Jane Austen

[Benoni]

I have just finished reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Usually I am able to figure out what an authors philosophy of life and view of life is from the book, but this time I couldn't quite figure it out. Has anyone else read Pride and Prejudice and would be willing to share their insights into Jane Austen's mind?

[PrismaSpirit]

Well I have read Jane Austen since I was 18 years old and more or less read her books every 10 years (I am almost 40 years now). They are classical and timeless books. Jane always wrote about happy endings of love with marriage. Something that she did not experience in her lifetime so she poured her heart out in her books with the dreams she didn't achieve in life. I think her view in life was that a woman had a great deal of difficulty in life if she did not marry well - even if one did not want to. It was not just for status but for monetary reasons as it was not deemed acceptable for a woman to work for her money. Something that Jane actually DID do in her lifetime as she was able to derive an income from her books.

[claudibee]

Although a lot of people don't like Jane Austen and consider her books to be mainly concerned with happy endings and marrying well, she was also quite a scathing satirist of the times that she lived in.

[PrismaSpirit]

Jane held true to alot of her beliefs in all of her novels including the contempt she held for women not being able to make their own way for their own merits and contributing to society. She always portrayed a few figures in each of her novels that depicted her distain and disgust for influential figures whom held power, ruled over women and ultimately decided their fate.

[claudibee]

which made her ahead of her time and a positive influence. I think that's two reasons why she should continue to be read and appreciated.

[sharon.gmc]

I love pride the prejudice. . . the book and the film too. . . .

[loladarling]

I don't really see Austen as ahead of her time, I see her as a product of her time. Her work certainly has lasting appeal but most of it requires some knowledge of 1800's England (especially Persuasion. ) P+P is in my opinion the only exception, the story has timeless appeal and isn't bound by the time, probably why its been the most successful.

[arwa]

I don't really see Austen as ahead of her time, I see her as a product of her time. Her work certainly has lasting appeal but most of it requires some knowledge of 1800's England (especially Persuasion. ) P+P is in my opinion the only exception, the story has timeless appeal and isn't bound by the time, probably why its been the most successful.

you could be right. Pride and Prejudce is difently my favorite book, but I also love all other books written by Jane Austen. I identefied with them.
they're a little bit hard to read and follow, and that's because of the language, because it's classical. and specially because English has been my 3rd language. but still, I think Jane Austen is my favorite author of all times.

[sarah_9]

Hello,

No doubt Jane Austen is a great writer but usually all her work have a same story line, and it become quite boring after a while, but pride and prejudice , is one of her best work, and when ever i have time i read its excerpts.



Regards,
sarah_9

[sharon.gmc]

I read Pride and Prejudice a few months ago. I think to me what it says is that we should not be afraid to tell someone we love them. We should fight for love regardless of society's conventions.

[Kirsten]

I think what i liked best about P+P was Elizabeth Bennets attitude, she didnt want to marry just because it was expected and to secure a future she wanted to marry for love too. I also liked the fact that she wasnt afraid to speak her mind, not only to Mr Darcy but to Lady Catherine as well.

I think that what the book also says is that we shouldnt judge people on first impressions, which both Elizabeth and Darcy do and that we should get to know people before forming opinions on their character.

[mdc]

I love Pride & Prejudice the most. I love all period dramas and love to imagine what life really was like during that time.

As well as the book, I can't go without mentioning the brilliant BBC TV adaptation. Beautifully shot and beautifully acted.

[TheoGio]

Pride and Prejudice is a wonderful book. I was horridied when I saw the movie becoing Jane; her life was more tragically sad than I realized.

Does anyone remember if The House of Mirth written by Jane Austen or Edith Wharton?? (I can't believe I don't remember...)

[iselin]

I saw the
movie and it was wonderful, it made me want to read the book too:))

-iselin

family tents

[yumenoai]

i love jane austen and just recently started reading her niece's rendition of The Watsons called The Younger Sister

it's pretty on par with her other works, but i can't quite seem to find the 3rd volume anywhere... it's really a pity there isn't more interest in it since, in my opinion, it out stripped Northanger Abbey by far.

[/u]