Pride and Prejudice Critical Edition

The 1813 first edition text of Pride and Prejudice forms the basis of this edition. In the section titled "Backgrounds and Sources," readers will find biographical portraits of Austen written by her family members as well as acclaimed biographers such as Claire Tomalin and David Nokes. Seventeen of Austen's letters are included in this section, eight of which are new to the Third Edition. These letters provide insight into the close-knit society that Austen was a part of, both in her personal life and in her writing.

Readers will also find samples of Austen's early writing in this section, allowing them to track her growth as a writer and to compare her fiction. The "Criticism" section contains nineteen assessments of the novel, seven of which are new to this edition. One of the highlights in this section is an interview with Colin Firth about the recent BBC television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Other pieces in this section are written by notable critics such as Richard Whately, Margaret Oliphant, and Richard Simpson.

In addition, the edition includes contributions from D. W. Harding, Dorothy Van Ghent, Alistair Duckworth, and other critics who offer their perspectives on Austen's work. A Chronology, which is new to the Third Edition, and a Selected Bibliography are also provided for readers to deepen their understanding of Austen’s life and work.

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