For us poor sods stuck in rainy Britain for our holidays this summer, finding a holiday read beyond the usual escapist fantasies (that make us feel all the more miserable by virtue of the fact we’re still stuck here) or the run of the mill crime thrillers that seem to be the only things set in the UK is a nigh on impossible task. There is nothing that appeals, nothing that catches the eye or tickles your fancy. However, I would suggest looking backwards to the classics.
As emasculating as this may sound, why not try Jane Austen’s books? The woman was nothing short of a literary genius, and a pretty smart and observant one at that. Look at any bestselling list, ASDA’s would be a fairly uniform one: look in books, TV and film. What title is common to them all? Pride and Prejudice. Miss Bennett and Mr. Darcy are pivotal to the psyche of the nation. In fact if one takes into account all the books, films and TV shows that are almost entirely plagiarised from the plot of Pride and Prejudice (Bridget Jones’ Diary, You’ve Got Mail) then you begin to run out of original romances altogether.
So, in Jane Austen we find the perfect accompaniment to the rainy British summer and between the pages of her fantastically written book we can delve into a world where England is exciting again. In fact, even Jane Austen’s humour, a trait we are somewhat reticent to afford English authors (especially those from the 1700’s), comes into play in her exquisite characterizations of the people of society life in the 18th Century, and it makes the novel less of a chore than most of the male population may believe it to be.
Pride and Prejudice begins with that classic line: ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife,’ which you have to acknowledge is a pretty funny opening. An author who is rightly regarded as being a strong precursor for the feminist writings that were to follow in the next three centuries instantly pinpoints the foibles of both men ¬and women in the very first line of the book: women are needy, men are vain. The set-up therefore is one of cynical pessimism, all the women will try and marry out of necessity and the men will accept this because it will make them look good.
However, and I’m sure you’re well aware of the story even if you haven’t read the book, the love story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett pans out against this pessimistic background, forever instilling unrealistic expectations of love and courtship to generation upon generation of schoolgirls. Along with Elizabeth, we the reader get to experience the effects of wrong first impressions, family crises, drastic changes of opinions and ultimate reconciliation. The book is flawless and rightly deserves the accolades it receives. If you’re a woman you’ve probably already read it and don’t need persuading; if you’re a bloke, then go pick it up. It ain’t half bad, and you may even learn something…
