Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is truly one of the classics. Jane Austen wrote a number of books, and this particular one was published in 1813 (yes, you read that right, this was almost 2 centuries back). A romantic book with a flavor of comedy, Pride and Prejudice has remained popular throughout, and has inspired many a movie to be made on the story (the latest starring Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfadyen). However, nobody should believe the book to be a classic version of a Mills & Boon type romance novel; the story brings out the England of the time, the class distinctions, the pressures on a family at that point. Most critically, the heroine of the novel is not a girl wont to swoon romantically, but a girl with pride.



The novel has a very famous line right at the beginning, a line that can be easily quoted and remembered: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife". Such a line may seem strange in today's politically correct world, but in the world of the book, it was very true. The description of the England of the time, where a man with a fortune is seen to be a good catch is combined with the sheer drama and emotion of social interactions (calling it hypocrisy is not out of the question). And it's not only the 2 main characters who build the story, but a whole host of characters from different social strata and with different motives who make the story to be a much better one.
The story is set in a small English county village where the Bennet's (a family, not rich, live with the parents and 5 daughters). Mrs. Bennet aim in life is to see her 5 daughters marry comfortably, so when the rich Mr. Bingley and his richer friend Mr. Darcy come visiting, they are the center of attraction. However, the 2 friends are a contrast, with Mr. Bingley seemingly a well natured man, enjoying the attention of all, particularly the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane. Darcy, on the other hand, is more of a man full of himself, and soon starts to put off people, especially the second elder Bennet daughter, Elizabeth (and the main heroine of the story). Soon, because of a quirk of fate (Jane's illness while visiting the Bingley's), Elizabeth comes to stay at a place that Darcy visits, and he continues to fall for her. However, a soldier, George Wickham narrates to Lizzy an injustice done to him by Darcy, and the estrangement is complete.
Elizabeth has already a rich suitor after her (her cousin Mr. Collins who will inherit the Bennet property), but she declines to the horror of her mother. In addition, when Mr. Darcy proposes to her, she declines as well (no doubt helped by the fact that she finds his proposal style as pretty insulting and imperious). What compounds matter is the fact that it was Darcy who persuaded Bingley against going ahead with his relationship with Jane. This is the high point of their separation. However, things slowly turn for the better. He hands her a letter that tells her that some of her thoughts were incorrect, and he also tells her the truth about Wickham.
Later, she meets him in another location, and she feels him to be distinctly warmer. What makes the relationship much closer is when Darcy helps in finding Wickham and her younger sister Lydia (they have run away together), and then persuades Wickham to marry Lydia. Now Lizzy feels much closer to Darcy, and what makes them get together again is when Darcy persuades Bingley and Jane to get together again.