“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Two hundred years ago today, Pride and Prejudice was published. It’s amazing to think a book that was written so long ago is still so popular today. It’s also my favourite book so I had to mark the occasion with a post.
“Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.”
I first read it in my early teens. My first experience of Jane Austen was the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I watched it on TV with my mum and was enchanted by the costumes, the courtship, the balls, the Bennet sisters and, of course, the romance between witty Elizabeth Bennet and dashing Mr Darcy. And I don’t think any of us can not enjoy the lake scene 
That adaptation kicked started my love of all things Austen. I went to Winchester for the day and brought my first Austen novels – Pride and Prejudice, of course, and Sense and Sensibility. I loved the books as much as the TV show and I was hooked. I read all of her novels and became a fan – although I was less sure of Mansfield Park as we had to read it for English Lit A Level and studying a book sometimes lessens my enjoyment of it. Through the years I’ve re-read them all and what I enjoy changes each time, there seems to always be something new to discover. I have even learnt to enjoy Mansfield Park!
“My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”
I have not only enjoyed the books and the numerous TV adaptations there have been of Austen since. I have also visited her house in Hampshire and marvelled at the pretty cottage where she wrote many of her books. I also went to Bath, where she lived for many years and which appears in her books. They have a museum there and the whole place seems steeped in Austen history. I am constantly fascinated by the world her characters inhabit.
“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
Yet my love of Austen always comes back to this book. It’s the one I have read the most and I love it as much as I did the very first time. It’s hard to explain why I enjoy it still. Perhaps it’s the study of human nature, the transportation back in time, the well rounded characters, the humour or the romance. Perhaps it’s the fairytale story of a love that sparks across social divides. Perhaps it’s the language. Perhaps it’s the wit and irony. Perhaps it’s the age-old story of opposites attracting. Most likely, it’s all of these things plus the mysterious X Factor that favourite books have. You can’t fully explain your love because love itself is unexplainable.
“Till this moment I never knew myself.”
So happy birthday Pride and Prejudice and thank you Ms Austen for writing it. You have given me the most enduring love of my life so far.
“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.”
Tell me – what’s your favourite book?
Victoria
xoxo
redjim99
/ January 28, 2013Where to start? Lord of the Rings, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Friday, E.E Doc Smith books, The Forever Wars. I could keep going.
Jim
Victoria-writes
/ January 28, 2013Haha you were only allowed one
WriterJ
/ January 28, 2013I love Pride and Prejudice. Definitely one of my top 5. Didn’t know it was the anniversary, but I like that it has been so popular for so long.
Victoria-writes
/ January 28, 2013I approve of your taste!
Tori Nelson
/ January 28, 2013LOVE. Definitely one of my favorites.
Victoria-writes
/ January 28, 2013I knew I liked you
faultlessfinish
/ January 28, 2013I also love P&P! One of my favourite books of all time is A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Something about it really resonated with me
I have also read and reread The Chronicles of Narnia.
Victoria-writes
/ January 28, 2013Yay! Oh haven’t read that one. Yes Narnia is a classic!
racheldeangelis
/ January 28, 2013Pride and Prejudice is great! I never really got into it until I saw the movie with Keira Knightly, but the book of course, goes in to much more detail with the story, so I love it! My favorite classic would be a split between Jane Eyre (a little more dark and mysterious than your traditional love story) and Great Expectations (which is a little disappointing in the romance department, but who can ever shake that image of Miss Havisham in her wedding dress?). How cool would it be to write a book that people are still reading and talking about hundreds of years later?
Victoria-writes
/ January 29, 2013Jane Eyre is like my second favourite book! Yeah can you imagine people reading your book in school? Weird but wonderful!
4amWriter
/ January 29, 2013I need to read this book again. No better reason than to celebrate its birthday by reading it, right?
Victoria-writes
/ January 29, 2013Excellent plan!
countingducks
/ January 29, 2013To be honest P & P is and always has been one of my favourites. All of life is there, as they say
Victoria-writes
/ January 31, 2013I knew you had excellent taste
C.B. Wentworth
/ January 29, 2013Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites, but Jane Eyre will always sit at the top of the list.
Victoria-writes
/ January 31, 2013Jane Eyre is my second favourite, both are excellent books!
We Are 2Fit2 Quit
/ January 30, 2013One of the greatest novels! Jane Austen is truly amazing!
Victoria-writes
/ January 31, 2013Well said!
Kourtney Heintz
/ January 30, 2013Love Austen’s books and all the movies and retellings they spawned. Thank God for Jane Austen.
Wuthering Heights is one of my favorites. Though Pride and Prejudice occupies a special place in my heart. 
Victoria-writes
/ January 31, 2013Amen! It’s weird – WH is one of the classics I just didn’t connect with. Maybe I should try it again!