It is a truth universally acknowledged that this is the best romance novel ever written. No, that isn't hyperbole.
Pride and Prejudice was Jane Austen's second novel, published in 1813. It's been adapted into endless films, series, musicals, plays, audiobooks, and so on. It's been the inspiration for almost every romance novel written since its publication. Even people who've never read the book know the plot. Popularity isn't always a judge of quality, but this is one case where a book absolutely does deserve its renown.
Jane Austen's amazing writing combines with some of her best characters to produce one of the greatest books ever written. Mrs. Bennet's matchmaking, Mr. Bennet's snark, Elizabeth's initial dislike of Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy's initial disdain for Elizabeth; from the minute each character appears on the page their personality is distinct and often amusing. The story is full of memorable events. Who can forget Mr. Collins' proposal, or Lady Catherine's visit? And who can read the book without wanting to punch Wickham and Lydia?
At first Miss Austen's writing style is hard for a modern reader to get through. This was the early nineteenth century, after all, when "show, don't tell" was advice few authors followed. But with a little effort, anyone can understand and enjoy it.
She truly excelled at creating characters. On the surface, most of the characters are caricatures. How many times have you seen the matchmaking mother, the embarrassing siblings, the sensible main character, the unsuitable suitor(s) who're then replaced with a suitable one? But Jane Austen's characters are so much more than caricatures. Everyone, even comic relief like Mr. Collins, could be real people you'd meet, laugh at, or be annoyed by. And the romance between Elizabeth and Darcy is what so many later romances utterly fail to be: convincing.
I love this book from beginning to end, and I highly recommend it!
Is it available online?: Yes, on Gutenberg.
Rating: 20/10. What do you mean, that's not a proper rating? 10/10 isn't nearly high enough! 😃
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