Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work âher own darling childâ and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, âas delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.â The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austenâs radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.
Among the writers who have approached nearest to the manner of the great master, we have no hesitation in placing Jane Austen. âThomas Macaulay
âPride and Prejudiceâ is the best novel in the language. âAnthony Trollope
I used to think that men did everything better than women, but that was before I read Jane Austen. I donât think any man ever wrote better than Jane Austen. âRex Stout
Elizabeth Bennet has but to speak, and I am at her knees. âRobert Louis Stevenson
Read again, and for the third time at least, Miss Austenâs very finely written novel of âPride and Prejudice.â That young lady has a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with. âSir Walter Scott