The Beginnings of Pride and Prejudice
Every Friday Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings. The goals of this meme is to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading. I think this is a great way to introduce a new book to our blog readers. This week I will be doing one of my current reads.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenPride and Prejudice is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. Elizabeth is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman living near the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, near London. Page 2 of a letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra (11 June 1799) in which she first mentions Pride and Prejudice, using its working title First Impressions. Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet’s five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth. Though Austen set the story at the turn of the 19th century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of “most loved books.” It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, selling over 20 million copies, and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen’s memorable characters or themes.
Books In Bloom
I'm an avid reader and love most all books, but my favorite genres tend to be mystery, adventure, science fiction and classics. Genres I tend to shy away from include romance, contemporary fiction and chick lit. If I’m not actually reading books, I’m probably at work shelving them at my local library.
4 Comments
Kathy Martin
That must be one of the most famous beginnings in literary history. I still haven’t read the book though. This week I have As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber – a historical mystery. Happy reading!
Books In Bloom
Yes! Very famous. I’ve heard this line for so long, years…and I knew it was Jane Austen, but I hadn’t realized that it was Pride and Prejudice or that it was the first line of the book. Such a cool “discovery”. lol.
Donna
I listened to this on audiobook a few years ago as I think that is the only way I would get through it. It’s a great open line, but I’m just not a Jane Austen fan.
Donna recently posted…Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou ~ a Review
Books In Bloom
I would have to agree…I tried to do the Friday 56, where you blog about a random sentence on page 56…but all the sentences seemed really confusing and not really impactful…and difficult overall with the manner in which they were speaking…I hope all of it is not difficult like that.. :/