On 28 January 1813, Austen's most celebrated novel, 'Pride and Prejudice,' was published in three volumes by Thomas Egerton.
On 28 January 1813, Jane Austen's second novel, Pride and Prejudice, was published in three volumes by Thomas Egerton in London. It was a heavily revised version of the earlier manuscript First Impressions, which Austen had begun writing back in 1796.
The novel follows Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters as they navigate issues of marriage, morality, and social class in Regency England, centered on Elizabeth's evolving relationship with the proud but ultimately honorable Mr. Darcy. Austen herself referred to Elizabeth Bennet as 'as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print,' and the novel's opening line—'It is a truth universally acknowledged...'—remains one of the most famous in English literature.
Published anonymously, as 'By the Author of Sense and Sensibility,' the novel was an immediate critical and commercial success, going through multiple print runs within Austen's lifetime. Its blend of romantic comedy, biting social satire, and psychologically nuanced characters set new standards for the novel of manners.
Historically, Pride and Prejudice is significant as the work that most firmly established Austen's reputation, both then and in the two centuries since. It has never gone out of print, has inspired countless adaptations across film, television, and literature, and remains a touchstone for discussions of gender, marriage, and social mobility in English literary history.