Pride and Prejudice

This one is the queen of romance novels. I loved this when I read it in high school, and whenever I decide to pick it up again, I remember why. Elizabeth Bennet must overcome many obstacles before finally finding love with Mr. Darcy. It takes courage to say no to the societal expectations of her time, like marrying the first man who asks just because they aren’t wealthy or who her mother tells her to because her cousin could take their home away.

What I love most about her is that she’s virtuous but isn’t a pushover; she stands up… show more.

I adore this book for its incisive portrayal of familial expectations clashing with personal desires. The way Austen unfolds the Bennet sisters' stories against societal norms speaks to me about the courage it takes to pursue true happiness, regardless of the pressures that surround us.

What really resonated with me was Elizabeth Bennet’s necessity to maintain a facade while internally struggling with her true wants and needs within the constraints of her family.

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen created the romance novel genre. This exquisitely crafted love story between the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet and the proud Mr. Darcy (or is it the other way around?) set the stage for the ever-popular enemies-to-lovers trope. 

The spine of my paperback edition is creased, its cover tattered. I am endlessly dazzled by the book’s sly wit and vivacity. I adore the sparkling banter between the spirited Elizabeth and the restrained Mr. Darcy as they struggle with their undeniable chemistry.

Will they? Won’t they? (Will the odious Mr. Collins meet with misfortune and leave Charlotte… show more.

What is it about Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet that stand the test of time? O Magazine described it as the best romantic novel of all time, and I agree. It is not just Austen's beautiful prose that stays with you; I love each and every character, even if I loathe them.

I call this a literary, grown-up fairy tale, complete with the wealthy "prince" riding our heroine off to his splendid manor.

The first time I read this book, I was far too young, and it was a chore. Yes, a dreadful thing to admit, but I  returned to it in my late twenties, and it was a different experience. I always make sure to have a copy nearby. Superbly written and full of characters you would wish to have at the next dinner party is how I like to describe this classic.

The dialogue, sharp witticisms, and observations are a joy, as they honestly depict and comment on the social norms of the Regency era in the UK. I love that… show more.

Everyone knows the story of the proud and wealthy Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet who refuses his offer of marriage until she sees his better side. But read it for its wit and observations on society as well.

This book was a bestseller in 1813 and one to be read again and again as I have done.

Five marriageable girls, a nervy mother, a sarcastic father, a sensible best friend, and a plethora of good-looking young men in uniform and breeches. What’s not to like?

This novel has everything. The story of two people who fall in love with each other in spite of themselves is still as fresh as paint today, and the supporting cast is fantastic. Austen’s writing is pin-sharp, revolutionary, and addictive.

I’ve read the novel hundreds of times, but I never tire of its wit, romance, and perfect plotting. Whether you love a good romance, enjoy digging around in the dusty corners of… show more.

This classic has been my guide to Victorian gentility, language, thought, and conversation.

Austen is a master of coming to terms with ill-gotten beliefs, false impressions, bad behavior, developing understanding, reversal of fortune, the plight of nineteenth-century women, and burgeoning affection. Austen writes of coming of age, loss of innocence, personal growth, burgeoning sexuality, and battling to be heard in a sea of voices.

Her characters are primarily strong modern women thrust into a world of the past where the patriarchy would slam them down. Elizabeth Bennet will not suffer the fools of her age without close examination, a rebellious… show more.

Who wouldn’t describe Jane as a fabulous writer of romantic comedy?

This book – often televised, for me, is frankly one of Jane’s best. It was a toss-up – it could equally have been Sense and Sensibility or Emma. In this one, both Elizabeth and Darcy have several prejudices to overcome. Their pride, of course, being one.

I love Jane’s sense of humour and writing style, sparkling dialogue, brilliant scene setting, and descriptions that all make her books as easy to read now as they would have been two hundred years ago. We follow the hero and heroine on… show more.

As my book is about her, I must recommend Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, which was my introduction to her writing.

The inspiration for my book came from a newspaper article about the sale of a handful of her papers bought by The Bodleian Library for £1m. My writer’s ‘What if...?’ asked: If a few pages are worth £1m, how much would a few complete manuscripts be worth? And so the story idea was born.

One problem. At that time I’d never read a Jane Austen novel! My wife recommended this book; I became an instant fan devouring all the… show more.