“I must confess that I think her as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print, & how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know.”
letter to Cassandra, on Pride and Prejudice‘s Elizabeth Bennet
January 29, 1813 [79]
Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Letters, Pride and Prejudice, Writing
“There are a few Typical errors-& a ‘said he’ or a ‘said she’ would sometimes make the Dialogue more immediately clear-but ‘I do not write for such dull Elves As have not a great deal of Ingenuity themselves.'”
letter to Cassandra on the release of Pride and Prejudice
January 29, 1813 [79]
The “such dull elves” line is a rough quote from Marmion.
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Filed under Letters, Other books and writers, Pride and Prejudice, Writing
“He is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him.”
Mrs. Bennet on Mr. Darcy
Pride and Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 5
Filed under Darcy, Men, Mrs. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice
“Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never.”
Lizzy to Jane
Pride and Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 4
Again a character trait I understand, though perhaps not so admirable.
Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Pride, Pride and Prejudice
“With a book he was regardless of time . . .”
Pride and Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 3
An admirable character trait, and one I completely understand.
Filed under Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice, Reading
Today’s quote is not new, but rather a correction — thanks to Laura, who pointed out the error. I always thought this was “make sport FOR our neighbors,” but when I went to post it the first time, I doublechecked my Signet classic and it said “make sport OF our neighbors,” which I thought was not nearly as good. Turns out the Signet classic is wrong! Mags at AustenBlog confirms that her Oxford edition says “FOR” — so here is the corrected version!
Still love that word “missish.”
“But, Lizzy, you look as if you did not enjoy it. You are not going to be missish, I hope, and pretend to be affronted at an idle report. For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?”
Mr. Bennet, upon reading Lizzy the letter from Mr. Collins, which hints that she may be engaged to Mr. Darcy and warns them that Lady Catherine will never approve
Pride & Prejudice, Volume 3, Chapter 15
Filed under Elizabeth Bennet, Humor, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Collins, Neighbors, Pride and Prejudice
“Have you seen any pleasant men? Have you had any flirting?”
Lydia Bennet
Pride and Prejudice, volume 2, chapter 16
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Filed under Flirting, Lydia Bennet, Men, Pride and Prejudice
“A little sea-bathing would set me up forever.”
Mrs. Bennet
Pride and Prejudice, volume 2, chapter 18
I just got my vacation pictures back — this is me with my friend Brenda’s little boys. So sweet. Hope you’re having lots of sunny days, and a little time at the beach.
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Filed under Mrs. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice, the Sea
“To take the good of everybody’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad-belongs to you alone.”
Lizzy to Jane
Pride and Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 4
I have friends like this, but I think I am really much more of a Lizzy.
Filed under Character, Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Pride and Prejudice
Today we venture into pop culture for a quote from You’ve Got Mail, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I love how he turns this into an insult . . . “I bet you just love Mr. Darcy.” Heh! This is from the scene where she’s waiting for her mystery emailer to meet her, and Joe walks in instead. Read more here.
JOE Kathleen Kelly. Hello. What a coincidence. Mind if I sit down?
KATHLEEN Yes I do. I'm expecting someone.
Joe picks up her book, looks at it.
JOE Pride and Prejudice.
Kathleen grabs it back.
KATHLEEN Do you mind?
She places it back on the table, puts the rose into it.
JOE I didn't know you were a Jane Austen fan. Not that it's a surprise. I bet you read it every year.
I bet you just love Mr. Darcy, and that your sentimental heart beats wildly at the thought that he and
whatever her name is are really, honestly and truly going to end up together.
KATHLEEN Would you please leave?
Joe sits down.
KATHLEEN Please?
JOE I'll get up as soon as your friend comes. Is he late?
KATHLEEN The heroine of Pride and Prejudice is Elizabeth Bennet and she's one of the greatest, most
complex characters ever written, not that you would know.
JOE As a matter of fact I've read it.
KATHLEEN Well, good for you.
JOE I think you'd discover a lot of things if you really knew me.
KATHLEEN If I really knew you, I know what I would find -- instead of a brain, a cash register, instead
of a heart, a bottom line.
Filed under Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Others on Jane, Pride and Prejudice
The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman (May, 2012)
A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith