Pride and Prejudice--Fiction, Classic

Pride and Prejudice....it is a novel of frivolity, misinformation, and finally, true understanding and love.  Jane Austin's classic was hard to read at first, and then grew on me as I pressed on.

Elizabeth Bennet is the second oldest daughter of five: Jane, Elizabeth ("Lizzy"), Mary, Cathrine ("Kitty"), and Lydia.  Her mother and two youngest sisters are impossibly shallow people, who think of little else but marriage.  Mrs Bennet's dreams seem to be coming true when the rich, eligible Mr Bingley moves into an estate nearby.  She fancies that Jane will marry their new neighbour, and indeed, this cherished hope seems well on its way.  Mr Darcy, Bingley's friend, is cold, haughty, and distant.  But to Elizabeth's surprise, he sees something in her that he likes....

If one manages to ignore Mrs Bennet, the story is rather enjoyable.  This book is written in three volumes, and the latter half of the second, and the third one are the parts I truly enjoyed without reservation.  One caution, though: many of the words have changed meanings in the last two hundred years; the most obvious being "condescension," which is perceived as a virtue, rather than a vice.  The status of this book is Recommended for older readers who are willing to brush away the grit to find this diamond of a story.