... Gardiner" insteady of Lizzy or Edward? To my eleven-year-old self, absolutely! Costume dramas weren't really staple viewing at home when I was smaller - my parents watched Cracker instead - so I missed the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice serial and became quietly obsessed with reading the novel. ... Read review
Advantages: Cleverly constructed, multi-layered, funny if you're used to the language Disadvantages: Period language could be awkward to some
...I missed the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice serial and became quietly obsessed with reading the novel.
I never studied Jane Austen at school (to my annoyance) but perhaps it's just as well - studying every little detail, identifying symbolism and deciding what role or stereotype each character represented might have ruined the book for me.
Although "bright", I was too unfamiliar with period language at eleven to ... ...I'm so at ease with Pride and Prejudice that I can track down Austen's most subtle remarks - amongst the long sentences is a mercilessly funny look at human beings and all their weaknesses.
Essentially, Pride and Prejudice describes a world and situation that couldn't exist now. Mr. Bennet, a gentleman (ie. he lives in an inherited Hertfordshire house and doesn't work), has five daughters but no sons. When he dies, his home will go ... more
Jane Austen - not exactly "forbidden fruit". Lady Chatterley - certainly. Moll Flanders - possibly. But Jane Austen? Starched cravats, tea parties and everybody calling each other "Miss Bennet" or "Mr. Gardiner" insteady of Lizzy or Edward? To my eleven-year-old self, absolutely! Costume dramas weren't really staple viewing at home when I was smaller - my parents watched Cracker instead - so I missed the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice serial and became quietly obsessed with reading the novel.
I never studied Jane Austen at school (to my annoyance) but perhaps it's just as well - studying every little detail, identifying symbolism and deciding what role or stereotype each character represented might have ruined the book for me.
Although "bright", I was too unfamiliar with period language at eleven to fully appreciate Pride and Prejudice. I grasped the basic story, but Jane Austen originally drafted the novel (then known as "First Impressions") in 1796, so - as a child reading it two centuries on - it seemed hard to understand. Some of the text made sense, but I found other sections baffling. Darcy's housekeeper asks Elizabeth, "And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman, ma'am?" but a reader in 2009 might think she could get away with, "Don't you think he's handsome?". (The use of "do not you" in place of "don't you" sounds very clumsy in the present day, but on the other hand, I suppose it's what you'd get from expanding "don't you". These bits might put off readers who want to relax with a book rather than translate it.) Worryingly, several years on, I'm so at ease with Pride and Prejudice that I can track down Austen's most subtle remarks - amongst the long sentences is a mercilessly funny look at human beings and all their weaknesses.
Essentially, Pride and Prejudice describes a world and situation that couldn't exist now. Mr. Bennet, a gentleman (ie. he lives in an inherited Hertfordshire house and doesn't work), has five daughters but no sons. When he dies, his home will go to a male relative, Mr. Collins, which could force his wife and any unmarried daughters to turn to relatives or friends for support and a home. So hysterical Mrs. Bennet's obsession with wealthy potential son-in-laws is logical - she needs a home if her husband dies.
In 2009, there wouldn't be a story - the family could work and the girls could inherit the house. But Pride and Prejudice reveals a class-obsessed world where some people worked for money, others employed them, and women relied on fathers, brothers or husbands for financial survival. People could climb socially through marriage (or work promotion or gaining a minor title if they were lucky) but were mostly expected to marry and socialise within their own class. The problem is, Mrs. Bennet ideally wants a wealthy son-in-law to look after her in old age.
Janes Austen added a sense of will-they-or-won't-they by giving each Bennet a disadvantage. Hands-off father Mr. Bennet would rather laugh when when his wife and daughters embarrass themselves in public than stop them - hardly a good role model. Mrs. Bennet shows her daughters off to rich men but is so tactless that I think she comes across as a gold-digger. Pretty, kind-hearted Jane is so shy and quiet that she almost loses love interest Mr. Bingley. A self-proclaimed observer of human nature, Elizabeth (or Lizzy) makes hasty decisions and spends a chunk of the novel at odds with unmarried borderline-aristocrat Mr. Darcy, because he seems arrogant and snobbish. Studious, musical Mary lacks talent but is vain and expects to perform at most parties, never realising that she shows herself up - I find it sad that nobody stops her or tries to help her improve. Kitty imitates her younger sister Lydia but gets little attention from either parent. Flirty Lydia is favoured by her mother and never disciplined by her father, to the extreme that she almost destroys the family's reputation - but still doesn't see what she's done wrong.
All or any of these flaws could send a sensible single man running. It's no wonder that, although Lizzy's attitude grabs Darcy's attention, he tries to get over her and separates his impressionable, possibly love-prone friend Bingley from Jane. I think Jane Austen constructed this story exceptionally well - most characters (however minor) have some purpose or other - and this conflicted beginning forces Darcy and Elizabeth to understand each other better later on, when they have to decide how objective their own judgement really is.
There are a lot of "authority figures" in Pride and Prejudice, ie. clergyman Mr. Collins, local "man with a title" Sir William Lucas, Mr. Darcy's aunt Lady Catherine, even the visiting soldiers, but this didn't stop Jane Austen from suggesting that a respectable position or title is no guarantee of a good or honest person. Mr. Collins is more interested in what his local noblewoman Lady Catherine spent on home furnishings than religion and can't see that she's a bullying busybody who acts like a spoilt child. Wickham, a charming young soldier, seduces under-age girls and chases after rich ladies - I think he'd cause a tabloid-driven witch hunt today. But Austen also shows how outwardly snobby characters like Darcy can be inwardly kinder and more ready to change than they first appear - if others take time to understand them. The early title of this book - "First Impressions" - makes perfect sense to me.
In spite of its historical setting, I think today's reader could still relate to Pride and Prejudice. There are badly-behaved teenagers, the irresistible "bad boy" who says all the right things, an honest man being made look bad, embarrassing relatives and a lot of common human experiences like jealousy, sibling rivalry and misunderstandings. Some things seem strange - social rules about marriage, why an elopement was scandalous, how one person's bad behaviour could affect their relatives - but then, the world has changed a lot in two hundred years.
I doubt Pride and Prejudice would suit everybody - the language could seem "old-fashioned" to some, and not spicy enough for others - but I suspect that anyone passionate about social commentary, the world of two hundred years ago or simply a well-constructed story with plenty of tension between the main characters would love it.
Advantages: Has everything to offer and nothing to lose Disadvantages: none
*NB*
About the title. There are those who would argue that the novel is a precursor to feminist literature based on the strong and intelligent personality of the heroine, Elizabeth, but I would disagree. To me, although she does stand against social norms and expectations at times, by the end of the book, she fulfills precisely what she is supposed to do - secure her future and that of her sisters, marry well, be rich, and she winds up happy - ergo, ... ...been the most beloved of Jane Austen’s novels, and with good reason. Not only is it a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the landed gentry class in England during the Regency period and a great social commentary on the norms and behavior of society of the time, it’s also in turn funny, well written, and entertaining. The book is also one of those classics that you genuinely want to read again and again; I’ve read it once or twice for pleasure, ...
mystikchick17 02.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Advantages: Exceptional reading, pleasant style, definitely romantic Disadvantages: Starts very slow, takes long time to develop the plot
The book has 3 volumes to it with each volume having a different kind of dealing between the two main characters, Lizzie and Mr. Darcy. The first volume has 23 chapters in it. The second and the third volume each have 19 chapters.
The book started off quite slowly but then began growing in intensity the further I got in the book. I do like reading the classics but am quite surprised that I have never read the book before. My overall impressions ... ...has all the ingredients that are needed to make it a classic book that should be read many times over and recommended to anyone who would be willing to take the time to read books.
The intricacies of a human relationship were quite interesting and set in such a way that it could have been a real family. The family, the Bennets, all had their failings. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had only girls, five of them and, like in many families, the youngest two were ...
1lentz 06.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Advantages: Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Disadvantages: Is perfection a disadvantage ?
...lto more classic fiction. Pride and Prejudice is one of the best classic novels around. It has at its heart a traditional story of love overcoming the odds, but despite this cliché Austen still manages to craft an original an very amusing novel.
The plot is not as simple as it may at first seem. For a start there is not one love story here, but several. Some are tales of thwarted love, for example Mrs Bingley's pursuit of Mr Darcy, others are tales ... ...classic read.
Overall I'd recommend Pride and Prejudice to anyone. It is a great girlie read, but that shouldn't put the lads off. This is a great book, well deserving of its classic tag, and a must read to anyone who wants to call themselves well read. ...
Telute 02.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Advantages: Wonderful character development, a story which urges you on till the very end Disadvantages: Quite long, complicated language for some
...I relished every word of Pride and Prejudice the second time round, and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good "humdinger" (as my English teacher used to say) of a love story, with no naff sex scenes or nasty infidelity or uncomfortable revenge. Just normal people like you and me getting over the hurdles of 18th century society to get their man or woman and live in comfortable £10,000 a year aristocratic comfort with the partner of their dreams. ...
jfsalazar 25.11.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Advantages: excellent plotline and humour Disadvantages: may lose patience at first due to complex language
...books]. She faithfully picks up Pride and Prejudice to keep her occupied until the guests go home.
Sorry, that third-person thing is really hard to keep up. So, you know the back-story, I shall now attempt to give you something vaguely useful.
I was a bit apprehensive about reading Pride and Prejudice; I have had a bad experience at school reading Emma, also written by Jane Austen, which is probably due to analysing copious amounts of the text, ... ...appreciate the book. After reading Pride and Prejudice I can conclude that this was definitely not the fault of Austen, and I look forward to actually reading Emma, rather than studying it, very soon.
I started to read the first chapter, but I have to admit to giving up after a few paragraphs because the language was far too elaborate for me to understand. By that I mean that the sentences were so complex that by the time I had reached the end of ...
skatinggirl098 03.01.2009
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Advantages: Educational and enjoyable Disadvantages: Somewhat long and sometimes slow moving
JaneAusten's "Pride and Prejudice" is perhaps the best show of the old cliche, "You can't judge a book by its cover." The first things that the reader will notice upon picking up this novel would make him/her throw it aside and never look at it again. Any edition of it will unmistakably have a drab, unattractive painting on its cover, and reading the first few words will make the reader realise that it is written in that classical style that is hardly comprehensible. However, it is quickly noticed that beyond all this, JaneAusten paints an intricate picture of a 19th century English society. She then takes her place in a corner of the scene, in order to ridicule this society in her delightfully tongue-in-cheek manner.
The plot of the novel has the centre of a single family -the Bennets. The comedy happens around ...
Advantages: clearly written, wonderful characters Disadvantages: a little unbelievable
JaneAusten's Pride and Prejudice was my introduction to the so called Classics. Having studied a few Dickens at school, I wasn't really that impressed, but a chance purchase of this book changed my mind. A classic romantic novel, Mr Darcy meets Elizabeth Bennett and begins to fall in love. However, she dislikes him, allowing herself to be influenced by how others think of him, and by some out right falsehoods from a friend. When she rejects his marriage proposal, all seems lost, especially when one of her sisters actions threaten to bring disgrace to the whole family... I wont spoil the rest!
If you have seen the BBC version, or seen the film, then you should definately read this book, so much is missed out, it really is worth the effort. Elizabeth Bennett is a brilliant character, and in many ways Austen was far ahead of her ...
Advantages: Like Austen's version, but still different Disadvantages: Can't think of anything
I boght this book just so I can have something to read, but wow was I amazed! I read JaneAustens's "Pride and prejudice", watched the film and even watched the series. I liked it, but wasn't a really BIG fan. However, I said why not? I'll buy it, it might be fun. And it was fun and more! In a way it's like the original and still it's different in its own ways. The humor is fantastic, the character's feelings are very real and it portreys a situation in which e have been one too many times. However, the thing I like most is that, even though the story is very much alike the Austen's version, it has twists that I would not even dream would happen. So according to me it's a great way to spend your money and you'll soon find yourself reading it over and over again. ...
Part of a series of Jane Austen's works, with introductions by Austen scholars, together with 12 pages of colour introducing the characters, locations and times of Jane Austen.
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