Although intimately familiar with the story through the BBC adaptation, I now finally come around to reading Jane Austen's best known novel and perhaps the most famous work of English literature ever written. After Sense and Sensibility, my expectations were naturally not very high, but her second novel is a considerable improvement, both in style and plot. The novel is structured in three parts, which seems to be the established norm of many classics, each part presenting a new locale where the majority of the drama unfolds. Part one is set in Hertfordshire and introduces the situations of the major characters, part two details the heroine's stay in Kent and part three to Derbyshire, before returning Hertfordshire again. It is written in a third person narrative, aligned solely to the viewpoint of Elizabeth Bennet. This rather limited perspective is important in exposing the dangers of judging others too completely on first impressions. The reader is on occasion provided with more information than Elizabeth, such as the private thoughts of other characters which allows for a greater range of understanding and reassessment of opinion.
To sum up the plot of Pride and Prejudice seems like an unnecessary exercise, for anyone reading this review must already be well acquainted with it. Just in case I do suffer from culturally deprived readers, I shall include the Penguin blurb: 'When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks his arrogant and conceited, while he struggles to remain indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossips and snobberies of provincial middle-class life.' A weak description of the book, but it gets the gist across. The first chapter sets the light-hearted, humorous tone for the rest of the novel and although there are more serious moments throughout, these never get worse than the risk of a public scandal. The novel is very much about character development, encased within an unconventional romance. For this reason, it must necessarily follow that its fan base will be predominantly female.
But what did I think of this oft proclaimed literary masterpiece? Decidedly average. I enjoyed the liveliness of style, the ready wit and the complex characterisation, but the plot did drag a little at times, the themes were insufficient to fully engage me and already knowing how everything would resolve removed any tension or suspense. I cannot stress enough how important it is to read a novel before watching the visual adaptation. Would I have thought differently of the book if I had read it without any prior knowledge of key plot events? Probably not, although I would have had greater freedom to visualise the characters differently. In terms of characters, few were what I would describe as appealing on any level, but I put that down to my own prejudices and not due to a weakness on Austen's ability as a writer. The resolution between Elizabeth and Darcy has not the full blown romantic quality one might expect from such an immensely popular pairing and that Regency stiffness of manner pervades what could have been a more riveting love scene.
Despite the arguably lacklustre romance, the subtlety of style does have its advantages in that it calls for a heavily discerning reader. This may be seen as a disadvantage to the casual reader, but in my opinion, anything that rewards and encourages closer reading is a bonus. The characters' obsession with wealth and social advancement makes for amusing material and one cannot help recognising that Elizabeth's pivotal moment in falling for Darcy is whilst visiting his expansive estate at Pemberley. There has already been so much written of Pride and Prejudice that I do not flatter myself in thinking I have anything new or interesting to contribute. I would recommend the book mostly to those who dig the romance genre, specifically for the escapism of that well-worn fantasy of falling in love with the 'perfect' (and rich) gentleman. However, women take care, you're far more likely to marry a Mr Collins!
Rating: 3/5
To sum up the plot of Pride and Prejudice seems like an unnecessary exercise, for anyone reading this review must already be well acquainted with it. Just in case I do suffer from culturally deprived readers, I shall include the Penguin blurb: 'When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks his arrogant and conceited, while he struggles to remain indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossips and snobberies of provincial middle-class life.' A weak description of the book, but it gets the gist across. The first chapter sets the light-hearted, humorous tone for the rest of the novel and although there are more serious moments throughout, these never get worse than the risk of a public scandal. The novel is very much about character development, encased within an unconventional romance. For this reason, it must necessarily follow that its fan base will be predominantly female.
But what did I think of this oft proclaimed literary masterpiece? Decidedly average. I enjoyed the liveliness of style, the ready wit and the complex characterisation, but the plot did drag a little at times, the themes were insufficient to fully engage me and already knowing how everything would resolve removed any tension or suspense. I cannot stress enough how important it is to read a novel before watching the visual adaptation. Would I have thought differently of the book if I had read it without any prior knowledge of key plot events? Probably not, although I would have had greater freedom to visualise the characters differently. In terms of characters, few were what I would describe as appealing on any level, but I put that down to my own prejudices and not due to a weakness on Austen's ability as a writer. The resolution between Elizabeth and Darcy has not the full blown romantic quality one might expect from such an immensely popular pairing and that Regency stiffness of manner pervades what could have been a more riveting love scene.
Despite the arguably lacklustre romance, the subtlety of style does have its advantages in that it calls for a heavily discerning reader. This may be seen as a disadvantage to the casual reader, but in my opinion, anything that rewards and encourages closer reading is a bonus. The characters' obsession with wealth and social advancement makes for amusing material and one cannot help recognising that Elizabeth's pivotal moment in falling for Darcy is whilst visiting his expansive estate at Pemberley. There has already been so much written of Pride and Prejudice that I do not flatter myself in thinking I have anything new or interesting to contribute. I would recommend the book mostly to those who dig the romance genre, specifically for the escapism of that well-worn fantasy of falling in love with the 'perfect' (and rich) gentleman. However, women take care, you're far more likely to marry a Mr Collins!
Rating: 3/5
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