Books

First published in 1813, "Pride and Prejudice," Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners - one of the most popular novels of all time - tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." So begins the novel, that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.

"It's such a happiness when good people get together."

Rich and confident Emma is perfectly happy with her life the way it is. That doesn t stop her from enjoying a good love story though as long as it s not her own. But as she blunders through a scheme to find a suitable husband for her new friend Harriet, Emma begins to realise that her judgement is not as good as she thought.

Taken in by rich relatives, quiet and sensitive Fanny never feels she is a part of the grand surroundings of Mansfield Park. Her cousin, Edmund, is the only person who pays her any attention. But when the sophisticated Crawfords move into the neighbourhood, even Edmund falls under their spell, and Fanny finds herself more alone than ever.

Marianne and Elinor Dashwood are complete opposites: Marianne is as open to love as Elinor is guarded and sensible. But what are sisters for if not to support each other? As they struggle through love and loss together, the sisters learn that it's best to mix sense with sensibility to find happiness in a society where status is king

Catherine Morland longs to be as interesting as the gothic heroines she reads about in novels. When she is invited on her first trip away from home, she leaps at the chance. New friendships and flirting lead her to the imposing Northanger Abbey, where Catherine discovers that a little imagination can be a dangerous thing.

A beautiful and accessible children's edition of Austen's classic story, featuring contemporary black and white illustration. Scan the QR code inside to listen along to the free audiobook!

At ten years old, Fanny is sent to live with rich relatives at Mansfield Park. Fanny doesn t fit in there but she is grateful for the friendship of her cousin, Edmund. Years later, the arrival of Henry and Mary Crawford upsets their quiet lives. With even Edmund acting differently, can Fanny stay true to herself?

An adapted and illustrated edition of Jane Austen's romantic classic - at an easy-to-read level for all ages.

Laura has lived a fairy-tale life until a stranger knocks on her cottage door. Then her adventures and her troubles begin. In dramatic letters, Laura tells of heartless fathers and runaway children, long-lost grandfathers and thieving cousins. Hers is a story of doomed love, fierce friendship, and the unexpected dangers of fainting.

All Catherine wants is to be like the heroines in the books she reads. On her first trip away from home, she finally gets her chance. A new friendship and a growing love lead her to the spooky Northanger Abbey. There Catherine will find that a little imagination can cause a lot of trouble.

A beautifully illustrated adapted classic that will introduce children to the works of Jane Austen.

Persuasion is Jane Austen's last completed novel. She began it soon after she had finished Emma, completing it in August 1816. She died, aged 41, in 1817; Persuasion was published in December that year (but dated 1818). Persuasion is linked to Northanger Abbey not only by the fact that the two books were originally bound up in one volume and published together, but also because both stories are set partly in Bath, a fashionable city with which Austen was well acquainted, having lived there from 1801 to 1805. Besides the theme of persuasion, the novel evokes other topics, such as the Royal Navy, in which two of Jane Austen's brothers ultimately rose to the rank of admiral. As in Northanger Abbey, the superficial social life of Bath-well known to Austen, who spent several relatively unhappy and unproductive years there-is portrayed extensively and serves as a setting for the second half of the book. In many respects Persuasion marks a break with Austen's previous works, both in the more biting, even irritable satire directed at some of the novel's characters and in the regretful, resigned outlook of its otherwise admirable heroine, Anne Elliot, in the first part of the story. Against this is set the energy and appeal of the Royal Navy, which symbolises for Anne and the reader the possibility of a more outgoing, engaged, and fulfilling life, and it is this worldview which triumphs for the most part at the end of the novel.

" Pride and Prejudice" is a beloved novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. Set in the Regency era of England, the story follows the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth, as she navigates the social conventions of the time and the search for a suitable husband. The novel explores themes such as class, marriage, social norms, and the role of women in society. It is also a witty and romantic comedy of manners, full of memorable characters and clever dialogue. The interactions between Elizabeth and the proud, wealthy Mr. Darcy are particularly famous, as they begin with mutual dislike and misunderstanding but eventually come to appreciate each other's true character. Throughout the novel, Austen uses humor and irony to expose the absurdity and limitations of the society in which her characters live. The book is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its sharp social commentary, vivid characters, and timeless love story.