Pride and Prejudice – again!

This morning, I finished reading my favourite book, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ for the umpteenth time, pretty much a continual cycle for me. Though I read it with fresh eyes on this occasion having read John Mullan’s book, ‘What matters in Jane Austen?’. Mullan is an expert on eighteenth century literature – the Austen expert of our time given the depth of knowledge expressed in his guest talks and on-line lectures. 

2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth in December so this year I undertook the challenge to read as many of the published works outlining her life as I could. It has been an eyeopener, for sure.

Having read Austen since the age of fourteen-ish, I’d previously thought that I knew and understood her work. And, despite my love of history which marries quite nicely when reading or studying literature – I’ve been surprised by the discoveries. This year has taught me so much more in relation to her political themes, the relative cost of family fortunes, property and possessions plus, the significance of her character names – basically, lots of little gems have been unearthed for me. 

I’ll probably put my copy of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ aside until the autumn arrives – allowing time to read Austen’s earlier text written when she was just a teenager. After which, I have a nagging suspicion that I need to reread each of Austen novels in search of the pointers which academics such as Mullan, Worsley and Kelly have highlighted.