Pride and Prejudice

Title: Pride & Prejudice
Publishing Date: it was first published in 1813

Reactions: Austen’s first version of this novel was called “first impressions” and was finished in 1797, though it was refused from publication. After it was rewritten, renamed and published in 1813 it sold quite well, though critics barely paid attention to it. It was altogether agreed, that Austen managed to quite accurately represent the daily life and society in the 19^th century.

Summary: Elizabeth Bennett is quick witted, free spirited and confident in her own opinions. Her family is not especially wealthy and her three younger sisters lack any sense of propriety, not to mention her mother, who is obsessed with marrying off her five daughters.

Mr. Darcy is a handsome bachelor and heir to one of the biggest fortunes in Derbyshire. Brought up with high morals and decorum, he has a strong sense of what is right and proper and what is not.

When these two people with different upbringings meet, misunderstandings occur and there are a lot of prejudices that need to be overcome, before these two get closer. They confront each other with their worst character trades, reflect on themselves and have to revise some of their opinions. But of course, just when you think all’s going to be well, there is nothing like family to mess things up again… 

Information on the author

Name: Jane Austen

Date/Place of birth: 16^th December 1775 at Steventon

Education: She was privately educated at first, before going to Boarding school. She wasn’t able to finish though, because her family couldn’t afford sending her (and her sister) to school anymore. She acquired further education at home by herself and under the guidance of her father.

Famous Works: Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Sense & Sensibility

Additional information: Jane Austen was born the seventh child of a clerical family. She had 6 brothers and a sister whom she was very close to. Her family was not at all rich, but all the children were encouraged to study and develop their creativity. Austen never married and stayed with her family, who were very supportive of her. Her brother Henry was the one who helped her publish her books. Austen died on the 18^th July 1817, four out of her six finished novels had been published during her lifetime (Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma), while the other two (Northanger Abbey, Persuasion) were published post-mortem.