Way back in 2014 in The Reading Tag, I said the next book I had my sights set on was Pride and Prejudice. When I wrote that, I was just about to start university studying English Literature. Fast forward nearly six years, I have the degree and a whole lot of other classics under my belt, but still no Jane Austen.
Why?
Well despite absolutely loving and specialising in Victorian Literature, Austen pre-dates this period so I never had a reason to study her work. And believe me, no matter how much you love reading you have no time to read beyond prescribed texts.
Also, (and I absolutely apologise in advance to the book police) I thought Pride and Prejudice was probably overrated. I thought it would be stuffy, difficult to read and only classic by default. How wrong I was. Now I've finally read it, I've remembered why classics are classic: because they're timeless and deserving of high praise across the decades.
What's the story?
Elizabeth Bennet is a sharp young woman with four sisters who live in Hertfordshire. The sisters are known for their beauty and lead a good life in a country mansion. However, because they are women they are entitled to very little inheritance if their dad passes away. As such, their mum is obsessed with getting them all married off. The story mostly concerns Elizabeth and her elder sister Jane, the rational ones. Mary - the middle sibling - is quite the bookworm and seems to exist within and outwith the family. Kitty and Lydia are giggly air-heads who love a gossip and are always flirting with the local soldiers.
A nice, well-to-do man called Mr Bingley comes to to Hertfordshire and a romance quickly develops between him and Jane. He has a couple of two-faced, interfering sisters and a rich, awkward friend called Mr Darcy. When we first meet Mr Darcy, he insults Elizabeth when she is within earshot.
Just as Jane and Mr Bingley's marriage seems inevitable, he and his friends depart Hertfordshire just as quickly as they arrive, leaving Jane distraught.
The story follows the ups and downs, the misunderstandings and revelations, of Jane and Mr Bingley's relationship as well as that of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy.
It's a brilliant love story and drama with lots of twists and turns, surprises and a bit of chaos thrown in for good measure.
What's so great about it?
'Pride and Prejudice' was written over 200 years ago yet it is so relatable! From awkward politeness with someone you kinda hate to annoying family members and miscommunication, we've all been in Elizabeth's shoes. Swap letters for texts and you've pretty much got the same problems as modern dating: ghosting, catfishing and swipe culture.
Here's my favourite part which I actually laughed out loud at, which is rare for such an old book as humour tends to date really quickly. This is the first conversation between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy:
Elizabeth made no answer, and took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity to which she was arrived in being allowed to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and reading in her neighbours’ looks, their equal amazement in beholding it. They stood for some time without speaking a word; and she began to imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances, and at first was resolved not to break it; till suddenly fancying that it would be the greater punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk, she made some slight observation on the dance. He replied, and was again silent. After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time with:—“It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some sort of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.
This was the moment I decided Elizabeth was an icon. All eyes at the ball are on her because she's dancing with the most eligible bachelor in the area and she gives him into trouble. She doesn't let her status or the conventions for her sex limit her which I think is what Mr Darcy comes to find so endearing.
The parallels between Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones Diary also become apparent really early on. We have the awkward namesake Mr Darcy occupying a very similar role, Bridget as Elizabeth (if Bridget was a bit less annoying) and seeming dreamboat / fuckboy Daniel Cleaver as George Wickham the saboteur. Helen Fielding must have related to Pride and Prejudice a lot too!
• Give it 30-50 pages and then you're off. This is such a great story and you won't be able to put it down. It's an easy read for a classic novel.
• Frustration, tension and miscommunication throughout the story make for an enormously satisfying ending.
• The characterisation is so astute. Austen observes and renders human nature so well that even two centuries later, we all know people like Mr Darcy, George Wickham, Lydia Bennet and Mrs Bennet. And I guess we like to think of ourselves as, or aspire to be like, Elizabeth or Jane.
• I'd rate it 5/5.
If you like 'Pride and Prejudice' you will also like:
• The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins - the original whodunnit set in the mid 19th century. Easy to read because of the high-drama, action-packed plot. It has all the ingredients for a brilliant Victorian novel: the lady, the mansion house, the hangers on, the double crossers, the servants and the theft of a invaluable jewel.
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - of course I had to recommend my all time favourite novel. It's the story of a fierce, free-thinking orphan heroine who fights to find herself and happiness. A brilliant tale of self-discovery with that all important wonderfully satisfying ending.
What's your favourite classic novel?
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