If you have any questions or requests for assistance regarding your research, please contact your Teacher Librarians.
This pathfinder contains a range of resources that will help you locate information about the context of the novel. You will be able to locate further items on Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice on the shelf at 823 AUS and 823.7 AUS.
Non-Fiction Print Resources
Below is a small selection of print resources that include information about Jane Austen and 19th Century England. You will also be able to locate notes and companions on the novel.
You can locate these using the shelf Call No indicated. You will also find more resources by searching the Library Catalogue.
820.9 English Literature – history and criticism
Oxford University Press. (1987). The Oxford illustrated history of English literature. New York, U.S.A. : Oxford University Press
820.9 OXF
This book provides a basic core of information of the history of English literature. It includes a chapter of the Romantic period where you will find information on novels of this time period and the ideas that are associated with them, including Jane Austen and her novels.
King, N. (2003). The romantics : English literature in its historical, cultural and social contexts. London, U.K. : Evans Brothers
820.9007 KIN
Sets out the historical, economic and social framework of the period as well as looking at the cult of the individual, the gothic and supernatural, painting and music, and post-Romanticism. Topics include: the characteristics of Romanticism, politics, the industrial revolution; individualism, Romanticism and women, agricultural revolution, education. It also includes a timeline and glossary of terms. Recommended.
823.7 English Fiction – history and criticism
Lane, M. (2013). Jane Austen’s world : the life and times of England’s most popular author. Carlton Books, London
823.7 AUS
This book looks at the woman behind the novels and takes you on a tour of the England of Jane Austen’s lifetime. Contents includes: Who was Jane Austen?– The woman – The writer – Beliefs and values – Family background – Love and friendship – Daily Life in Jane Austen’s England: Meals and manners – Housekeeping – Health and home remedies – A little education – The accomplished woman – Courtship – Society and the Spirit of the Age: The Royal family – Rich and poor – Church and clergy – Revolution and war – The British Empire – The New World – Farming – An industrial nation – The novel – The rights of women – The Visual World: A very English art – The country house – Interiors – The fashionable spa – Fashion – The Immortal Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice – The critics – Dramatizations – Sequels and completions.
Todd, J. (2006). The Cambridge introduction to Jane Austen. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
823.7 AUS
Jane Austen is unique among British novelists in maintaining her popular appeal while receiving more scholarly attention now than ever before. This innovative introduction by a leading scholar and editor of her work explains what students need to know about her novels, life, context and reception. Each novel is discussed in detail, and all the essential information about her life and literary influences, her novels and letters, and her impact on later literature and culture is covered. While the book considers the key areas of current critical focus its analysis remains thoroughly grounded in readings of the texts themselves. Janet Todd outlines what makes Austen’s prose style so innovative and gives useful starting points for the study of the major works, with suggestions for further reading.
Copeland, E. & McMaster, J. (Eds.). (1997). The Cambridge companion to Jane Austen. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
823.7 AUS
Contents: Chronology of Jane Austen’s life – The professional women writer- Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and prejudice – Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion – The short fiction – The letters – Class – Money – Religion and politics – Style – Jane Austen and literary traditions – Austen cults and cultures.
Pascoe, P. (2002). Pride and prejudice, Jane Austen : notes. (Rev. ed.). London : York Press, Pearson Education.
823.7 AUS
This book is packed with information on the author and the text, including historical and cultural background, detailed chapter summaries, commentaries on key themes, characters, language and style, illustrations, exam advice and much more.
Articles from Online Databases
Use your keywords to search the Online Databases. Below are the most relevant database titles for this task.
Bloom’s Literature
EBSCO : Literary Reference Center
EBSCO: Australian New Zealand Reference Center
Websites
BBC. (2014). GSCE Bitesize : English Literature, Pride and Prejudice, Context. Retreived June 23, 2015, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/proseprideprej/0prose_prideprej_contrev1.shtml
A secondary school revision resource for GCSE English Literature about the context of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Includes discussions on marriage, class, and etiquette and manners.
Jane Austen. (2015). The Biography.com website. Retrieved June 23, 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/jane-austen-9192819.
Jane Austen Centre. (n.d.). Online Magazine. Retrieved June 23, 2015, from http://www.janeausten.co.uk/online-magazine/
Jalic Inc. (2015). Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice. Online Literature Network. Retrieved June 23, 2015, from http://www.online-literature.com/austen/prideprejudice/
Landow, G. P. (2001). Jane Austen: an overview. Retrieved June 23, 2015, from http://www.victorianweb.org/previctorian/austen/austenov.html
O’Connor, K. (2015). Anonymous Jane Austen. Retrieved June 23, 2015, from http://writersinspire.org/content/anonymous-jane-austen
Videos
ABC Splash. (2015). ABC First Tuesday Book Club, ‘Pride and Prejudice study notes’. Retrieved June 23, 2015, from http://abcspla.sh/m/28458
We all have different opinions about novels but how do we elaborate on whether we think a novel is ‘good’ or ‘bad’? Listen to what the First Tuesday Book Club panellists have to say about the classic, and perhaps first ever, romantic comedy – Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
Markschannel1000. (2013). Pride and Prejudice: having a ball [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHHh-Ppd8oI
This documentary offers new insight into Jane Austen’s novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by recreating the Netherfield ball which provides the setting for the two lead characters’ first meeting. Amanda Vickery and Alastair Sooke, along with a team of professionals, put on a regency ball at Chawton House, taking into account various aspects including music, dance, food and clothing.
You may also like to watch the film starring Kira Knightly. Just remember though that you are not studying the film so don’t rely it.
Bevan, T., Fellner, E., Webster, P. (Producers), & Wright, J. (Director). (2005). Pride and Prejudice [motion picture]. Britain : Working Title Films. Retrieved from ClickView database.
Further resources
Download this PDF to access a further list of resources that relate to the following topics:
The evolution of the novel
The life of Jane Austen
The careers and pastimes of men in 19th century England
Courtship and marriage in Regency England
Fashion and manners in Regency England
REligion in 19th century England
The class system of 19th century England
The political climate of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries
The reception of Pride and Prejudice over time
Image Credits
AL-Lamp. (2015). Pride and Prejudice [Image]. Deviant Art. Retrieved June 22, 2015 from http://al-lamp.deviantart.com/art/Pride-and-Prejudice-391305875