Pride and Prejudice

Romantic scandal, English aristocracy, and familial controversy come together in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice to make for quite the enjoyable listen. As the novel opens, we are introduced to the Bennet Family, whose five daughters have reached the age of marital eligibility. When the dapper (and single) Mr. Bingley and his friend, Mr. Darcy, move into the Bennets' neighborhood, talk in the Bennet house is occupied by musings of engagements, specifically between the eldest daughter, Jane, and Mr. Bingley. As the novel progresses, however, a series of social missteps and faux pas serve to foil some of the plans of the Bennet family, causing engagements to break and characters to turn on one another.

Despite the familial strife, there are a few surprises that Austen cleverly sneaks into the novel, as she proves once again that not all characters can be judged by first appearance. The author beautifully showcases her artistic mastery of the English language as she intertwines plot with suspense and much more. In a time when social standing was of utmost importance, Austen proves there is a certain dynamism that drives each and every one of us.