“Your ladyship wants Mr Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine.” [p. 275:]

You go, girl! …. And then, a few pages later, this from the divine Mr Darcy (which set my heart all a-flutter indeed), in response to a question from Elizabeth about how and when he had fallen in love with her:

“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.” [p. 293:]

* swoon *

All in all, in the end I rated P&P a solid 4. It’s not something I want to turn back and read immediately, but it is a book I’d like to return to again… (for the THIRD time) someday….

I’ve spent quite a bit of reading time this summer in 19th-century Europe, with Hawthorne’s The Marble Faun (Italy), and now Pride and Prejudice (England). I think I’m going to stick around this time frame for a bit longer. Next up are Flaubert’s Madame Bovary (France) and Stendhal’s The Charterhouse of Parma (France/Italy). A girl could do worse, right? ;)
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Maggie rated it:

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12/11/07

Read in November, 2007

"Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition".
-Alexander Smith
In Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, proof is given to those who seek it that love can be found in unlikely places, with unlikely people, and in unlikely circumstances. Although Miss Austen has written many great works, such as Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey, Pride & Prejudice is by far her most acknowledged novel. In the rural Longburn, England, in the late...more "Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition".
-Alexander Smith
In Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, proof is given to those who seek it that love can be found in unlikely places, with unlikely people, and in unlikely circumstances. Although Miss Austen has written many great works, such as Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey, Pride & Prejudice is by far her most acknowledged novel. In the rural Longburn, England, in the late 18th or early 19th century, the Bennet family lives with five daughters. Jane and Elizabeth, the two oldest, are about at the age to marry, and the story is that of Miss Elizabeth, and her finding an unexpected love in Mr. Darcy. Although the book is beautifully written and captivating, every novel has its flaws.
Although Miss Austen has an original and exquisite way of telling Elizabeth Bennet's story, her way of writing can occasionally be too wordy and become confusing. This quote, for instance, cannot be understood right away: "'You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of friendship and affection. A regard for the requester would often make one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason one into it.'" (50) One would not immediately realize that this means that Miss Bennet thinks of Mr. Darcy as cold and unaffectionate. The book would be more of a joy to read if the wording in some places could be easier to comprehend. This being said, Pride & Prejudice has more high points in it than low.
Although occasionally wordy, this novel can be read almost like poetry. However, it still tells an elaborate and inspiring story, which makes it even more enjoyable to read. Also, the characters have depth that is hard to find in most books, even those with large amounts of dialogue. It is rare that a reader can feel emotions such as these. Usually it is only when the reader can truly relate to the characters and find a deeper meaning behind their actions that these emotions become evident. On top of this, the way the story twists, turns, rises, and dips makes it that much more interesting to read. For instance, the fact that Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth twice and that she refuses the first time makes the point in the story where they do become engaged more touching than it would be otherwise. Jane Austen's story is not quite like any other in existence.
As a whole, this was an amazing book to read, and it is easy to see why it is considered a classic. It is written beautifully, and it incorporates great use of literary devices that draw the reader in. Though it has its faults, they are so prominently overpowered by the charming plotline and characters that the reader's attention is immediately turned away from them. It is a wonderful novel to read, and those who enjoy a romantic story with a light air to it would enjoy this book immensely.
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Sarah rated it:

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10/20/07

Read in January, 1990

recommends it for: Everyone

I can't say anything fascinating about Pride and Prejudice that hasn't already been said a thousand times. It is one of the best books I've ever read, if not the best. It is like a textbook on how to pace a story, which is a hard thing to do, for me at least. It is a perfect social comedy. The dialogue is both believable, natural-seeming, and yet ten million times more interesting, witty and articulate than anything real people say. The characters are so well-drawn, interesting, and deep ...more I can't say anything fascinating about Pride and Prejudice that hasn't already been said a thousand times. It is one of the best books I've ever read, if not the best. It is like a textbook on how to pace a story, which is a hard thing to do, for me at least. It is a perfect social comedy. The dialogue is both believable, natural-seeming, and yet ten million times more interesting, witty and articulate than anything real people say. The characters are so well-drawn, interesting, and deep that you get drawn into the story from the first page. Elizabeth Bennet is such a charming, funny, wonderful character - Jane Austen wrote, in a letter, about Elizabeth: "I must confess that I think her as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least I do not know..".
The first sentence is a masterpiece of tongue-in-cheek social commentary: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in posession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
One thing I love about Jane Austen is that she never takes herself seriously, yet she clearly loves her characters, even when they are behaving idiotically. She seems to have had a great eye for the ridiculous in people and society, but not a bitter, hateful one. I've read many essays about the feminism of Jane Austen's writing; she clearly saw the desperation and despair of the social position of women: Unable to work, or even to inherit, they had to marry, and marry well, or live in poverty. And Jane Austen clearly saw women as intellectually equal to men. It must have been a frustrating, demeaning experience. Women probably were very lucky if they even liked the men they had to marry - Elizabeth came very close to being married off to the dorky, unbearably pompous Mr. Collilns - yet she ends up married very well, to Mr. Darcy, who she not only deeply loves, but appreciates very much for his fortune: She says, to her sister Jane, when Jane asks her how long Elizabeth has loved Mr. Darcy: "It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley." ...less

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Kathy rated it:

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10/06/08

Read in October, 2008

This is one of my favorite books. I just love it. I can read it over and over, and I have! It always makes me smile and laugh, and sometimes makes me cry. I never get tired of it. I can turn to any page and happily jump in to that world. It's one of my comfort books. Jane Austen is so good at developing characters and making them seem real. After seeing the A&E movie so many times it is hard for me to separate that from the book. As I read the book the scenes from the movie are in m...more This is one of my favorite books. I just love it. I can read it over and over, and I have! It always makes me smile and laugh, and sometimes makes me cry. I never get tired of it. I can turn to any page and happily jump in to that world. It's one of my comfort books. Jane Austen is so good at developing characters and making them seem real. After seeing the A&E movie so many times it is hard for me to separate that from the book. As I read the book the scenes from the movie are in my head. It is fun getting the extra insight from the book though, and it is much more portable! Here's a passage from the book that I particularly enjoyed. The dialogue is almost identical to the movie, but I love the added commentary in the narration. Caroline Bingley is talking to Mr. Darcy, who she has her sights set on, about Elizabeth Bennett, who she is jealous of because she knows Mr. Darcy is attracted to her.

"For my own part," she rejoined, "I must confess that I never could see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive anything extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency without fashion, which is intolerable."

Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not always wise; and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled, she had all the success she expected. He was resolutely silent however; and, from a determination of making him speak, she continued,

"I remember when we first knew her in Hertfordshire how amazed we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, 'She a beauty!--I should as soon call her mother a wit.' But afterwards she seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time."

"Yes," replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, "but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance."

He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself.

Overall this is a funny, entertaining, sweet, and romantic book with great characters and lots of clever dialogue and observations. I have read all of Jane Austen's books, except maybe Northanger Abbey (I can't remember), and although I enjoy them all, this is far and away the best!...less

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Tom rated it:

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07/11/08

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I had mixed reactions while reading this book. The constant high-strung emoting of the characters, male and female, got a bit tiresome, and at times it seemed much of the plot was based on, to put it bluntly, rather trivial mistakes in "reading" personality: Elizabeth's sister is shy and bit reserved, so therefore Darcy assumes she's haughty, distant, not a proper wife for Bingley. I understand this is meant to reveal the larger problems of "pride and prejudice" inherent in ...more I had mixed reactions while reading this book. The constant high-strung emoting of the characters, male and female, got a bit tiresome, and at times it seemed much of the plot was based on, to put it bluntly, rather trivial mistakes in "reading" personality: Elizabeth's sister is shy and bit reserved, so therefore Darcy assumes she's haughty, distant, not a proper wife for Bingley. I understand this is meant to reveal the larger problems of "pride and prejudice" inherent in the social classes of this world, but it still struck me as a thin device for producing so many complications.
I realize this will probably sound like a snobby, back-handed compliment (and possibly a contradictory one), but I was more interested in the interplay of social forces at work throughout the novel -- class, gender, wealth, etc -- than the characters themselves. I was also intrigued by the portrayal of daily life -- use of letter writing, social power in small villages, the constricted social outlets for women. And of course, Austen can be scathingly satiric with deft jabs at characters.

The high mark, and the one that shows why this is such a beloved work, comes with Elizabeth's stand-off with Lady Catherine. I can just imagine what a powerful scene this must have been for readers at the time -- and still today. The tension and pacing in that scene alone easily made up for the tedious parts in rest of novel. That scene outright crackles! Alas, it was the only time I felt genuinely involved with the characters.

I was also put off by the happy ending -- not because I'm a crank who needs tragedy in every book -- but it sure seemed like things all fell into place pretty quickly. Have any of these events influenced how the characters viewed their world? I had the impression they did not, though it would seem that Elizabeth and Darcy represent a new generation that will not be beholden to the old tyrannical ways of the Lady Catherine's of the world. I just wasn't sure who much we, or the characters, were meant to celebrate that change.

When it comes to novels of manners, I think of Edith Wharton as the standard bearer. Wharton can give you the wit and the angst and weave them together perfectly. It's probably not fair to compare novels with such different visions of the effects of wealth on relationships, but I find Lily Bart and Ellen Olenska much more powerful characters than Elizabeth.

One final note: I confess I don't know much about history of landed gentry in 18th-19th c. England, but I kept wondering, 'where the heck do these folks get the money to live like this?' The goal in life seemed to be to get an annual allowance that would keep one from having to work....less