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The Annotated Pride and Prejudice This first-ever fully annotated edition of one of the most beloved novels in the world is a sheer delight for Jane Austen fans. Here is the complete text of Pride and Prejudice with more than 2,300 annotations on facing pages, including: Explanations of historical context Citations from Austen's life, letters, and other writings Definitions and clarifications Literary comments and analyses Maps and illustrations An introduction, a bibliography, and a detailed chronology of events Of course, one can enjoy the novel without knowing the precise definition of a gentleman, or what it signifies that a character drives a coach rather than a hack chaise, or the rules governing social interaction at a ball, but readers of The Annotated Pride and Prejudice will find that these kinds of details add immeasurably to understanding and enjoying the intricate psychological interplay of Austen's immortal characters. |
About Jane Austen
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Jane Austen was born in 1775 and died in 1817. The daughter of a Hampshire clergyman, she never married. On her father's retirement in 1801, the family moved to Bath for several years and then to Southampton, settling finally at Chawton Cottage, near Alton, Hampshire, which was Jane's home for the rest of her life. The novels published in Austen's lifetime were Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816). Persuasion was issued in 1818 with Northanger Abbey. Her minor works include her juvenilia, the novella Lady Susan, and the fragments The Watsons and Sanditon.
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An Autobiographical Note from David M. Shapard
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I grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY, and early on decided I wished to be a scholar, and to study history. I went to Amherst College as an undergraduate, and then to UC Berkeley to earn my doctorate in European history. My dissertation was on the 18th century French writer Denis Diderot. While in graduate school I also developed an increasing interest in literature, including Jane Austen.
Afterwards I taught history at several colleges, though without ever securing a permanent position. During this time I thought more and more about becoming a writer, especially since producing books had always been central to my wish to pursue an academic career. Eventually, with the end of one teaching job, I determined to take the plunge. I had already written one novel, but it didn't sell to a publisher and I decided that it needed further revision. Maybe I would do that or perhaps I would begin a new project. After some deliberations, the idea came to me of writing an annotated version of Pride and Prejudice. Unfortunately, I was also unable to sell it, but, knowing of the great interest in Jane Austen, I decided to publish it myself. It attained moderate success, and ultimately attracted the notice of someone at Random House, which has led to the current edition. My extensive work with Jane Austen also gave me the idea for a novel related to her, which I am currently completing.
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