Published: 1813
In an attempt to read some of the classics of English literature, I decided this would be an excellent place to begin. People have been reading this book for nearly two hundred years, and I wanted to know why.
Austen writes exceptionally well. Even two hundred years after publication, her writing flows smoothly and is a joy to read. Some vocabulary may be unfamiliar to the modern reader, but overall this book is very accessible. It is long, but the story is interesting enough to keep the reader's attention.
There are too many characters to list them all here, and nearly all of them are of some importance to the story. However, the themes of this book are clearly stated in the title: pride and prejudice. The plot is driven by the mistaken perceptions of several characters, their resulting foolish actions, and the humbling of Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist, as she realizes that her headstrong nature has lead her to make poor judgements about the characters of two potential suitors.
Many readers might already be familiar with the story of Pride and Prejudice, having watched one of the movies or television series based on the book. Regardless, if you have never read this book before, then you should read it soon. The story is full of interesting drama, and the themes are woven wonderfully into the narrative. Also, the book really gets you to think about your own follies of perception and judgement, and I believe that is what makes it a classic worth reading.
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