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In this clip, Emily Schneider, Senior Web Designer, and Wendy Wolf, Editorial Director of Non-Fiction and Executive Editor, Viking Books, talk about Jane Austen's classic. Click here to watch the complete twenty-minute video program, The Ten Essential Penguin Classics, highlighting each of the essential books.
Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice
ISBN 9780143105428 | $16.00 | add to cart
Emily also sent us these thoughts about why Austen's book is essential...
Why It's a Classic:
Pride and Prejudice is a great love story. The book's main characters, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, do not hit it off right away. Elizabeth's poor first impressions of Darcy lead her to write him off as arrogant and proud. Darcy originally looks down on Elizabeth because of her low social standings. Gradually they fall in love with each other after overcoming multiple obstacles.
What It Influenced:
There have been numerous film adaptations and mini-series, along with sequels written by other authors. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a recent bestseller, is a retelling of the classic story with the twist of England being overrun by zombies.
Another Great Book By This Author:
Persuasion
Contemporary Example of the Theme/Story:
Bridget Jones Diary
Is the Movie Version Any Good?:
The 1995 BBC mini-series version with Colin Firth is my favorite. The casting and acting are excellent. Witty, funny, and faithful to the novel, anyone interested in Pride and Prejudice should watch this adaptation.
Related Forgotten Classic:
It's not really forgotten, but Wuthering Heights has a really intense love story, but more dysfunctional.
Four Penguin staffers recently sat down to talk about the Top Ten Essential Penguin Classics, how the list was compiled, their own favorite classics, and why classic books can appeal to modern readers. Click here for the transcript.
Each Tuesday we'll be adding a new page to this minisite that features an in-depth look at one of the books on the list, starting at number 10 and working our way up to number 1.
Click here to read about book number 1: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
Get all Ten Essential Classics for $99 (plus shipping).
Click here to add the books to your shopping cart.
Congratulations to Chrandra Smith from Duncan, Oklahoma for winning our Ten Essential Penguin Classics Sweepstakes. Thank you to all who participated and shared their favorite classic with us.
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