Pride and Prejudice (version 5)

Jane Austen (1775 to 1817) lived a quiet life in the English countryside, yet she wrote novels that are among the most admired in the language. Pride and Prejudice was published on 28 January 1813, and it is often thought to be the first great romantic comedy of the English novel. Its opening line is among the most famous in all literature.

The story centers on the five Bennet sisters, whose mother is determined to see them married, and above all on Elizabeth, the second daughter, who has a lively mind and a ready tongue. Her encounters with Mr. Darcy, who seems arrogant and cold, drive the plot, but the book is also a social comedy that observes village life, money, manners and the limited choices available to women of the period. Austen's irony is always present, gentle but exact.

Part of the pleasure of listening to Austen is the pure sound of her dialogue. Conversations are sharp and witty, and a good reader can bring out the comedy of a pompous clergyman, a foolish mother or a teasing father. In this recording, the novel is divided into fifty-seven parts, and the total running time is about fourteen and a half hours. It is the fifth version in the LibriVox catalogue, read by volunteers.

For those who know the story from film or television, hearing it in full is a delight, as there is much more wit in the book than in any adaptation. Austen's descriptions are economical, which leaves the listener free to imagine the rooms, the roads and the country houses for themselves. Opening lines, letters and proposals are all delivered with perfect timing, and the story builds toward its conclusion with real emotional force. A masterpiece that gains from being heard.