Pride and Prejudice // Jane Austen

Is Mrs. Bennet literature's greatest villain? Is Mr. Bingley just doing his best? Who knows?

Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. When Elizabeth Bennet meets Fitzwilliam Darcy for the first time at a ball, she writes him off as an arrogant and obnoxious man. He not only acts like an insufferable snob, but she also overhears him rejecting the very idea of asking her for a dance! Through this tale about two warring hearts, Austen weaves a witty satire about life in eighteenth century England.