The Annotated Pride and Prejudice
Books | Fiction / Literary
4.1
(283)
Jane Austen
David M. Shapard
This first-ever fully annotated edition of one of the most beloved novels in the world is a sheer delight for Jane Austen fans. Here is the complete text of Pride and Prejudice with more than 2,300 annotations on facing pages, including: • Explanations of historical contextRules of etiquette, class differences, the position of women, legal and economic realities, leisure activities, and more. • Citations from Austen’s life, letters, and other writingsParallels between the novel and Austen’s experience are revealed, along with writings that illuminate her beliefs and opinions. • Definitions and clarifications Archaic words, words still in use whose meanings have changed, and obscure passages are explained. • Literary comments and analysesInsightful notes highlight Austen’s artistry and point out the subtle ways she develops her characters and themes. • Maps and illustrations of places and objects mentioned in the novel. • An introduction, a bibliography, and a detailed chronology of events Of course, one can enjoy the novel without knowing the precise definition of a gentleman, or what it signifies that a character drives a coach rather than a hack chaise, or the rules governing social interaction at a ball, but readers of The Annotated Pride and Prejudice will find that these kinds of details add immeasurably to understanding and enjoying the intricate psychological interplay of Austen’s immortal characters.
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More Details:
Author
Jane Austen
Pages
784
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published Date
2008-11-12
ISBN
0307481522 9780307481528
Ratings
Google: 4
Community ReviewsSee all
"NOTE: This is a review of the annotation, not the novel itself!<br/><br/>Annotated editions are a mixed bag. Ideally, they should clarify and enhance one's understanding of the novel without either getting bogged down in arcane detail, or inserting too much of the annotator's voice. The _Annotated Alice_ and the _Annotated Lolita_ are two outstanding examples, functioning as indispensable keys to complex "puzzle" novels.<br/><br/>The _Annotated P&P_ isn't in that class. It is quite well organized, with chapter titles (created by Shapard) helpful maps, and a detailed chronology of all the events in the novel. The notes on class distinctions, etiquette and protocol, and legalisms (such as the infamous entail) are extremely useful, and Shapard also provides interesting insights into character development, and how speech patterns indicate class. (Lydia's vulgarisms and bad grammar, while less obvious to modern readers, clearly mark her as inferior).<br/><br/>Yet there is a lot of repetition, (do we really need to have commonly used terms like "sensible", "wants" or "conscious" defined every time they appear?) and over-zealous explanations of terms most readers would likely figure out for themselves,(e.g.,loss of "virtue"). Shapard also tends to overexplain the characters' motivations. Still, a well crafted, well researched, yet very accessible guide, especially for Austen newbies."
Lesley Williams
"Really good plot twist but just a tad bit overhyped "
Urwa Majid