Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice turns 200 - Celebrating the bicentennial of its publication

Dear students and readers of this blog,

It is a truth universally acknowledged that PRIDE & PREJUDICE, by Jane Austen, is one of the most popular books in the English literature of all time, and one of the most beloved works of this remarkable female writer who, contrary to what we might expect, never married, and got to be an independent woman earning her own living by her pen.

Jane Austen, the seventh of the eight children of Reverend George Austen and Cassandra Leigh, showed an interest in creative writing from her early childhood, which was encouraged by her family. Her favourite brother, Henry, eventually became her agent, and was the one in charge of sending her manuscripts to different editors for publication. Somewhere in 1799, she completed the first draft of a manuscript called FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Little did she know that that story would become her most popular and enduring work, and that it would be researched, commented on, and even have film and TV versions, under the name of PRIDE & PREJUDICE, which was first published on Jan 28, 1813.


P & P tells the story of lively Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of the five daughters of a modest gentleman, and her difficult relationship with an apparently proud, haughty and extremely unpleasant man called Mr Darcy, marked by her prejudice against him. Both will have to go a long way until they come to understand each other and realise they are perfect for one another.

If you wished to read the full novel, click here. And don't forget to read it with your favourite cup of tea!

Maybe you need some help for the reading. Here's a glossary that will help you.

How much do you know about Pride & Prejudice? Pride and Prejudice quiz: Know your Bingleys from your Bennets?

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To mark the publication of such landmark of the English literature, many interesting events will take place around the world. Here's some of them:

• Pride & Prejudice READATHON:  It took place at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, UK last Monday, 28 Jan 2013. It went on from 11.30 a.m. to 3.15 a.m. GMT (one more hour in Spain), and, despite a few technical problems, it was successfully broadcast and followed all over the world. The book, which regularly tops polls as the nation’s favourite novel, was read in short 10 minute segments by up to 140 celebrities, authors, politicians, musicians, Olympians, school children, competition winners and other personalities. 

• The Jane Austen Festival (Bath, UK): Taking place every September also in Bath, this year it will be devoted to the celebration of P & P. (13th-21st September 2013)

• The Pride and Prejudice Bicentennial challenge. If you are a Jane Austen or a Pride & Prejudice fan, participate in this challenge. There are prizes to win!

• BBC's recreation of the Netherfield Ball: A 90-minute special, recreating a 19th-century ball recreating the famous ball held at Netherfield, Bingley's estate, filmed at Chawton House, where Jane Austen lived.

• The Free Library of Philadelphia will host a day-long celebration including lectures, film screenings & theatrical performances.

• Goucher College in Baltimore (USA), will host the exhibition A Special Collections & Archives Exhibition: “Pride and Prejudice: A 200 Year Affair” from Monday, January 28, through Friday, July 26 at the Goucher College Library.

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Pride and Prejudice's TV, film and free versions:

• BBC 1995 Pride & Prejudice (series): Directed by Andrew Davies, starring Colin Firth & Jennifer Elhe. Probably, the most popular adaptation of the novel. Made Colin Firth a star!!!

• Pride & Prejudice (2005, film): Directed by Joe Wright, starring Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfayden.

• Austenland (film - 2012): A Pride & Prejudice-obsessed woman visits a Jane Austen theme park looking for her own Mr Darcy. 

• Lizzie Bennet's Diaries (series): a 10-minute YouTube video series, modern-day American version. On right now and hugely popular. Don't miss it!

• ITV 2008 Lost in Austen (series): A four-part mini series telling the story of a woman, Amanda, who enters the world of the Bennet family through a portal in her bathroom. Widely followed in the UK.

• Bride & Prejudice (film - 2004), directed by Gurinder Chadha. A Bollywood version featuring popular Indian actress Aishwarya Ray.

• Bridget Jones's Diary (2001 - film) & Bridget Jones's Diary: The Edge of Reason (film - 2004): Follow the adventures of Bridget Jones and her troubles with gorgeous Mark Darcy and dangerous Daniel Cleaver.

Some book sequels, adaptations, spin-offs and rarities:

• Death Comes to Pemberley, by PD James: Elizabeth and Darcy live happily at their estate in Pemberley. Until one day, her disgraced sister Lydia arrives in histerics, saying that her husband, Mr Wickham, has been murdered...

• Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: A parody novel by Seth Graham-Smith combining the classic novel with modern-zombie fiction.

• Second Impressions, by Ava Farmer: Set ten years after Pride & Prejudice, the novel explores the changes to the Darcy family's life, Europe post-Napoleon, and live in late Regency England, written following Austen's style.

• Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding. Bridget Jones trying to survive between her fantasy, Daniel Cleaver, and the man her mother wants to set her up with: top human rights lawyer Mark Darcy.

• Bridget Jones's Diary: The Edge of Reason, by Helen Fielding. A story of very unfortunate misunderstandings between Bridget & her love interest, Mark Darcy.

Enjoy your PRIDE & PREJUDICE YEAR!!!