Pride and Prejudice (All-Time Classics)

(Annotated & Unabridged & Uncensored.) Pride and Prejudice, romantic novel by Jane Austen, published anonymously in three volumes in 1813. A classic of English literature, written with incisive wit and superb character delineation, it centres on the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner. The work, which Austen initially titled First Impressions, is the second of four novels that Austen published during her lifetime. Although Pride and Prejudice has been criticized for its lack of historical context, the existence of its characters in a social bubble that is rarely penetrated by events beyond it is an accurate portrayal of the enclosed social world in which Austen lived. She depicted that world, in all its own narrow pride and prejudice, with unswerving accuracy and satire. At the same time, she placed at its centre, as both its prime actor and most perceptive critic, a character so well conceived and rendered that the reader cannot but be gripped by her story and wish for its happy dénouement. In the end, Austen's novel has remained popular largely because of Elizabeth-who was reportedly Austen's own favourite among all her heroines-and because of the enduring appeal to men and women alike of a well-told and potentially happily ending love story. Pride and Prejudice inspired various stage, film, and television productions. One of its most notable adaptations was a 1995 TV miniseries starring Jennifer Ehle (Elizabeth) and Colin Firth (Darcy). Parents need to know that Jane Austen's romantic masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice, is an absolute joy to read and study for teens who are open to the pleasures of 19th-century prose and manners. The plot and characters are engaging for teens, and the book is worth revisiting at any age.