"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
Next to the exhortation at the beginning of Moby-Dick, "Call me Ishmael," the first sentence of Jane Austen''s Pride and Prejudice must be among the most quoted in literature. And certainly what Melville did for whaling Austen does for marriage--tracing the intricacies not to mention the economics of 19th-century British mating rituals with a sure hand and an unblinking eye. As
內容簡介:
HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. ''It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.'' Austen''s best-loved tale of love, marriage and society in class-conscious Georgian England still delights modern readers today with its comedy and characters. It follows the feisty, quick-witted Elizabeth Bennet as her parents seek to ensure good marriages for her and her sisters in order to secure their future. The protagonists Darcy and Elizabeth learn much about themselves and those around them and Austen''s expertly crafted comedy characters of Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins demonstrate her great artistry as a writer.