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One of P. D. James' favourite books.
When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited; he is indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossip and snobberies of provincial middle-class life.
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Pride and Prejudice Synopsis
This edition includes the Bonus Book: Lady Susan, which will delight Jane Austen fans with its wit and elegant expression.Pride and Prejudice, one of the most popular novels in English literature, with over 20 million copies sold, was written by Jane Austen in 1813. This comedy of manners set in the English countryside follows the vivacious, opinionated heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, as she learns about the repercussions of first impressions and the difference between superficial and actual goodness. Her father,Mr. Bennet, has a problem. He has five unmarried daughters and no sons. Since his wife lacks an inheritance and his property can only be passed to a male heir, his family will become penniless upon his death. Thus, at least one of the girls must marry well in order to support the others. Their mothers sharp eye is constantly seeking that wealthy single man even though her daughters arent totally on board with marrying anyone flung at them.When a wealthy and sociable young gentleman, Charles Bingley, rents a nearby manor, the opportunity to find husbands presents itself. His handsome, intelligent, yet arrogant and somewhat socially awkward friend, the aristocratic landowner Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, is repeatedly forced into the company of Bennets independent-minded daughter Elizabeth, who must overcome the prejudice of her first impression and open herself up to the idea of a romance between the two.Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles throughout as many subtle shades of pride do battle with countless layers of prejudice in this ultimate happy ever after tale.
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Jane Austen Press Reviews
'The wit of Jane Austen has for partner the perfection of her taste.' -Virginia Woolf
'Nobody has ever been slyer with characters than Austen.' -Marlon James
About Jane Austen
Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 at Steventon near Basingstoke, the seventh child of the rector of the parish. She lived with her family at Steventon until they moved to Bath when her father retired in 1801. After his death in 1805, she moved around with her mother; in 1809, they settled in Chawton, near Alton, Hampshire. Here she remained, except for a few visits to London, until in May 1817 she moved to Winchester to be near her doctor. There she died on 18 July 1817.
As a girl Jane Austen wrote stories, including burlesques of popular romances. Her works were only published after much revision, four novels being published in her lifetime. These are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816). Two other novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, were published posthumously in 1818 with a biographical notice by her brother, Henry Austen, the first formal announcement of her authorship. Persuasion was written in a race against failing health in 1815-16. She also left two earlier compositions, a short epistolary novel, Lady Susan, and an unfinished novel, The Watsons. At the time of her death, she was working on a new novel, Sanditon, a fragmentary draft of which survives.
Fellow novelist Katharine McMahon on Jane Austen...
I can't not choose her. And whichever I've read last is always my favourite. The nuance of emotion, the understanding of human nature revealed by Austen constantly delights me. When I reread Sense and Sensibility recently, for the first time Elinor came across as quite prissy and destined to marry a rather spineless husband. I wonder if that was intended?
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