Mr and Mrs Bennet of Longbourn have five daughters and no son, which means their estate will pass to a distant cousin and the girls must marry well. When a wealthy young bachelor, Mr Bingley, rents a nearby house, Mrs Bennet sets her sights on him for her eldest daughter, the gentle Jane. Bingley's friend Mr Darcy, richer still, makes a poor first impression at a local ball by snubbing the second daughter, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is clever, lively and quick to judge, and her dislike of Darcy hardens when the charming officer George Wickham tells her a story about Darcy's past. Around them circle a memorable cast: the pompous clergyman Mr Collins, the imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the flighty youngest sister Lydia and the sardonic Mr Bennet.
Austen's irony, sharp dialogue and free indirect narration make the novel feel modern more than two centuries after publication. Beneath the romance it examines class, marriage as economic necessity and the danger of trusting first impressions. It has inspired countless adaptations and retellings.
Book details
| Author | Jane Austen |
|---|---|
| First published | 1813 |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Classic |
| Type | Fiction |
| Pages (approx.) | 432 |
| Setting | Hertfordshire and Derbyshire, England, early 1800s |
Themes
- Marriage and class
- First impressions
- Pride
- Family
- Women's independence
Who should read it
Anyone who enjoys witty dialogue and romance, and readers looking for an accessible way into classic literature.
If you liked this, try
- Emma
- Jane Eyre
- North and South