Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Key Details
- Genre: fiction
- Sub-Genres: classic, romance
- Tropes: enemies to lovers, miscommunication
- Publication Date: 1813
- Pages: 352
- Themes: love, marriage, social class
- Accolades: included in BBC’s The Big Read (Top 100 Books)
My Review
From the romance at the novel’s heart to the budding love lives of Elizabeth’s sisters, Pride and Prejudice feels like spring in the lush English countryside. It oozes romance that lives up to its hype. It’s neither the easiest nor the hardest classic, but adaptations help readers follow along.
Gilmore Girls Episodes
Learn where this book on the Gilmore Girls book checklist was referenced:
| Season 1, Episode 8 (“Love and War and Snow”) | Dean tells Rory he enjoyed Pride and Prejudice. |
Famous Opening Line
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Mr. Darcy’s Most Romantic Quote
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
Book Review
Plot Description
Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates love, family pressures, and social expectations in 19th-century England. Sparks fly between her and the proud Mr. Darcy, but misunderstandings and class differences stand in their way. Through personal growth and shifting perspectives, they learn what character and love really mean.
Why It Matters on Gilmore Girls
Rory is an avid reader of the classics, so the fact that Dean was willing to read Pride and Prejudice— one of the most iconic love stories of all time– was a very romantic literary gesture. And the fact that he enjoyed this book from Season One of Gilmore Girls bridges a gap in their personalities and further unites them in their own love story.
Who It’s Best For
Since Pride and Prejudice is one of the most popular classic books of all time, classic readers should read it.
It’s also an excellent choice for romance readers who want to venture into classic territory.
Reading Tips
- I recommend the Audible Original, which is beautifully narrated by Rosamund Pike, who starred as Jane in the 2005 movie adaptation.
- Speaking of which, the 2005 movie adaptation starring Keira Knightley is excellent and one of my favorite adaptations of all time. However, many prefer the 1995 BBC miniseries starring Colin Firth. Also stay tuned for an upcoming Netflix adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
- The 2005 adaptation’s soundtrack makes for perfect focus music for reading this book.
- Pair it with the popular modern retelling, Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, which is also on the Gilmore Girls book list.
- Learn why college students can’t read Pride and Prejudice.
Aesthetic
