Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen’s second published novel. Set among the landed gentry in the south of England, it explores the social anxieties of its time surrounding courtship, reputation, and the expectations placed on women.
The story centers on the Bennet family, whose five unmarried daughters cannot inherit the family estate and therefore must marry to secure their futures. The heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, believes in marrying for mutual love and respect rather than for wealth or social status. In the end, however, she succeeds in finding both through her marriage to Mr. Darcy.
Jane Austen first drafted the novel in 1796 in Steventon after visiting her brother Edward’s home in Kent. At that time, the manuscript was titled First Impressions. She later revised it extensively between 1811 and 1812 in Chawton, where she also renamed it Pride and Prejudice.
Following the success of Sense and Sensibility, the publisher Egerton agreed to publish the novel at his own financial risk by purchasing the copyright outright. Austen had hoped for £150 but ultimately accepted £110. Pride and Prejudice was published in January 1813, and the title page credited it to the “Author of Sense and Sensibility” to build on her earlier success.
The first edition sold out quickly, leading to a second edition in the same year and a third in 1817. Because Egerton owned the copyright, he received the profits from these editions, while Austen did not benefit financially from their continued sales.
