Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Free EPUB, Kindle & Public Domain Guide
Pride and Prejudice
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I
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 neighbourhood, 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.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
“Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.
“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”
This was invitation enough.
“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.”
Follow Elizabeth and Darcy’s sparring courtship and epistolary revelations. Download the complete unabridged edition for your e-reader.
Download Full EPUBPride and Prejudice is an 1813 novel by Jane Austen. It follows Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates courtship, class, and family pressure, and gradually overcomes her prejudice against the proud Mr. Darcy. This Standard Ebooks edition is based on Project Gutenberg eBook #42671 and is in the public domain in the US.
About Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: Summary, Characters & Themes
Pride and Prejudice is an 1813 novel by Jane Austen, a comedy of manners that follows Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates courtship, class, and family pressure in Regency England. This summary and analysis covers the novel’s plot, key characters, and core themes, including pride, prejudice, marriage, and social rank.
Austen wrote the novel in the late 1790s under the title First Impressions, and it was published in 1813 after substantial revision. The story is set in Hertfordshire and Derbyshire, among the landed gentry and the militia society of the period. This edition is based on a transcription from Project Gutenberg and produced by Standard Ebooks.
The Bennet family has five unmarried daughters, and their estate is entailed away from the female line. When the wealthy Mr. Bingley rents Netherfield Park, Mrs. Bennet hopes one of her daughters will marry him.
Bingley falls in love with Jane Bennet, while his friend Mr. Darcy initially offends Elizabeth Bennet at a ball. Elizabeth’s dislike of Darcy deepens after she meets George Wickham, who claims Darcy wronged him.
Mr. Collins, the heir to the Bennet estate, proposes to Elizabeth, but she refuses him; he soon marries her friend Charlotte Lucas. Darcy unexpectedly proposes to Elizabeth, and she rejects him, accusing him of ruining Jane’s happiness and mistreating Wickham.
Darcy’s letter reveals Wickham’s true character and explains his own conduct. Later, when Lydia Bennet elopes with Wickham, Darcy secretly intervenes to arrange their marriage. Elizabeth’s feelings toward Darcy change, and after Lady Catherine de Bourgh tries to block the match, Darcy proposes again and Elizabeth accepts.
Key Characters & Literary Archetypes
- Elizabeth Bennet (The Prejudiced Wit & Independent Heroine): she is the novel’s witty and independent protagonist, whose prejudice against Darcy forms the central conflict.
- Mr. Darcy (The Proud Aristocrat & Reluctant Romantic): he is a proud and wealthy gentleman whose initial reserve hides a generous and loyal nature.
- Jane Bennet (The Gentle Sensible Sister): she is Elizabeth’s eldest sister, whose gentle and trusting disposition contrasts with Elizabeth’s sharp judgment.
- Mr. Bingley (The Amiable & Easily Guided Friend): he is Darcy’s amiable friend, whose affection for Jane is nearly undone by the interference of others.
- George Wickham (The Charming Villain & False Suitor): he is a charming but unscrupulous officer whose false account of Darcy misleads Elizabeth.
- Mr. Collins (The Pompous Heir & Comic Clergyman): he is the pompous heir to Longbourn, whose proposal Elizabeth refuses.
- Lady Catherine de Bourgh (The Arrogant Matriarch & Social Gatekeeper): she is Darcy’s arrogant aunt, whose attempt to prevent the match ultimately brings Elizabeth and Darcy together.
Core Literary Themes & Historical Significance
- Pride and Prejudice (The Twin Faults of the Protagonists): they are the twin faults that both Elizabeth and Darcy must overcome before they can love each other honestly.
- Marriage and Social Rank (The Courtship Economy of Regency England): these are central themes, shown through the contrasting matches of Elizabeth, Jane, Charlotte, and Lydia.
- Class and Inheritance (The Entail & Social Mobility): they shape the novel’s conflicts, from the entail of Longbourn to Lady Catherine’s opposition to the marriage.
Why Download Our Custom E-Reader Edition of Pride and Prejudice?
Pride and Prejudice is a 61-chapter novel in three volumes, first published in 1813. Our custom edition is built for comfortable, distraction-free reading on modern e-readers.
Many free copies of Pride and Prejudice online are carelessly scanned, poorly formatted, or missing chapters. Some are wrapped in DRM, and others are filled with broken line breaks and inconsistent punctuation.
- The Unabridged 1813 Text — the complete novel, based on a transcription via Project Gutenberg, with no cuts or modern rewrites.
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Pride and Prejudice: FAQ, Summary & Analysis
What kind of novel is Pride and Prejudice?
It is not a children’s book, though it is widely taught in schools as an introduction to Regency fiction and social satire.
What is Pride and Prejudice about?
She gradually overcomes her prejudice against the proud Mr. Darcy, while her sister Jane faces interference from Darcy’s friend and sisters.
Who are the main characters in Pride and Prejudice?
Elizabeth and Darcy are the central pair, and their relationship drives the novel’s plot and themes.
Who is the villain in Pride and Prejudice, and why does Wickham lie about Darcy?
He lies about Darcy to hide his own misconduct, including gambling debts and an attempted elopement with Darcy’s younger sister, Georgiana.
What are the main themes of Pride and Prejudice?
Austen uses the contrasting matches of Elizabeth, Jane, Charlotte, and Lydia to explore how class and money shape courtship in Regency England.
Who is the narrator of Pride and Prejudice, and what narrative form does it use?
The narrative form is free indirect discourse, blending the narrator’s voice with Elizabeth’s thoughts and judgments.
When was Pride and Prejudice published, and what is its publication history?
This edition is based on Project Gutenberg eBook #42671 and produced by Standard Ebooks.
Is Pride and Prejudice in the public domain, and which e-reader format should I download?
Download AZW3 for Amazon Kindle, KEPUB for Rakuten Kobo, or the standard reflowable EPUB for Apple Books, Android tablets, Onyx Boox, and mobile apps.
