Pride and Prejudice

During 1796–7 young Jane Austen (1775–1817) wrote First Impressions. Her early effort was rejected, but a revised and renamed version was published as Pride and Prejudice in 1813. The title of this comedy of manners highlights personality traits present in both protagonists: impetuous Elizabeth Bennet and aloof Mr Darcy. Issues of class, money and marriage are central in Austen’s novels: contemporary women had limited choices in life and generally needed to make practical, decorous decisions about their futures. The author’s style is deliciously ironic, and her skillful use of free indirect speech subtly draws the reader into sharing the characters’ perspectives.

Creator:: Jane Austen
Published:: 1813

Forms:: Prose
Genre:: Romantic literature
Literary period:: Romantic

This work is featured in:

Discovering Literature: Romantics & Victorians

Jane Austen and social judgement

Article by:: Kathryn Sutherland
Theme:: The novel 1780–1832

Jane Austen’s characters are continually watching, judging and gossiping about others and, in turn, are watched, judged and gossiped about. Professor Kathryn Sutherland explores the ways in which behaviour and etiquette are closely monitored in the novels, and how characters must learn to be skilful readers of those around them.

Jane Austen’s juvenilia

Article by:: Kathryn Sutherland
Themes:: The novel 1780–1832, Childhood and children's literature

Professor Kathryn Sutherland explores how Jane Austen’s education and upbringing shaped her childhood writing, and considers the relationship between these early works and her adult novels.

Jane Austen: social realism and the novel

Article by:: Kathryn Sutherland
Theme:: The novel 1780–1832

Jane Austen fills her novels with ordinary people, places and events, in stark contrast to other novels of the time. Professor Kathryn Sutherland considers the function of social realism in Austen’s work.

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