Happy 200th Anniversary, Pride and Prejudice

After playing some Italian songs, Miss Bingley varied the charm by a lively Scotch air; and soon afterwards Mr. Darcy, drawing near Elizabeth, said to her—

"Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?"

She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with some surprise at her silence.

"Oh!" said she, "I heard you before; but I could not immediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say "Yes," that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have therefore made up my mind to tell you that I do not want to dance a reel at all—and now despise me if you dare."

"Indeed I do not dare."

Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him, was amazed at his gallantry; but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger.

On January 28, 1813, publisher Thomas Egerton released Jane Austen's second novel to the world—and now, two centuries later:

Quiz: How well do you know Pride & Prejudice? I scored a hundred percent on the questions which were actually about the book. Hey, quiz people, no fair penalizing us for not knowing trivia about adaptations and pastiches and what not.

Apparently in modern-day Britain, parents are more likely to consider marriage as linked to financial security for their sons than for their daughters. The Telegraph has that story.

Tour Britain, Austen-style! I'm drooling. Chatsworth House, a possible inspiration for Pemberley, is bee-ee-ay-yootiful.

Shannon Hale has released a couple of clips from her upcoming movie Austenland! Also, here's director Jerusha Hess talking Pride & Prejudice with Time Entertainment.

I'm still watching The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Lizzie's at Pemberley Digital right now, and today's episode was SO CUTE. I thought so, anyway. The Daily Dot has brief anniversary tributes from some of the cast and crew.

Need some adaptations, pastiches, spinoffs and the like? Here's JaneAusten.org's list of films and Wikipedia's list of literary adaptations. I doubt the latter is complete, but it'll get you started. Here's a Goodreads list that'll go further. There are 189 items on that list, as I write this.

Merch: Pride & Prejudice 200th Anniversary coffee mug, trivia game, note cards, board game, book charm necklace, and... it looks like Forever Young Adult already did this section for me. Thanks, Megan.

Time to raise a glass of wine and toast the author. Here's to you, Jane!