The greatest work of romantic fiction ever!. Review on Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice remains my favorite romantic fiction of all times. Whenever I feel blue and down, I pick up a copy of this book and start reading :-)

What do I like most about it? Well, for one thing, I just love the way the story is built. Secondly, all the characters, especially the female protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, are well-sketched and life-like. In my opinion, there has never been a better heroine in any novel. She is not a great beauty nor has any great accomplishments to her name, yet she is undoubtedly a heroine among all the other female characters I've come across so far. She is witty, intelligent, charming and bold. Indeed, it is due to these traits in her that the hero, Darcy, falls head over heels in love with her inspite of the great difference in their status. He is so persistent in his love for her that he proposes to her a second time even after being rejected the first time! I found that very touching, since the story is set in old-time Britain where most of the marriages were arranged by families and based on fortunes and a woman had to be an heiress to do well in the marriage-market. Whereas here, not only does Elizabeth get her love, but also, marries into a rich family inspite of hailing from very modest background.

The other characters, such as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, Elizabeth's closest friend - Charlotte, her sisters Jane & Lydia, Mr. Wickham as Elizabeth's first crush, Mr. Bingley as Jane's beau, Miss Bingley and Lady Catherine De Bourgh are also well-sketched. They seem very close to reality and make one realise that it takes all kinds to make up this world. Charlotte for instance, does not believe in love but is realistic and wants to make a sound marriage. She is therefore content to marry a colorless clergyman much older to her and who has been rejected by Elizabeth previously. Mrs. Bennet is the typical mother of 5 daughters whose only goal in life is to get them married into wealthy families. She is rather shallow and whiny, in extreme contrast to her husband who is cool and detached and keeps to his study mostly. It is obvious that Elizabeth inherits her elegance, intelligence and good reason from her father, and she is also his favorite daughter. Mr. Wickham's character is slowly revealed throughout the book and through a letter written by Darcy to Elizabeth.

The story has lot of interesting conversations(both verbal as well as over mail) that takes the story forward. Jane Austen's style of writing is simple and straight-forward. She relies more on conversations rather than long and involved descriptions as is the wont in the authors of her generation. The end however, where Darcy proposes to Elizabeth again, could have done with a conversation. Austen wraps it up in third person, which is rather disappointing, since the reader has been eagerly awaiting the avowal of feelings on part of both the hero and heroine towards the end.

All in all, a satisfying work of romantic fiction!