Pride and Prejudice
Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five unmarried sisters, is sharp-tongued, quick to judge, and unsettled by the arrival of wealthy Mr. Bingley and his proud friend Mr. Darcy in the neighborhood. A misinterpreted slight at a country ball hardens her against Darcy, and a plausible villain only deepens her conviction. As her sisters pursue suitors of varying merit, and as her mother pushes ever harder for the security of marriage, Elizabeth must learn to read people more carefully, including herself. Austen's novel of manners, first published in 1813, uses a small Hertfordshire social circle to examine vanity, class, and the slow work of changing one's mind, and remains one of the most quietly radical romance plots in English fiction.
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The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
When Mr. Bingley rents nearby Netherfield Park, the Bennets see a chance for their five daughters. Sharp second sister Elizabeth meets Bingley's friend Mr. Darcy and immediately can't stand him.
Pride and Prejudice uses early 19th-century English with longer sentences and period vocabulary, but Jane Austen's prose is famously witty and clear. Most readers find it accessible after adjusting to the rhythm. Annotated editions are available for help with historical context.
Yes, many times. Notable adaptations include the 1995 BBC miniseries with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, the 2005 film with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, and the 2024 Netflix series. The novel has also inspired countless reimaginings across film, TV, and other novels.
Yes. Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813 and entered the public domain long ago. Free editions are widely available legally through Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks, and similar archives.
Pride and Prejudice is one of the most beloved novels in English literature. Austen's social comedy, her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet, and the slow-burn romance with Mr. Darcy have set the template for romantic fiction for two centuries. It is consistently ranked among the greatest novels ever written.
Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen, published in 1813 by DK.
Pride and Prejudice is 358 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Pride and Prejudice takes most readers 5 to 8 hours to finish.
Pride and Prejudice is a standalone novel by Jane Austen, not part of a series.
Pride and Prejudice is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.