The book is about a love story, set in Regency Society, based on manners, morality, education and marriage. While the British Empire was at war with France and the United States, in Jane Austen's fictional world, you could hear a pin drop. She re-imagined the time in which she lived and was a part of, with hidden codes and complex hierarchy at work. Contact with single men at that time was strictly controlled and regulated, except in the ballroom, where you could meet blokes with a whole load of cash, desperate to find a suitable mate. So, a personal invitation to a private ball was much sought after.
There would have been months of preparation for the ball goers as well as the hosts. Dancing was essential and dance tuition became a lucrative business, as a man who could not dance, was at a disadvantage for love. All their clothes were hand made and were a public display of assets. Many women became slaves to haberdashery, with muslin as the fabric of the Regency.
The hosts spent months organizing the ball with physical, social and emotional costs. During the ball, there would have been a ball supper, as food was a sign of status and brought everyone together. A ball supper for 20 people would have consisted of approximately 60 dishes and had to be spectacular. All the dishes were served at the same time, so preparing 20 savoury and 40 sweet dishes would have been a logistical nightmare.
White soup was the most famous food dish in Pride and Prejudice. The recipe originated from France in the 17th century, and was known as Pottage a la Reine (Queen's Soup). Here is a modern equivalent:
Serves 4
50g / 2 oz blanched almonds
250g / 10 oz white bread, without crusts
1.5 litres / 2.5 pints veal or beef stock
1 egg yolk
275ml / 10 fl oz of either double cream, milk or soured cream
juice of 1 lemon
cayenne pepper
salt and freshly milled black pepper
toasted almonds to garnish
1- Put the almonds and bread into a blender.
2- Add some of the stock and liquidize to a smooth paste.
3- Transfer the paste to a pot and add the remaining stock.
4- Beat the egg yolk with the cream, milk or soured cream and add to the soup.
5- Add the lemon juice and simmer gently, do not boil.
6- Add the cayenne pepper and season to taste.
7- Garnish with toasted almonds.
Austen sold the copyright for the novel for £110, which proved to be a costly decision as the book has since sold 20 million copies worldwide. It is now the UK's best loved book. The original manuscript did not survive and having sold the copyright, Austen had nothing to do with subsequent editions of the novel. To mark the 200th anniversary of the novel's release, copies of the book have been released based on the text of the first edition, where no attempt has been made to standardize or modernize the text. All the original punctuation and spelling have been retained.
Here are the relationships between the characters in Janes Austen's Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet, who was the second-eldest of five daughters, falls in love with Mr. Darcy. Now, Mr Darcy was the enemy of George Wickham, who nearly eloped with Georgina Darcy, the sister of Mr Darcy and the cousin of Colonel Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth was attracted to the Colonel, and she was also attracted to George Wickham, who marries her younger sister, Lydia. Mr Darcy was intended for Anne de Bourgh, the daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the aunt of Mr Darcy. Caroline Bingley, the sister of Charles Bingley, who was the friend of Mr Darcy, was attracted to Mr Darcy as well. Elizabeth's sister Jane, was in love with Charles Bingley and was the companion of his sister Caroline Bingley. Elizabeth's cousin Mr Collins, who was the benefactor of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the cousin of Mr Bennet, proposed to Elizabeth, but instead married Charlotte Lucas, the best friend of Elizabeth. Mrs Bennet's brother, Edward Gardiner and his wife, after a wild goose chase, save Lydia from embarrassing herself with George Wickham.
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