Jane Austen Stories Audiobook: Accessible Entry to Classic Novel

Key Quotes

"Step into a world of humour, heartbreak, scandal and romance - all set in the rural landscapes of 19th-century England. You’ll meet Elizabeth Bennet, the quick-witted heroine of the story, described by Austen herself to be “as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.”"

This quote introduces the setting and central character of "Pride and Prejudice," highlighting Elizabeth Bennet's wit and Austen's own description of her. The presenter, Dame Julie Andrews, sets the stage for a story rich in emotional and social drama within a specific historical context.

"it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife however little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters"

This iconic opening sentence establishes the novel's central theme of marriage and social expectation in 19th-century England. The narrator, Julie Andrews, presents this as a widely accepted societal "truth," immediately framing the narrative around the pursuit of advantageous marriages.

"mr bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts sarcastic humour reserve and caprice that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character her mind was less difficult to develop she was a woman of mean understanding little information and uncertain temper when she was discontented she fancied herself nervous the business of her life was to get her daughters married its solace was visiting and news"

This passage describes the contrasting personalities of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, highlighting their fundamental incompatibility. The narrator explains that Mr. Bennet's complex nature eluded his wife, whose own character is depicted as simple and focused on societal goals like marrying off her daughters.

"the gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man the ladies declared he was much handsomer than mr bingley and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity for he was discovered to be proud to be above his company and above being pleased and not all his large estate in derbyshire could save him from having a most forbidding disagreeable countenance and being unworthy to be compared with mr darcy"

This quote details the initial impression and subsequent downfall of Mr. Darcy's popularity at the Meryton assembly. The narrator explains how his striking appearance initially garnered admiration, but his proud and disagreeable demeanor quickly alienated the attendees.

"you are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room said mr darcy looking at the eldest miss bennet oh she is the most beautiful creature i ever beheld but there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you who is very pretty and i dare say very agreeable do let me ask my partner to introduce you which do you mean and turning around mr darcy looked for a moment at elizabeth till catching her eye he withdrew his own and coldly said she is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me and i am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men"

This excerpt captures a pivotal moment where Mr. Darcy dismisses Elizabeth Bennet's attractiveness to Mr. Bingley. The narrator relays Darcy's blunt assessment, revealing his disdain for Elizabeth and his unwillingness to engage with women he perceives as less significant.

"pride observed mary who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections is a very common failing i believe by all that i am convinced that it is very common indeed that human nature is particularly prone to it and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self complacency on the score of some quality or other real or imaginary vanity and pride are different things though the words are often used synonymously a person may be proud without being vain pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves vanity to what we would have others think of us"

This quote presents Mary Bennet's analytical definition of pride and vanity. The narrator highlights Mary's attempt at intellectual commentary, distinguishing between self-opinion (pride) and the desire for external approval (vanity).