The thing about Pride and Prejudice, however is that it is not the women which rule the roost. It is entirely the opposite. For if you notice that the majority of the discussion especially between Elizabeth and Jane is focused around the subject of the males yet not in the childish and immature way of the likes of Lydia and Kitty. It can also be noted that it is only men that bring substance to the family as nourishment seems to be in abundance whenever a male visitor is expected. Mr Darcy, however it seems when people talk about this text is not given enough credit. He usurps the role of Mrs Bennet, although in unfavourable situations and basically arranges the marriages of three of her daughters. He also is what shows the strength of sisterhood as they can either fight for them or draw them together. Many say that this is a novel for and about women.....in my opinion, this is a novel about men. We learn more of Darcy's past than we even do Elizabeth's ; life in Longbourn is a vacuum and seemingly has no past. Therefore, it is my belief that Mr Darcy and perhaps Elizabeth although clichéd are the only characters of notice and worth.

Posted at 02:27 - 27.04.08 by Elalalouise

Indeed I have not read all the books of the world, but for me (and apparently for Meera Syal) this is the funniest book ever written. It is full of witty dialogues and satire. Austen criticizes both women and men in society and writes mockingly about marriage: besides the future marriage of Elizabeth and Jane, there is only one happy couple, the Gardeners. For me it indicates that not all the Regency women were idiots and they could achieve a an equal status in their relationships. As for the comic element, for me it partly comes from Mrs Bennet: she is irritating and funny, and it was wonderfully made in Andrew Davies's adaptation. One more merit of the film is that it showed that it's not just all the chatting and entertaining men, but the characters (some of them) are driven by real passion. And yes, some of them are driven by financial greed or lust or whatnot. There must be something in this book (besides Mr Darcy) which makes it still so popular, I don't think it is just the cunning and catching men. It is a romance, and social criticism and satire - whenever I read it, it's something fresh.

Posted at 08:21 - 27.04.08 by BrigiH

How can one struggle to read Jane Austen? Admittedly this is not my favourite book of hers, being only in third place. Sense and Sensibility is my favourite, followed by Emma, which is much funnier than Pride and Prejudice.

Posted at 17:13 - 27.04.08 by martin

I'm sorry that you had a hard time reading P&P. As a guy who struggled through the first half, my sympathy goes out to you. Generally, P&P is a novel that men just don't "get". Austen beautifully captures female experience during the regency period with a wealth of subtlety, but that isn't usually enough for her to attract a male audience. While it's a shame this book was chosen to be reviewed by a man, it's not as though Austen really needs any more PR to ensure her status as a literary icon. This novel alone has had enough film adaptations and dedicated fans to keep it in print for centuries more. Patrick, if you haven't read it, I highly recommend Thackeray's Vanity Fair. Thackeray pours a cup of gasoline into the traditional social climbing plot and is very funny while he does it. I still consider it the only novel in this genre guys stand a chance of enjoying.

Posted at 19:24 - 01.05.08 by bohemian1

Thanks for your comments. I could only say what I saw in the book. It struck me that men - admittedly the sole way for women to survive in society - didn't really feature very much. One could almost say that they were objectified. As bohemian1 says, perhaps I just don't get it - rooted too deeply in the 20th century (I still have some catching up to do!). And thanks for the tip about Thackeray!

Posted at 14:05 - 04.05.08 by Patrick

Vanity Fair is a brilliant and very funny book. I really don't think that Pride and Prejudice is that great and it is really chick lit. So saying it is still a good book, but as I have said elsewhere it is not my favourite.

Posted at 17:05 - 05.05.08 by martin

I really can't see why Pride and Prejudice is chick lit just because it is funny and the most perfect love story ever. Apparently it has not done good to its reputation that it inspired several chick lit books, but I don't think it is the same category. Then Sense and Sensibility is chick lit too? Don't think so either.

Posted at 07:22 - 06.05.08 by BrigiH

There is no way that Sense and Sensibility is chick lit, it is a perfectly crafted novel. The main problem with Pride and Prejudice is that it isn't as perfectly crafted as Sense and Sensibility, or as funny and engaging as Emma.

Posted at 20:33 - 06.05.08 by martin

What u wrote about the woman being the head of the roost and the real leaders is dead right.

Posted at 12:48 - 13.05.09 by flalwessangel

A book that reads like a movie script because it is all dialogue and no description, and should be appealing to a contemporary reader. Unfortunately Austen uses very circumlocutory sentences that can feel irritating and the plot becomes obvious long before the denouement. The plotting, characterisation and wit are tremendous but the idea that Elisabeth and Darcy are equally guilty of Pride and Prejudice doesn't hold water - she is a prig and he is rude but they are not equivalent. This is a filmic book that was ahead of its time and perhaps the TV and cinema versions have the best of it. www.classicpenguins.com

Posted at 01:09 - 24.06.09 by Brownbear101

A book that reads like a movie script because it is all dialogue and no description, and should be appealing to a contemporary reader. Unfortunately Austen uses very circumlocutory sentences that can feel irritating and the plot becomes obvious long before the denouement. The plotting, characterisation and wit are tremendous but the idea that Elisabeth and Darcy are equally guilty of Pride and Prejudice doesn't hold water - she is a prig and he is rude but they are not equivalent. This is a filmic book that was ahead of its time and perhaps the TV and cinema versions have the best of it. www.classicpenguins.com

Posted at 01:10 - 24.06.09 by Brownbear101

lovely book

Posted at 14:32 - 03.12.09 by Stressaholic

You definitely are at a disadvantage reading this book when you already know the basic plot. It's hard to fully dive into the book when you already know what lies ahead. I really liked Pride and Prejudice but find my opinion of it has fallen with all these spin off books that seem to get written today about Mr Darcy.

Posted at 03:45 - 16.12.09 by rnbguru

Many of you seem to be expecting too much from this book. Austen did not write it as a social commentary for people to be reading hundreds of years later. She wrote it as a satire for those who lived in her time as a form of escapism. The fact that it is still enjoyed today does not make it chick lit *why does that term seem so degrading?*. It has universal truths about romance and the search for love within a society stifled by its own customs and prejudices. Yes, there are annoying family members but everyone has annoying family members. It is genius parts like this that make it still so popular today. Who can't relate to a character surrounded by insufferable people, trying to search for the few who may appreciate and understand them??? Austen was not a social commentator or a historian - she was a funny woman who enjoyed writing satire and was determined to write stories where her characters had their happy endings.

Posted at 16:39 - 25.01.10 by mandiekeats

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