Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
216 Rating(s)
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Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Unknown

Unabridged: 7 hr 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: Not Available

Categories: Fiction, Classic


Synopsis

Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen's classic comic romance, in which the five Bennett sisters try to find that most elusive creature: a single man in possession of a large fortune. Sparks fly when sweet, pretty Jane meets their new neighbor, Mr. Bingley, but her sister Elizabeth is most offended by his haughty friend, Mr. Darcy. This is Austen at the height of her powers: the ironic narration, hilariously drawn supporting characters, and romantic suspense make this her most enduringly popular novel. Download the Pride and Prejudice audiobook for free here, and listen on your favorite device.

About Jane Austen

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, to the Reverend George Austen and his wife, Cassandra Leigh Austen, in the village of Steventon in Hampshire, England. Though her mother was from a family of gentry, Jane's father was not well off, and the large family had to take in school boarders to make ends meet. The second youngest of the Austens' eight children, Jane was very close to her elder, and only, sister, Cassandra, and neither sister ever married. Both girls were educated at home, as many were at that time.

From a young age Jane wrote satires and read them aloud to her appreciative family. Though she completed the manuscripts of two full-length novels while living at Steventon, these were not published. Later, these novels were revised into the form under which they were published, as Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, respectively.

In 1801, George Austen retired from the clergy, and Jane, Cassandra, and their parents took up residence in Bath, a fashionable town Jane liked far less than her native village. Jane seems to have written little during this period. When Mr. Austen died in 1805, the three women, Mrs. Austen and her daughters, moved first to Southampton and then, partly subsidized by Jane's brothers, occupied a house in Chawton, a village not unlike Jane's first home. There she began to work on writing and pursued publishing once more, leading to the anonymous publication of Sense and Sensibility in 1811 and Pride and Prejudice in 1813, to modestly good reviews.

Known for her cheerful, modest, and witty character, Jane Austen had a busy family and social life but very little direct romantic experience. Her last years were quiet and devoted to family, friends, and writing her final novels. In 1817 she had to interrupt work on her last and unfinished novel, Sanditon, because she fell ill. She died on July 18, 1817, in Winchester, where she had been taken for medical treatment. After her death, her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published, together with a biographical notice, due to the efforts of her brother Henry. Austen is buried in Winchester Cathedral.


Reviews

AudiobooksNow review by Stephanie on 2011-06-10 19:23:59

If this is your first Jane Austen book, or if you have not read one of her books in awhile, the language is tough to adjust to. After a few chapters everything begins to fall into place and becomes a great story that is written so beautifully. The time period makes the book what it is. Sophisticated and graceful.

AudiobooksNow review by Sara on 2013-03-05 10:10:23

I adore listening to Pride and Prejudice. In fact, I find it easier to listen to than to read, which is odd coming from a someone who prefers the book in the hand to the voice in the ear. So, no problems with the story. My complaint is with the reader. Mrs Bennet was only slightly shriller than Mr. Bennet. No vocal distinguishing at all. Ten lines in, I knew the only way Id even know who was speaking was from memory of the story and my memory isnt that good.I know there are good, effective readers of this book. Ive heard them. Too bad I dont remember the names so I could recommend them to Booksfree.