PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

‘Pride and Prejudice’ is Jane Austen’s most popular novel and a love story that has been reimagined and reinvented for many audiences and cultures around the world. With plenty of festivals, events and screenings to celebrate the author’s 250th birthday year in 2025, this is a novel worth returning to in your book club! Especially with a new film in the pipeline.

Austen’s second novel and historical fiction is set in the Regency period (around the early nineteenth century) and begins in the Longbourn home of the Bennets who are preoccupied with the arrival of a wealthy young gentleman, Charles Bingley, which is of particular interest to Mrs Bennet who is keen to find suitors for her daughters - especially as she has five!  Mr. Bennet swiftly pays a social visit to Mr Bingley securing an invitation for the Bennets to attend a ball at which Mr Bingley will be in attendance. Mr Bingley is attracted to Jane (the Bennet’s eldest daughter) spending much of his evening dancing with her. His close friend, Mr Darcy, is less pleased with the evening and haughtily refuses to dance with Elizabeth, which makes everyone view him as arrogant and obnoxious. This is the first time that Elizabeth Bennet meets the eligible Fitzwilliam Darcy who is indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. Unlike other Austen heroines Elizabeth is independent-minded and articulate and unlike her sisters she is confident in challenging her suitors. As the main protagonist in the novel, the readers enjoys Elizabeth’s assertiveness which provides a youthful and empowering voice to the narrative.

Whilst Mr Darcy secretly begins to find himself drawn to Elizabeth as they continue to encounter each other at social events, appreciating her wit and frankness, Elizabeth is also being pursued by Mr Collins, a clergyman and who we understand is heir to her family estate. Whilst realising his interest in her, Elizabeth also meets the charming army officer Mr Wickham, who tells her in confidence about Mr Darcy's unpleasant treatment of him in the past. Elizabeth blinded by her prejudice toward Mr Darcy, believes him. However, we are also able to observe her misjudgement of character which results in entertaining twists and turns to the storyline.

Hearsay and gossip amongst the Bennet, Darcey and Bingley families is rife. This causes misunderstanding amongst the elder Bennet daughters and their suitors, and we are drawn into the love story of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, who both misjudge, but then challenge and change each other minds making this a novel about happiness and self awareness in a world burdened by the constraints of social convention.

Whilst women may not need to marry to survive and our social constrains vastly different, Austen’s story still remains relevant today as we know only too well, thanks to Helen Fielding and Bridget Jones! The Den enjoyed the opportunity to indulge in the witty dialogue and comedy of manners. Well worth a read and discussion in your book club.