Pride and Prejudice (Chinese and English two volumes)

Author: [British] Jane Austen / Lin Limei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Pride and Prejudice is the masterpiece of the renowned British female writer Jane Austen (1775–1817), a novel that portrays love and marriage. The story follows the romantic entanglement between the male and female protagonists, Darcy and Elizabeth, caused by pride and prejudice, and revolves around four marriage prospects: Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, Lydia and Wickham, and Charlotte and Collins. Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia are three sisters among the five daughters of the Bennet family, while Charlotte is their neighbor and Elizabeth's friend. The male protagonist, Darcy, is a close friend of Bingley and grew up with Wickham, whereas Collins is a distant relative of the Bennet family. The Bennet couple has five daughters who are (unmarried and), with no male heir. According to the laws of the time, their estate would be inherited by their distant cousin Collins after their death. Therefore, marrying their daughters into wealthy families became Mrs. Bennet's greatest desire. Bingley, an unmarried wealthy young man, rents the nearby Netherfield estate from the Bennet family, becoming the center of attention and the topic of conversation. Soon after, Bingley falls in love with the beautiful and virtuous eldest daughter, Jane. Darcy, a friend of Bingley, develops a fondness for the intelligent and straightforward second daughter, Elizabeth, but his tactless remarks at a ball cause Elizabeth to hold prejudice against him. Wickham, a man of questionable character, tells Elizabeth that he is the son of the deceased steward of Darcy's estate and that Darcy unjustly deprived him of the position his father had promised him. Darcy, however, persuades Bingley to end his relationship with Jane due to his mother and younger sisters, leading to a rift between the four. Wickham's slander against Darcy, along with Darcy's interference in Jane's relationship, further deepens Elizabeth's prejudice against him. Collins, seeking to inherit the estate with ease, decides to choose one of the five beautiful daughters of the Bennet family as his "wife" and proposes to Elizabeth. After being rejected, he immediately turns to Charlotte, a single woman eager to find a "home," and surprisingly receives her acceptance. Elizabeth is invited to the home of the newly married Collins and Charlotte, where she unexpectedly encounters Darcy, who has come to visit his aunt Catherine. Darcy is instantly captivated by Elizabeth and proposes, but his arrogant manner leads to Elizabeth's fierce rejection. She also criticizes Darcy for his cruelty to Wickham and for breaking Bingley and Jane's relationship. Later, Darcy writes a letter to defend himself, gradually erasing Elizabeth's prejudice. While traveling with her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth passes by Darcy's estate and enters it, thinking he is not there, only to find him returning unexpectedly. She feels extremely embarrassed. However, Darcy shows no trace of his usual pride and warmly welcomes them. At this moment, Elizabeth receives a letter, learning that Wickham has run away with her sister Lydia! Upon returning home in a hurry, the family is at a loss, but Darcy secretly tracks down their whereabouts, funds their marriage, and arranges their lives, saving the Bennet family's dignity. This incident resolves the conflict between Elizabeth and Darcy, and Bingley and Jane also reconcile, with all the lovers finally finding happiness.