'Pride and Prejudice', arguably Jane Austen's most recognisable novel was published in 1813. Originally named as 'First Impressions', Austen had begun to draft the piece in 1797, yet on rejections by publishers, Austen decided to rework the novel, and it was not until after 'Sense and Sensibility', that the book was released. Its extensive popularity was evident from the start; public demand ensuring that in that very year, three editions sold out and copies were translated into French. Yet, surprising though it may seem, Austen's work did find criticism from author Charlotte Bronte. Writing in 1847, she described the book as 'a carefully fenced, highly cultivated garden, with neat borders and delicate flowers; but ... no open country, no fresh air, no blue hill, no bonny beck'. The novel has spawned countless adaptations through all mediums, most notably the BBC series with Colin Firth, and the 2005 Keira Knightley film. So ingrained is Austen in our culture, that even the characters seem to have entered the vernacular, and the themes are still being repeated in modern day romantic comedies.
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