womens fiction

If you already love or have just begun to read Jane Austen and want to know more about the vocabulary, the dress, the food, the customs of her time, you will find David Shapard's "The Annotated Pride and Prejudice" of incomparable value. Did you know that "mornings" meant most of the day? Have you ever wondered where the phrase "pin-money" comes from? Page 683 provides the answer!
An excellent introduction and maps showing the sites mentioned contribute to an enhanced enjoyment and understanding of the novel for old and new readers alike.

Through his annotations, Mr. Shapard transported me to the Georgian and Regency England by providing useful background information about the society where Jane Austen lived. I particularly enjoyed references to and quotations from Jane Austen's minor works and letters as well as Jane Austen's favorites such as Cowper, Crabbe, Gilpin, etc. Moreover, the chronology is a great contribution. Before reading this book, I had read and thoroughly enjoyed pride and prejudice at least 20 times. The annotations definitely enhance such enjoyment and makes one appreciate Jane Austens' genius and wit even more.

Expertly edited by David M. Shapard, this Pheasant Books edition of Jane Austen's The Annotated Pride & Prejudice is enhanced throughout with extensive annotations offering considerable insights into the historical topics touched upon within the narrative including citations from Jane Austin's own life and work; literary analyses; definitions of archaic words used; and more. An excellent version of a classic work, The Annotated Pride & Prejudice is especially recommended to literature students, as well as the non-specialist general reader who seeks to absorb the most they can from this epic work with the annotations providing a welcome comprehension aid to modern-day readers.