Pride and Prejudice

by Clare West (Adapter), Jennifer Bassett (Series Editor), Tricia Hedge (Editor)

'The moment I first met you, I noticed your pride, your sense of superiority, and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others. You are the last man in the world whom I could ever be persuaded to marry,' said Elizabeth Bennet. And so Elizabeth rejects the proud Mr Darcy. Can nothing overcome her prejudice against him? And what of the other Bennet girls - their fortunes, and misfortunes, in the business of getting husbands? This famous novel by Jane Austen is full of wise and humorous observation of the people and manners of her times.

Genres: Classics, Audiobook, Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1813

About the author

Clare West has over twenty years' TEFL classroom experience in the UK and overseas, and has led workshops for teachers in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Greece, and Argentina. For most of her teaching career she was involved with long-stay students on Cambridge examination courses, and engaged in the development of strategies to improve students' reading and writing skills.

She is now a freelance author, with a special interest in the literary and cultural aspects of language learning. Current writing projects include contributing to the Oxford Bookworms Library and Dominoes series, writing supplementary materials such as grammar workbooks, as well as being the Series Editor for the Oxford Bookworms Playscripts series.

Reviews

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** I listened the audiobook. / Date : September 30,2025
Wow this was a truly an amazing experience to listening this story with Marisa Abela and Harris Dickinson as the narrators. ❤❤❤

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***I listened the audiobook. / Date : August 27, 2020
I love this book as it is but audiobook version was pretty amazing too. Rosamund Pike did a wonderful job! ❤❤❤

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh be still my heart 🥹

The audio gets 4.5 stars 🫶🏻

I swooned at how sweet Mr. Darcy ended up being 😭
Yes. I was annoyed with him just as Elizabeth (Lizzy) was, but man… the things he did 😭. Plus. He was definitely the one to “fall first” and I love that in the books I read 😮‍💨.

I have never read the book, and I am aware that I REAAAAAALLY need to, but this was such a fun way to finally get my “eyes” (ahem… ears🤣🤣🤣) on the book.

Besides loving Mr. Darcy and Lizzy (ummm… she was FEISTY in her own way 👏🏻 ESPECIALLY for a woman in her time period? Uffff… my hat goes off to her 💅), I really loved Lizzy‘s father, Mr. Bennet won my heart 🥹🫶🏻.

And the epilogue? Gaaahhh… so cute 😭

Not one steamy encounter, not one kiss, yet I couldn’t wait to see them finally acknowledge their feelings for each other, and move forward in their love 🫶🏻❤️🥹.

The reason why I rounded down? Because this is an audiobook, with dramatized narration, I really wish we were given more of the internal monologue that the book has. Also, although I’m sure it’s expected, I didn’t always memorize what voice belonged to whom, especially when we’re in a room with multiple characters 😅. I’m sure the book let us know who’s speaking 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Man, I really wish we got at least a kiss 😭.

Now I need to watch one of the movies 🤣.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

first read: ??
first reread: May 22 - 30, 2016

I still love this book so much! I'm glad I was able to reread it.

[Marium Mostafiz Mou · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful but Jane Austen's words have been "translated" to the simpler, more modern language, losing all the great quotes! It felt a bit childish

[Torsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am 16.12.25 wäre Jane Austen 250 Jahre alt geworden. „Frauenbuch und Romantikgeschnulze“ zum Strotz, Anlass für mich, das erste Mal ein Buch von ihr zu lesen. Pride & Prejudice kommt da natürlich als erstes in den Sinn.
Über Literat haben wir dann direkt eine Buddy-Read-Gruppe gebildet und das Buch zusammen in drei Abschnitten gelesen. Das war sicher die beste Entscheidung, Jane Austen ist sicher nichts für ein oberflächliches Lesen, steckt doch so viel drin.
Aber der Reihe nach. Mein Anspruch, das Buch im englischen Original zu lesen, musste ich nach 30 Seiten aufgeben, zum ersten Mal vor der englischen Sprache kapituliert. Es ist eine sehr alte Sprache und der Satzbau ist kompliziert. Das hat mich etwas gefrustet, war aber sicher die zweite gute Entscheidung. Es steckt sehr viel in den beschriebenen Szenen, es kommt auf Nuancen an, die Details machen das Buch lesenswert.
Eine Herausforderung neben der Sprache ist sicherlich auch die große Fülle an Personen.

P&P kann wirklich als „Frauenbuch“ bezeichnet werden. Die Geschichte wird nämlich nur aus der Perspektive der Frauen erzählt. Männer sind zwar im Mittelpunkt der Geschichte, bekommen aber keine Stimme. Das ist letztlich aber auch das, wofür Jane Austen berühmt wurde, war damals absolut nicht üblich, dass das Schicksal der Frauen im Zentrum von Erzählungen stand.
P&P ist aber sicher nicht nur für Frauen interessant. Es beschreibt die sehr komplexen gesellschaftlichen Abhängigkeiten und Verflechtungen. Frauen brauchten Männer, um finanziell abgesichert zu sein; standen den meisten Frauen kein Erwerb oder Einkommensquellen zu.
Und auch vielen Männern stand übrigens nicht einfach die Welt offen, die Zweitgeborenen werden Pfarrer oder ziehen in den Krieg. Harte Zeiten.

P&P beschreibt die Situation der fünf Bennett-Schwestern, die als Teil des gentry, des Landadels im England der Regency-Ära leben. Industrieller Aufstieg und Kriege (Frankreich, Übersee) bestimmen die Zeit. Das wird aber nur wenig gestreift im Buch.

Die Schwestern sind auf Männersuche bzw. müssen hoffen, dass der richtige über den Weg läuft. Alles recht passiv und sehr vom Schicksal bestimmt. Die Rolle der Eltern (Mr und Mrs Bennet), die Nachbarn von der Lucas Lodge und der nervige Cousin Collin sind wichtige Figuren. Genauso Lady Catherine als Person des ganz alten Hochadels.
Aber dann geht es natürlich auch um die Männer! Bingley, der Wohlstandsaufsteiger, Wickham, der rückgratlose, schamlose Offizier und natürlich Mr Darcy, der aus den höchsten Kreisen kommt.

Zu arbeiten scheint keiner, obgleich hier durchaus analysiert wird, dass sich die Damen ja nicht aus reiner Vergüngungssucht die ganze Zeit um die Männer drehen, sondern im Sinne einer gesellschaftlichen Arbeit für die nackte Notwendigkeit, die Zukunft abzusichern. Das wird sehr deutlich, wenn die Freundin Charlotte - schon am Ende ihrer 20er, zwar schlau, aber weder wohlhabend noch hübsch - Collins, den Erben des Anwesens der Bennetts heiratet. Hier wird sehr deutlich Kritik an dem sehr frauenfeindlichen Erbrecht geübt und klargestellt wie hart die Realität für die Frauen ist. Collins ist dabei sehr satirisch überspitzt dargestellt, man wechselt zwischen Fremdscham und Lachanfall; wird damit aber auch deutlich, was die arme Charlotte über sich ergehen lassen muss, nur um ihre finanzielle Absicherung zu erlangen.

Man fragt sich allerdings dennoch, warum dort scheinbar keiner oder kaum einer „echter“ Arbeit nachgehen muss, aber so scheint das im Adel der Fall gewesen zu sein. Hier kann man dann aber schon kritisch anmerken, dass Austen die Angestellten, Bauern und Arbeiter nicht wirklich in ihrer Geschichte auftauchen lässt.

Dann ist da Lydia. Die hat den Schuss nicht gehört, ist hoffnungslos verzogen und jagt allen Uniformen hinterher. Die fällt in Ungnade und brennt mit Wickham durch, der nur verbrannte Erde und Schulden hinterlässt. Das ist eine derartige gesellschaftliche Missetat, dass dadurch das Wohl aller Schwester wegen der Gefahr der gesellschaftlichen Ächtung gefährdet ist. Hier müssen andere versuchen, das ganze zu fixen, sie selber merkt das noch nicht mal.

Jane, die älteste, findet am Ende endlich zu Bingley. Ein kleines Happy End! Da blitzt dann doch etwas von der groß erwarteten Romantik durch, auch wenn das im Buch kaum wirklich beschrieben wird. Es geht mehr um das Warten und die Passivität Janes. Sie muss ihrer gesellschaftlichen Rolle gemäß abwarten und hoffen, dass Bingley zurückkommt. Letztlich passiert das auch nur durch Zutun anderer. Glück gehabt.

Anders Elizabeth, unsere Hauptfigur, die hat einen festen Willen und eine klare Vorstellung davon, dass sie niemals nur der Versorgung wegen heiraten würde. Das Ziel ist die Liebesheirat, sicher mehr der Wunsch wie es sein sollte als damalige Realität. Elizabeth setzt das konsequent um und lehnt gleich zwei Eheanträge ab, wird darin sogar durch den Vater bestärkt. Aber liebt sie Darcy nachher wirklich wegen seines Charakters oder sind ihre Wallungen doch mehr durch den Anblick des Herrschaftsanwesens von Pemberley entstanden? So ganz klar wird das nicht.

Mir ist hingegen klar geworden, dass es wesentlich zu kurz gesprungen ist, P&P als Romantikbuch abzutun, steckt da doch wesentlich mehr Gesellschaftskritik und Satire drin. Das macht das aber eben auch sehr lesenswert, und aus meiner Sicht für jeden!

Ok, es ist sicher nett als „Janeite“ zu Jubiläumsbällen zu fahren, in Regency-Kleider zu tanzen und von Darcy zu schwärmen. Mit der damaligen Zeit und mit dem Kern dieses Austen-Buches hat das nach meiner Lesart aber nicht viel zu tun. Mir war jedenfalls schnell klar, dass ich auf keinen Fall in dieser Zeit leben wollen würden: zu viele Anstandsregeln, Erfolg und Wohlstand sind Schicksalsangelegenheiten und unter den hübschen Kleidern müssen die bei derart schlechter Hygiene ganz schön gemüffelt haben.

Aber das ist das Tolle an diesem Buch, es steckt so viel drin und jeder kann andere Punkte entdecken. Ein Buch das sehr vom gemeinsamen Lesen und diskutieren profitiert. Das Buch wirkt zudem nach und beschäftig einen. Das ist bemerkenswert!

Ok, und wie sieht es mit dem Film aus? Ich habe dann pünktlich zum 16.12. die 2005er Verfilmung mit Keira Knightley gesehen und war positiv überrascht. Viele Figuren waren wirklich total gut getroffen. Der Vater, Collins und auch die Bennet-Schwestern waren wirklich gut. Nur Bingley hatte ich mir anders vorgestellt. Der Film versucht einigermaßen dicht am Buch zu bleiben, kann aber die Tiefe nicht ansatzweise abbilden. Die Notwendigkeit der Absicherung durch Ehe wird angerissen, aber der romantische Aspekt der Gesichte rückt (zu sehr) ins Zentrum. Gut fand ich, dass man durch die Bilder das damalige Leben besser nachvollziehen konnte. Das kommt im Buch nämlich zu kurz, da wird sehr viel Wissen über Leben und Gesellschaft vorausgesetzt. Etwas schade fand ich, dass mein stärkster Moment des Buches - wie Elizabeth der Lady Catherine die Stirn bietet - im Film zu kurz kommt und verfälscht dargestellt wird.

Kurzum, hatte ich am Anfang noch Sorge, dass Jane Austen nicht mein Fall sein könnte und mir das Buch Schwierigkeiten bereiten würden, war ich am Ende sehr überzeugt und werde dieses Buch sicher noch einmal lesen.
Es ist alles drin.
4.5 ⭐️ - kleiner Abzug weil’s ein Frauenbuch ist 🫣

[Charity (Booktrovert Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This actually makes me want to read the actual classic. Wonderful illustrations and beautiful story.


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[Adelene Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

Loved this so much. It was like listening to a movie. I really enjoyed that this version included some insight into what Elizabeth and Darcy were thinking. Highly recommend!

[Willow Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for the first and only time when I was really young, like around 7 or 8 years old. At the time, I thought that this book was so difficult and confusing, but I pushed through it and managed to read the entire book with a mid-level understanding of what it was about. It was the hardest book I had ever read, and I was really proud of myself for doing it. I closed the book, shelved it, and haven't so much as opened it since then. Until just recently. I had never heard of abridged novels when I read this book the first time, so I never even suspected that it might not be the real deal. Whenever I thought back on my reading of this book, all I could remember was that it was hard and confusing, I remembered nothing of the content. So last week, while reorganizing my bookshelf, I thought to myself that I should really reread this book, since it had been so long since I'd read it. So I picked it off the shelf, opened to a random page, and started to read. Not even a full sentence in, I realized it was abridged. I spent all this time thinking that I had actually read Pride and Prejudice, when in reality, I had just read an abridged version made for kids!🤦I tried looking through it, but the writing was so simple and dull that I couldn't do it. I couldn't even have it on my shelf anymore.

So I guess this means that I haven't read Pride and Prejudice after all. Looks like I have another book to add to my list.

[Girl and Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a short telling and recount of the narrative of Pride and Prejudice, adjusted to a fairly modern language intended for a certain level of English language learners and readers. As I'm already a fan of the original story, I enjoyed reading this immensely and think of it as a beautiful enticement for readers to read the original in the future.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five unrelenting incredible stars. This feels like watching the moving all over again, for the first time. Honestly, it brought me back to life. The cast is incredible, so so perfect I want all the classics to be narrated by a full casted.

[sea🍂 · Rating 5 out of 5]

unexpectedly loved this

[⁺₊✧ MYRA ✧₊⁺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

so beautiful🖤

[Aggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve finally check-marked this classic from my Want-To-Read. 🥰

[Olivia Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This version was so good, i am so obsessed with it!🥹🥰

[Miki’s⚠️ Safety Reviews & Rants⚠️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok.
I love P&P but this needed some inner monologue or something. It was Graphic audio which is great but in the scenes we had no idea at times who was taking and what they were doing. Like there shuffling for movement but no context in the scenes just taking. So yes if you are very familiar w the books and movies you can envision what’s happening but if not then you’ll be lost.
Still a beautiful story

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride and prejudice is the story about a family that lives in the 18th - 19th century. It's about five unmarried daughters (Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia and Kitty) and their life looking for someone to marry them. When suddenly a rich family comes living in the neighbourhood, everybody gets excited and wants to meet them. At the ball they get to meet Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, the two men who moved to the neighbourhood. At first sight Mr. Darcy seems like a selfish, proud and arrogant man who doesn't like the people from the village. But once Elizabeth starts to know him better, she sees that behind that proud, disrespectful man, a charming handsome landlord is hiding. Mr. Bingley on the other hand seems like a very nice and attractive man who falls in love with Jane from the moment he meets her. The story tells us about the life in that century, their feelings of shame they have to each other and about their expectations in life. It's a story filled with love, romance, lies and social classes.
The book is written in a good readable, clear writing. The chapters are divided in almost finished parts, every part is about something different, so one chapter doesn't overflow in the next one. But the book does make one whole.
I would recommend this book because it is an interesting story and I could read it over and over again. But I wouldn't recommend it to everybody, only to the people who are already a bit experienced in English reading. I also wouldn't recommend it to the persons who love action in the books they read, because it doesn't involve much action.

[Fiona Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read #4 (December 7th)

5.00 - This production hits every time. Call me insane, but I could listen to this audio production over and over again (which is lowkey what I’ve been doing this past week 🙊). Each time I listen, I gain more perspective on each character. This time, I started to realize how annoying Elizabeth Bennet is as a character. She was extremely decided against Mr. Darcy which was more infuriating the more I listened (this never bothered me before). I began to realize that Elizabeth is a large part of the problem; it’s not just Mr. Darcy who was at fault. But perhaps this is me simply stating the obvious…

Read #3 (November 28th)

5.00 - I’ve stopped listening to music and have just put this audio production on repeat. It’s THAT good.

Read #2 ( November 25th)

4.75 - This was a most exemplary audio production. The casting was spot on—I could picture no better Mr.Darcy than Harris Dickinson. He brought a softer essence to Mr. Darcy and a sort of indifference in his tone. The only aspect I didn’t like was the ad libbed snide remarks from Elizabeth’s perspectives. These snide remarks seemed obviously written in and not directly from the book. I also found Elizabeth Bennett to be quite irritating as the book went on in the audio production. I think it must’ve been the way Marisa voiced it to Elizabeth, because when I read the book a couple years back, I was unbothered by her.

Overall, I LOVED this book and audio production. Every time I read it, I grow deeper in love with it.

[Samantha Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had no business being as good as it was. The audio cast was great and the sound production was fantastic. I really enjoyed the music, it was way more atmospheric than the typical harpsichord stringy soundtrack of other adaptations. It really made the more intense moments, like the first proposal, feel heightened. Darcy and Elizabeth had fantastic chemistry (the letter writing scene??) I’m obsessed. This definitely has relistening potential!

[غيداء الجويسر · Rating 3 out of 5]

Updated 31 March 2016 'Tweaking':

Date Started: 14-05-2015
Date Finished: 22-05-2015


’The Classics’ has been always a charming title, reading them, I guess, makes you an intellectual reader! Since I read Jane Eyre (Oxford bookworms library edition) in 2011, I’ve really enjoyed listening to audio books while reading them in the same time; it creates an atmosphere that only a reader could understand. The feeling that you are living, whilst reading, in the era when the novel was written. Four years later, my sister started her English language course in the UK and I recommend her to buy the full Oxford bookworms library series and I found my self-eager to read them all.


Pride and Prejudice was the beginning, in 8 days despite my busyness I made it and read a book from cover to cover within one week, Marvelous! I don’t need to talk about the story, assuming that you already know it :), the only thing that I want to discuss in this review is the feminist voice through Jane’s writing; women stereotyping, their independency facing culture and society traditions etc. When Jane and Elizabeth were discussing Mr. Bingly’s sudden disappearance, the following lines have captivated my attention and made me notice how Austen was writing with a Women voice neither a writer nor a novelist only:


Jane: Women often imagine admiration means more than it really does
'And men want that to happen' said Elizabeth
'I prefer to believe that I was mistaken in thinking he cared for me' replied Jane


Checking Austen’s Wikipedia page, and knowing that she died young, single and has established a remarkable position in English literature, makes me think of Jane as a women not only as a writer, what she wanted to say and do, what were her permanent concerns and so on.


Luckily I am currently living in the UK, and I have the chance to visit two Jane Austen’s museums ;). Moreover, I have the opportunity to visit her house and several locations that her novels took place in. Finally, I hope you enjoy watching this documentary about her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUVw3...

Cheers ;)

[Fawaz Abdul rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve recently decided to avoid classic books altogether, as I’ve proven to myself that I’m not really the type who enjoys them — neither the language nor the writing style usually works for me. However, when I came across this Audible adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, I couldn’t help but wonder if this version might be different. Since it was free for Audible members, I decided to give it a try.
I was genuinely not disappointed. The story felt light and easy to follow, yet still rich in meaning. Themes of family bonds, social expectations, pride, and prejudice were all there, but presented in a way that felt accessible and engaging. The audio production was wonderful, with strong performances, dialogue, and emotion that really brought the story to life.
I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book in its original written form, but experiencing it this way made all the difference. Hearing the story unfold through voices, conversations, and atmosphere made it a really enjoyable listen.

[Preethi · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I feel like this was ultimately pretty lackluster - Lizzie and Darcy's narrators exuded zero chemistry and probably could've been cast better, and the only cool or unique aspects of the dramatization were the sound effects, music, and such that you don't get with a straight audiobook - I am such a big P&P fan that apparently even bare bones P&P does it for me. Which is to say that I rolled my eyes less and less as the audiobook continued, and I should probably re-read the actual book and rewatch some adaptations soon*.

*Apparently it has been:
- exactly 364 days since my last and seventh read
- a whole 7 months since my rewatch of the Colin Firth miniseries
- almost a YEAR since my 11th rewatch of Austenland
- 5+ years since I last rewatched Lost in Austen (that's actually insane and probably a problem)
- 7+ years since I rewatched Bridget Jones's Diary (also reflects poorly on me)

[Sierra Eastep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never have I ever read an audiobook as great as this one 🩷

”I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.”

[Sungyena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallmark treatment of p&p!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

HARRIS DICKINSON THE DARCY THAT YOU ARE !!!

could have honestly listened to 200 hours of this adaptation

[Azanta (azantareads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 stars for an incredible production. truly a treat for fans of Pride and Prejudice. the additions/changes were a bit too modern and oversimplified to truly fit the story is my only complaint

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original novel published in 1813, set in England

This audiobook with a vast cast of characters was delightful.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this version of the story. Pride & Prejudice is my favorite classic. I first encountered the story of Lizzy Bennet and Mr. Darcy through the 2005 movie adaptation before then reading the book, and I love the book and the movie version equally much. This full-cast audio adaptation sits somewhere between the two, and somehow worked less well than either for me. I liked all the narrators, and it does include a lot of the original dialogue from the book. But something was missing for me, though I can't put my finger on what it was. I think the next I want to re-experience this story, I'll go with the movie or original book - in fact I might go back to listening to the unabridged audiobook now. (I own the version read by Rosamund Pike, but haven't finished listening to it before.)

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEAUTIFUL!! 10/10. Two thumbs up. No notes. Cannot recommend enough.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the adapted version of this book rather than the original, I cannot comment on the true facets of Austen's writing, but I can say that the book is a highly enjoyable story about the different relationships of and between two sisters.

Pride and Prejudice mainly focuses on Elizabeth, a woman who chooses to stay true to her heart and mind, which brings forth many challenges when it comes to marriage. However, she is kind and sympathetic, wanting only the best for her sister, Jane.

Obviously, Jane Austen lived in a much different time period than us, and the novel's foundation is the very old-fashioned idea of men needing to marry classy, rich women. While Elizabeth at least acts more sensible than most of the other characters, she's still not much of a breath of fresh air. Still, taking the values of the time period into account, this is enjoyable to read.

I would especially recommend this version because it has adapted the book from one riddled with difficult language to vocabulary that is more modern.

I would give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Stay away if you're not interested in a high concentration of romance, rather silly characters, familial problems, and/or incessant talk of marriage!

[Abbi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would not suggest this adaption as a way to introduce young readers to Pride and Prejudice. When I was in middle school, I accidentally read this version, thinking that it was the original, and came away thinking I didn't like Pride and Prejudice. The front and spine both say Jane Austen, but apparently, I didn't read the back where it tells the reader it is an adaption. Probably because I thought I knew what Pride and Prejudice was generally about.

Years later, as an adult, still not realizing I had read an adaption instead of the original, I tried rereading it and LOVED it. I now work in a library, and that is how I came across this edition and realized my original mistake. I reread it to find out if it was poorly written or if middle school me was just not ready for Pride and Prejudice. It was not me. This adaption flattens the characters, chops up the dialogue, and poorly summarizes the original work. The simplification changes events and characters' motives.

I would suggest that readers who might need a little help understanding a work from this time period read an annotated copy. This edition: ISBN13: 9780393976045 does an excellent job.