I have, admittedly, never read this book. The title alone is extremely iconic, and I’m sure if you asked most people, they’d recognize it right away. It feels like one of those pieces of pop culture that you just know. However, I say “know” in very loose terms. Turns out, I have zero clue what it’s about!
That sort of makes sense, considering I’ve never read it. But, I feel like this is a good opportunity to dip my toes in and get a feel for what it’s all about, including the backstory behind it. So, let’s talk about Pride and Prejudice
Part 1: Where did it come from?
Pride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen, published on January 29th, 1813. The book’s initial title was First Impressions, and Austen worked on it from 1796 to 1797. However, the struggle to find a publisher was real, and it would be a while before it reached the public eye.
Impressed by his daughter’s work, Jane Austen’s father, George Austen, sent a letter to the London publisher Cadell & Davies. In this letter, he offered to send a manuscript of First Impressions. He hoped it would be engaging enough to warrant publishing, but the offer was rejected.
Jane would continue to write throughout it all. Eventually, her book, Sense and Sensibility, would reach the public eye through Thomas Egerton’s publishing house. It wasn’t easy, though. She had to pay a lot of money to even be allowed publication, with large commissions taken off her book sales.
It was lucky that Sense and Sensibility was so successful because it was the catalyst for further releases. After selling over 1000 copies, Egerton finally deemed her worth investing. He bought the rights to Pride and Prejudice (now reworked and retitled from its first attempts at publishing) and it was an immediate hit. It hasn’t gone out of print since!
Part 2: Okay, Cool, So what is it about?
I don’t think it’s worth typing up an entire synopsis of the book, so I’ll just provide you with the minimum context.
Pride and Prejudice is a romance (and possibly satire) novel featuring our two leads, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Elizabeth is the daughter of a country gentleman, while Darcy is a wealthy aristocratic landowner.
Elizabeth comes from a family with only daughters. She, along with her four sisters, are being encouraged to marry by their mother. This is because their father’s wealth can only be inherited by another man. If none of them find a husband before he dies, they risk falling into poverty. Darcy and Elizabeth meet through these circumstances at a ball. However, Elizabeth has a less than savory introduction to her love interest, and they both are put off initially. As the title suggests, they both must get over their pride and prejudices of each other before they can come together once and for all.
Part 3: Are you gonna read it or what?
It’s always a breath of fresh air to read about the successes of women, especially during periods of extreme adversity. They’re pretty few and far between, as far as history goes. But, this success doesn’t guarantee my interest. I think I want to try since it is such a classic, but I usually hate the classics, so who knows?
Regardless, this book was the foundation of many modern interpretations of romance today. It’s been adapted to film and TV many times, and it continues to influence creatives today. I respect its influence, and I’m excited to read it for myself.
Works Cited:
Bates, K. (2015). 29th January, 1813: The Publication of Pride and Prejudice. Retrieved 3 November 2021, from https://www.ool.co.uk/blog/29th-january-1813-publication-pride-prejudice/
Dillon, S. (2021, August 25). Pride and Prejudice. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pride-and-Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice. Retrieved 3 November 2021, from https://jasna.org/austen/works/pride-prejudice/
Pride and Prejudice – Wikipedia. Retrieved 3 November 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice
Images Retrieved From:
https://www.vox.com/2015/11/28/9802558/pride-prejudice-bbc-best
https://www.history.com/news/why-jane-austen-never-married
https://kidadl.com/articles/best-pride-and-prejudice-quotes-by-jane-austen