By Jane Austen

This book has been following me for a while. When I was still a kid, my mum recommended that I read this because, at the time, it was unusual to find a book character with my name in it. That’s kind of funny for anyone who knows what happened to her. I said no, I wasn’t interested in normal books.

Then I attended University at Winchester. For many of my international readers, there are three things that the city of Winchester is known for: the cathedral, King Alfred and Jane Austen. She lived there and died there. What changed for me was this was when I saw the movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. This gave me curiosity about the original book, and so I came to this classic. The way that I will be approaching the collection is by looking at the original, then at the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, before going on to the BBC adaptation, the 2005 movie and finally the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie. I will not be looking at any of the modern adaptations, as that would be a slippery slope.

“Read again, and for the first time at least Miss Austen’s very finely written novel of Pride and Prejudice”

-Sir Walter Scott

Finding husbands for her five daughters has become Mrs. Bennet’s sole obsession, because the girls will be penniless once Mr. Bennet’s estate goes to his cousin. The problem is that the Bennets don’t always help themselves to suitable matches: Mrs Bennet and the youngest girls tend to talk instead of think, middle daughter Mary is unexceptional, and Mr. Bennet would rather poke fun than help. That leaves the ever-sarcastic Lizzie and her unassertive older sister Jane to navigate their family around sententious clergyman, judgmental bachelors, dashing soldiers, poisonous women of high society and an array of dinners and dances and teas.”

This book is a fascinating story, and once you understand the culture, it is very easy to read. There are echoes of many romance movies and books that come down to this day. Also, I have two tips for those who want to read the book. Firstly, there are multiple audiobook podcasts, and you can find the same thing on YouTube. Secondly, if you like to read a long podcast I recommend Pod and Prejudice.

Ok, for this review, I want to talk about 5 things: Mrs. Bennet and the four marriages in chronological order.

For the subject of Mrs. Bennet, I need to explain why Mrs. Bennet is so insistent on her daughters getting married to someone rich. Their home is entailed to go to the nearest male relative. This is why this family has five daughters. They were trying to have a son so Mrs. Bennet and her daughters would still have a chance to live in their house. Also, any kind of work the girls could get would mean a severe drop in living standards, if they could get a job at all.

The first marriage is between Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lewis. This is an interesting look at not marrying for love but for comfort. Let me explain. Mr. Collins is a reverend, and after Mr. Bennet dies, all his house and wealth will go to Mr. Collins. The only issue is this character is stupid and annoying, and unself-aware. Charlotte Lewis is 27 years old, which at that time is unmarriageable. If she doesn’t get married, she will be relying on her brothers for a living. But now, after getting married, she has a home and a comfortable income. She may not have love, but that isn’t what she is looking for.

Mr. Wickham and Lydia: these two did not marry for love or comfort, they married for lust. But it is also all but said that if Mr. Darcy had not paid off his debts, they would not have gotten married at all. After all, throughout the book, it is mentioned that Wickham is looking to marry rich so he can continue his gambling habit. The reason that they’re running off is such a bad thing. At this time, having sex before marriage could ruin a person’s life, as it will ruin her family as well. There is a reason that Mr. Collins recommends that they need to disown her for her actions.

At the time of reading, people would blame Lydia for her actions, but I believe that a lot of her actions can be put on her parents. I have talked about Mrs. Bennett’s obsession with her daughter getting married, but never telling her who to marry. But also, the fact that Mr. Bennett finds it more fun to laugh at his family than correct them, and we need to remember that Lydia is 16.

Now on to Charles Bingley and Jane, remember when I said that this book is the seed to many romantic books and movies, this is one of the reasons for this idea. These two should have been the first two to get married, but for one misunderstanding. The misunderstanding being that Jane wasn’t as obvious about her feelings as she should have been. I am just so happy that things worked out for them.

And finally, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, ok, so here is the other example of a romance misunderstanding. How many stories start with one person overhearing something that is taken the wrong way, and things spiral from there? Also, the dialogue between these two is Jane Austen at her finest.

I hope you have enjoyed this review, as this is my first classic book. Now all I have to say is.

Happy reading to all, and to all a good night.