What can anyone possibly say about this one that has not been said dozens of times before? Austen's account of the trials and tribulations of a family of daughters whose relationships with three very different men form the core of the novel, is just one facet of it. She writes with a rapier like pen on the follies of all concerned, and arch social commentaries abound. Jane Austen knew her human beings. The characters are exquisitely drawn, but for some reason I was particularly drawn to the dunderheaded Mr Collins and his tactless fatuosity, and the infuriatingly stupid Mrs Bennet - how Mr Bennet has, presumably, kept his hands from her throat for over twenty years is beyond my ken.
But of course, the central love interest is Lizzie and Mr Darcy, whose given name is the unlikely Fitzwilliam, not that it is used much in the novel. It would be an interesting exercise to compare and contrast his funny old aunt with Miss Betsy Trotwood from David Copperfield - nice little article in there for someone. It is a theme that has been used so many times before - girl meets man who is nasty, hates him, finds out he is not that bad and then lets him win her back. Interesting to read the original of this well used plot - but I suspect it was not that original in Jane Austen's time either.
The narrative dragged a little for me, not because of the pacing, but because of the long sentences, sometimes in indirect speech. We're just not used to this, in the age of Twitter, and sometimes I lost the plot, or rather, the point of the sentence. Don't let that bother you, this was a fun and sometimes a laugh out loud (Mr Collins again) funny read. I reckon you'll like it.
9 out of 10.
