A smart, spirited heroine determined to marry for love despite pressure to “make a match” that prioritises financial security. A well-born, wealthy bachelor who looks desirable but is also aloof and disapproving. An irresistible attraction between them. It’s a familiar tale, and a persistent one.

Jane Austen created the story of Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy in her witty and astute 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice . Its tale of a rocky romance buffeted by tense exchanges and muddled communications, complicated by class differences, has proved timeless and universal. It’s drawn a devoted following, with every era bringing its own variations.

Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

It was first adapted for the screen in 1

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