Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, is often referred to as one of the best romance novels ever written. The novel explores the intricate dance of social status, love, and personal growth in Regency era England through the sharp-witted Elizabeth Bennet and the brooding Mr. Darcy. Austen’s narrative is a delightful romance and a profound commentary on the human condition.
Here are 10 “fun” facts about Pride and Prejudice and its rise to romance novel royalty status!
1. Pride and Prejudice was Austen’s second novel.
Jane Austen’s first novel was Sense and Sensibility published in 1811.
2. Pride and Prejudice was initially titled First Impressions.
Some believe that the title of First Impressions is directly related to the negative first impressions that Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy have of each other. However, others suggest that the title change may have been due to the success of Sense and Sensibility. The publisher may have wanted to publish another novel by the author utilizing the same formula of alliteration.
3. Austen finished writing Pride and Prejudice in 1797.
Austen finished writing Pride and Prejudice when she was just 21 years old. Boy, do I feel unaccomplished!
4. Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813.
Austen’s father attempted to have the novel published in 1797 by submittign the manuscript to bookseller Thomas Cadell, but the manuscript was rejected. Pride and Prejudice was not published until 1813, when Austen was 37 years old!
5. Austen sold the publishing rights to Pride and Prejudice for £100.
Austen sold the publishing rights and copyright to Pride and Prejudice to Thomas Egerton in 1811/1812 for £100 (about £10,000 in purchasing power today).
6. Pride and Prejudice was published anonymously.
Pride and Prejudice, like Austen’s other works, was published anonimously. Given the success of her previous novel, she was credited as “the Author of Sense and Sensibility“.
7. Pride and Prejudice became a bestseller.
The first edition of Pride and Prejudice, published in January 1813, completely sold out! A second edition was published in October 1813, and third edition was published in 1817.
Although a bestseller, Austen’s made the least amount of money from Pride and Prejudice due to having sold the copyright to Thomas Egerton for a one-time payment of £100.
8. Charlotte Bronte and Mark Twain did not enjoy Pride and Prejudice.
Charlotte Brontë wrote that Pride and Prejudice was a “a carefully fenced, highly cultivated garden, with neat borders and delicate flowers; but […] no open country, no fresh air, no blue hill, no bonny beck”. In turn, Mark Twain stated that “[e]verytime I read Pride and Prejudice I want to dig [Austen] up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.” (RUDE!).
Austen herself wondered if the the novel was too frivolous. In a letter to her sister Cassandra, Austen wrote: “The work is rather too light, and bright, and sparkling; it wants shade; it wants to be stretched out here and there with a long chapter of sense. . .”.
9. The first TV adaption of Pride and Prejudice was in 1938 by the BBC.
Unfortunately, the BBC’s TV adaption of Pride and Prejudice is now a lost broadcast. It was broadcast live to England, but there was was no way of recording the productions before the 1950s.
10. Pride and Prejudice has sold millions of copies.
In its 211 year history, Pride and Prejudice has sold over 20 millions copies and has NEVER been out of print.
Disclosure: The Romance Wire participates in the Amazon Associates Program. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.