I hope this review finds you in possession of a good fortune and in want of a wife.

I reread Pride and Prejudice (1813) again and maybe will reread all of the novels of Jane Austen in 2021, but this one, my favorite, is the great one, one of the best novels ever, and I have now reread it a second time this year, in part because I read it with a friend this summer and because we read it in a class I am teaching in Fall 2021 using primarily Young Adult Literature. I began with this book as a kind of precursor to YAL, of special interest perhaps to young people, and then we'll read almost exclusively YAL. I/we are also reading spin-off books such as Pride by Ibi Zoboi, Unmarriageable and others, even a board book version I own! We also read a comics biography of Jane Austen, and will read a range of comics romances.

I own the Colin Firth and Keira Knightly versions of this novel and really enjoy them. I own numerous copies of this book, which became the foundation of my MA Thesis in 1984 on what social criticism I thought Jane Austen was trying to accomplish through the romances in her novels (I was initially going to write about each of the books, but pared it down to Pride, Emma and Persuasion, finally). ISometime in the early eighties I first read P & P for a graduate class and thought after reading it quickly that it was a pretty good romance; when I showed up at the class on the history of the novel, taught by a film and novels professor, Irv Kroese, he opened the class by reading the first sentence:

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

And he proceeded to lecture our small seminar for an entire hour--I'm not kidding--on the first sentence (okay, maybe it was the whole first paragraph) and how it changed the face of literature forever. The irony, the layering, the complexity, no novels had had quite this tone, these purposes, before. I went home after that class and reread it slowly, and just a bit more carefully, and began to see how great it is.

I listened to it again this summer, and it was thoroughly entertaining for me all over again. The Bennett family is hilariously anguishing in its quest to get all of the daughters financially set--which is to say, "well-married," in a year. Some boy crazy family, this one, you might say, but underneath that surface hilarity around marriageability are some serious questions about the options available to young women, even middle-class young women, in the first decade of the nineteenth century. The questions are occasioned in part by the appearance of some seemingly sophisticated and possibly wealthy young men to the rural village where the Bennett family (including their FIVE daughters) live.

Other questions ensue; the book, initially titled First Impressions, examines the way both pride and prejudice impede the development of, well, everything, though principally, in this book, romantic relationships. You marry for love, not money, many of us will agree, but it's, well, complicated. "What do you hope to do in your life, young man?" a father asks a potential suitor of his daughter. That principle of making sure a future is secured for your daughter--because she has little power herself in this society--is relevant.

There are some great comic characters in this book through which we examine different aspects of society, including both Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. Mister Bennett at one point says:

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do NOT marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you DO."

So, there's four principal relationships we can use as a matter of comparison and contrast for the purpose of moral guidance in this matter of conducting relationships:

* Mr. Collins is rich and a buffoon, but Elizabeth's cousin, who says she is not romantic, but practical, marries the old guy for a financially secure future. Reasonable, but not our ideal life.

* The untrustworthy Wickham and the flighty Lydia. This couple in the scheme of things is fun, witty, but not deeply committed to each other, financially irresponsible, so not the model for marriage.

* The most admired couple, Jane and Bingley. This is the thoroughly good couple. Steady. They are maybe a tad boring, but good, so good, so this is an ideal for Austen. They marry for love, and the money is well, very good to boot.

* And the least warm, the most proud, the most prejudiced, but the most interesting (and smartest, most insightful) couple, Elizabeth and Darcy? Eventually, they'll marry for love, and then, again, a lot of money just happens to be part of the bargain. This is, after all, a romantic comedy, so we can expect crazy good things to happen against all odds. Oh, and here's his first proposal, astonishing Elizabeth even more than Collins did in its audacity:

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit."

But it is Darcy's very different letter to Elizabeth later that turns the tide: Man changes his manners; woman changes her mind. This is a wonderfully insightful and funny novel that I recommend everyone read!

Jane Austen mi patrona jajaj

En esta relectura vuelvo a ponerle 5 estrellas al libro, porque simplemente me parece brillante.
Desde el romance siendo la trama superficial, hasta las partes satíricas sobre la sociedad de la época.

Disfruté mucho reencontrarme con Lizzie, reírme con ella y sobretodo, darle un nuevo significado al título. Ahora tengo muchas ganas de ver de nuevo la película para hacer comparaciones y enamorarme otra vez del Soundtrack.

Contento de releerlo y mi plena admiración a la autora.
Recomendado

wowowow definitely want to read more Austen after this! that was beautiful

A quintessential novel of manners. Fine moral intelligence and subtle psychological insight expressed in a straightforward, epigrammatic style. I read it for the first time forty years ago, and I am still half in love with Eliza Bennet.

If you are not Elizabeth Bennet or Fitzwilliam Darcy I am not gonna marry you. Period!!

If you want to read one of the best books ever written, please don't think twice. Just grab a copy of this book and get yourself imbibed into this evocative story that right away establishes an emotional connection with us.

n  n    “There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” n  n

love at first word. i can barely think straight. how do i recover from this book hangover?

i am obsessed with everything about this story. i can see myself rereading this forever. elizabeth and mr. darcy are my everything. i am treasuring them forever <3

the storytelling, the descriptions, the humour, the characters, the romance, everything had me so engrossed in the story. it was natural, they all felt so real, this was absolutely perfect. i literally cried when i read the last page out of pure love for this.

”You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

-Mr. Darcy

♡ ♡ ♡

“

Well, I finally finished this classic novel, by Jane Austen, set in the 18th century, and I have to say it was worth all the time I took to read it. I absolutely loved the main characters, the humor, and most of all the romance. I watched the movie and loved it also, but the book is much more detailed and descriptive.
Definitely a favorite! I highly recommend it to everyone. You won't regret reading this one.

"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. ♥

[4.5]

i am no longer mentally ill after reading this book