Pride and Prejudice

By: Jane Austen

Narrated by: Flo Gibson

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Many consider this rich social commentary to be Jane Austen's finest novel. It is certainly among her more famous ones. Austen sets her entertaining study of manners and misconceptions against the backdrop of a class-conscious society in 18th century England.

Spirited, intelligent Elizabeth Bennett is alternately enchanted and affronted by Mr. Darcy. She is quick to suspend her usual, more rational judgment when it comes to him. She also is quick to believe the worst gossip about this haughty, opinionated man who soon manages to alienate Elizabeth and her family. But is the condescending air that Mr. Darcy wears an indication of his real character? Or has Elizabeth's pride gotten in the way of her chance for true romance?

Public Domain (P)1980 Recorded Books, LLC.

Reliably wonderful

We all know and love this book, but I write the review because Flo Gibson is a favorite reader of mine.

wonderfully read

Flo Gibson does a wonderful job in reading this wonderful classic. she also does a wonderful job with the character voices

I've loved this version since its cassette tape days. Flo Gibson is the best Jane Austen narrator of all.

Great book and wonderful reading

Would you listen to Pride and Prejudice again? Why?

I would listen to this again in a few years. I really liked the way the story unfolded.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lizzie was my favorite because she seemed very sensible. I also liked Mr. Collins; he provided comic relief.

What does Flo Gibson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She brought excellent emotion to the characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. But sometimes I couldn't stop listening because I wanted to hear what would happen next.

TAKE THIS JANE AUSTEN ANYWHERE!

It took me awhile to get used to FLO GIBSON as the reader, but the I fell in with her cadence and have enjoyed listening to this AUDIBLE recording many, many times. It is one of the best.
Whether killing time at the airport or on a regular commute, I give this PRIDE AND PREJUDICE an A+ grade.

Practically perfect in every way

This has always been one of my favorite audiobooks. It was one of the first unabridged audiobooks I ever listened to, on a set of cassette tapes checked out from the local library. After listening to it again, I'm struck by the unique collaboration between Jane Austen and Flo Gibson: both are here at the absolute top of their game.

Austen is sometimes characterized as superficial, more interested in the economics of marriage than in the "higher feelings." But the economics were important, and in any case it would be hard to think of another character more defined by genuine, deep feeling than Elizabeth Bennet.

There is darkness here. It's not just in large things, like the frankly described disgrace that follows Lydia's impulsive attachment to Wickham. (Austen would never use the word "sex," at least not in reference to sex; but she leaves no doubt about what Lydia and Wickham are up to, or what it means for the family in the conservative, judgmental world of the novel.) There are small tragedies scattered throughout the novel. Charlotte's marriage to the odious Mr Collins is one: she has to endure constant embarrassment at the hands of her ridiculous husband; but worse, a wall drops down between her and Lizzie, a wall that does, in fact, put a permanent end to their former intimacy.

The ending may be a fairy tale for Jane and Lizzie, but others are not so lucky. Mary remains at home with her parents, forced to leave aside her own pursuits, pathetic as they are, to listen to her mother's endless babbling. And Lydia and Wickham never learn: they wander from house to house and town to town, always looking for a situation they can afford, always leaving behind debts and diminished reputations.

Gibson's voice is a bit raspy, not at all the kind of lilting sound you'd expect from the prose itself. And yet one after another, she captures the essence of each of Austen's brilliant characters, from the insufferable Collins, to the eccentric and (later) regretful Mr Bennet, to the generous and impertinent glory of Elizabeth Bennet herself. Over and over again, I found myself laughing at loud, both at Austen's wit and Gibson's perfect articulation of it.

I've tried to listen to other readings of the book, but for me none of the others comes close.

Great Classic

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really enjoyed this audio ebook. It was really easy to listen along too. I quite often closed my eyes whilst listening and would picture in my mind the story as it rolled along.
I dont beleive you will go wrong in following Flo Gibson as she is quite good, and the way that she changes tones and pace to suit the characters, really gives this book justice and merit. Well done, and I am certainly going to be looking for more narations by Flo Gibson.

What did you like best about this story?

The narration is great, and gives the whole book feeling.

Which character – as performed by Flo Gibson – was your favorite?

Mr Darcy is well done

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes , i just didnt want to turn my Kindle off, as i really enjoyed it,, Like a good book, once you start it , you just cant put it down,,

CAUTIONARY TALE

“Pride and Prejudice” is a cautionary tale about “love at first sight”.

“Pride and Prejudice” depicts human nature as accurately today as when published in 1813. Most relationships are based on shadows of human beings. There is a thin line between pride and self-assurance, prejudice and truth that are observed in a cave of human shadows. People are shadows to each other because no one can truly know another. The “other” (anyone but oneself) has their own life experience; their own interaction with life; their own perception of themselves, and their own prejudice. Experience in life is always personal. Human action and reaction is often similar but every intellectual and emotional experience is unique to the individual.

How often first impressions are mistaken; often colored by what someone says, and inevitably governed by prejudices of the observer. Interpretation of human actions and appearance is the slippery slope of misunderstanding. Interpretation of other’s actions and appearance distorts truth because every interpretation is prejudiced by personal experience.

Marriage is an obvious subject of “Pride and Prejudice” but how one decides who to marry is the more interesting exploration. Truth of “being” is what one seeks when looking for a life partner. The irony is that one will never know the truth of one’s partner but the search is no less important than the finding.

good

I can't possibly rate this book any lower that a 4-star. However, I was somewhat disappointed in this reading, and would recommend trying one of the other available productions.

Wonderful book but...

This is a wonderful book! I had never read the book before getting the audio version and I had great difficulty catching the meaning of intricately worded passages when I listened to it - a momentary distraction meant I missed one word which caused me to lose the meaning of what someone was saying. I finally gave up and got the book. After I read it and knew what was coming and what people were getting at in their ever so polite speeches the audio book was shear delight!