The Annotated 'Pride and Prejudice'
by Jane Austen, Annotated by David M. Shapard
Reviewed by Alice VonKannon
Were you confused when Miss Bingley recommended to Elizabeth an express be sent to town for a doctor? Wonder what Austen meant when she said that, at Netherfield, Mr. Bingley had a good house and the liberty of a manor? Ever wonder what a coppice-wood is, or a mews, for that matter? Historian and Austen expert David M. Shapard explains it all, quickly and clearly in The Annotated Pride and Prejudice. He offers valuable insights into the subtleties of the language of the period, while giving delightful details on clothes, homes, food, shopping, money, travel, war, politics, social status and just about anything you can think of, all of it illuminated by wonderful, well-chosen period engravings and artwork.
Actually, there are five more of these annotated versions of Austen: Persuasion, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, hitting all her major novels. And they’re not out of print! All are still available in oversize paperback editions on Amazon, for between fifteen and twenty dollars.
For an Austen newbie, these books might be a necessity. For a researcher into Regency life, they’re pure joy. Open the book and you’ll find the complete text on the left side, and on the right a treasure trove of notes, definitions, and helpful general information. I’m probably like a lot of people in that, the first time I read Pride and Prejudice, I was sixteen and tended to just skim over any term I didn’t understand, trying to judge its meaning by context in order to simply enjoy the story. Now, so many years later, I know a great deal about the period, but with Shapard, there’s always something new to learn.
Is there a downside? Okay, I’ll be honest; I prefer to read the book itself in a normal edition. It can drive you a little crazy, stopping every minute or so to look to the right and read the comments. And trust me, the comments are so good, they can’t be resisted. Me, I’ll read a few chapters, and while they’re still fresh, pull out the annotated version and scan the notes. That way you still have the proper rhythm of the read without its being interrupted, but you’ll get the insights, as well.
Actually, there are five more of these annotated versions of Austen: Persuasion, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, hitting all her major novels. And they’re not out of print! All are still available in oversize paperback editions on Amazon, for between fifteen and twenty dollars.
For an Austen newbie, these books might be a necessity. For a researcher into Regency life, they’re pure joy. Open the book and you’ll find the complete text on the left side, and on the right a treasure trove of notes, definitions, and helpful general information. I’m probably like a lot of people in that, the first time I read Pride and Prejudice, I was sixteen and tended to just skim over any term I didn’t understand, trying to judge its meaning by context in order to simply enjoy the story. Now, so many years later, I know a great deal about the period, but with Shapard, there’s always something new to learn.
Is there a downside? Okay, I’ll be honest; I prefer to read the book itself in a normal edition. It can drive you a little crazy, stopping every minute or so to look to the right and read the comments. And trust me, the comments are so good, they can’t be resisted. Me, I’ll read a few chapters, and while they’re still fresh, pull out the annotated version and scan the notes. That way you still have the proper rhythm of the read without its being interrupted, but you’ll get the insights, as well.
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