Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, is one of the most beloved novels in the English language. Jane Austen's witty and sharp portrait of Elizabeth Bennet and the proud Mr Darcy has captivated readers for over two centuries. The story explores themes of love, class, family pressure, and the importance of marrying for the right reasons rather than financial security. Set in the English countryside, the novel follows the Bennet family — five daughters whose mother is determined to see them all well married. Elizabeth, the second daughter, is spirited and intelligent, and her early disdain for Mr Darcy gives way to a deeper understanding in one of literature's greatest romances.

Austen wrote with sharp irony and psychological precision that feels entirely modern. The famous opening line — "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" — is one of the most recognised in all of English literature. Pride and Prejudice is public domain and free to stream here with no account, no subscription, and no adverts.