Customer Reviews

Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition

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Just when I thought I had more editions of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE than I should ever own up to, I will freely admit to just one more. After all, what Janeite could resist this tempting package? An unabridged first edition text; Annotations by an Austen scholar; Color illustrations; Over-sized coffee table format; Extensive introduction; And, supplemental material - all pulled together in a beautifully designed interior and stunning cover. *swoon* Where are my aromatic vinegars?

This new annotated edition appeals to modern readers on many levels beyond being a pretty package of a beloved classic. Austen is renowned for her witty dialogue and finely drawn characters, but not for her elaborate physical descriptions or historical context. When PRIDE AND PREJUDICE was originally published in 1813, this brevity was accessible to her contemporary readers who assumed the inferences, but after close to two hundred years words have changed their meaning, insinuations and subtle asides have become fuzzy, and cultural differences from Regency to twenty-first century are worlds apart. Anyone can read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and follow the narrative, but it is so much more enjoyable if you can read it on an expanded level understanding it in social, cultural and historical context. Editor Patricia Meyer Spacks has not only added extensive notes on plot, characters, events, history, culture and critical analysis from a vast array of Austen and literary scholars, but added her own personal insights and observations from years of reading Austen and her experience as a college professor. From shoe roses to Fordyces Sermons to military floggings to the 19th-century meaning of condescension, readers will be informed and enlightened on every aspect related to the novel, the author and her times. In a nut shell, she has vetted great resources, gathered nuggets of knowledge and placed them at our feet.

As with all of Austen's characters, this new annotated edition of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has its own charms, "frailties, foibles and follies." Weighing in at over three pounds, and encompassing 464 pages of unabridged text and fine print margin notes, this book easily reigns as the most all-inclusive and well-researched edition of Jane Austen's masterpiece that I have ever encountered. Considering that the elaborate annotation classifies it as a reference work in addition to a full text, it is quite puzzling that it lacks an index. In addition, the illustrations are expertly selected but sadly lost some of their refinement in the printing process, coming across dark and murky in places. However, I was pleased to see a list of further reading and illustration credits listed in the back of the book to encourage readers to "add something more substantial, in the improvement of [their] minds by extensive reading."

Beautiful, sumptuous and satisfying, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: AN ANNOTATED EDITION is a monumental achievement that should be on the top of your holiday wish list and considered one of few editions available to be esteemed truly accomplished.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Jane Austen scholar Patricia Meyer Spacks has written many books, but none so lush and lovely as Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition. Not only will this beautiful annotated edition of Jane Austen's beloved novel look fabulous on your coffee table, but after reading it you will feel that you've come to understand Pride and Prejudice as you never have before.

Dr. Spacks's definitions, descriptions, and clarifications of arcane words, Regency customs, and obscure passages add dimension to a novel that I have read over 22 times and thought I knew inside and out. But I was wrong. Take her annotation of this rather unassuming sentence in Chapter 4, for example: "With no greater events than these in the Longbourn family, and otherwise diversified by little beyond the walks to Meryton, sometimes dirty and sometimes cold, did January and February pass away."

Dr. Spacks explains that in this instance, dirty meant muddy. Thinking of how uneventful life in a semi-rural setting must be, she adds, "Aside from the arrival of the militia and of Wickham, virtually everything of significance that has happened in the novel so far has been psychological..." She then goes on to describe the states of mind in Jane, Elizabeth, Darcy and Mr. Collins as they interact with each other.

In Chapter 2, Volume III, she introduces Michael Kramp's idea that Mr. Darcy's kindness to Mrs. Gardiner during Elizabeth's and the Gardiners visit to Pemberly is evidence of the changing nature of England's social arrangements and that "the gap between new and old money is shrinking." (p. 307)

Dr. Spacks's new annotated edition provides an erudite commentary on Pride and Prejudice, refers to many scholarly sources, and includes a large assortment of images. As she explained in a recent interview with me: "we looked for images that were beautiful in themselves and that illuminated some aspect of Austen's period."

Her 24-page introduction explores the continuing appeal of Pride and Prejudice: that it is considered safe for teaching in school and appeals to both feminists and sentimental individuals who are attracted to a romantic English past. "It has also emerged clearly as a repository for and stimulus of fantasy, and thus possibly less safe than it seems. In the film versions...Darcy, romanticized, tends to turn into a Heathcliff figure, passionate, beautiful, and overwhelmingly physical." Someone recently asked how this annotation of Pride and Prejudice differed from David M. Shapard's 2004 annotation. The Spacks volume comes in a lavishly color-illustrated, hardback edition, while Shapard's book was published as a trade paperback. Scattered thinly throughout its pages are a few black and white illustrations. Aside from the difference in physical appearance, Spacks's annotations are more scholarly

Flipping through the first page of the novel, you can immediately spot the difference. Dr. Spacks, the Edgar F. Shannon Professor of English, Emerita at the University of Virginia, discusses the famous first sentence as material for a critical debate on the ambiguity of "want", whereas Dr. Shapard, an 18th century expert, emphasizes the introduction of two central themes of the novel, marriage and financial considerations. The two annotations are so different, that I believe there is room on the shelves for both of them.

Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition, edited by Patricia Meyer Spacks is a perfect gift for oneself and for a beloved friend or family member. If the purchase price seems a bit steep in this economy, place it on your Holiday gift wish list. You will not be disappointed when you unwrap your package. - Vic from Jane Austen's World blog

I was so happily surprised when I received this book--much nicer than expected! It is small coffee table-sized, is printed on nice, thick paper, and has a lovely mustard cloth cover under the dust jacket. When you open it, the layout of the pages make the book lovely to look at and read. In one column are the annotations: notes about the text, the history of the time, and etc. Throughout the book are illustrations of period art, beautiful to look at. This edition is a wonderful collector's piece and you get so much more than the story (I would have been happy with just the story and illustrations, too!). Janeites and others, don't miss this book.

My wife is an Austenophile and Pride and Prejudice is perhaps her favorite book. I bought this for her birthday because her only edition was an old dog-eared paperback. Based on the reviews here I had very high expectations for the content. While it is very beautifully printed, the introduction and annotations leave a lot to be desired. One doesn't have to be a Austen scholar to find many if not most of the notes obvious if not redundant. The explanations of the characters' reactions are for the most part self-evident to anyone who reads the book and are certainly superfluous to those who have read it several times over.

Take for example p.247, which is typical of the book:

"She could see him instantly before her, in every charm of air and address;" -- "address" is annotated as "Manner in conversation"

"... by the predominance of virtue, atone for those casual errors ..." -- "casual" is annotated as "Accidental"

"... and the regard which his social powers had gained him in the mess." -- "mess" is annotated a "A group of officers who eat together."

The editor appears to have assumed that the reader is not very well-versed in the relatively easy English of Austen and also can't understand straightforward details of the story. I expected a lot more.

I confess I experienced "flutterings" when I received this book. It is gorgeous beyond belief, and I do not exaggerate. Presented in an oversized format, in hardcover, and beautifully bound in cloth in a rich mustard color, this is a richly annotated and gloriously illustrated edition of one of the most popular novels in classic English literature. Edited by University of Virginia Professor, Patricia Meyer Spacks, the novel by Jane Austen is accompanied by rich insights that afford devoted fans and those new to the novel a more in-depth look into a story that has become dear to so many.

The text chosen for this annotated edition is from the first edition, published in 1813. There is a lengthy introduction by Ms. Spacks, addressing pertinent matters such as Austen's life,her work, the enduring appeal of Pride and Prejudice and how it has affected the general consciousness, and predictably, the merits of literary annotation. Besides the annotations, the work is enriched with the inclusion of numerous illustrations, including movie posters associated with the dramatizations of P&P; illustrations and engravings of fashions during the period the novel was set in (bonnets, dress typically worn by gentlewomen and gentlemen of the time); portraits of authors that influenced Austen's work (e.g. popular novelist Maria Edgeworth); numerous other portraits/ paintings/photographs that depict life during Jane Austen's lifetime; and many more. I found it refreshing that instead of placing familiar illustrations depicting scenes from the novel itself, Ms. Spacks has chosen illustrations and photographs of places from Austen's life, and could very well have inspired Austen in her works.

As for the annotations, they are of immense help to the Austen novice as there are handy explanations as to the meaning of certain words/ phrases not commonly used the way they were back then. The devoted Austen fan will delight in the fact-based annotations that serve to explain or observe the conventions of society during the period. Then there's Ms. Spacks own observations on events in the novel which enhance one's reading experience as the reader gains a fresh perspective as to the motivations of the novel's characters. In all, this is a treasure trove of insights and knowledge that have truly enriched my own understanding of P&P. I now eagerly await the Annotated Persuasion!

This is a beautiful book with many interesting annotations. The best thing (other than the novel itself) is the introduction. Many of the notes are unnecessary, but many are informative. My main complaint - and the reason I didn't give it 5 stars - was that there were too many places where I wanted more info and didn't get it. That said, however, I think this is a wonderful addition to your Austen "collection".

I must start with the fact that these days, there are online versions of all the classics with hyperlinks that accomplish what this annotated version does. Regardless, I found the notes absorbing and enlightening, without too much distraction. If I wished, I could read through without looking at every note. The notes, though, are well-researched and add to the story. If you have read this classic over and over, and seen the movies, then add this to your collection, because each *view* adds to your enjoyment of a beautiful classic.

When I read Pride and Prejudice the first time I fell in love with it. When I saw this book I just had to have it. The notations are, for the most part, interesting and helpful in giving you solid background knowledge of the times and influences of Jane Austen. Some of them seem a little pointless, but I read this version of the book and loved it even more. I still flip through it from time to time. Even if you just want fun facts to go along with your Austen fix, this is a great book to have. It also looks nice on your shelf :P

I bought this edition for my daughter for her 21st Birthday. She read it in high school and wanted to read it again. It is a beautiful edition for a beautiful young lady. Lovely enough to read and treasure.

I treated myself to a beautiful hardcover edition of Pride and Prejudice. I'm a great admirer of Jane Austen, a very special woman who understood (by watching, looking, and listening) her world. The book that I received is a special copy of one of my all-time favorites. It is a treasure that I will read over and over again.