Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

After reading the first few chapters (The chapters are very short) of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” I wondered how anyone could be interested in such pompous, egotistical, aloof and self serving characters?

After reading on I said, “Wow! How could I be so interested in such characters?”

Getting toward the middle of the book, I was hoping that it would never end.

By the end of the book, I fully realized what a magnificent piece of writing I had just read.

“Pride and Prejudice” is one of the best sociological studies about early nineteen century British loyalty and society I have ever read – where title, rank, fortune, and good looks are in many ways the requirements of an approved marriage, much, much more than love. In fact, this wonderful book might not be as relevant today as two hundred years ago, but there are still many traces of such societies throughout the world, today. It was not all that long ago in America, where marrying outside of your religion, or ethnicity, was looked down upon.

The book is full of wonderful characters, but Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet is, in my opinion, the star. Her character is so wonderfully and fully realized that at times I felt her jumping off the page and directly into my life.

Liza, a fellow member and friend on Goodreads, informed me that she had read the book twice and still was not sure if the ending was ‘sad’ or ‘funny.’ To me, it was funny and exceptionally rewarding but sad to think that a lady’s livelihood depended more on the wealth and rank of your partner than love.

Quite an amazing book.