Today I have a treat for you! A while back I wrote a blog post on how so many contemporary critics fail to see Jane Austen's writing for the complex, dynamic, and brilliant literature that it is, opting instead to read their own opinions, prejudices, and social anxieties into her stories. Elsewhere I have recommended Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Prior Swallow as one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading this year. And now Swallow has written a fantastic essay titled "I Learned Everything I Needed to Know About Marriage From Pride and Prejudice". It's a funny, thoughtful, and perceptive article on marriage and Austen's keen insights into this institution. I loved the points that you can "judge a man by the size of his library" and "you really do marry a family, not just a person." There are many more excellent points in the article and I cannot add to its insights, so without further ado, here's the link. May I suggest reading it over a cup of tea? And discussing this with your pre-teen and teenaged children should provide all sorts of interesting insights.
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Hi Becca,
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show that my love for Pride and Prejudice is a worthy choice for book or film! It is my favorite and I watch it with my girls several times a year, we love it. This article by Swallow that you included in your blog is wonderful and so very true, I sent it along to my girls already for them to enjoy, thanks again for writing an article that is a pearl beyond price.
Hugs,
Mel