Would Pride and Prejudice appeal to a 15 year old as a pleasure read?

If you’re the fifteen-year-old in question then I think there’s no doubt that you’d enjoy the book, though the language might seem a bit archaic at times, and the customs often difficult to understand (since they have to cross centuries and an ocean—assuming that you’re American—it can be difficult for Americans to understand modern British culture, language and idioms sometimes).

What do you have to lose by trying it?

Oh god, yes. I read it every year from about the age of twelve to….? It’s a great read!

That’s about the age my daughters fell in love with it. They are now in their mid- late twenties and are WAY more sophisticated than me. I just saw the movie for the first time a month ago. Maybe I will catch up with them eventually ;-)

It depends on the fifteen year old, of course, but if the fifteen year old has seen and enjoyed the movie, they will enjoy the book as well. But don’t take our word for it—you can download the book for free all over the internet and read a bit to see for yourself. A safe version is available for free from the Kindle store (you can do the Kindle on your PC option). You can also get a safe version from Project Gutenberg.

Because the classics are so old, they fall into the public domain. That means they can be reproduced legally for free.

Definitely a good read. I certainly suggest you read it. Now.

(P.S. Screw the reviews. Were any of the reviewers teenagers? I think not.)

Absolutely. Except if it’s assigned to you in school. Then you will hate it. Just sayin’.

PS: Mr. Bennet is one of my favorite characters in all of literature.I hope you enjoy him as much as I do.

@dpworkin… maybe (about the school assignment thing). But if we hadn’t had Dickens assigned while we were in school, it would have taken me decades to find out how great he is… if I ever did. Hardy, too.

@EmpressPixie It’s okay I’ve owned the book since I was 12 and I had attempted to read it at 13 and couldn’t get past the first few pages but I’m reading it now and so far I love it! I think watching the movie helped a ton.. especially picturing Mr. Darcy as Matthew Macfayden.

School killed Willa Cather for me for 20 years, and she is one of the most stunning writers on earth. I am so thankful I came across Hardy for myself.

I was the only one in my class who enjoyed Tale of Two Cities in school; I’ve read most of Dickens as an adult. He’s great to take along on a long vacation.

@dpworkin I taught My Antonia a few years ago. It is a magnificant book. I think we did read it in school too and I didn’t hate it, but I appreciated it so much more as an adult.

Most of George Eliot remains unenjoyable to me. There is too much tellng and not enough showing and I am a student of 19th century literature.

It could certainly appeal to a 15-year-old, but not every 15-year-old. My own sister loves it, and thinks little of the screen adaptations.

@Nullo The only good adaptation is the BBC one with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. That one is quite good, in my opinion.

That depends entirely on the 15-year-old. If you have any love for language, the cadence and character of the older language can be a feast for your soul.

There’s nothing that ruins a book—no matter how great—like having to do chapter summaries. If you are facing this situation, try to read well ahead and enjoy it before going back and dealing with the assignment. Writing chapter summaries to understand a novel is like dissecting a thrush to find the song.

@Jeruba Is that simile original? It’s brilliant!

I think my main motivation to read the book was the romantic qualities. I am an enormous sap for anything romantic and I figured what could be greater than the tale of one of our greatest couples up there with romeo and juliet. My main concern is that the romance won’t live up to entertain me and I get bored with it.

Yes, @janbb, the comparison was spontaneous. But the notion of dissecting a songbird to find the song as an example of misguided effort is something I remember reading or hearing in the distant past.

@janbb it sure is.

I’m fourteen, and pride and prejudice is one of my favorite books. I say, go for it! It can’t hurt to try.

If you love the movie so much, odds are you’ll also love the book. I’ve read it a gazillion times since first reading it in college.

The only thing that might put you off is the language. It’s understandably “old fashioned” and takes some getting used to. Once you’ve read one Jane Austen (or something like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights), you get more comfortable with the language. Having seen the movie so many times, you may adjust to it more easily. And if you’ve seen the BBC version with Colin Firth, it will be even easier. That movie follows the dialogue of the book more closely.

And in case none of you have noticed this from any of my earlier posts, Mr. Darcy completely belongs to me. Hands off, ladies! :P

My kids loved that they had already read many of the clasics before they were assigned. They read most of the books that had been assigned in my college freshman humanities class while they were in High School. It gave them a confidance other kids didn’t have.

@MissAusten I thought we’d established many months ago that he’s mine. I’m older so I called him first.

Damn it.

@MissAusten You can have Mr. Collins as a consolation prize.

@janbb Now you know that is just plain evil. Look, there’s more than one Mr. Darcy. Why don’t you take Colin Firth and I’ll take Matthew MacFayden. Deal?

@MissAusten Oh – that works so well for me. But, I still get the book one, too.

After reading everyone’s comments here, I can’t wait to read it. I recently put it on my Amazon Kindle along with a dozen other works of classic literature.

Then see Colin Firth in his new (and wonderful movie), A Single Man.

The movie is flawed but Firth is elegant and understated (except in his wardrobe).

Oh, sorry. Do start to read the book. The first sentence of P & P is among the most famous opening lines in Brit lit. You can always put it down after that until you are older.

@janbb That’s fine with me, as long as I also get Mr. Knightly when someone brings up “Emma.”

It might take a bit of time to get into, but if you like the movie then reading the book is certainly worth it. And if you don’t end up liking it, no harm done! Better to try :)

@MissAusten and @janbb I’m afraid I am closer in age, looks, and personality to Miss Bennet so Mr. Darcy will certainly make his claims on me before either of you. My apologies

Like @janbb, I plump for the BBC five-part Pride and Prejudice series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Gorgeous stuff.

@Adagio honestly after seeing collin firth in Nanny McPhee and Love Actually, any attraction I had for him previously was gone. I don’t see how anyone can compete with Matthew Macfayden.

@Judi I think they took that question down? Or I don’t understand.

The book was so much more than the movie. I hope you mean the six hour movie by A&E, because the one with Keira(spelling?) Knightley was dreadful. As others have said here already, it’s going to depend on the person. I hope you give her the book, and I hope she enjoys it as much as I have.

@Finley perhaps the difference lies in the quality of the film being made and the script. If you like Matthew McFadyen you might enjoy In My Father’s Den. I think it is a superb film and Matthew McFadyen couldn’t be more perfect for the role he plays.incidentally, the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth was made in 1995; Colin is 15 years younger than he is today ;)

Mathew MacFadyen was also excellent in Little Dorrit on Masterpeice Theatre but he is no Mr. Darcy. However, the main flaws with that version of P&P lie with the direction.

@MissAusten Shoot you for Colonel Brandon, although only in the Alan Rickman incarnation.

@janbb Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon? Yes, definitely :)

I doubt it. I saw the movie years ago, and it was one of the most boring movies. ever. So I don’t think the book is going to be much better. Especially for a 15 year old. Unless they actually like stuff like that of course. I like action!

Crap darned iPhone! Will someone flag my answer for me since I answered the wrong question? I can’t flag it from rhe iPhone. Thanks!

You will enjoy it so. The opening sentence is one of the most famous in English literature.

I so need a Jane Austen movie marathon now.

I like the BBC version of P&P for its faithfulness to the book. I also like the Kiera Knightly version just for some of the characters. I love Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet and the Mr. Collins in that one is funny. I could watch the proposal in the rain over and over again. sigh

try “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”...is more fun and shorter.

@talljasperman I think I’m going to read that one once I finish the real one. So far I am ⅓ way through Vol. 1 of the real version and I loovovove it. What is “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” about? Does it still have the romantic quality along with humor?

@Finley I signed it out twice from the library and never had time to read much….I think Its in the same time and place as Pride and Prejudice but there are zombies everywhere and the main characters are zombie hunters and the man get bitten and I think she has to decide whether or not to still marry him or kill him…I am told that It is funny…then there are other books like sense and sensibility and the ninjas or sea creatures or something…I will read them later when I have more time to my self.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is very funny. Quite a bit of the book is word-for-word taken from the original. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters was a little disappointing for me. I didn’t think it was quite as well done, although it did have some clever moments.

@MissAusten My sole reason for reading this book is for its romantic qualities (despite the time period) is P and P and Z still romantic?

@Finley Yes. It is literally the exact same story, but with zombies.

I love literature lovers. I haven’t read the book yet (I do know the opening line); it’s on my list now, too, but whichever version of the movie I saw was good. Guess I’ll have to look up the BBC version, too. Thanks to all.