Bennet's permission before proposing to Elizabeth, indicating a 'slavish respect for social norms'.

The DK version's note on 'Courtship and Marriage' states that Mr. Unfortunately, it costs a staggering $35-and would have been improved by further editing.īoth editions contain inaccuracies. The book itself is oversized and beautiful, with a number of full-color historical illustrations. Harvard's newly-released Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition was edited by Patricia Meyer Spacks, an English professor at the University of Virginia, and features a lengthy introductory essay, notes on historical context, and definitions of terms likely to be unfamiliar to modern readers. (Powell's Books was selling it for $6.98.) Since that time, Belknap/Harvard University Press has published what does appear-at least at first glance-to be the P&P of my dreams, so today we'll be doing a little comparison shopping. Of course, one can enjoy the novel without knowing the precise definition of a gentleman, or what it signifies that a character drives a coach rather than a hack chaise, or the rules governing social interaction at a ball, but readers of The Annotated Pride and Prejudice will find that these kinds of details add immeasurably to understanding and enjoying the intricate psychological interplay of Austen’s immortal characters.A few months ago, I wrote a short post about DK Publishing's 'Illustrated Classics' edition of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, calling it 'not the annotated Pride and Prejudice of my dreams', but praising it for its information, art direction, and extremely reasonable price.

An introduction, a bibliography, and a detailed chronology of events.

Of places and objects mentioned in the novel. Insightful notes highlight Austen’s artistry and point out the subtle ways she develops her characters and themes. Parallels between the novel and Austen’s experience are revealed, along with writings that illuminate her beliefs and opinions.Īrchaic words, words still in use whose meanings have changed, and obscure passages are explained.

Citations from Austen’s life, letters, and other writings.

Rules of etiquette, class differences, the position of women, legal and economic realities, leisure activities, and more. Here is the complete text of Pride and Prejudice with thousands of annotations on facing pages, including: The first-ever fully annotated edition of one of the most beloved novels in the world is a sheer delight for Jane Austen fans. This Revised and Expanded Edition contains hundreds of new notes and illustrations.

Pride and prejudice annotated edition