The first time I read this book back in my Sixth Form days, I felt so intellectually cultured as though I possessed a literary depth that my peers lacked. After all, most of the prose flew right over my head, so it just had to be a work of higher intellect. Now that I’m older and have had another crack at this iconic romance, I can honestly say that I’ve never read a book more about marriage and nothing much else than this one. Mrs Bennett cares for nothing other than the business of ensuring that her five daughters are duly wedded in high station and this just about sets the tone of the story.

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