Pride and Prejudice (Illustrated Edition)

By Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is definitely one of those books everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. It always remains a classic because of its timeless characters. First published in 1813, the story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she struggles with society and love...

• Illustrated Edition

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jane Austen
• Release date: May 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9786050377613

Jane Austen

Born in 1775, Jane Austen published four of her six novels anonymously. Her work was not widely read until the late nineteenth century, and her fame grew from then on. Known for her wit and sharp insight into social conventions, her novels about love, relationships, and society are more popular year after year. She has earned a place in history as one of the most cherished writers of English literature.

Reviews for Pride and Prejudice (Illustrated Edition)

[cathyincanada · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Oh gosh. This book is not for me. I made it to page 70 in a borrowed book, and returned it at that point rather than taking the person up on the offer to take it with me.
The wife calling her husband 'Mr. Darcy' during their personal conversations with each other was hard to overlook after the fifth time.
The underhanded and sneaky means of finding husbands for the females was annoying, but when it became more obvious that was the only goal in life for the female characters, I got truly discouraged and disappointed. Is this the 200 year old version of Twilight or 50 Shades of Grey?
Just like in a Harlequin novel, the rouge vagrant of a man that the heroine initially despises was to become her object of undying love (or so I think, from what I've heard of the book over the past decades). And just like a Harlequin novel, I could not care less about these characters near the middle of the book than before I met them.
I will try again in a few years in an attempt to see the greatness that others have seen. Just having a hard time right now thinking that I ever will enjoy it.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very enjoyable as an audiobook.

[thelittlebookworm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Little BookwormElizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy meet and dislike each other, then through a series of meetings realize that first impressions do not always make the kindest.I haven't read Pride and Prejudice in a very long time so when the Everything Austen Challenge came along I decided to take advantage and do an all P&P list. Since it had been so long since I read it, it seemed only natural to start at the beginning. Oddly I found myself bored until Mr. Collins arrived (ironic). That's when the action started to pick up as much as it ever does in this book. The characters start moving locations and interacting in situations outside their normal places and then it starts to get good.I love how natural the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy becomes and is, frankly, the archetype for this type of relationship. If this book was published now it would totally be considered chic lit. The meet cute, the fighting and misunderstanding, the declaration of love at the end, well, actually it has been made into chic lit through the Bridget Jones character. Anyway, P&P still holds up in my esteem and it was well worth re-reading.

[dypaloh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Top Ten Things to know about the characters and character of Pride and Prejudice:•Jane Austen is observant in a way that could do you much credit or reveal you to be the most lamentable boor or ninny ever.•“Elizabeth Bennet is one of the greatest and most complex characters ever written.” That line’s lifted from the movie You’ve Got Mail. It’s got truth.•Mr. Bennet, Elizabeth’s father, is often sensible and well-humored, though not without defect even good humor cannot always compensate. One wonders if he has, in his parental supervisions and marital forbearance, support from something distilled.•Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth’s mother, isn’t sensible and her good humor deserts her often. Yet, despite her follies and the vexations afforded by her family, she is set aglow by even small promise of desired events to come. That is a thing not to be scoffed at.•Elizabeth Bennet pays firm notice of Mr. Darcy’s prejudice; her pride is to interpret it prejudicially.•Mr. Darcy’s pride is to have a stick up his hind side for the longest time. Elizabeth Bennet, in her musings, somehow refrains from expressing her identical sentiments with identical words.•Mr. Wickham, a roguish fellow, boldfaces the grievances Elizabeth Bennet has with Mr. Darcy. The comparison has consequences and is a source of much that’s fun.•Lady Catherine’s genius is to put pride and prejudice in service of her very great admiration of her own greatness at endeavors she’s never attempted and emotions she’s never felt, thus calling to mind a person quite prominent in present-day U.S. politics.•The last third or so of the book is not as good as what came before. But keep on—Elizabeth Bennet does and that should suffice.•You might not be enchanted by Elizabeth Bennet. But if you are not, justice should petition that Lady Catherine (or her toady, Mr. Collins) become an affliction to your days.And that’s the true gen. Count on it.

[catsalive · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favourite.

[fmrox · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Title says it all.

[sammylinn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVE this book!

[harrod_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Always a favorite

[thebandersnatch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What can I say? An absolute favorite from seventh grade.

[thebooknerd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Who doesn't love this book? I mean, really. It's the quintessential love story that most of us base our romantic fantasies and reading preferences on. Even if you're the type to shy away from classic literature, you'll find this story accessible, relevant, and enjoyable.

[yoshikawa_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

No wonder this book is a classic; it's awesome!

[wolforourc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Obviously the language is dated and heavy on narrative. Structurally, it's an excellent example of a 3-act play with multiple plot lines and surprising twists.

[kemilyh1988 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Forced myself to listen to it, because I kept giving up on reading after page 50. Love the BBC version with Colin Firth. The book, not so much. Definitely do not understand the Austen obsession.

[borrows0n0wants · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful love story full of biting humor, Pride & Prejudice has some of the most memorable, endearing characters in literary history. This book will be remembered and cherished long after you read it.

[historicalfictionfan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is probably her most popular novel. I have to admit; I read Austen's novel Emma first and didn't thoroughly enjoy it. Therefore, I put off Pride & Prejudice for months and months. Finally one day I decided to take a crack at it. At first I found once again the plot to be slow and dry. Once the characters were all introduced I really became engrossed with the story and setting. I immediately fell in love with Elizabeth and grew to feel sorry for her. Elizabeth is the second eldest of five daughters. She is completely misunderstood by everyone in her family except for her eldest sister Jane and her father. It was very obvious that Elizabeth’s mother favored Jane and was very anxious for her to be engaged to Mr. Bingley, a wealthy gentleman who just moved in to Netherfield Park. When Mr. Darcy was introduced, I thought he was very arrogant and rude and just a revolting man to be around. However, as the story and plot continued I began to like him more and more. It was really hard to get a handle on Mr. Darcy. Is he arrogant and rude or is he really shy and mysterious?Overall, I absolutely loved Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. I really got a feel for who most of the characters were and I loved the twists and turns. Austen did a fantastic job making it witty and comical. I would have given this novel 5 out of 5 stars, however, I did find it to be dry in parts and found myself skipping paragraphs and even a page or two at times and didn’t really feel I was missing anything. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a witty romance novel.

[amaraki-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Returned to a classic as my library offered no attractive newer options and I was well rewarded by a reread as a mature--very--adult. 'The marriage game' to use Eugenides' phrase in its most sophisticated and subtle rendition. In its most essential lines a typical lady romance, but its sensibility to the social context of the times brings it to another level altogether, plus that something magical of an artist's(author's) unique expression. As I sometimes felt I was wading through the oblique and rather artificial for our time's dialogue, where people rarely spoke openly, I wondered how the book could still be so absorbing. But the editor I think hit it spot on saying that difference can be fascinating. So in that sense it was interesting as a historical novel, bringing alive the context of the times, and the same holds for the rather circumscribed setting and actors of the genteel English countryside. Again I wondered how these so different and 'irrelevant' characters could hold my interest whereas in the contemporary --peerless for some-- "Corrections" I ended up saying I just don't care about them. I think likely because the latter were so extremely self-absorbed, selfish in their mundane problems, whereas in the former there is balance and retrospection rather than absorption. And if I don't give it a fifth star, it's basically because of the light romantic theme and of the 'distant' to us setting, which are also the main points for giving it four stars.

[solitaryfossil · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When I started my reading list for 2017, I decided to go heavy on the classics, those books that always appear on those Read These Books Before You Die lists, 100 Greatest Books, blah-blah-blah. So I read it. It was okay, but I wasn’t exactly bowled over, it was a bit stiff and stilted. Not surprising considering the setting, plot, etc. “Oh, Lady Frillypants and Lord Salsburywichshireford! What an honor to see you at our daughter’s ball! Fa-la-la!” It wasn’t horrible, and I’m glad to have read it, but I did remove the other Jane Austen novels I had put on my list. One was enough.

[winterdragon-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh what can I say about this book, or any Jane Austen book, that hasn't already been said. And by people who are more intelligent than me. I have always been a fan of Jane Austen but, surprisingly, I have never read any of her books until now. Not that I haven't wanted to but school, after school activities, and many other little things were in the way. Resulting in me not having a chance to read it until a couple of weeks ago, but having started it about ten times.

I love this book. I knew I would. A beautiful, engaging, wonderful book. I have always thought I was born in the wrong time. Although, I want the fashions I would love them with the values of the 21st century. But the book has captivated me and Jane Austen as gained another fan.

Elizabeth was a refreshing, lively, stubborn young woman who in some ways is ahead of her time. Her sisters and parents are all amazing characters who are living in the world were girls are supposed to be married and have children. However, Elizabeth wanted to marry for love and in walks Mr. Darcy who turns her world on end. My love for this book cannot be expressed in words, nor will I ever be able to.

5/5

[deusxmachina-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The absolute embodiment of the Romance novel. The style, though lovely and expressive in its own peculiar, is outdated for the genre today. The characters though are still the paragons of "boy meets girl" plots, imitated and copied millions of time - and usually worse than in the original.Karen Savage did a superb job in the Librivox reading, giving every character their very own quirks. Especially Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet were as hilarious as they were supposed to be.

[rglossne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best novels ever written in English

[nosajeel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this (for the third time) to get a jump-start on the bicentennial. As I began it it was enjoyable but felt a little repetitive like I remembered virtually every word and scene and was not getting anything new out of them. But the time I got to Darcy's letter I was completely sucked in and absorbed as if I was reading it for the first time. And unaccountably, I had completely forgotten the magnificent interview between Elizabeth and Lady De Bourgh near the end of the book so at least that felt new to me. Overall, very much worth re-reading ever now and then.

[neverlistless · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story is wonderful. It focuses on Elizabeth Bennett, the second oldest of 5 girls, who has a mother that is absolutely focused on getting her daughters married. As Jane, Elizabeth's eldest sister, is being courted by a new man in town, Elizabeth meets his friend, Mr. Darcy. He is a seemingly rude, proud, and condescending man. Everyone immediately dislikes Darcy and writes him off as being unworthy of attention.As the story progresses, heartbreaks follow. Jane's courtship falls through and their youngest sister, Lydia, runs off to a marry a militia man who has a good reputation, but is found out to be quite shady. Through all of this, Elizabeth learns more and more about Mr. Darcy and discovers that he isn't so proud, but actually shy and a little bit socially awkward.This is a very simplistic explanation of a very complicated story, but it is wonderful to read how Elizabeth processes new information and her seemingly steadfast view of an individual changes over time. In addition, Elizabeth herself is already such a strong character and speaks up for herself and those around her at the risk of being "unladylike." Wonderful book and such a wonderful character!

[pinknpeach · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. Subtle and sweet. The characters are developed beautifully.

[tess_schoolmarm · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I've tried Austen several ways, one of which is [Pride and Prejudice.] I've tried to like her, everyone insists I should. I like the story, however the boring, monotonous speed at which it is told is worse than death for me. Sorry Jane! I've NEVER said this before, but the movie is far better than the book!

[marthaearly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jane Austen is boring, insipid, cliche, blah blah blah. Spare me. This novel charmed my socks off. The prose is witty and complex, turning itself inside out and stealthily ensnaring the reader's consciousness so that pages rush by the more your appetite increases for the next page, and the next, and the next. I loved reading this book and was genuinely sad to see it come to an end.

[donna.riffebarker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pride and Prejudice is an old favorite of mine which I fell in love with in high school and continue to read eve now. I am a softie for the classics and hold this particular classic in a special place in my heart. What I like is how Jane Austen wrote to the feminist and how the Pride the main character harbored almost kept her from being happy. I love the characters in the book but they are not as fleshed out as a more modern book might be. However, the characters are interesting and keep the attention of the reader well.

[whitewavedarling · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the few books I go back to over and over again, and it's the magic of the writing. Austen wraps you up in her world until you've forgotten about your own reality for the worries and romance of hers. It's a careful and thoughtful work, with wit to spare. Highly recommended.

[russelllindsey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simply one of my favorite books of all time. This copy traveled with me to Spain and back.

[thedivineoomba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I finally got around to reading this book - I tried reading it a few times, but couldn't get past the language. Then I saw the BBC production, finally figured out what was going on, and reread the book. I had a greater grasp of what was happening.This book is much better than the BBC Version, and the BBC version is awesome. What makes this book so good is the restraint that Darcy and Lizzy show towards their family, friends, and acquaintances while at the same time commenting on exactly how silly those same people are behaving. Austin might create long winded paragraphs, but so much is said in described that you get a very clear picture of exactly what is happening, and how the characters feel about it. My one and only complaint is Mr. WIckhams motive with Lydia - she has no money, but comes from a respectable family. He is also intends to marry a women with money. So why would he go off with Lydia - there would have been all sorts of loose women that would have settled his needs without the trouble that Lydia Caused.

[lauraodom-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I honestly don’t know how many times I have read this novel, but it never disappoints me. Books just aren’t written like this anymore. I love P&P for the misunderstandings, the witty banter and its beloved characters. The characters are so real, and it’s so easy to love them. Even the ridiculous characters such as Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet become have become my well-loved friends. And who doesn’t love the brooding Mr. Darcy??

Would I recommend this to my BFF? Absolutely. Everyone should read this once.

Would I recommend this to my daughter? Yes, but she might have trouble with the old English.