Review: Pride and Prejudice Readable Classics

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson

Publication Date: My 2010
Publisher: Chadwick Publishing
Genre: Classic
ISBN-13: 9780615373317
ISBN: 0615373313

(Received for review from the Author)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Author's Website: www.readableclassics.com

What are Readable Classics?

Readable Classics gently edits great works of literature, retaining the original voices of the authors, making them more enjoyable and less frustrating for modern readers.

Excerpt: Click HERE!

Other Readable Classics: Click HERE!

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

Jane Austen's 1813 masterpiece humorously relates the complex mating rituals of Regency England society, as Mrs. Bennet hopes to find rich husbands for her five daughters, who will become destitute if they do not marry well.

Mr. Bingley, a gentleman of good fortune, is easily charmed by Jane. But his friend Mr. Darcy's excessive pride offends Elizabeth, who quickly becomes prejudiced against him.

This delightful romp is full of romantic misunderstandings, rejected proposals, disastrous elopements, and happy endings for those who deserve them.

Thoughts:

Pride and Prejudice has long been one of my favorites. Jane Austen was a wonderful writer and many say her work could never be improved on and I believe that to a certain degree. Jane Austen was gifted but she was writing in 1813 and we are reading in 2010. There is such a huge difference in the language used in that time period that it is often daunting for young readers to tackle Jane Austen, even though it may required in some schools.

Author Wayne Josephson just may have the answer! He has created a line of books called Readable Classics in which he edits the work or the masters including Jane Austen, to make them more easily read and enjoyed today. Updating the language, but staying true to the original voice of the author and the characters. Passages we have come to know and love are still essentially the same with the same feeling and passion, only a little easier to understand.

The Bennet's of Longborn are very excited when Mr. Bingley, a rich gentleman rents the house nearby. Mrs. Bennet goes to unbelievable means to see that her daughter Jane and Mr. Bingley have a chance to get to know each other and fall in love. If one of her daughters doesn't marry well, they will all be out on their ears if anything should happen to Mr. Bennet. But, she has no idea that another romance could have budded had not Elizabeth taken offense to the affluent Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth eventually finds that she has Mr. Darcy all wrong and falls in love with him but not before a series of interesting things happen to try to force them apart.

I have always liked this one and Wayne Josephson's editing just makes it more accessible to a bigger and broader audience. I recommend this one to students who are required to read the book as well as other readers who just want to say they've read Jane Austen, but they find it difficult tackle the language issues.

Pride and Prejudice Readable Classic is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!