Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is recounts the events in the life of Elizabeth Bennet and her family in Georgian England. When the wealthy Mr. Bingley moves into the Netherfield estate, the Bennet family with five unmarried daughters is quick to make his acquaintance. While delighted with the manners of Mr. Bingley, their view of his friend Mr. Darcy is much less favorable. Too proud to dance with Elizabeth, she quickly takes a dislike to him and refuses to believe anything but the worst about him. Darcy, on the other hand, soon reconsiders his initial impression of her and falls in love, but his pride takes a severe blow when she turns down his initial marriage proposal due to his ungentlemanly behavior. Soon afterwards Elizabeth herself is humbled as she begins to realize her own prejudice and misconceptions about the character of Darcy and falls in love with him. With a bit of help from the interference Darcy's aunt, they eventually sort it out, and she accepts his proposal of marriage.
This is the first time I have read the book since high school and was also my first book (available for free) to be read on the Kindle I bought myself for Christmas. It remains a delightful, witty, and thought provoking tale that I would recommend for ages 13 and up. Definitely a must read classic and terrific way to start the new year.
