Pride and Prejudice

As an erstwhile comedy writer, I had to include one comic novel, and this is the best of all time.

If you don’t think Mrs. Bennett is a truly horrifying, you’ve never been embarrassed by your mother! This book is perfectly put together, the plot is a structure masterclass and Mrs. Bennett: hysterical, gossipy, nosy, and a massive hypochondriac is one of the funniest characters ever put to paper.

On the page, it’s even better than Colin Firth in a wet shirt.

This is the OG of enemies-to-lovers romances and as a Brit, I’d be remiss to overlook it.

Set at the turn of the 19th Century, this follows the fortunes of the Bennet family, notably Elizabeth Bennet, as she navigates the tricky world of marriage along with her four sisters. Her mother is particularly hysterical about marrying all her daughters off in good time, much to the bemusement of Mr. Bennet, who mostly stays out of the whole affair.

Enter Fitzwilliam Darcy, rich landowner and, in the words of Cher Horowitz, ‘snob-and-a-half.’ He clashes with the independent and free-spirited Elizabeth… show more.

Jane Austen’s most enduringly popular novel didn’t appear in print until 1813, but the earliest version of it, now lost, was drafted under the title First Impressions in 1796-7, when she was scarcely out of her teens. In one of the most spectacular bloopers of publishing history, the leading bookseller Thomas Cadell rejected the manuscript sight and unseen, and it gathered dust until the modest success of Sense and Sensibility (1811) prompted Austen to try again with a revised (and probably shorter, pacier) version. “The work is rather too light, and bright, and sparkling; it wants shade,” Austen told her… show more.

My sister “discovered” Pride and Prejudice when I was in junior high school, and she used to read me passages from the book while we ate breakfast. I fell in love with Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, and the whole cast of delightful, flawed, hilarious characters in this quintessential romance. I have probably read Pride and Prejudice twenty times, and I am delighted with the language, the relationships, and the romance every time I read it. I love how Jane Austen celebrates and explores enduring family relationships, human foibles, and what it means to be deeply good. If you only read one… show more.

Surprised to see this classic on my list? Regardless of the claim by literary detectives that Austen's editor was behind the sharp writing and witty lampooning, this book withstands the sands of time. Austen mocks society and human nature in such a devilish fashion, it’s like attending a gourmet food tasting event with a snarky friend.

For me, no list of books describing the human condition would be complete without Jane Austin, and my personal favorite, Pride and Prejudice. Austin explores the strengths and foibles of her characters with wit, humor, and compassion. Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, and all the supporting personas are so real, so wonderfully flawed, they leap off the page. And of course, the language is a delight. 

Thought I'd start with a fave Regency-era novel featuring one of the OG crap families. What keeps generation after generation of readers fascinated by Austen, aside from her gorgeous prose and devastating wit, is that her books are about the big three: family, money, and marriage. In Pride and Prejudice, the exploits of Lizzie Bennett's relatively poor and highly dysfunctional family members directly influence her own marriage prospects. There's the embarrassing mom, the checked-out dad, and the fickle, immature sisters (perfect—too perfect?—Jane aside). If you're part of an imperfect, dysfunctional family and are despairing of your future prospects, given… show more.

This is one of those books I love to read over and over again. The deep and powerful emotion, as well as the dreamy historical setting and Austen’s impeccable style never ceases to sweep me away on this grand adventure of the heart. It just hits the spot every time.

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said by hundreds, thousands of readers before me? Elizabeth is a classic strong female character that continues to inspire writers even to this day and I am not an exception to that. I return to this book at least once a year and am always inspired by Elizabeth being both strong and flawed. No one is perfect and everyone needs to grow, that’s how Elizabeth is still relatable today.