Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

This book was quite a surprise. Considering its success, its number of film and television adaptations, and learning that Bridget Jones's Diary is a deliberate tribute to it, I was expecting something a little exciting. I waited a long time... in fact, until the very last line.

Summary

Élisabeth est la deuxième d’une famille aisée de cinq filles, et son but dans la vie, c’est de se marier. Mais elle n’est pas sotte, et elle ne veut pas se marier avec n’importe qui ; alors quand le beau, riche et pas bête M. Darcy lui déclare son amour, elle l’éconduit, parce qu’elle le trouve trop proud and that she'd heard bad things about him. Then he explained how her prejudices are unfounded, she does a little investigating, and realizes that he's actually quite decent. So, finally, they get married.

Impressions

Je vais le dire : j’ai trouvé ce livre décevant. Pas mal écrit, pas dénué d’humour, mon but n’est pas du tout de rabaisser Jane Austen ; mais pauvre en péripéties, disons.

The lives of Elisabeth and her entourage are very small. They go for walks, they make small talk with visitors, and they judge each other. The films and TV series have apparently succeeded in making a beautiful love story out of it, but I've mostly seen it as a story of a consenting, practical marriage.

I don't conclude that Jane Austen's stories are all like that. My sister tells me that Emma est meilleur, alors je vais essayer. En prenant bien soin de diminuer mes attentes.