Pride and Prejudice is 200

It should come as no surprise to my regular readers that I adore Pride and Prejudice, a book that is turning 200 this year.

I wrote a post about it for the 2012 A-Z Challenge, explaining how I came to be introduced to it.

It's hard to know why this book has such timeless appeal to so many. I love the comedy, the relationship between the Bennett parents, the manners, the idea of the wealthy man falling in love with a relatively middle class lady (who didn't daydream about that when they were stuck in double Maths at school? - okay, men probably didn't.)

This picture was on my study wall for years. It only came
down when I had to move out to make way for a child!

Mr Darcy is a fantastic literary hero - the origin of tall, dark and handsome. His hostility and pride and sheer haughtiness intrigue me, and the way he changes because of his love of Lizzie make me swoon each and every time I read it. Lizzie herself, being so strong and witty and opinionated, was always the woman I wanted to be.

Mr Bennett, to my mind, has the best lines. I loved Benjamin Whitrow in the BBC's 1995 version was fantastic. "No lace, Mrs Bennett, I beg you; no lace."

In fact, each and every one of the main cast members was exactly how I had always pictured them in my head. It was uncanny, as though the casting director had peered into my head and plucked out the images. 4 Weddings and a Funeral's Duckface - Anna Chancellor - was a wonderful Miss Bingley, especially in the scene where she was trying to put Lizzie down in front of Mr Darcy, talking about her fine eyes etc.

It seems peculiar that the book is 200 years old. I'm sure Jane Austen had no idea of it ever being read so widely and so long after her death. Actors have to achieve their success in their lifetimes, obviously, but writers (and painters) can create a body of work that never even gets seen until after they are gone.

Here are a couple of links that you might be interested in:
Pride and Prejudice 200 lists the world-wide events that are happening this year.
Jane Austen's House Museum
The Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge

Pride and Prejudice - love it, hate it, meh?

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I'm looking forward to reading about your imaginary friend!