Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen — first published 1813
During March 2020 — May 2020…
we interrupt many different books where I’m stuck in the middle and can’t concentrate because of Covid, quarantine, interrupted space and rhythms, too many feelings and no place safe to share them… And we bring you P+P once again! Enjoy.
Pride and Prejudice uniquely and lovingly read by Jennifer Ehle during the early months of Covid-19 on YouTube. Click on the underlined Pride and Prejudice to be directed to Ms Ehle’s site on YouTube where she exquisitely reads this classic novel chapter by chapter. (After you finish reading my blog, of course.) 😉🤣🥰
I don’t know about you and your story of reading, but listening to Jennifer Ehle’s reading of P+P on YouTube allowed me to remember and consider my story of reading. When I was in elementary school in the mid 1970’s, my favorite chapter book was The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. I checked that book out from the school library so many times one might get the idea that it was the only book available. I also adored Little Witch by Anna Elizabeth Bennett and the biography series called “Childhood of Famous Americans”. I enjoyed the library as a kid, but I was a very slow reader — so I found myself easily intimidated by chapter books. As I remember, summertime reading for me was a little more relaxed… but not much.
Throughout the rest of my schooling, I found myself bound to books I had to read for classes, and I struggled immensely getting into them as well as finishing them. It really is a wonder that I ended up a teacher and that I love to read so much today. I believe I owe this change in my reading to Pride and Prejudice on the heels of Jane Eyre.
Midway during 2005, I was inspired to read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. She became my constant companion during a very rough year. When I learned about “Pride and Prejudice” with Keira Knightly coming out in movie theaters later that same year, I thought — yeah, maybe I should read the book first. I bought a wee Barnes and Noble edition and tried several times to get into it without much success. I played the mental head games and told myself that my ability to read Jane Eyre must have been a fluke… a one off thing, and I set P+P aside. Thankfully, I have since learned to have more compassion on myself.
During our world travels on our move to Thailand, we found ourselves just outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland with the family of Scott’s coworker. The daughter’s favorite show was the BBC version of “Pride and Prejudice” with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth… which I had never heard of before. Sarah and her mom, Maisie, introduced me to this beautiful British television version and I was inspired to give myself another go at reading the book. Slow reading and all — I finished it. Truly… a treasure that turned the tide for me! Reading these two books introduced me to a world I thought was beyond me… deep literary reading, being still, quiet, pensive.
Thank you Sarah and Maisie Duncan!
Thank you Jane Eyre!
Thank you Jennifer Ehle!
Thank you Jane Austen!
