Pride and Prejudice

Pride And Prejudice is a difficult novel for me to review because, although this was my first reading of Austen's work, I have already encountered its essential storyline in televised adaptations and numerous other novels so I felt as though I was revisiting the book rather than coming to it fresh. I enjoyed the humour, especially Austen's partly-veiled observations on the predicament of women rendered useless without a husband and, of course, her wonderful characters. Austen had such a talent for observation and for just exaggerating foibles enough to make people such as Mrs Bennet and Lady Catherine ridiculous, but not unbelievable. Personally I wasn't convinced by Darcy's complete change of behaviour mid-book, but both he and Elizabeth have wonderfully sparkling conversations and spats with the great energy fairly leaping from the page. The repression of their social situation contrasts brilliantly with the obvious strength of their emotional attraction to each other.

I was interested to learn from Ian Littlewood's introduction that Pride And Prejudice was pretty much an overnight success upon its publication, but that it took some sixteen years and at least one drastic rewrite to get to that stage. The book was refused on its first submission in the late 1700s, even though Austen would have paid for the printing herself! An example to authors everywhere of the importance of not giving up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sweet Cherry Publishing for the e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Gemma Barder’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel ’Pride and Prejudice’ is spectacular.

Designed to introduce children to the 1813 novel, Barder has taken the time to ensure that whilst the story is simplified for a younger audience? It hasn't lost anything that has made Austen’s work one that has remained a favourite for the last two hundred years.

The illustrations are perfect and remind me of ones found in my own version of the original story. They work perfectly alongside the written word and I especially liked the way each sister was depicted in the ’introduction’ to the five Bennet sisters at the beginning of the short story. The illustrated letters were also a brilliant idea although I fear the Miss Bennets’ governess would have been close to fainting over the lettering! (I jest)

It's apparent that whilst the book has been adapted for children, it is indeed for the elder side of Middle Grade (8-12) as some of the language is still a bit more complex and areas of the story are ones I imagine 8-year-olds may struggle with.

Pride and Prejudice whilst a love story has remained one that teaches women to know what is important in life. To not change to fit the will and desire of others, but also that you should find someone whose thoughts, desires and way of living match yours as much as possible. Elizabeth Bennet is beautiful yes, but she is so much more than that and I think that this adaptation does carry the original lesson Austen had woven so well into the original novel.

I would highly recommend this book as it is indeed a perfect way to make any young girl a lover of Austen for the rest of her life.