Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

Published as an audiobook by Audible Studios. Uploaded 08-12-2015. Narrated by Rosamund Pike.
First published 1813.

I read Pride and Prejudice many years ago and remember finding it funny, but listening to it with Elise has reminded me just how funny it really it. Austen (as well as Rosamund Pike's narration) has a talent for describing both scenes and characters in a way that highlights their eccentricities and draws the most laughs possible from the goings-on. Both Elise and myself had laugh-out-loud moments throughout the story, often at times when either Mr or Mrs Bennett was taking a more prominent role. Austen also makes sure that even her more ridiculous characters, such as Mr Collins or Lady Catherine, have enough 'grounding' that you could picture the character existing - they are more than just one-dimensional punch-lines. This is possibly why Pride and Prejudice remains such a beloved classic to this day; although some language choices show that the story was written some time ago, the humour, the romance and the sense that we have all met characters like the ones described by Austen, continue to connect readers to the story in a way that some other classics are unable to do.

The downside of Pride and Prejudice's ongoing popularity is that it is hard to come to the story "fresh." I have seen the BBC version and the Keira Knightley film version (and even the Bollywood version, Bride and Prejudice), I know the characters, I know the twists and turns before I read them. It is hard to 'be surprised.' And yet, the book still surprises occasionally - not in plot - but in the way it fleshes out even minor characters, giving them a greater chance to shine. Elizabeth's aunt, Mrs Gardener, is one example that improves in the written version. One letter to Elizabeth, full of subtle and not-so-subtle hints about her assumption of D'arcy's affections is very well-worded and amusing.

Having a professional actress as narrator (and incidentally one who played the role of Jane in the Keira Knightley movie version) does help the story 'pop' even further. Rosamund Pike gives the subtle nuances needed for each character, and although some voices may sound similar, she differentiates them enough to make the work. In some instances it even seems as though Pike has intentionally allowed particular characters to have similar voices - Mrs Bennett and Kitty for example, have a similar intonation, which allows both their close relationship and their similar personalities to come through.

A very enjoyable story, with a very enjoyable audio version.

We are already considering another Rosamund Pike narrated Jane Austen story for a future book.

Completed, with Elise, 30 October 2022.



(Elise Books)

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