by Cameron Hill ’15

200 years ago today, the world of English literature was given one of its greatest gifts. A novel, published anonymously, which began with what has become arguably the single most famous first sentence of any novel: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” So begins Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Far from anonymous now, Austen is lauded as one of the greatest ever novelists.

Pride and Prejudice is one of the most widely read and best-loved romance novels of all time. The story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy has captivated generations. Published on January 28, 1813, the first edition of Pride and Prejudice, an order of 1,500 copies, became an instant bestseller and sold out in six months.

Originally titled First Impressions, Austen began her most well-known work when she was only twenty. Her comedic genius is apparent within the novel, inherent in the masterfully written characters of the ridiculous Mr. Collins, the inept social-climber Mrs. Bennet, the hilariously elitist and rude Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Elizabeth’s foolish younger sisters, and countless others. Each character is shaped and brought to life in Austen’s undying words. Austen wrote to her sister, somewhat jokingly, that she believed her story to be “too light and bright, and sparkling.” Comedy, however, is the spirit of Pride and Prejudice. It has kept the story relatable for centuries, with its shaming families and mortifying acquaintances, who could be any embarrassing relatives or friends of today.

Of course, one can hardly speak of Pride and Prejudice without mentioning romance. The triumphant marriages Elizabeth Bennet and her sister Jane make to gentlemen far above them in economic, if not social, status were unlikely at best in the real world of Austen’s day. But the improbability of the success of those relationships and the message that real love can conquer all barriers makes the story irresistible. Although there are poor relationships in the novel, including the Bennets’ loveless marriage and Lydia Bennet’s unreasoned elopement, the reader is assured the main characters of Pride and Prejudice are destined to end up with the right person for the rest of time.