Published 200 years ago in 1813, Jane Austen's most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice, turns 200 years old today but has never been fresher and more loved. Pride and Prejudice is in many ways a record book. For instance, it has never been out of print. Itremains one of the best-read novels in the English language, with more than 20 million copies sold. It's also the most filmed of the Austen novels, with 10 major films and TV miniseries, including the classic 1940 adaptation starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson with a script cowritten by no less a literary light than Aldous Huxley. Of course, for many of us Elizabeth has Jennifer Ehle's sweet smile and Mr Darcy Colin Firth dreamy stare. These days 'Jane Austen' is a very big brand name, masses of money are made in her name. Would she be offended? I don't think so. She would have loved to earn money by her quill, that was what she aspired to as a woman and as a writer: financial independence, freedom.
Can you believe it? Charming Mr Darcy and his beautiful, proud
Elizabeth are 200 years old!
How would you celebrate them today? I've prepared my copy of Pride and Prejudice to leaf through it as much as I can today and I'll rewatch my favorite moments from my DVD collection. What about re-watching the first proposal in different adaptations? This is a collage I made a couple of years ago and have already posted on a different occasion. If you have some spare time and feel like watching (or re-watching), here it is .
Here's THE list of blogs taking part in the online celebration
1.Courtney @ Stiletto Storytime24.Wendi Sotis47.Lúthien84 @ My Love for Jane Austen
2.Dani C @ Paulette's Papers25.P O Dixon48.Eustacia Tan @Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
3.Cassandra Grafton26.Indie Jane49.Catherine Lawrencce
4.Kate @ Musings27.Jessica Grey50.Ashley @ Wholly Books!
5.Nicole28.Brenna Aubrey51.BettieLee Turner
6.Jessica @ Peace Love Books29.Kate McKinley52.Phylly3
7.Short and Sweet Reviews30.Reina M. Williams53.Heather Vogel Frederick
8.Rebecca (RivkaBelle) @ A Word's Worth31.CandyM @ So little time...54.Faith Hope & Cherrytea
9.Book Addict Katie32.Erin K.55.Josie Brown
10.Sally Smith O'Rourke33.Media Darlings56.Audrey Bilger
11.Erlynn @ Books Hug Back34.Moira Bianchi57.Chantal
12.Deborah/TheBookishDame35.Farida Mestek58.Cindie @ Cindspectus
13.Marilyn Brant36.My Jane Austen Book Club59.Sharon Lathan
14.Missy @ Invincible Love of Reading37.Mary C. M. Phillips60.Austen Authors
15.Maria Grace38.Monica61.Marlyn @ Stuff and Nonsense
16.Angie Kroll39.Living Read Girl62.Jessica @ Literary, etc
17.Nancy Kelley40.Rebecca McFarland Kyle63.Amie @ amiemccracken
18.Kathy41.Laurel Ann (Austenprose)64.Susan Mason-Milks
19.Darcyholic Diversions/Barbara Tiller Cole42.Jaimie Bell65.Jen @ altered type
20.Abigail Reynolds43.Misty @ The Book Rat66.Liza @WhoRuBlog
21.Jennifer Becton44.Shannon Winslow67.Deb
22.Veronica @ Dark Jane Austen Book Club45.Courtney Sheets68.Deb (Jane Austen in Vermont)
23.Diana Oaks46.Lauren @Marie Antoinette's Gossip Guide to the 18th Century