Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

[goodreads]

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Genre: Classic
Rating: 5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~20hours
Date read: June, 2012

When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited, while he struggles to remain 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.

I can't remember how many times I've read this book, and I've seen the BBC mini-series even more times. It never fails to draw me in.

Some things struck me...
* Mrs. Bennet really is insufferable! I thought it very telling that Mr. Bennet tells Lizzie that he couldn't bear it if "she also found herself in a position where she couldn't respect her spouse". How awful.
* Mr. Bennet ends up calling Wickham his favourite son-in-law? In self-irony I hope.
* Lizzie and especially Jane really did fall in love remarkably quick.
* Austen doesn't seem very capable of writing happy married couples, does she? At least, I can't think of any.
* I need to rewatch the mini-series now!

Comments

[breathingbooks.livejournal.com]

I think Wickham is honestly his favorite, in that Mr. Bennett likes being amused by people and hypocritical, charming Wickham is hilarious from that pov.

In P&P you have the Gardiners as a good example of a happy married couple who respect each other. In Persuasion you have the Crofts (extremely so). Catherine's parents are happy in Northanger Abbey too.

[bogormen.livejournal.com]

I did think of the Gardiners when I wrote my review, but they have such a small part that it's hard to say for sure. I think you're right though.