Most true P&P fans might blanch at the title of my review & I could understand why. Most of the modern day Mills & Boon collection is a sloppy, formulaic, sexist bit of rubbish parading as chick lit. But the essence of Ms. Austen’s book is the basis on which all new romance books are founded: ROMANCE. And hence, the title.
Now, if one is a clueless reader, who uses a book just as a means of escapism, that description will be satisfactory enough. But for someone like me, who can’t even count the number of times she’s read this book, every new reading uncovers a different aspect about this story. But before you can understand just how beautiful this story is, you will need a breakdown of the basic plot. So, here goes:-
Pride & Prejudice is about a man and a woman, who grew up on different sides of the fence, but who’s destinies are inevitably entwined. They end up falling in love despite all the obstacles, even though their union isn’t looked upon favorably by those in their family.
Now, let’s move on to why exactly this book is my all-time favorite. For me, reading this book back when I was 12, it was all about the language, & the fact that I was intensely proud of my own grasp of a language & style of expression that most people my age would never have understood. And probably still might not. But now I understand exactly why the language is an important factor when considering the beauty of this book. It is the very fact that a 12-year-old from India was able to follow & pick up on the nuances of a style of language from 2 centuries ago. It is the fact that despite being loyal to the way of speaking in that century, the authoress is able to convey her message to audiences from every successive generation. Also, it is the fact that her basic romantic theme is set amidst societal norms & issues of class differences that are applicable even today - that the theme is so universally recognizable - that makes this an excellent example of classical literature.
So, before I go ranting on about the million reasons why I love this book, let me just conclude by saying this much:-
It is a must-have, let alone a must-read, for all those who believe in romance and the fact that it isn’t a thing of myth. It is for those of us who crave a bit of intellectual stimulation along with a bit of a pull on our heart-strings. The strength of the characters, rather than the narrative style, is what makes this book an essential for every girl or boy coming to grips with the adult world. All I can promise is that, after reading this book, every girl will wish for a Mr. Darcy - the superficially cold but essentially loving & caring man. And every boy will wish for an Elizabeth - to put them in their place when it is needed but to love them with all of her heart. And maybe, just maybe, life will be that much more wonderful for it.