Pride and Prejudice

It is believed that Jane started writing Pride and Prejudice after visiting her brother Edward Knight and family at Goodnestone Park in October 1796 and completed the novel in August 1797. The novel was original entitled First Impressions and some believe that it was originally written in epistolary format due to the number of letters included.

In November 1797, Jane's father Rev George Austen contacted bookseller Thomas Cadell in an attempt to publish the manuscript but it was declined by return of post.

Jane made significant revisions to First Impressions between 1811 and 1812, and renamed the story Pride and Prejudice. It is believed that she took the new title from Fanny Burney's novel Cecilia, a popular novel of the era, in which the phrase appears in block capitals three times.

She sold the manuscript to bookseller and publisher Thomas Egerton for £110 and the first edition of the novel was published in three hardcover volumes on 27th January 1813. Jane had sold the novel to Egerton for a one off payment, meaning that all the risk would be his. However, the first two editions made Egerton around £450. As her second novel to be published, she remained anonymous, but the text was published as "By the Author of Sense and Sensibility".

You can read Pride and Prejudice for free online at Project Gutenberg.

Brief synopsis

SPOILERS

The novel starts with the news that Mr Bingley, has moved into Netherfield Park in the neighborhood. The Bennet family have five unmarried daughters, so the news of a wealthy young unmarried gentleman is a very exciting prospect for Mrs Bennet as the family estate is entailed away to Mr Bennet's cousin Mr Collins. The sisters meet Mr Bingley at a local ball in Meryton along with his sisters, and proud, disagreeable, wealthier friend Mr Darcy. The eldest Bennet sister Jane spends most of the evening talking and dancing with Mr Bingley, although Mr Darcy refuses to dance with the second eldest sister Elizabeth (otherwise referred to as Lizzie).

Despite snubby Lizzie initially, we see Mr Darcy gradually falling for her as they are thrown together in more social situations. However, Lizzie's prejudices towards him grow, especially after meeting the handsome military officer Mr Wickham whom grew up with Mr Darcy and tells her tales of his cruelty. She also receives unwelcome attentions from her cousin Mr Collins on his visit, who intends to marry one of the Bennet girls. Mrs Bennet advises that Jane is likely to soon be married (setting her sights on seeing her married to Mr Bingley), so he turns his attentions towards Lizzie. She rejects his eventual proposal and Mr Collins is invited to stay with the local Lucas family, where Mr Collins proposes to Lizzie's friend Charlotte Lucas and is accepted!

Unfortunately for Jane Bennet, Mr Bingley and his family and friends relocate to London as he is encouraged to distance himself from Jane due to her status and connections. However, Jane is invited to stay with her aunt and uncle in London with the hopes of seeing him. Lizzie is meanwhile invited to stay with her newly married friend Charlotte in her marital home. Mr Collins is under the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and lives on her estate, whom happens to be Mr Darcy's aunt! As such Lizzie and Darcy inevitably meet again and Darcy proposes to her. However, his proposal is not well received nor presented in a very gentleman-like manner.

Following Lizzie's rejection, Darcy pens her a letter and explains his reasons for encouraging Bingley to avoid making a connection with her sister, and explains the true nature of his relationship with Mr Wickham who tried to elope with Darcy's sister Georgiana for her money.

When Lizzie returns home she finds that her youngest sister Lydia has been invited to follow the militia to Brighton with the Colonel's wife. Lizzie thinks this is a bad idea but her father believes she needs to get her silliness out of her system and agrees to the trip. Lizzie meanwhile goes on another trip with her aunt and uncle to Derbyshire. Incidentally they stay in the same area as Mr Darcy's home of Pemberley, which they visit as the family is believed to be away from home only to find Mr Darcy return during their visit!

It seems as though Mr Darcy has realised that he hadn't made the best first impression and is polite and friendly to the group. Lizzie's opinion of him starts to change. Just when their relationship is blossoming, Lizzie receives news that her youngest sister Lydia has run away to elope with Mr Wickham! Lizzie and her aunt and uncle sharply return from their trip, whilst her father tries to track the couple down. The couple are traced in London and Wickham is made to marry Lydia to save her reputation on the proviso that his gambling debts are extinguished.

Lizzie later learns that Darcy was responsible for saving her sister's reputation and her opinion of him grows further. Mr Bingley makes a surprise return to Netherfield and proposes to Jane Bennet. News reaches the Bennet household that Mr Darcy and Lizzie are soon to be engaged, which prompts Lady Catherine de Bourgh to visit to express her disapproval at the match. Lizzie refuses to promise that she will never enter into an engagement with Mr Darcy, which reaches him and gives him hope. He proposes to her again and they live happily ever after (we presume!).

Characters

The below list of characters is not exhaustive and in no very particular order.

Elizabeth Bennet

The second eldest Bennet sister & the novel's main protagonist, not yet one and twenty. She is intelligent and witty, and a favourite of her father. She eventually overcomes her prejudice towards Mr Darcy.

Fitzwilliam Darcy

A very wealthy gentleman, conscious of social classes, which presents him as vain and proud to those around him. He admires Elizabeth and finds her attractive but isn't very good at expressing his feelings without insulting her. Her open rejection of him causes him to reassess how he presents himself to her and others and overcome his narrow-mindedness.

Mr Bennet

A middle-aged gentleman with a modest income. He has made a bad match in his choice of wife, and results to using sarcasm to entertain himself. He does not always have the best judgement as we see in his decision to let Lydia go to Brighton.

Mrs Bennet

A highly strung character, primarily concerned with securing her daughters rich husbands. She does not have a lot of self-awareness and is not shy about expressing her opinion, which embarrasses her family.

Jane Bennet

The eldest Bennet sister, considered the most beautiful and also good-tempered, humble and kind towards others. However, her good nature sometimes makes her naive to the faults of others.

Mary Bennet

The middle Bennet sister. She is very plain and enjoys reading. She is very serious and makes awkward conversations about morality. She is often impatient to display her accomplishments, and can be very vain. I was always disappointed she never married Mr Collins as I think they would make a good match. According to Jane's nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh's memoir, Mary ended up marrying one of her Uncle Philips' law clerks and moving to the local Meryton.

Catherine (Kitty) Bennet

The fourth Bennet sister, often seen in the company of her younger sister Lydia. She is very silly, although she becomes more sensible when away from Lydia's influence. According to Jane's nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh's memoir, she later married a clergyman who lived near Mr Darcy's home of Pemberley.

Lydia Bennet

The youngest Bennet sister. She is silly and headstrong, and enjoys flirting and socialising. Lydia doesn't think about the consequences of her actions or follow society's moral codes.

Mr George Wickham

Good looking and very charming, but a fortune hunter. Has a lot of gambling debts.

Mr Charles Bingley

Good friends with Mr Darcy and wealthy. His wealth comes from his father's business rather than inherited like Darcy's. As such, he isn't snobbish about Jane Bennet's social background. Very easygoing and likeable by others.

Miss Caroline Bingley

Sister to Mr Bingley, and very different in personality. Very snobbish about social classes. Admires Darcy and tries to steer his attentions away from Lizzie Bennet to herself but has quite the opposite effect.

Mrs Louisa Hurst

Mr Bingley's other snobbish sister who spends a lot of her time gossiping with her sister. Married to Mr Hurst who does little else other than play cards, drink and sleep.

Mr Collins

Mr Bennet's ridiculous cousin, due to inherit the Longbourn estate upon Mr Bennet's death. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is his patroness, which he enjoys bragging about.

Georgiana Darcy

Younger sister and ward of Mr Darcy. Pretty, warmhearted and skilled at playing the pianoforte but very shy.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Mr Darcy's aunt and patron of Mr Collins. Rich and very snobbish towards lower classes. Uses her status to boss around others.

Anne de Bourgh

Sickly daughter of Lady Catherine, intended to marry Mr Darcy.

Charlotte Lucas

Sensible dear friend of Elizabeth, six years older than her. She does not see love as a necessity for marriage and only asks a comfortable home.

Mr and Mrs Gardiner

Mrs Bennet's brother and sister-in-law. They are both caring and have a lot more common sense!

Memorable quotes

Below is just a selection of some of the memorable quotes from the novel.

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

"A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment."

"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!"

"My good opinion once lost is lost forever"

"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."

"There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it"

"In vain I have 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."

"From the very beginning - from the first moment, I may almost say - of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry."

"Till this moment, I never knew myself."

"To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love"

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?"

"What are men to rocks and mountains?"

"My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me"

"I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine"

"I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve"

"He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman's daughter. So far we are equal."

"You are too generous to trifle with me. If you feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever"