Pride and Prejudice

Edition Review: The Chiltern classics are classy, collectible, and most definitely giftable. Each copy is a work of art in the gorgeous raised cover art, gilt-edged pages, thick paper stock, ribbon bookmark, and well formatted pages and font. Just above the size of a paperback and comfort-cushioned hardbound feel in hand. Readers will love this edition. Book Thoughts: The Bennets of Longbourn are a frolicking family of five daughters, a bookish father and a fluttery mother. A young man of fortune moves to the neighborhood and all the matchmaking mamas are on point with Mrs. Bennet leading the way especially when he is joined by a friend of even more wealth and status. Too bad, the imminently handsome and wealthy Mr. Darcy makes a terrible first impression and his struggles to deny his attraction for second Bennet daughter Lizzy are dismal and he slips in love with a woman who is unlike any he has ever before encountered. Of course, there are other iconic characters and they invariably do their best to throw a spanner in the works for Darcy and Lizzy. But, a few fortunate twists of fate and the generosity of Lizzy's Gardiner relations give them another chance if youngest Bennet daughter Lydia's escapades don't scotch it all for good. Each time I read or listen, something different captures my attention. With this time around, it was eldest and beautiful tranquil Jane and also Mr. Bennet father to five grown daughters and husband to a woman of simple mind and purpose with an overwrought set of nerves. After reading the dialogue between Jane and Lizzy discussing Wickham's 'woes' and Darcy's perfidies, I was never more struck by just how intensely determined Lizzy was in her prejudices. Gentle Jane made good sense in her observations and advice even if her own tranquil nature and boisterous relations messed up her own romance, but Lizzy was determined to think her quicker, livelier mind was superior to her sister's when it came to knowing people. Then there was Mr. Bennet. I get a kick out of those opening pages each time when he enjoys teasing his wife and girls about Mr. Bingley when he secretly went and introduced himself so the family had a chance of meeting him at the neighborhood social gatherings, but he pretended to not have bothered. I think he was a lousy parent in many ways, but he is a comic addition to scenes several times. So droll! All in all, another delightful outing with a favorite classic.

To this day, one of the greatest novels in English or any language. Not a word out of place, written with an easy charm, sharp observation of its many characters, and an endless stream of wit and satire perfectly tuned to its story. Modern readers need to make allowance for its context, in which a woman in the heroine's class must depend for her happiness and support on finding a husband of means who would offer genuine respect to her. But if we can manage not to impose on our judgment of Elizabeth Bennet (not to mention Fitzwilliam Darcy) modern expectations concerning the place of women in society, we will be rewarded by an immortal romantic story punctuated by laughter and deeply satisfying skewering of pretension, conceit and ignorance.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." That's probably one of the most famous opening sentences of a novel, along with Moby Dick. Pride and Prejudice is also probably one of Jane Austen's most famous novels. I certainly liked it much more than Northanger Abbey. It is the story of Elizabeth Bennet, who lives with five sisters, and an odd pair of parents at Longbourn. Her mother is constantly scheming about marrying off her daughters to wealthy young men, so when Netherfield Park is let to the rich Mr. Bingley, she is very excited indeed. (Mr. Bennet's estate will be entailed away from the immediate family upon his death, so at least one of the sisters has to marry well to provide for them.) And Mr. Bingley brings his very proud friend, Mr. Darcy. The book is about the courtships, and, of course, has many twists and turns. Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Wickham, and I suppose, the detestable Mr. Collins (who the estate will be entailed to) are the main men of the story. I really loved this one; it had humor and wit in it, and great characters. I enjoyed Mr. Bennet and his sarcasm very much, though Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are really too silly sometimes. So stupid. And of course, Elizabeth. She is really a very smart and spirited young woman, who will not be ordered around. I also watched the 1995 TV series from BBC, and I must confess, Mr. Darcy...never mind. Anyway, all the characters were well portrayed, and while the TV series is wonderful, it doesn't quite have the subtlety of the conversations in Pride and Prejudice itself. The TV series did have excellent casting though; all the Bennets, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Collins were portrayed very well. (Yes, I suppose this is sort of a double review.) I would say though, that Caroline Bingley should have been a little prettier; she was just hideous, and Mr. Bingley was kind of silly-looking. But everywhere else, they did very well. Back to the book. As I said, there were many twists and turns which made this one a thoroughly enjoyable read. And really great characters. Though she is certainly less descriptive and florid than Dickens, Austen still manages in this one, to portray everyone extremely well. Mr. Collins really is detestable, Bingley overly-cheerful and positive, and Darcy stiff and stern (though he has his reasons, of course.) Mrs. Bennet is an extremely foolish woman, as is Lydia, the youngest Bennet. The pride and prejudice of the story refer, I believe, to Mr. Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's prejudice (though it is certainly debatable.) Mr. Darcy is very proud indeed at the beginning of the story, and Elizabeth's prejudice prevents her from seeing his true character for a while. I will just add that I read the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition from 2009, and while it has a very nice design, it does not have any analysis or introduction, so if you want that you'd be better off reading the Penguin Classics regular edition or Oxford World Classics. However, my Penguin Classics Deluxe edition arrived slightly damaged on the spine, which was a disappointment. [...]

Amazing book, beautiful edition.

رائع

Très beau comme sur la photo.

One of the classics and only bought it because I like the embossed hardback cover!

El libro es pequeño, pero cómodo para llevar en bolso, es preciosa la edicion, los detalles, la letra pequeña pero se lee bien. Se ve de excelente calidad el libro. El único detalle y que no me gustó es la elección de papel, es muy blanco y con el contraste de las letras, llega a ser un tanto molesto, a diferencia de otros tipos de papel. Aún así recomiendo mucho esta colección de clásicos.