Without question, Pride and Prejudice has endured the decades and centuries of classic literature like no other work because, unlike many that also endure, it is still avidly read for pleasure. Not many are nowadays. But, P&P continues to draw people to it year after year, decade after decade, as if it had been published only a few years ago.
What makes this one piece of fiction endure so well? What makes us crave it over and over again, because we all have read it more than once, haven't we? You can't eat just one potato chip anymore than you can read Pride and Prejudice only once.
I'll say for myself that I adore the intelligent characters first (my personal favorite is Mr. Bingley) and, then, how constantly the story evolves without ever sagging into a boring part. It is always witty and insightful. The attention to detail is astounding concerning how humans behave according to how they are treated and how they must behave because their society's decorum demands it.
Most importantly, the story wisks me away to a time and culture that doesn't exist anymore and only existed for a brief period, at that. And, when decorum flies out the window at a constant rate in our degrading society, this world that Austen not only created, but was literally a part of becomes all the more attractive to a person stuck in our world.
It has an elegance and charm that never fades and a smartness that stands the test of time. I've loved this story for many years and I will always love it. I love that so many people all over the world still love it after 200 long years!
Happy Birthday, Pride and Prejudice! If only Ms. Austen could be here now. I'm sure she never could have imagined how enduring our love for her wonderful story and characters could be. Here's to another 200 years!
