I could talk for days about this book, although my first foray into anything Austen was in fact the 1940s movie which is very different in many respects but retains the delightful verbal combat between Darcy and Elizabeth. (When I first read P&P I was confused when it turned out Lady Catherine was in fact just a terrible person and not giving Elizabeth a Secret Test Of Character.)
Re: the Church of England filter, they basically had no filter. Becoming a clergyman was one of the few "gentleman" occupations available and it became more of a holding place for younger sons vs. anything resembling a calling. (Something Austen touches on in Mansfield Park.)
I advise you immediately go and read all the rest. Sense and Sensibility also has some "spit your tea out" lines.
My favorite novel of all time. I've re-read it so many times and always come away with a smile or chuckle. Like Wodehouse she is a master of the mot juste. Austen's "Emma" is another good one, but can't quite equal P and P (at least for me). Of all her novels I think that "Northanger Abbey" and "Manfield Park" don't have quite the humor and the characters are not quite as well drawn--or perhaps, are less likeable. (At least for me.) I'm so glad you got around to P and P and enjoyed it so very much.
Loved your take on Austen. She is hysterical. I remember that’s what surprised me most about her when I first read Emma. The way she develops characters and uses humor to point out the ridiculous social expectations of the time is so insightful and clever. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one!
Well done sir. I sent this to Karen Swallow Prior and told her how much she would enjoy reading you... and she told me you were her editor on a prior book! So, I'm late to that party! Great review Joel.
I love Pride and Prejudice so much that I dedicated my very first proper post on Substack to it! 🤞Fingers crossed the next generation is as enamored with it as I have been.
I love your review. While P&P is not my favorite Austen novel, I do enjoy it. I also love when I can read a review that doesn't classify the novel as a "romance." I recently watched a YouTuber who read it for the first time and called it a romance novel. I yelled out that "It isn't a romance. It is so much more than a romance..." But, alas, she couldn't hear me.
I could talk for days about this book, although my first foray into anything Austen was in fact the 1940s movie which is very different in many respects but retains the delightful verbal combat between Darcy and Elizabeth. (When I first read P&P I was confused when it turned out Lady Catherine was in fact just a terrible person and not giving Elizabeth a Secret Test Of Character.)
Re: the Church of England filter, they basically had no filter. Becoming a clergyman was one of the few "gentleman" occupations available and it became more of a holding place for younger sons vs. anything resembling a calling. (Something Austen touches on in Mansfield Park.)
I advise you immediately go and read all the rest. Sense and Sensibility also has some "spit your tea out" lines.
My favorite novel of all time. I've re-read it so many times and always come away with a smile or chuckle. Like Wodehouse she is a master of the mot juste. Austen's "Emma" is another good one, but can't quite equal P and P (at least for me). Of all her novels I think that "Northanger Abbey" and "Manfield Park" don't have quite the humor and the characters are not quite as well drawn--or perhaps, are less likeable. (At least for me.) I'm so glad you got around to P and P and enjoyed it so very much.
Loved your take on Austen. She is hysterical. I remember that’s what surprised me most about her when I first read Emma. The way she develops characters and uses humor to point out the ridiculous social expectations of the time is so insightful and clever. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one!
Picked up the annotated version earlier this year because, gasp, I’ve never read any Austin and this post has encouraged me to get started!
Lizzie Bennett is one of the great characters in all of literature. What a book.
Well done sir. I sent this to Karen Swallow Prior and told her how much she would enjoy reading you... and she told me you were her editor on a prior book! So, I'm late to that party! Great review Joel.
I love Pride and Prejudice so much that I dedicated my very first proper post on Substack to it! 🤞Fingers crossed the next generation is as enamored with it as I have been.
I’m behind on my classics goal. Good reminder!
I love your review. While P&P is not my favorite Austen novel, I do enjoy it. I also love when I can read a review that doesn't classify the novel as a "romance." I recently watched a YouTuber who read it for the first time and called it a romance novel. I yelled out that "It isn't a romance. It is so much more than a romance..." But, alas, she couldn't hear me.