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Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen, Anna Quindlen (Introduction)

4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 · rating details · 973,653 ratings · 28,124 reviews

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners--one of the most popular novels of all time--that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited cou...more

Paperback, The Modern Library Classics, 279 pages

Published October 10th 2000 by Modern Library (first published 1813)

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May 23, 2013 Hira rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, seen-the-movie

596 likes · like · see review

Aug 12, 2007 MacK rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, favorites, brit-lit

Where my massive crush on Jane Austen began: alone, on a hot day in Montana, cursing her name.

I had to read it for AP English and I could not see the point. Girls need to marry. Girls can't get married. Girls are sad. Girls get married. Girls are happy.

I went to school to half heartedly discuss it and waffled and wavered in an effort to please my teacher. Finally she said: "was it good or not, Ben?"

"No it wasn't."

"Thank you...now read this twenty pages of literary criticism for homework."

Twenty...more

760 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2007 Rolls rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who is unafraid to be seen reading this on the subway

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen started off annoying me and ended up enchanting me. Up until about page one hundred I found this book vexing, frivolous and down right tedious. I now count myself as a convert to the Austen cult.

I must confess I have been known to express an antipathy for anything written or set before 1900. I just cannot get down with corsets, outdoor plumbing and buggy rides. Whenever someone dips a quill into an inkwell my eyes glaze over. This is a shortcoming I readily...more

312 likes · like · see review

Dec 15, 2012 EMi rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Mindless Austen-adoring idiots.

Shelves: i-own

This book is quite possibly the most insipid novel I have ever read in my life. Why this book is so highly treasured by society is beyond me. It is 345 pages of nothing. The characters are like wispy shadows of something that could be interesting, the language that could be beautiful ends up becoming difficult to decipher and lead me more than once to skip over entire paragraphs because I became tired of having to stumble through them only to emerge unsatisfied, and the plot is non-existent, as...more

288 likes · like · see review

Apr 30, 2013 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well-loathed books I've re-read

Rating: 4 very annoyed, crow-feathered stars out of five

The Book Report: No. Seriously. If your first language isn't English, or if you're like nine years old, you might not know the story. Note use of conditional.

My Review: All right. All right, dammit! I re-read the bloody thing. I gave it two stars before. I was wrong-headed and obtuse and testosterone poisoned. I refuse to give it five stars, though. Look, I've admitted I was wrong about how beautiful the writ...more

168 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2011 Stephen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, easton-press, 6-star-books, audiobook, all-time-favorites, romantical, 1800s, literature, love-those-words, classics-european

6.0 stars. Confession...this book gave me an earth-shattering Janeaustegasm and I am feeling a bit spent and vulnerable at the moment, so please bear with me. You see, I decided I wanted to get more literated by reading the "classicals" in between my steady flow of science fiction, mystery and horror. The question was where to begin.

After sherlocking through my Easton Press collection, I started by pulling out my Dickens and reading A Tale of Two Cities which I thought was jaw-dropping AMAZO and...more 6.0 stars. Confession...this book gave me an earth-shattering Janeaustegasm and I am feeling a bit spent and vulnerable at the moment, so please bear with me. You see, I decided I wanted to get more literated by reading the "classicals" in between my steady flow of science fiction, mystery and horror. The question was where to begin.

After sherlocking through my Easton Press collection, I started by pulling out my Dickens and reading A Tale of Two Cities which I thought was jaw-dropping AMAZO and left me feeling warm, satisfied and content. It also made me made retrospectively pleased that I named my youngest daughter Sydney.

After Two City “Tale”ing, I decided to give this book a whirl as I kept seeing it on GR lists of "goodest books ever." However, I must admit I was hesitant going in to this for two big reasons. One, I thought it might be a bit too romantical for me. The second, and much more distressing, reason was that Twilight was on many of the same lists as this book. Austen fans should pull a nutty over that one.

So needless to say I went into this thinking I might hate it. Well, for the 999,987th time in my life (at least according to my wife’s records)...I was wrong!!! I absolutely loved this book and had a mammoth, raging heart-on for it from the opening scene at the breakfast table when Father Witty (Mr. Bennet) is giving sly sarcasm to Mrs. Mommie Put Upon. I literaphorically could not get enough of this story. I was instantly captivated by the characters and Elizabeth Bennet, the main protagonist, immediately became one of my all time favorite characters. Mr. Darcy joined that party as soon as he showed up in the narrative as I thought he was terrific as well.

Overall, the writing could not have been better. It was descriptive, lush and brilliant. The story could not have been more engaging or intelligent and the characters could not have been more magnificentastic. Elizabeth and Fitz are both smart, witty, self-confident and good. Austen could not have written them better. Oh, and I am sorry if this is a bit of a minor spoiler but I need to add that George Wickham is a cock-blocking braggadouche of startling proportions. I needed to say that and now I feel better.

This one has made it onto my list of All Time Favorite novels and is truly one of the classics that lives up to its billing. A FINAL WORD TO THE GUYS: ...Guys, do not fear the Austen...embrace the Austen...HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!! (less)

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Feb 22, 2011 Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition 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 can...more

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Angie Again, I repeat, write what you know. My guess is Austen's life was very different from the women you mentioned. I am not sure if any were quite on th...more
Jan 27, 2013 10:20am

Anne I would say that all of the above women were far more well-traveled than Austen was or could ever be, and how can the scope of her world be irrelevant...more
Apr 23, 2013 09:04pm

Nov 27, 2010 Otis Chandler rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: classics, fiction

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

84 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2012 Sherwood Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Some years back in one of my APAs, someone castigated Jane Austen's books like this: "All those daft twits rabbiting on about clothes and boyfriends and manners."

Since then, I’ve encountered other variations on the theme that a modern woman ought not to be reading such trash because it sets feminism back two centuries.

Well, much as I laughed over the first caveat, that isn't Austen. It sounds more like the silver fork romances inspired by Georgette Heyer. Austen's characters don't talk about clo...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Jasmin rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who want to widen their vocabulary and of course hopeless romantics

Recommended to Jasmin by: Filipino Group

Shelves: classic, historical-romance, 1001-books, fiction, historical-fiction, romance, four-stars, reviewed-by-me, aar-top-100-list, bbc-top-100

"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 it had begun."

This was Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy's reply when Ms. Elizabeth Bennet asked him when he fell in love with her.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen had put my left out dictionary into good use. I have to admit, I was very slow in the first pages, however, nearing the end, I was like a driver going at 100mph, eager to reach the finish lin...more "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 it had begun."

This was Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy's reply when Ms. Elizabeth Bennet asked him when he fell in love with her.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen had put my left out dictionary into good use. I have to admit, I was very slow in the first pages, however, nearing the end, I was like a driver going at 100mph, eager to reach the finish line.

At the first pages, I have to admit I was frustrated, for Jane Austen had called her characters Miss Bennet, and I must duly mention that there are five Miss Bennets. And the use of various nicknames, confused me more. I thought Elizabeth and Eliza and Lizzy are different persons. So, I put a book guide into good use as well.

I must also mention my despise of Mrs. Bennet. I hated her more than anyone in this novel. She has no talent in being a mother whatsoever and have no notions of leading her daughters in the right path. The only thing that matters to her is the marrying of her five daughters. After the misfortune of Lydia running away with Wickham, she was frivolous as to forget the elopement as soon as news of marriage were ensued. She considered the hunting for a wedding gown, the most of her problems. I've never seen a woman as fickle-minded as her and no one as blinded to riches than her. Nor do I have a desire to meet one.

Lydia Bennet, is another matter. She is selfish and insensitive as anyone can get. I have to mention this, to unload the hatred in my chest.

How Jane and Elizabeth turned out to be well bred is a wonder, considering the type of mother they are born with.

But enough of what I hate of the book, because it will soon be forgotten, and all but the love of Mr Darcy for Elizabeth would remain.

This is a genuine love story. I've fallen in love with Mr Darcy. He wanted to change his ways for his beloved Elizabeth. He helped her in so many ways and he needed no credit for it. For him, it was enough that he knew he helped her. He also hid his love for her for so long, its endearing.

No part of the book was useless. All were vital for the fruition of Mr Darcy and Ms Bennett's love story. As you go deeper in the book, all pieces come together, like a puzzle, slowly making meaning.

Indeed, Ms. Elizabeth Bennet is lucky, to have loved and to be loved in return. Despite the troubles their love had to endure, it was victor in the end. ♥
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Feb 10, 2009 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cara by: Ginny

Shelves: classics, books-made-into-movies, to-re-read

I finally finished! It took me awhile but it was worth it. I think what made it kind of hard for me to get into it was because I had watched the movies beforehand (which actually helped me to follow the timeline of the book better.)

This book doesn't really need a review, I mean it's a classic! There isn't a better recommendation than standing the test of time.

What a wonderful romance and I'm glad I read the book because we do miss out on some of the details that are not put into the movies.

Whil...more

17 likes · like · see review

May 18, 2011 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, reading-through-history

I hardly needed Penguin's introduction to remind me that Pride & Prejudice has significant parallels to Sam Richardson's Pamela (1740). In both books, a boorish man is reformed through the protagonist's refusal to fall for his original cockishness. And in both books, a late and great scene features some bitch trying to talk the guy out of his reformation. There are loads of differences between the two, as well: for one thing, Elizabeth is an actual person, as opposed to Pamela, and for anoth...more I hardly needed Penguin's introduction to remind me that Pride & Prejudice has significant parallels to Sam Richardson's Pamela (1740). In both books, a boorish man is reformed through the protagonist's refusal to fall for his original cockishness. And in both books, a late and great scene features some bitch trying to talk the guy out of his reformation. There are loads of differences between the two, as well: for one thing, Elizabeth is an actual person, as opposed to Pamela, and for another, Darcy is simply a bit of an ass, not a wannabe rapist. But the afore-mentioned intro lacks the courage to mention the biggest difference between the two: Pride & Prejudice, starkly unlike Pamela, doesn't suck.

I might have been prepared for Pride & Prejudice had I read Aphra Behn, Fanny Burney, or even LeClos; but I didn't, and I wasn't. After the decidedly experimental novels Pamela, Tom Jones, Tristram Shandy and even The terrific but (let's face it) charmingly harebrained Monk, to stumble across Pride & Prejudice, with its fully-formed characters and tightly-wound plot, was a revelation. Only Defoe had written novels this tightly conceived, and his characterization is wooden. Elizabeth, though...after chicks like Pamela, Elizabeth is a tall drink of water. Here, finally, is a chick I have a crush on. Who doesn't turn out to be the devil.

Because Pamela, like many 18th-century female characters, was essentially passive. She did nothing but behave as piously as she could in her constrained situations, hoping that the best would be enough to get some guy to deign to pay attention to her - and this was, of course, the prevailing custom among women of the time. To me, Elizabeth registers as a sharp break with that tradition; her willfulness, her pride, her insistence on her own way, hits me as a completely new development in the English novel. (Here, as in many other cases, I have to except earlier writers like Shekespeare, Boccaccio and Chaucer; when people started writing novels, they seem to have completely forgotten the depth of characterization that was commonplace in writing forms other than novels. That's a whole nother subject, and one I totally don't understand. What the hell, guys? It's like we had to figure out how to write all over again just because it wasn't in iambs!)

So here, with Pride & Prejudice, I found one of my earliest examples of a perfect novel. This is a tremendous book, and it was incredibly fun to read.(less)

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May 14, 2010 Brad rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: faves, classic, played-a-part, one-of-the-greats, pb-and-j-dipped-in-hot-chocolate, meta-review

For a lover of books, I came to Pride and Prejudice (P&P from now on) very, very, very late.

The reasons are myriad: my mother hated Austen (a disdain she took to the grave without ever explaining), so she never recommended her to me; I was a boy in the '70s and a teen in the '80s and even though I loved Barbra Streisand, ABBA, Wham!, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran (and...yes...I still do) I wasn't about to let people know that, and since I carried whatever book I was reading with me wherever...more

51 likes · like · see review

Mar 07, 2013 ~Geektastic~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, classics, pre-20th-century, favorites, e-book, reviewed, austen-acolyte

Some early, pre-review thoughts on Pride and Prejudice.

Mary Bennet

It has been asserted that Mary Bennet is a bit of a cipher, a cardboard cutout inserted to utter pedantic lines used to reinforce the irony of certain situations. She is the least-known Bennet sister and contributes next to nothing (so they say)to the overall plot, except for a little humor and a part in the disaster of the Netherfield Ball. I don’t think this is entirely incorrect, but at the same time it’s not really fair.

I wo...more Some early, pre-review thoughts on Pride and Prejudice.

Mary Bennet

It has been asserted that Mary Bennet is a bit of a cipher, a cardboard cutout inserted to utter pedantic lines used to reinforce the irony of certain situations. She is the least-known Bennet sister and contributes next to nothing (so they say)to the overall plot, except for a little humor and a part in the disaster of the Netherfield Ball. I don’t think this is entirely incorrect, but at the same time it’s not really fair.

I would like to argue that while not as significant as Jane or Lydia, Mary’s presence as the only plain and bookish sister adds a little needed depth to the Bennet family psychological dynamic. Without Mary, you have two superior sisters, and two flighty, boy-crazy sisters; she is the counterbalance. Though just as “silly” as Lydia and Kitty in Mr. Bennet’s myopic opinion, when you get right down to it, Mary is perhaps the greatest illustration of Mr. Bennet’s failure as a father. As a man who takes pride in his daughter Elizabeth’s intelligence, it is shocking to think that he has passed over the daughter who could most use his strong intellect to shape and guide hers. What would Mary be like if her father had noticed her early desire to distinguish herself from her prettier sisters by her pursuits and taken an interest? It can be assumed that she would be much like Elizabeth, only better informed as she puts more effort into her acquisition of knowledge. As the sister who never leaves home (so we gather at the closing), he would have been investing in a friend and companion for the rest of his life, rather than losing his favorite to marriage. In the grand scheme, I think we are glad he favors Elizabeth, as it is clearly stated that Lizzy is the “least dear” to Mrs. Bennett, but that is another parental failure. I have always assumed it is because Lizzy is so plainly her father’s favorite that Mrs. Bennett cares less for her, out of a sense of jealousy or an inability to understand and appreciate their wit. At the same time, as the least acknowledged of the sisters, it would probably be more accurate to say Mary is actually the least beloved, as her mother never seems to remember she exists. Throughout the entire novel, Mary is never once spoken to by her mother, or even mentioned by name, most likely as she is not as "marriageable" as the other girls and marriage is the primary objective of Mrs. Bennet's existence.

The film version of P&P with Kiera Knightly had an inaccurate but sympathetic take on Mary. First off, they cast a very pretty girl. Secondly, they added intelligent lines to her dialog; in fact, they gave her some of Lizzy’s lines. Thirdly, after her humiliation at the Netherfield Ball, the film gives us a glimpse of Mr. Bennet (also considerably softened) comforting her, which unfortunately never would have happened in the original story. As irritated as I get with films for making such fundamental changes, I have to say I liked this version of Mary, even if the film itself is annoyingly tone-deaf to the original. Though lacking the laser-focus of Austen’s satirical eye, it was nice to see Mary catch a break.

----------------------------------------------------

2/26/2013
Since I don't think I have the patience-or the confidence, really- to write a full, overarching REVIEW of Pride and Prejudice, I've decided to approach it a little differently. I re-read this novel on a yearly basis, so each time I finish a reading I want to attempt a relatively short, single-topic examination like the Mary Bennet essay posted above. Whether this will actually occur is up for debate, but I figure by putting this in writing I will be more likely to actually DO it.

------------------------------------------------------
Re-reading completed 3/7/2013
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Jun 04, 2008 Abigail rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People Who Read...

Shelves: literature-classics

Review Temporarily Removed.

11 likes · like · see review

Oct 20, 2007 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars 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 that yo...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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Feb 26, 2013 Henry Avila rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pride and Prejudice; The story of a man with five unmarried daughters, from the oldest to youngest, Jane,Elizabeth,Mary,Catherine and Lydia,15,in Regency England, during the Napoleonic Wars.When Mr.Bennet is no longer breathing, his house will be inherited by a distant cousin,Mr. Collins.His family becomes homeless.The parents,the witty,sarcastic Mr. Bennet is rather aloof and Mrs.Bennet silly and ignorant ,but it's incumbent that the girls find good rich men to marry before that happens .Mrs.Be...more

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Nov 24, 2011 Peter Meredith rated it 2 of 5 stars

18 chapters in... I want that to sink in for a moment... ok. 18 chapters in and NOTHING has happened. I am enjoying her writing style very much, but I also enjoy the back of an occasional cereal box so that may not mean much. We will see.
I am sitting here eating a tootsie roll, a Halloween left over, and I can't help notice the similarities between it and the novel Pride and Prejudice. First off, like P and P, the tootsie roll wasn't one of those dinky ones that you can almost swallow in a singl...more 18 chapters in... I want that to sink in for a moment... ok. 18 chapters in and NOTHING has happened. I am enjoying her writing style very much, but I also enjoy the back of an occasional cereal box so that may not mean much. We will see.
I am sitting here eating a tootsie roll, a Halloween left over, and I can't help notice the similarities between it and the novel Pride and Prejudice. First off, like P and P, the tootsie roll wasn't one of those dinky ones that you can almost swallow in a single bite so you know that I've been at this for a while and now that I finally got it down, I have to wonder why I put it into mouth to begin with. Secondly, tootsie rolls are a throwback to another age, there are far better candies out there and the 36 wrappers littering the floor will attest to this. You have to really like tootsie rolls to appreciate them. I don't.
Pride and Prejudice is the dullest most wonderfully written book that I have ever read. I read it simply to get a feel for the author's fantastic ability at arranging words, and really I mean it when I say, oh what wonderful blather.
I give the book one star.
After 62 chapters, there is nothing that happens. There is barely a story to the story, at least not one that could be remotely interesting...even to people who like romance. In the age of bodices, there is nary a one that is ripped open, let alone one that is undone with the gentle exploring fingers of a lover.
And then there is the hubbub over the book...Satirical? A witty comedy of manners? Sure, I smiled a few times at the only funny character in the book, Mr. Bennett, but overall, I read, studied the sentence structure, noticed the wall paper and waited patiently as the paint dried. Even the dramatic ending where Lizzy gets the guy, is a letdown and dull. Just to let you know, I was joking about it being in any way dramatic. Which brings me to the characters. Other than Lizzy, they are all stereotypical and lack even the most remote concept of depth. Jane is pretty and sweet from the first page to the last. The mom is overbearing, the dad aloof. Other than Darcy, no one grows or changes in a book that spans a few years and endless pages.
Normally, I use one star for books that I just can't finish and if I wasn't an aspiring author, I wouldn't have bothered to get through half the book, but since I did... and when I compare it to yawner like A Tale of Two Cities, I had to bump this one up a notch.
PS, Don't read Moby Dick either, if you know what's good for you.(less)

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Sep 29, 2007 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: the proud; the prejudiced; chicks

Shelves: chicklits, favorites

This book is utterly amazing, and if I were more of a five-star type of girl, I'd have given it another. I must say though that P&P was a little hard to relate to because it was written a long time ago, when women had to wear uncomfortable clothing to try and look pretty and were defined mostly based on their ability to trap a man. Back in those days, being a smart-ass was considered a huge liability for a lady, and also back in those days some otherwise clever ladies, like the main characte...more

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Petra X After Jane Eyre, try Wuthering Heights. The three books together make lovely reading, varied, but very different from novels today.

Dress in Jane Auste...more
Sep 02, 2008 09:38pm

Julie I have to comment on your review (I am sorry) mostly to be a smart ass.

!. "long time ago, when women had to wear uncomfortable clothing to try and loo...more
Apr 13, 2009 09:59am

Sep 23, 2010 Books Ring Mah Bell rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: poop

P to-the-double-O P.

32 likes · like · see review

Apr 15, 2007 Khalid rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: already-read

Pride and Prejudice is special for many reasons; for one, its style and language – albeit sometimes difficult – are delightful beyond comparison. Old texts are often dry and hard to read, which is discouraging to readers. I truly loved the way some words are used, and wished language would still be dealt with the same way. I wonder; is it really the language of the age, or a superior skill Jane Austen possessed?

The way culture is portrayed is also very interesting; it is too different than any I...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Mariel rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: firthicide

Recommended to Mariel by: matricidal matresscidal romance

I poured myself a Dolly Parton cup of ambition to ready myself for reviewing this book. I think it just went to my boobs... They are growing to be enormous, my god. I'll put on a corset for a Little Florida Whore House review, showing off my high kicks for the business of dancing around saying what I really think, and playing footsie with the stuff I like, and more dancing. Kinda hard though, what with the enormous boobies. Could be a cigar girl. It was okay to smoke back then. It'd be even bett...more

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Feb 28, 2008 Kara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have hesitated giving a review of this book because, as they say in Wayne's World, "I'm not worthy!" Since I don't really feel I can do the novel justice in a review, here are some random thoughts. This is my favorite book, mainly because the character of Elizabeth Bennet is such a great creation. I even named my dog Bennet, in homage. I was always impressed by how ahead of her time Lizzie is, and although she has great qualities, she is not without fault--hence the title of the book. I see al...more I have hesitated giving a review of this book because, as they say in Wayne's World, "I'm not worthy!" Since I don't really feel I can do the novel justice in a review, here are some random thoughts. This is my favorite book, mainly because the character of Elizabeth Bennet is such a great creation. I even named my dog Bennet, in homage. I was always impressed by how ahead of her time Lizzie is, and although she has great qualities, she is not without fault--hence the title of the book. I see alot of myself in her, including her faults of perhaps judging people a bit too quickly, and holding a grudge for longer than necessary! There are certain characters that have always irritated me--like the younger Bennet sisters, Mrs. Bennet, and the Bingley sisters to name a few. But they are all important players in a commentary on the social structure of the time. If one understands that Jane Austen is making a comment on that, then the behavior of some of those characters makes a little more sense.(Although I do think Lydia Bennet is totally unexcusable) I always liked Austen's strong women, and I think Lizzie is the best representative of this. It's interesting to me that the men are not portrayed as being so strong--Bingley follows along with what his friends and family tell him, with regard to Jane Bennet; Mr. Bennet, by his own admission, is partly responsible for the horrid behavior of his younger daughters by not doing anything to stop them; Mr. Collins is just a dreadful brown-noser; Wickham is a "player" with no sense of morals. But Darcy redeems himself from his first meeting with the Bennet sisters by his actions later in the story, thus prompting women everywhere to fall madly in love with him. (Watching the BBC version with Colin Firth helps with this too) Each time I read the novel I seem to understand it more, and am utterly amazed at how a woman who did not know much of the world and much about love could create such wonderful characters, and make such accurate statements about society and relationships, statements that are relevant even today. Her plot is tightly woven and the characterization is outstanding. Typical Austen--fabulous!(less)

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Mar 13, 2009 Dina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-classic, to-review

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that people who love romance novels, must love Jane Austen’s 'Pride and Prejudice'. :)

This wasn´t the first romance book I read, but it was THE ONE that got me addicted to the genre when I was still a teenager. There´s nothing I don´t love about it and I think it´s the most romantic novel ever written - even though there isn´t a single kiss between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth! That fact alone shows how good Ms. Austen was.

And I have to finish this "review" wit...more

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Mar 04, 2008 Qt rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed it; I loved the language and the delicious style of Austen's writing--very delightful! The last part of the book was probably my favorite--that was quite suspenseful and dramatic, and left me wondering what would happen. The ending was quite satisfying, too, and it was really interesting to get a sense of what life in that era was like. A charming book!

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Nov 08, 2012 Angus rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-of-the-month, the-classics-club, the-novel-100, reviewed-and-blogged

Original post at Book Rhapsody.

***

How long do first impressions last?

I always had this notion that I have to read at least three works of Jane Austen for me to achieve a sense of accomplishment. Why do I feel that? Well, she was born in the late 18th century and still, she remains a household name. I feel that everyone, even nonreaders, have an idea of who she is, like a news reporter whom you always see on TV but don’t really bother to know.

The three books that I hurled at my to-read-and-to-buy...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Tanu rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone.

Shelves: really-good, to-reread, classic, emotional-drama, favorite-protagonist, all-time-favorite, owned

There are many books along with Pride and Prejudice which I shall mention as my favorite novel but, I have to admit, that there are none which I take half as much pleasure in reading again and again as Pride and Prejudice. There is something so delightful and exhilarating about reading Elizabeth and Darcy’s unlikely courtship, watching it all unfold with the same feeling of apprehension every year. The wide array of characters and their antics - Mr. Darcy’s haughtiness, Lizzy prejudices, Mr. Col...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Hope rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, heroes-i-love, jane-austen, reviewed, movie-was-better, british

In order to write this review…

I’m going to set-aside the fact that I think Mr. Darcy is highly overrated.
(I’m also going to forget the fact that he is terrible with proposals).

I’m not going to mention that Lizzie is obviously mercenary, only deciding that her feelings for Darcy have changed after she’s seen his giant house.
I’m not going to tell you that I think she’s really quite a vain, petty heroine, deciding that she dislikes a man because she heard him say to his friend that he didn’t think...more

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view all 17 comments

Rurae I just had to jump in and say that I think maybe Jane Austen wrote that part to show that money did matter in those days - very much. And that maybe L...more
Dec 06, 2012 05:15pm

Kidrauhl oh i completely agree with you. i watched the pretty 2005 version as well as the colin firth version on tv and they were awesome and even though i had...more
Mar 17, 2013 12:18pm

Feb 28, 2008 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-drama

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, h...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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Jan 31, 2008 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lit, favorite-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A lot of people go on and on these days about what a romantic Jane Austen was, coupling people up here and there - I've read all of her books, she's one of my favorite writers, but I have to strongly disagree with this idea. Sure, people get together in these books, but Austen doesn't burble on about how their eyes lock across a crowded room. Austen's emphasis is usually on the funny side, and her humor is drier than dry - if you blink, you might miss it. But if you pay attention, you might find...more

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About Jane Austen

Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.

Austen lived her entire life as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fr...more

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