Published in 1813, but written earlier in 1796-7, Pride and Prejudice is a classic novel set in the fictional village of Meryton in early 19th-century England. The story follows the lives of the Bennet family and in particular Elizabeth, the second eldest daughter.
The novel opens with the news that Mr Bingley, a wealthy and eligible bachelor, has rented a nearby estate called Netherfield Park. The Bennet family attend a ball where Jane (Elizabeth’s sister) and Mr Bingley are immediately drawn to each other and spend most of the evening dancing together. Mr Bingley’s close friend, Mr Darcy, appears distant and cold throughout the evening and refuses to dance with Elizabeth, publicly snubbing her. Mr Bingley makes a positive impact but Mr Darcy is seen as arrogant and proud, especially by Elizabeth.
However, after the ball, Mr Darcy begins to find himself increasingly attracted to Elizabeth Bennet, but her dislike for him increases. Meanwhile, Mr Bingley’s friendship with Jane continues to grow. Mr Collins, a distant cousin and clergyman, visits the Bennets. He will inherit Mr Bennet’s estate after he dies. Mr Collins proposes to Elizabeth but she refuses, which hurts his pride and angers Mrs Bennet. The Bennet sisters befriend militia officers who are stationed in a nearby town. Elizabeth meets one of the soldiers, Mr Wickham, who tells her that he grew up with Mr Darcy but he was cheated out of his rightful inheritance by him. This increases her dislike of Mr Darcy and she sympathises with the charming Mr Wickham.
Winter arrives and the Bingleys and Mr Darcy leave Netherfield to return to London, leaving Jane disappointed. Elizabeth is shocked to find out that her best friend, Charlotte, is engaged to Mr Collins. Charlotte marries Mr Collins and Elizabeth promises to visit them at their home. Jane goes to London, hoping to see Mr Bingley, but she is unsuccessful.
Elizabeth decides to visit Charlotte’s new home the following spring and meets Mr Collins’s patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady Catherine is also Mr Darcy’s aunt. Mr Darcy and Elizabeth meet at Lady Catherine’s home. Mr Dacy visits the Collins’ home regularly. During one of these visits, he proposes to Elizabeth, which shocks her. However, she rejects him and Mr Darcy leaves upset but shortly after gives her a letter. In the letter, he clarifies the things Elizabeth accused him of relating to his treatment of Mr Wickham.
Shocked by what she has read, Elizabeth begins to reflect on her feelings for Mr Darcy as well as her feelings for the deceitful Mr Wickham. Despite Elizabeth’s reservations, Mr Bennet gives Lydia his permission to spend the summer with an acquaintance in Brighton where some of the militia, including Wickham, will be staying. Elizabeth goes travelling with her relatives, the Gardiners, and they stop near Pemberley, which belongs to Mr Darcy, and Elizabeth agrees to visit his estate. While she is there, Mr Darcy arrives and behaves with great charm and kindness towards her and the Gardiners.
Elizabeth then receives a letter with distressing news about her youngest sister Lydia, who has eloped with Mr Wickham and cannot be traced. Elizabeth and the Gardiners decide to leave to return home and Mr Darcy bids them farewell.
When they arrive home, Mr Bennet returns home unsuccessfully but a letter from Mr Gardiner shortly follows that says that he has found the missing couple and that Mr Wickham has agreed to marry Lydia, accepting a small annual income. Mr Bennet and the daughters believe that Mr Gardiner has generously paid off Mr Wickham but when Lydia and Mr Wickham arrive at Longbourn, the Bennets’ home, Elizabeth finds out that it was Mr Darcy who arranged the hasty marriage and begins to reflect on what she has lost in refusing to marry him.
Mr Wickham and Lydia leave Longbourn and Mr Bingley makes a surprise return to Netherfield, and visits the Bennets. He proposes to Jane and she accepts. One evening, Lady Catherine de Bourgh arrives unexpectedly, demanding that Elizabeth must promise never to accept a proposal to marry Mr Darcy. Elizabeth refuses. Lady Catherine leaves in anger. Shortly afterwards, Mr Darcy and Elizabeth walk together and he renews his proposal. Elizabeth happily accepts and both sisters marry at the end of the novel.