Anipal Book Club 4 #PNP4

#PNP Part 4

PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 31-45

How things have turned around in this section of reading!


Lizzy seemed independent and smart-thinking at first. Now she doesn't seem to get past her grudge against Mr Darcy for being involved in obstructing her sister's friendship with Mr Bingley. I can see why she was so shocked at being proposed to by Darcy because his small-talk is so awkward Lizzy didn't even realise that's what he was doing! Darcy's proposal was clumsy at best!


I am warming towards Mr Darcy who, despite his social clumsiness is obviously doing what he thinks is right, and he clearly has the best interests of his sister at heart. It amazed me that he would propose to Lizzy when she obviously showed no warmth towards him.
Darcy comes across as much more pleasant when he meets Lizzy & the Gardiners at Pemberley.


Mr Wickham who seemed to be charming and hard done-by is actually turning out to be a complete cad!


Miss Bingley is a rude,  jealous and spiteful woman, but that's no surprise.


It is interesting to see how much time people in those days would spend away from home visiting relations or touring - months at a time, not just weeks!


I also think that it is strange that Lizzy & the Gardiner's were shown around Pemberley when Darcy wasn't there. It seems odd that the housekeeper would just show anyone around the house!


Roll on the next installment!

Anipal Book Club 3 #PNP3

#PNP Part 3

PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 16-30

Characters as they are mentioned (& colour -linked to family groups - see Anipal Book Club 1 for previous character info)

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS & DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO MARRIES MR COLLINS DON'T READ THIS AS IT'S REVEALED IN CH 26!

Chapter 16
(Old) Mr Darcy (deceased). Father of Mr Darcy. Godfather of Mr Wickham.
Lady Anne Darcy. Mother of (young) Mr Darcy. Sister of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh - 1st mentioned in Ch 13, but now revealed to be related to Darcy)

Chapter 18

George Wickham  (1st mentioned in Ch 15, but 1st name not revealed until now)

Old Mr Wickham - George Wickham's Father & the late Mr Darcy's steward)

Chapter 21
Georgiana Darcy - Mr Darcy's sister (1st mentioned in Ch 8, but 1st name not revealed until now)

Chapter 25
Mr & Mrs Gardiner - Mrs Bennet's brother & sister-in-law (1st mentioned in Ch 7, but not named)
Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy (originally mentioned in Ch 3, but 1st name not revealed until now)

Chapter 26

Charlotte Lucas becomes Mrs Collins!

Chapter 27
The Gardiner's children (not named)
Miss King - the new object of Wickham's interest, since her Grandfather died & left her £10,000. (Miss King was 1st mentioned in Ch 3)

Chapter 28
Mrs. Jenkinson - old lady who lives with Lady de Bourgh & daughter

Chapter 29
The Miss Webbs mentioned in conversation by Lady Catherine

Lady Metcalf - mentioned by Lady Catherine
Miss Pope - Lady Metcalf's governess (recommended by Lady Catherine)

Chapter 30
Colonol Fitzwilliam - cousin of Mr Darcy & younger son of Lord Fitzwilliam (Darcy's Uncle)

MORE DETAILS ON PLACES / PROPERTIES
Grosvenor Street, London - the street where Mr & Mrs Hurst have a house.

Longbourn & Meryton villages are in the county of Hertfordshire

Hunsford (where Mr Collins & Lady Catherine de Bourgh live) is in Kent

Gracechurch Street, London - the street where the Gardiners live (different part of London to Grosvenor Street) 

Anipal Book Club 2 #PNP2

#PNP Part 2

PRIDE & PREJUDICE: chapters 1 -15

I think Mr Bennet is a very tolerant man (he needs to be for a quiet life with Mrs Bennet). He seems like the sort of man who could put his foot down if he felt strongly about something though.

Mrs Bennet seems like an awful woman who is selfish and single-minded (she just wants to see her daughters all married off), but I quite like her determination and commitment to the cause. She seems to only see things from her own perspective. Not the sort of woman you'd want to be friends with in real life. However, in those days, if she didn't see her daughters all married they wouldn't have much of a prospect.

Lizzy is my favourite of the daughters & favourite character of the book. She has a spark of life & an independence which would have probably been frowned on in those days!

Least favourite character is Charlotte Bingley as she seems to be mean-spirited and devious trying to gain favour with Mr Darcy and paint Lizzy in a poor light as she knows Mr Darcy is actually keen on Lizzy.

I didn't realise that P&P was originally called First Impressions, but I think both are equally fitting titles (probably more evident later on in the book - Shhhh!).

The language sets the scene and serves as a reminder that it was a bygone era when life and expectations were very different.

There have been several terms / words I wasn't familiar with & had to look up:

Ch 5 - hack chaise (Hack = a worn out old horse. Chaise = an open top carriage on 2 wheels for 1 or 2 people.)

Ch 8 - Loo (gambling card game)

Ch 10 - Piquet (a trick-playing card game for 2 players)

Ch 12 - Thorough-bass (music)

Ch 13 - Entail ( law settle the inheritance over a number of generations so property usually remains with family group)

Ch 13 - Quadrille (Square dance with 4 couples)

Ch 14 - Phaeton (A light open 4 wheel horse drawn carriage)

So I am having fun AND learning new things!

Anipal Book Club 1 #PNP1

Part 1

PRIDE & PREJUDICE: Chapters 1-15

Characters as they are mentioned (& colour -linked to family groups)

This may use helpful to anyone new to the book. If not ignore this blog!

Chapter 1

Mr Bennet - father of 5 daughters. Bennet family live in Longbourn village

(Netherfield Park - property let to Mr Bingley)

Mrs Long (has 2 nieces)

Mr Morris (? estate agent - only 1 mention)

Mr Charles Bingley -  Wealthy bachelor from north of England. Has 2 sisters & a brother-in-law (more details in Ch 3)

Sir William & Lady Lucas - Sir William formerly in trade. They live in Meryton about a mile from Longbourn. Has 2 daughters & a son

Elizabeth / Eliza / Lizzy Bennet - 2nd daughter of 5. Main character

Jane Bennet - eldest daughter of 5. Considered the prettiest.

Lydia Bennet - youngest daughter of 5.

Chapter 2

Kitty / Catherine Bennet - 4th daughter of 5.

Mrs Bennet - mother of 5 girls. Wants them all to marry.

Mary Bennet - middle daughter of 5. Plain looking but worked hard & is musically accomplished.

Chapter 3

Mr Hurst - Brother-in-law of Mr Bingley (married to Lousia 1 of 2 sisters to Mr Bingley - mentioned in Ch 7)

Mr Darcy - friend of Mr Bingley. Has a large estate in Derbyshire (north of England). Residence is called Pemberley - mentioned in Ch 6.

Miss King - minor mention

Maria Lucas - daughter of Sir William & Lady Lucas

Chapter 4

No new characters mentioned

Chapter 5

Charlotte Lucas - daughter of Sir William & Lady Lucas. Close friend of Lizzy Bennet

Mr Robinson - minor mention

young Lucas boy - brief mention - son of Sir William & Lady Lucas

Chapter 6

Colonel Forster

Chapter 7

Mrs & Mr Phillips - sister & brother-in-law of Mrs Bennet

Captain Carter - Army captain admired by Kitty Bennet

Miss Watson - minor mention

Brother of Mrs Bennet mentioned, but not named - he lives in London

Mrs Louisa Hurst - Sister of Mr Bingley

Caroline Bingley - Sister of Mr Bingley & Louisa Hurst)

Mr Jones - the apothecary

Chapter 8

Miss Darcy - Mr Darcy's younger sister

Chapter 9

No new characters mentioned

Chapter 10

Miss Grantley - minor mention

Chapter 11

Nicholls ? cook - works at Netherfield

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Hill ? cook - works for the Bennets

Mr William Collins. Clergyman. 25yr old cousin of Mr Bennet. Will inherit the Bennet estate as there are no sons in the family.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh - widow. Lives at Rosings Park. Has 1 daughter. Patroness of William Collins

Sir Lewis de Bourgh - deceased husband of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Chapter 14

Miss de Bourgh - daughter of Sir Lewis & Lady Catherine. Frail lady.

Richard ?who

Mr Denny - army officer liked by Lydia Bennet

Chapter 15

(Hunsford - where Mr Collins lives)

Mr Wickham - friend of Mr Denny