When David Shapard self-published this book in 2004, it was the first-ever fully annotated edition of Pride and Prejudice, with thousands of informative and entertaining notes, maps, and illustrations. Our Anchor edition was published in 2007 and has sold more than 55,000 copies. Since then, Shapard has annotated three more Austen novels for Anchor, and his extensive research has turned up many more sources and fascinating facts and images than were originally available to him. For this revised edition, he has eliminated some minor repetitions and less important notes, expanded many of his original notes, and added hundreds of new ones, along with many more wonderful illustrations from paintings, engravings, and drawings of the time. The result is a delight for Jane Austen fans, and a magnificent flagship for our ongoing series of Annotated Austens.
The first fully annotated edition of Jane Austen's beloved classic, presenting the complete text alongside comprehensive, detailed annotations-now revised and expanded with hundreds of new notes and illustrations
A sheer delight for Jane Austen fans, The Annotated Pride and Prejudice contains the complete text of Pride and Prejudice with thousands of annotations, including-
. Explanations of historical context- Rules of etiquette, class differences, the position of women, legal and economic realities, leisure activities, and more.
. Citations from Austen's life, letters, and other writings- Parallels between the novel and Austen's experience are revealed, along with writings that illuminate her beliefs and opinions.
. Definitions and clarifications- Archaic words, words still in use whose meanings have changed, and obscure passages are explained.
. Literary comments and analyses- Insightful notes highlight Austen's artistry and point out the subtle ways she develops her characters and themes.
. Maps and illustrations- See the places and objects mentioned in the novel.
. An introduction, a bibliography, and a detailed chronology of events
Of course, one can enjoy the novel without knowing the precise definition of a gentleman, or what it signifies that a character drives a coach rather than a hack chaise, or the rules governing social interaction at a ball, but readers of The Annotated Pride and Prejudice will find that these kinds of details add immeasurably to understanding and enjoying the intricate psychological interplay of Austen's immortal characters.
Author Biography:
Jane Austen (1775-1817) was born in Hampshire, England, where she spent most of her life. Though she received little recognition in her lifetime, she came to be regarded as one of the great masters of the English novel.
David M. Shapardis the author of The Annotated Pride and Prejudice, The Annotated Persuasion,The Annotated Sense and Sensibility,The Annotated Emma,The Annotated Northanger Abbey, and The Annotated Mansfield Park. He graduated with a Ph.D. in European History from the University of California at Berkeley; his specialty was the eighteenth century. Since then he has taught at several colleges. He lives in upstate New York.
