Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
One of the famous best-sellers by Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice (in German Stolz und Vorurteil, in French Orgueil et Préjugés) I read it in German where it contained 607 pages. Girls 14+. Originally published 1813.
The whole neighbourhood is excited when a new, definitely rich face is moving in: Mr. Bingley is charming, good-looking and well-mannered – nothing compared to his two proud sisters and his rude friend, Mr. Darcey. When Mr. Bingley gives his attention to her oldest of the five Bennet daughters, Jane's mother is euphoric. While Mr. Bingley and Jane grow closer to each other, a cousin of the family, Mr. Collins, pays a visit to the family to find himself a wife. But even as love is in the air, marriage isn't. Mr. Collin's chosen one, Elizabeth, is not interested and Mr. Bingley breaks Jane's heart and leaves without another word by the urging of Mr. Darcey. But as time goes by, Elizabeth has to discover that pride doesn't weigh more than honour and love. And prejudices cloud the vision until not one person is who he seems.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't hard to read, on the contrary. You nearly couldn't tell the difference between a book that was written today and this one. The characters are very realistic and the society of the Victorian England well described, especially different kinds of marriages – and different motives for them. My favourite is the one of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet (he he). Not that I'd want that for myself, but it's funny to read about how Mr. Bennet always deceives his stupid wife. And what his views are on marriage. How he actually tells Mr. Collins that, if he can't manage to get Elizabeth's heart, he's stupid and shouldn't go to him.
Elizabeth herself is a very interesting character with many facets. I like her humour and her insight in people, as well as how she cares about her sisters. And how she concentrates more on Jane's than on her own "agenda". She's altruistic, loyal and thoughtful.
The sisters themselves are all very, very different. Jane is an angel, Lydia a brat, Kitty just weak in character and Mary doesn't care about anything else than herself and her views on morals. As you can see, the family is not really typical, which makes the book even better.
But I like the boys and the side-characters, too. Like Mr. Darcey, who seems to be just... well, rude, arrogant and self-centred, but actually cares about others. Especially his sister – whom I like very much.
Mr. Bingley's sisters are so funny to read about! Especially how Mr. Darcey looks through their farce the whole time, and calls them out.
You'd think that a classic book can't be funny. I know I thought that. But this? This really bursts your bubble. Like we learns through this book, prejudices cloud the vision until nothing is as it seems. So... if I were you, I'd read this. Seriously. It's good!
In brief:
I give it stars for the content, the style, ideas and characters. Plus the SoGH.