«Pride and Prejudice» in English with a Parallel Translation

In 1796-1797, young Jane Austen wrote "First Impressions". At the time, her efforts came to nothing, but after a while, a revised and renamed version of this work was published as "Pride and Prejudice". The title emphasizes the personality traits of both characters: impetuous Elizabeth Bennet and aloof Mr. Darcy. Issues of class, money and marriage are central in Austen’s novels: contemporary women had limited choices in life and generally needed to make practical, decorous decisions about their future.