Happy 201st Birthday Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice Brock illustration“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice, Ch 34

Today we celebrate another anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice on 28 January 1813 in London. It’s hard to top last year’s incredible, world-wide, over the top festivities, elevating Jane Austen and her most popular novel to mega-media darlings of 2013. Who will ever forget the giant statue of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy rising dripping wet from The Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, or the announcement that Jane Austen would be featured on the UK £10.00 pound note in 2017?

I will always remember this anniversary as the year that I visited Jane Austen’s England for the first time and walked in her footsteps through gardens, stately homes, and her last residence, Chawton Cottage in Hampshire.  It was quite a year for this Janeite.

I was also very happy to see an increased interest in reading Pride and Prejudice and the many spinoffs that it has generated. Over 400 fans signed up for our own year-long Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge here on Austenprose and over of a quarter of a million visitors landed on our Pride and Prejudice Archives, detailing the novel’s characters, plot summary and significant quotes. If you have not visited our archives yet, the links to each page are listed below.

We have another significant 200th anniversary coming up on the 9th of May for  Mansfield Park. I have always been very fond of Jane Austen’s less popular novel, especially her prudential heroine Fanny Price and anti-heroine Mary Crawford. I look forward to re-reading it this year.

Happy Birthday Pride and Prejudice! I ardently admire and love you too!

Cheers,

Laurel Ann 

Pride and Prejudice

© 2014, Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose.com

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4 thoughts on “Happy 201st Birthday Pride and Prejudice”

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  1. A little bit confused, isn’t on May 9th the 200th anniversary of Mansfield Park? At least the Chronology marks it as the first day when it was advertised its publication.

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      1. Hmm? You are right. I just dug out my copy of A Bibliography of Jane Austen by David Gilson. In the publication history of MP (49) it states “the first advertisement appeared in The Star, No. 8480, Monday 9 May 1814 … and this statement ‘This day is published’ may be taken in this instance more literally than usual, since by a happy chance there survives a copy with an ownership inscription dated 11 May 1814 (Lot 467 at Sotheby’s on 14 December 1973). Even Wikipedia is wrong. Must correct my own blog on publication dates of Jane Austen’s novels. Thanks Cinthia. I am glad you found my notes helpful from the group read. I was considering putting together all of my notes and writing on MP and self-publishing a study guide by a Janeite.

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  2. Wow yes what a great year, I had planned to re-read all her books this year. Mansfield is my next favourite after P&P but think I will leave it now till May! Just bought the book In the steps of Jane Austen in the hope to do a tour like you, but it will have to be done overtime. Have already booked a hotel near Chawton to visit the museum on my birthday! The advantage of my birthday means my husband can’t say no! Pity I only have one a year

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