Pride and Prejudice , livre ebook

Pride and Prejudice Insight Edition Copyright © 2007 Foreword copyright © 2007 Nancy Moser Notes and Annotations copyright © 2007 Bethany House Publishers
Notes prepared by: Carra Carr, Bethany Castleman, Ellen Chalifoux, Amanda Hall, Julie Klassen, Debra Larsen, David Long, Sarah Long, Charlene Patterson, Karen Schurrer, and Stacey Theesfield.
Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan. www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2010
Ebook corrections 02.23.2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-0501-8
Cover design by Jennifer Parker Cover photography by Mike Habermann Photography
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Foreword
Editors’ Note
Quick Guide to Notes
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Questions for Conversation
About the Author
Back Ad
Back Cover
Foreword
I love to read. I love characters. I love to discover the intricacies of why they do what they do. That’s why I read fiction. It’s why I write fiction. But what makes a good novel great is when the reader identifies with the characters, empathizes with them, loves them, and even hates them. Reading Pride and Prejudice is like going home. Hello, Lizzy! How have you been, Mr. Collins? And Mr. Darcy . . . you make me blush. How can a book which was published two hundred years ago have such power and elicit such pleasure that I want to visit it again and again?
There are no huge events playing out in Jane Austen’s books: no carriage crashes, fires, murders, or wars. Although these tragedies certainly occurred during the time traveled within her stories, they were dramas happening off-screen, to other people. What we experience in Jane’s stories is everyday people reacting to daily life, and more importantly, to each other. And what we discover through this encounter is a feeling of familiarity. A fretful mother, a docile but honorable father, silly sisters obsessed with boys, annoying neighbors, judgmental acquaintances, and a bond with one other person that—if captured and nourished—will last a lifetime. Jane’s stories feed the desires of our very being: love, security, and significance. Because the main characters strive to achieve these things—and successfully overcome the obstacles set in their way—we strive, overcome, and succeed. And are satisfied. And blessed.
That the stories are set around 1800 does not belittle their significance, nor detract from it. “It was a simpler time” may be a trite saying, but it remains true. In a time before technology distracted us, Regency England was an era when people entertained themselves by being with other people. They talked, they read to each other, they visited each other for days and weeks at a time, they took long walks through green pastures, they supped and danced and celebrated life. They did what we would like to do with more frequency: they simply lived, and lived simply.
Another satisfying benefit to reading stories of this time long past is that it can help us appreciate the period in which we live. Far beyond the advantages of indoor plumbing, electricity, telephones, and superior medical treatment are the societal advantages of opportunity. We are free to be, free to achieve our fullest potential. There is no law that prevents inheritance or career. We have choices. Whether we use those choices to live as we should or could is a question we each must answer.
But in the meantime, we take solace and joy in watching the characters in Jane Austen’s books navigate their lives as they search for their unique purposes. When they fail and succeed, we fail and succeed. And care.
Even after two hundred years.
May each of us do something with our lives that remains viable so long.
Nancy Moser
Author of Just Jane , a bio-novel of Jane Austen’s life
Editors’ Note
We’ll start with a confession: There’s not a Regency historian, Austen scholar, or doctoral literary critic among those of us who tackled this project.
Instead, we’re fans who deeply love this book and truly admire Jane Austen. And more than anything, we wanted a chance to share our admiration for this wonderful novel with others who cherish it. Or, if you’ve never read Austen, we want to come alongside . . . not with dry analysis but with hints and helps that hopefully will enhance your experience.
The notes and facts and thoughts that fill the margins of this book aren’t designed to be comprehensive. Instead they’re meant to highlight, inform, and sometimes just entertain. Some will reveal parallels with Austen’s own life or highlight important historical information or show Austen’s impact in our world today. Others will comment on the book itself, or offer romance advice, or simply point out our favorite funny bits.
Because we work for Bethany House, we wanted to pay special attention to the book’s quiet but resonant faith themes. Austen does not preach, but in her characters’ actions—and in her own words of prayer—we find much to inspire us. And hopefully you will, too.
Our goal is simple; we want you to enjoy yourself. This isn’t an eleventh grade homework assignment. It’s a sparkling love story with a whip-smart heroine who may be too witty for her own good.
So whether this is your first time or your fortieth . . . have a wonderful visit with the Bennets and Mr. Collins and the Bingleys. And, of course, the inimitable Mr. Darcy.
Now off to Longbourn!
The Editors
Quick Guide to Notes
— Historical and cultural details and definitions from England in the early 1800s. — Facts and tidbits from Austen’s life that parallel or illuminate the novel. — References to Pride and Prejudice in today’s culture, particularly in film. — Tips for love and romance. — Themes of faith drawn from Austen’s life and Pride and Prejudice . — Comments and asides on the book’s characters and plot. — The parts of the novel that just make us smile.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his fairst entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
“Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.
“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”
This was invitation enough.
“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.”
“What is his name?”
“Bingley.”
“Is he married or single?”
“Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!’’ [1]
[1] It’s difficult to nail down precisely how much this would be today (estimates by historians and economists vary greatly), but the main point is to realize Bingley is quite rich. And Darcy? Very, very rich.
“How so? How can it affect them?”
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.”
“Is that his design in settling here?”
“Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.”
“I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.”
“My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.”
“In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”
“But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.”
“It is more than I engage for, I assure you.”
“But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no newcome