If you love Pride & Prejudice, tell us why for a chance to win a copy of ELIGIBLE BY CURTIS SITTENFELD + £100 SWEATY BETTY voucher

[UrsulaMumsnet]

‘In 2009 it was One Day. Four years ago it was Gone Girl. This year the book of the summer is going to be Eligible’ The Times

Love! Sex! Darcy!

This is Pride and Prejudice but not as you know it. Darcy is a neurosurgeon, Bingley is a reality TV star and Cousin Willie is… well, that’s for you to find out.

Everyone is clamouring to get their hands on Eligible, the hottest book of the summer.

Luckily for you, we’ve teamed up with HarperCollins to offer you the chance to win a copy of the book PLUS a £100 voucher for Sweaty Betty.

If you love Pride and Prejudice, tell us why to be in with a chance to win. Good luck!

‘Dazzling’ Woman and Home

'Sheer joy… Giddy and glam and a hearty update of Pride and Prejudice’ Jessie Burton, author of The Miniaturist

‘If there exists a more perfect pairing than Curtis Sittenfeld and Jane Austen, we dare you to find it’ Elle

Curtis Sittenfeld is the bestselling author of the novels Prep, The Man of My Dreams, American Wife, and Sisterland, which have been translated into twenty-five languages. Her nonfiction has also been published widely.

This discussion is sponsored by Harper Collins and will end on 16 May

[SuzCG]

I studied Pride & Prejudice for my English Lit many years ago now and whilst I may not have been that keen to begin with - I certainly grew to love it. Classic books are that for a reason - despite the passing years that are still entertaining & engaging, and P&P is definitely this. Lizzie Bennett was a hero of her time, refusing to conform and the book contains characters of all descriptions. Life never really changes, despite modern advances. This book doesn't either - it's as great today as it was then!

[Mozarmstrong]

Classic novel if you love reading absolute pleasure into their world. I say read and enjoy.

[AnneElliott]

I love it as you can read it in so many levels. The first time you read it, it's taken at face value whereas for me the humour and irony became apparent on the second reading.

I've read it so many times and yet I still find it funny and get something else out of it each time.

[Flossiesmummy]

I love P&P because I think everyone has had an interest in someone they couldn't stand when they first met!
Sometimes you don't even want to like them, but you just can't help it. We've all been there!

[Susangilley7]

I love Pride and Prejudice. It is like an old friend. Have seen TV and film versions so many times. Love the characters.

[raereadsblogger1]

The characters are so diverse in Pride and Prejudice. They really make the book come to life. The story itself has stood the test of time and after reading it numerous times it is still one of my favourites!

[MaryEllen1]

I love pride and prejudice as its the ultimate love story. True love prevails in the end and there is an innocence about the story that you don't have these days.

[mummytime]

I'm another love P and P person who thinks this sounds awful - sorry. I did enjoy Bride and Prejudice though.

[BoatyMcBoat]

P&P is full of wonderful, wonderfully drawn, characters. It is also a perfect illustration of what life choices were available to women (of a certain 'class') back then, and shows how far society has moved forward.

The main reason I love it though is because my godfather gave me a copy of it for my 8th birthday and I actually read it. Didn't understand it of course, and perhaps didn't even enjoy it, but I read it at least once a year thereafter, understanding more with each reading. It showed me that you can start something which seems insurmountable at first, but keep trying. I haven't read it for years now, and will dig it out. It's about time I gave it another airing.

[BoatyMcBoat]

Gosh, I've just realised that that means I've been reading it for nigh on 50 years! 50 next year! Wow.

[KarenCBC]

I love P&P because it's story is universal. From the original, to Bridget Jones to this and even the film Bride and Prejudice, the story can be used in any setting, time or space, and stays just as fresh. Curtis Sittenfeld is my absolute favourite modern author and so this pairing couldn't be better!

[Janussi]

It's a timeless story, almost still relevant today.

[Thistly]

The dialogue is what sings about p&p. That's why the Colin frith adaptation was so successful, because the dialogue was pretty much verbatim.


How did she do that?

[Twitterqueen]

P&P is a Mills & Boon with knobs on...
Misunderstandings all round, hate at first sight, arguments and fallings out (or is falling outs.. )

The characters are timeless and placeless - hence I have no doubt at all that Eligible will be a screaming success. Put Lizzie on a council estate in Northern Ireland or an alpaca farm in Peru and she would still be passionate, adventurous and determined. And similarly Darcy would be as much at home in a coal mine as he is in genteel society.

It's the finely drawn characters that illustrate breadth of emotion in different scenarios and with varying outcomes that make this story so compelling. We know how it ends yet we still roll along with all the emotional ups and downs that the courtship throws at us. It's like a good tv programme where you're yelling at the screen and telling all the actors to stop being so stupid!

[gazzalw]

That everytime one reads it one learns something new about the characters. And just love that the Bennet sisters are all so very different, and not in any way 'simpering stay-at home girls'.

[trixymalixy]

I was about to comment on this thread yesterday as I love p&p, but then realised that I had actually never read the book but have watched it over and over.

This thread is responsible for my tiredness today as I could not put it down despite already knowing what happens!

I think I had always thought the book would be as hard going as Dickens, but the dialogue was witty and interesting and kept me turning pages. Loved it.

[Feilin]

Pride and prejudice is one of my favourite books down to its tongue in cheek humour and fancy. It's hard to pick a favourite character but I do love the comic sidelines of mr Collins and mr & Mrs Bennett .

[bloodypassword]

Oooh I absolutely loved P&P when I first read it as a teenager (many moons ago) and I thoroughly enjoyed The American Wife too. I'm desperate for a new book to get my teeth into, having read a couple of bad 'uns recently.

I'd be dead chuffed to get a copy of Curtis Sittenfeld's new book, Eligible. Having read a couple of reviews it looks right up my street. I like the concept of the book and I'd love a copy to devour with a cup of tea. and maybe a biscuit too.

[DrumTee]

I love just how classic it is, love the names, the wit, the sass - it was ahead of its time but also timeless.

[chickenowner]

I love Pride and Prejudice because Elizabeth becomes a wealthy women despite a prejudice against the rich man, and not because of one. :-)

And she is clearly intelligent.

Plus, Mr and Mrs Bennett are hilarious!

[Eeyore1989]

I think that in this instance the original cannot be beaten. It's a classic and should be left alone....just my thoughts....

[TeenAndTween]

Because it is fantastic to have a book with a strong sharp witted heroine.

Because it shows different people can make different valid choices (Charlotte choosing Mr Collins with her eyes wide open).

Because it has spawned sequels, films, and pastiches.

Because my 11yo enjoys watching 3 different versions on the TV, and can pick out the era on other programs 'because they dress like Mr Darcy'.

And also because in real life I am the second sister and people comment on it.

I am interested how the author rewrites this book in the modern era with phones and facebook and instant communication. I have enjoyed the other Austen adaptations and have been waiting for this one especially.

[LegoCaltrops]

I like P&P because it's so modern. Lizzie is determined to go her own way, & seems (mostly) unafraid of doing so. Having read all of Austen's novels, it's pretty clear that she really didn't like people that much in general - I sympathise with this!

[ghostoftheMNchicken]

Ooh, I want to read this so much. I love P&P because the Bennet family reads as a real family. Also for Darcy.

[MillyMollyMardy]

Ooh was just reading the Telegraph article talking about different authors covering modern versions of classics and they mentioned this.
Pride and Prejudice was my English Literature set book. I loved it. It made me laugh, I related to the characters. It was the first book I ever reread and have reread every year since.
The same goes for the Jennifer Ehle/ Colin Firth series. I have watched it many times.
Very excited to see a new slant on the original story and would love a copy. Mainly so I can read is as soon as possible.