On January 28, 1813, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE was first published in the United Kingdom. Jane Austen's masterpiece was remarkable for many reasons, not the least of which was that she wrote it at a time when gentle women were greatly restricted in their activities, such as painting delicate flowers on china. (There's certainly nothing wrong with painting flowers on china, but would you want to spend your whole life doing that?)
Like the author, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE's characters Elizabeth and Darcy also defied convention. Austen's subtle humor shines in her commentary on society's manners and mores. What daring she showed, to not only write, but to cast a spotlight on what many held sacred.
Four of Austen's six books were published anonymously. Perhaps achieving fame and acclaim was not as important to her as was the act--and art--of writing. Her books did not gain in popularity until the latter part of the 19th century, long after her death in 1842.
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So, for today, I am grateful for Jane Austen and the timeless PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.
I can't help but think that she would have been surprised to know how popular her work would be today. We just don't know about the effect of all of our sown seeds.
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