Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five daughters in a country gentry family that needs its girls married off to secure their futures. When the wealthy and aloof Mr. Darcy enters their social circle, Elizabeth’s first impressions of him collide with her own sharp judgment and his hidden complexity. Austen’s novel of manners is also a fierce comedy and one of the most enduring romances in English literature.
What Works
Elizabeth is a near-perfect protagonist. Austen's irony is razor-sharp, and the romance earns its slow build.
What May Not Work
The early chapters require adjusting to nineteenth-century conventions and indirect dialogue.