Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice (Everyone Can Be a Reader

by Laura Wood (adapter), Jane Austen

Bestselling and YA Book Prize shortlisted author Laura Wood brings Elizabeth and Darcy's romance to life once more in a stunning and truly accessible retelling of Austen's beloved classic.

Witty, intelligent Elizabeth Bennet has no desire for a marriage of convenience. And when she meets the handsome, wealthy Mr Darcy, her opinion of him is quickly set: he is aloof, selfish and proud - the last man in the world she would ever marry.

Until their paths cross again, and again, and the pair begin to realise that first impressions can be flawed... But as Elizabeth and Darcy become entangled in a dance through the strict hierarchies of society, will there be space for true love to bloom?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Retellings, Classics, Young Adult, Childrens

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Laura Wood is the winner of the Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children's Writing and the author of the 'Poppy Pym' and 'Vote for Effie' middle-grade series and YA novels, A Sky Painted Gold and Under a Dancing Star.

She loves Georgette Heyer novels, Fred Astaire films, travelling to far flung places, recipe books, Jilly Cooper, poetry, cosy woollen jumpers, Edith Nesbit, crisp autumn leaves, Jack Gilbert, new stationery, sensation fiction, salted caramel, feminism, Rufus Sewell's cheek-bones, dogs, and drinking lashings of ginger beer.

Reviews

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DON'T THINK I'M THE TARGET AUDIENCE FOR THIS BOOK

Actual rating: 2.5⭐

I am a great fan of Pride and Prejudice. So when I saw this book, I absolutely had to read it. But it didn't take me long to realise that I was not the target audience. First of all - this is NOT A RETELLING. It's an abridged rewrite. I wanted to read a retelling. If I had known it was not a retelling, I never would have started it. As someone who knows the P&P story intimately, I am not interesting in reading a rewrite. This book is aimed at YA readers, who are new to the story. That is not me.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

La version corta de esta reseña es: Estoy perpleja.
Y ahora la versión larga (pero no mucho, porque no tiene sentido alargarlo):

Aunque como version adaptada para jóvenes lectores y/o estudiantes de inglés este retelling de “Orgullo y prejuicio” puede funcionar (y, de hecho, creo que esa es la intención) como libro de Laura Wood o retelling de Jane Austen no aporta nada. Queda muy flojo y no reconozco a la autora de “Un cielo de sueños dorados” o “A Snowfall of Silver” en él, no le ha dado ni su toque ni su estilo.

Mi sospecha es que esta versión fue escrita por encargo. La historia es tal cual “Orgullo y Prejuicio” pero con un vocabulario más accesible y con un texto bastante reducido. Los recortes no modifican la historia a grandes rasgos pero si la afectan lo suficiente como para que las personalidades de algunos personajes se vean sutilmente modificadas, por ejemplo, Mr. Bennet no es el de la obra original. Tampoco lo es Miss Bingley, que resulta un poquito más agresiva en cuanto a actitud, Mrs Bennet tiene un enfoque algo más benévolo y la ironía de Austen, en general, en las conversaciones queda un poquito diluida.

Lo malo de las versiones “abridged” es que están tan comprimidas que las transiciones entre escenas desaparecen, no se desarrolla bien la narración. Por esa razón para mi son incómodas de leer y en el caso que nos ocupa duele especialmente, en primer lugar porque conozco y amo la obra original y en segundo lugar y lo que más duele es que se que Laura Wood sabe escribir, y recalco que es muy buena narradora y que sus historias son fluidas. Por tanto quien se acerque por primera vez a la autora con este libro va a llevarse una idea errónea de ella. Sinceramente, me da pena.

Esta no es una mala version. Es extremadamente fiel al texto original en cuanto a trama y está genial para la gente de entre 12 y 14 años que no conoce la obra. Ese es su público. Pero para mi es insuficiente.

[Marie Saville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una lástima porque las expectativas me han jugado una mala pasada.
Adoro como escribe Laura Wood y la idea de leer un retelling suyo de 'Orgullo y Prejuicio' era simplemente irresistible.
La 'decepción' viene del hecho de que este librito no es exactamente un retelling, sino una versión abreviada de la novela original (con escasas modificaciones). Lo he disfrutado porque es 'Orgullo y Prejuicio' y, poco importa las veces que la lea, adoro esta historia; pero definitivamente, no es lo que esperaba.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Now my love for Pride and Prejudice grows stronger each and every year. I adore reading the book whenever I cross paths with it. As well as watching the movies from time to time. Seriously, anything related to Pride and Prejudice makes me heart very happy.

Honestly, I'm not sure how many retellings I've read that are about Pride and Prejudice. I don't think I will ever keep track of it either. Mostly because they are for enjoyment. I also can't wait for the next one to be created.

In this, you will meet Elizabeth Bennet and her chaotic family. I've always been a huge fan of Lizzy because she just seemed like a woman who knew what she wanted. She was stubborn, intelligent, and quick with words and wit when needed. I also enjoyed how she kept Mr. Darcy on his toes because he was nowhere near prepared to deal with her.

As for him, well, he's equally adorable in my eyes. Yes, he can come off a bit hard from time to time, but I liked how Laura made him a bit more relatable and likable in this retelling. It was interesting to see how enamored he was of Lizzy in the beginning instead of being so standoffish. She intrigued him constantly and soon feelings were bound to develop.

Then there's the drama. Oh, the drama. Whether its family related or not - I ate it all up. Each page and chapter just sucked me back into the world I know and love. In the end, I'm very happy that I got the chance to jump into this and I can't wait for Laura's next book.

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a very good retelling of Pride and Prejudice for kids, with good graphics and a recollection of the Peacok edition of 1894. I read it is dyslexia-friendly, so this is a very good thing, too.
I also liked the many quotations from the original work by Jane Austen, so I think Laura Wood and Barrington Stoke made a very good job with this retelling.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was disappointing. I saw that it was a Pride and Prejudice retelling and requested immediately as I *adore* P&P. However, it turns out the "retelling" is just a straight copy of Pride and Prejudice with some of the wording changed to make it more modern. And it's not even very good writing.

We have such sentences as: "No!" Lizzy yelped. "I mean..." she stuttered.

That's just... I can't read one of my favorite novels rewritten like that. I read and skimmed the first third, skimmed farther in case the quality improved, and then gave up.

If I had read this before reading the original, I might not have enjoyed P&P much, and that would have been a travesty.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Barrington Stoke Teen for providing an e-arc for review.

[Nori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice reatelling. This book really sums up the story neatly, making it able to be read in one sitting. If you want to read a classic, but cannot bear with the style of the original, this is truly a good option.

I did miss some of the most famous quotes of the original, that I had hoped would have been used in this version (f.ex. "it is a truth universally acknowledged...")

[Irina Kermong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got an eARC on Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review. The 3-star rating comes from the fact that I'm not really the target audience for this book, and I kind of expected it to be a twist on P&P rather than a... let's say, straightforward retelling. It's probably not very fair of me, but that being said, if you're looking for an easy-to-read version of Jane Austen's masterpiece for a kid in middle school or even for an English Second Language class, this would be a very good pick.

[Alex Nonymous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Pride and Prejudice: A Retelling in exchange for an honest review.

First off to address the elephant in the room, despite what the title claims this isn't a retelling. It's basically the source material being adapted to be shorter and more easily consumable which can be great and I'm sure will be a brilliant tool for those who want to familiarize themselves with P&P without having to physically read all of P&P but as someone who's read it and was expecting a retelling, it was kind of a let down.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jane Austen and I’ve read all her books, but I accept that it can be daunting to someone who wants to read it being 13 , 30 or 99 if you aren’t used to the writing style or language used, so it was really interesting to see how this accessible version would land for me, would it be good enough, would it cover enough of the nuances and wit of the original. I am really glad to say it did , Laura has done a marvellous job in adapting this for all levels to read without losing the class of the original . This is a fantastic introduction to Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen and any classic novel, I would definitely recommend this for readers who dont want to jump into a classic to begin or don’t feel ready for a heavier read. Well done


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

If like me, you have been sitting on the original classic or are hesitant to read it, this novella is an excellent place to start. While I'm not sure how much it deviates from the original (the gist of which I'm aware of), I feel that this retelling does retain the essence of it.

The characters were delightful and I greatly enjoyed the story, which remains as timeless as ever. A quick, light, fluffy and very pleasurable read overall. I'm definitely feeling more motivated to pick up the original novel and watch the movies now!

[Diana N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great shortened version of a classic! The characters are still captured well and none of the main plot is really lost.

This is a great version especially for younger readers that might be intimidated by the original. It is not easy to adapt a classic novel.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book for my honest review.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a NetGalley proof.
As a fan of Austen's work since I was a teenager and a fan of Laura Wood's historical fiction work, I was very intrigued to see how she would retell Pride and Prejudice. I love the premise (that it stays true to the original work but simplifies some of the more antiquated language of the original that might put off reluctant readers or modern teenagers in general). Overall, I think it achieves its goal and would make an excellent gateway into the world of Austen's genius. The one thing I feel it lacks is a sense of the characters' interior worlds. Both Austen and Wood are very good at creating vivid characters, but I feel that in trying to simplify the original work character development was sacrificed to language and plot. Therefore I wouldn't recommend that it be required reading in a course, but it could make an excellent independent reading book to help bring more young people to Austen.

[Dreximgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a brilliant example of how to keep the charm and wit of a well loved classic while making it accessible for those who would have struggled with the original material. Laura Wood manages to tell the story well in a condensed and easy to read manner.

While I am not the audience it is aimed at I can see how well it will work to bring such a wonderful classic to a whole set of people who would have struggled to enjoy it otherwise.

Big fan of Barrington Stoke and a big fan of Laura Wood.

I was sent this by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Elizabeth H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why was this in the queer section at the library??????????? I was expecting lesbianism where was it

[megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ 2 stars

[Alyssa Almendarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this!! This retelling was easier to read than the classic itself, it got to the point and was only 129 pages. I honestly loved it and will have to get more of her classic retelling!

[Mads · Rating 1 out of 5]

cliff notes of pride and prejudice. it just makes me want to read the actual book

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, this is a hi-lo book, meaning high interest/low level, meaning it is "appropriate to the age of the reader but the text is edited to suit a lower reading age." After working at a book store for more than 21 years, I've had more requests for this type of book than I can remember, and I love that this issue is being addressed by publishers. In the case of this book, the text is suitable for readers 13+ years while being written at a 9 year old reading level.
Let's face it, Jane Austen is a great writer, but it can be a bit daunting reading her work. Not everyone can slip easily into the language of the time (myself included), and this can be daunting to some readers. Laura Wood has successfully adapted P&P and made it accessible to readers of all levels while keeping the flavor and wit of the original. This is not an easy thing to do, but Wood makes it look easy. This is a great introduction to Austen's work for readers who aren't quite ready for the original work but still would like to experience the story.

#PrideandPrejudiceARetelling #NetGalley

[The Book Chief · Rating 4 out of 5]

#LongPostAlert

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books and Laura Wood is one of my favourite contemporary authors. So it is an understatement to say thatI was looking forward to read this retelling. And I was beyond thrilled when the publisher, Barrington Stoke, approved my request for an eARC on NetGalley. 😊

Since most of you know the original book, and its plot and strengths, I will limit my review to sharing how the retelling has been done and my thoughts about it. Strap yourselves in! 😄

Laura Wood’s take on Pride and Prejudice isn’t an adaptation where the story is set in present day England. Nor is it a transplanted version where Longbourn is replaced by Lahore. This version is a modernisation of the language and the storytelling, and not the story.

Starting with the language- it has been made simpler and more contemporary, which will go a LONG way in removing the barrier that dissuades today’s young readers from picking Jane Austen’s work. Austen’s language, while not of the “thou”, “thine” and “wherefore” variety, is still very different from ours in terms of sentence construction and vocabulary. For example, we don’t speak in word-laden lines like this: “From the very beginning—from the first moment, I may almost say—of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.” Instead, we cut to the chase and say it directly, like how it’s said in the retelling: “From the very beginning of my acquaintance with you, your arrogance, your conceit and your selfish scorn of the feelings of others gave me cause to dislike you. You would be the last man in the world I would ever marry.” While purists will miss the vigour and rhythm of Elizabeth’s spirited refusal in the original, one cannot deny that it can seem verbose and convoluted to young readers today. Likewise, you will find several (popular) quotes/dialogues/scenes either removed entirely, or trimmed down to bare bones.

Another way in which the classic novel has been retold is by little notes within the main text that explain the context. A bit of meta data for today’s pre-teens and teenagers. When Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice, she did not have to explain the then-current context- be it socially accepted and expected behaviour, or descriptions of “assembly rooms” - because her readers would know and understand them. Now, more than 200 years since the book was first published, some sort of explanation about how life m used to be will certainly help readers. Laura Wood has given these details without it seeming heavy handed or making it too in-your-face instructive. This makes the story more understandable for modern readers, especially teenagers with their low boredom thresholds and plethora of options for entertainment.

The third way in which Laura Wood has simplified Pride and Prejudice, is by stating things that Jane Austen had left unsaid in the original, perhaps because she wanted her reader to snigger with her as they got the subtext between the lines. She might have wanted her reader to be a co-conspirator with her as they both laughed at the absurdity of people. However, given that today’s readers lack the context of those characters and their world, there is a real chance that they won’t understand Austen’s subtle digs and droll humour. So Laura Wood has actually spelt out things that would make the characters clearer to current readers. For example: in the original book, in the first chapter, when Mr Bennett says that if Mrs Bennett accompanies her daughters to visit Mr Bingley, he might choose her over all of them because she is the most beautiful of them all, she is just shown to have replied that a woman with five grown-up daughters cannot think of her own looks. But in the 2022 version, Mrs Bennet says this but then follows it with a quick glance in the mirror, proving that Mrs Bennett actually does think of her own looks. We also have an extra description of Mrs Bennet- she is said to pronounce Mr Bingley’s name “as if it were something quite delicious”. Both these additions establish that Mrs Bennet is a flighty, shallow and slightly vain woman.

The only ‘con’ per me, is that after a comfortably brisk pace in the first few chapters (till the departure of the Bingleys from Netherfield), the pace picks up to a gallop- we are whisked through the rest of the story at a flyaway speed. with hardly any time to absorb the change of heart that Elizabeth and Darcy are undergoing. We don’t get some of my favourite scenes at Pemberley- for instance, when the housekeeper at Pemberley praises Darcy (“I have never had a cross word from him and I have known him since he was four”) nor does Elizabeth meet Georgiana and rescue her from Miss Bingley’s inadvertent taunt- which of course fans the sparks between Darcy and Elizabeth. 😍

In conclusion, this is an enjoyable retelling that achieves its objective of making a classic more accessible. I have always mourned that present day readers, especially teenagers, find classics too intimidating or unrelatable or flat-out boring. But I also feel that the super simplified versions adaptations- for readers as young as 7 or 8- do much disservice to the originals. Every creation has some defining characteristics- its body and soul- and others that are the bells and whistles, i.e decorations. The key in simplifying and contemporarising a classic is to retain the body and soul, but give the required makeover to the bells and whistles. Laura Wood has managed to achieve that fine balance between retaining the heft of the original, and simplifying the text to make it accessible to today’s young readers. Though a few illustrations (in the classic style) would have been the cherry on the top.

Recommended for children aged 10-12.

[Hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Barington Stoke for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First, I feel like it’s necessary to point out that this isn’t a retelling. A retelling implies an author has taken a source material and reworked the story to make it their own. This is the original Pride & Prejudice that has been abridged and reworded to make it more palatable to a younger generation.

At first, I was irked at this version of P&P, but then I looked into this publisher and saw that publish books for YA and teens, and - while I’m not saying teens can’t read Austen - I can see how the rephrased and shortened version of this story might draw a younger audience to Jane Austen.

Overall, this book does its job in making a classic more accessible.

[Allie Wulff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a clunky retelling. I love the original but this wasn’t nearly as good. From the jacket I was assuming it would be a more modern day style of the story and it was just a summarized version. Pretty disappointing

[Cat Strawberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book and a perfect way of introducing the story of Pride and Prejudice to those who haven’t read it yet. Although her mother is keen to marry off all of her five daughters, Elizabeth Bennet doesn’t want to marry someone for convenience. During one ball she meets Mr Darcy who appears to be selfish, proud and rude about her. Elizabeth has no desire to ever marry him, and Mr Darcy doesn’t seem keen on the idea either, but after many encounters, could their first impressions of each other be wrong?

I have not yet read the full novel by Jane Austen though I have loved watching the 90s tv show and the more recent film of the book. The full book of Pride and Prejudice is big with much more happening than in this retelling, however, amazingly, the author has managed to fit the entire story into around 130 pages! This retelling reads really well and is so easy to get into right away. The characters are all interesting and shown well and I especially enjoyed Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins characters as there is a lot of humour around those two and what they end up saying.

The whole story is told so well and although I knew what would happen to everyone it is still such a joy to read. I have only seen the story on screen so it was also interesting to see where this book’s story changed slightly and how it ends. The chemistry between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth is brilliant and I loved moments like the failed proposal, Darcy’s awkwardness, and their dance together. The ending is good and the whole book is written in a way that just makes you feel so happy after reading it, and I love how I got to read and know the story of Pride and Prejudice in such a short form.

The book is especially made to be easier to read for dyslexics and so features a good sized text, a special font used and all the text on an off-white/cream coloured paper. The pages are also very thick which help in reading and there is a lovely small gray coloured peacock feather image at the start of every chapter. The whole story of Pride and Prejudice has been retold so well and this is the perfect sized book to help anyone who is reluctant to read the original text, maybe finding the original just too daunting in size! There is something so lovely about being able to read a classic in a retelling like this. Although it doesn’t feature every moment from the book and some details or scenes are merged into each other so that everything happens quite quickly, there is something so wonderful about the way this story reads and the easy more modern language of the text helps too.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who is interested in reading Pride and Prejudice and wants to get to know the story but either doesn’t have the time to read the full length novel or finds the original classic a daunting read. At just over 130 pages this book is such a wonderful quick read and is written in such a way that you really feel the drama, humour and touching romance of the story. It’s definitely a good book to also introduce a young person to the classic which they might want to read in future too.
-Thanks to Barrington Stoke for a free copy for review.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title has been specially written and edited to provide an accessible entry point for those who may struggle with the length or language of the original text - bringing a timeless classic to even more readers.

So before I start, I really should declare that I've never read Pride and Prejudice before. I'm pretty well aware of most of the story through my little sister's repeated viewings of the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle version, but that's really the extent of my knowledge of the original story.

Having said that, I really, really enjoyed Laura Wood's retelling of it. It sparkled with humour and wit, and Lizzy Bennett really is a fantastic heroine. Mister Darcy was all brooding and mysterious, and yeah I get the appeal now. There's social commentary in there, whether it's the proper behaviour of young women interested in a man or criticism of Lydia running away, and most of it was delivered with the kind of cutting wit I associate with Austen. There was also swoon-worthy romance aplenty.

I can't really comment on how much of the original story was excised, though I know from conversations with Laura that it was a difficult adaptation because Jane Austen didn't have a superfluous amount of prose. Yet somehow it has all been presented in a very accessible short novel, with all of the adaptations we come to expect from Barrington Stoke, a publisher prized for the accessibility of their books, particularly for reluctant readers or anyone with reading difficulties.

For younger or reluctant readers wanting to experience Austen but put off by the idea or length of the classics, this really is the perfect adaptation. And for anyone else who just wants to read Laura Wood's sparkling adaptation over a few hours I also heartily recommend it!

After reading this, I want Laura Wood to write every book!

[Siobhan Mackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Barrington Stoke and Bounce Marketing for sending me a finished copy of this retelling to review! Barrington Stoke are a company specialising in dyslexia friendly books, which I think is SO important! Everyone deserves access to books (and with a fiancé fighting for a dyslexia diagnosis himself) it's something that means a lot to me.

But onto the review! Laura Wood is an author I have loved ever since meeting her in my local Waterstones, so when I had the opportunity to read this retelling I instantly jumped at it! Pride and Prejudice isn't a book I can admit to reading- I find the classics stuffy and outdated, despite their radicalism at the time they were written in (don't cancel me for that, haha) and due to the language used in them, the reading becomes a chore. After reading this, I honestly believe Laura should add the entirety of the classics to her repertoire, as this book was well-written, absorbing and quite a welcome read after the heaviness of my previous book! It offered enough of an insight into the original novel that I felt I fully understood the story, whilst it left out the majority of the damning misogyny. The font lends itself to fast reading for myself- it is designed to be easy to read- and coupled with the short chapters and the brevity of the book requiring a fast pace to cover the necessary plot points meant I devoured it in one sitting! I'd love to see a similar retelling on Jane Eyre, for example, to be able to review with the context of the original novel in mind. All in all, I found that I enjoyed this short read, and believe it has given me enough of an overview of Pride and Prejudice to make me seem more cultured in conversations! A solid 3.5stars!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Wood has adapted Pride and Prejudice in a wonderful way: by reducing it to 100 pages and reordering a few lines here and there she has managed to produce a book that is a perfect stepping stone to the original and a great book in its own right!

That first page, and first chapter, for example: she’s moved the complex opening line to a few paragraphs further, allowing Lizzy to say it in gentle mockery of her mother and in collusion with her father. This fits perfectly with Lizzie’s character and her relationship with her father and, in any case, Jane Austen’s narrator was already ‘ channelling’ Lizzie.

So the story and the characters are unspoilt and the language is still ‘98% original’. That’s not a scientific 98%, just my gut feel. There are just two sentences in the whole book where I want to check if it was Wood or Austen that phrased something a bit oddly. It’s still a bit challenging to modern readers who are new to this period but in a much more manageable way. I would still recommend reading with an in-built or handy dictionary, but looking things up won’t break the flow as often as with the original.

Plus, the original will still be waiting as a treat if you want more detail, a bit like reading the book after enjoying a film adaptation. For me it was like a speed-read of the original and it made me want to re-read the original again. In a good way, not because this one was frustrating.

It’s published by Barrington Stoke, who I confess I had never heard of before but apparently they do a lot to make books accessible for dyslexics, among other things. I will definitely look out for more of their books after reading this one!

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know about you guys, but I am an absolute sucker for retellings. Fractured fairytales, modern retellings of classics, you name it. So when I spotted Pride and Prejudice: A Retelling, written by Laura Wood, I just knew I had to give it a chance.

However, I should clarify something I learned very quickly when reading Pride and Prejudice: A Retelling is more of an abridged tale than a retelling. So that makes the title here a little bit misleading.

Essentially, this is very much the original version of Pride and Prejudice; it is just significantly shorter than the original. Now, I have ZERO problems with this premise. I think abridged classics are a more approachable way of getting people to read them. I just wish that this novel hadn't been marketed as a retelling, as that is what caught my attention in the first place.

I do think there is an audience for Pride and Prejudice: A Retelling, and I want to be very clear on this fact. This novel would be perfect for anybody that wants to read this beloved classic (my personal favorite) but don't necessarily have the time to invest in the full novel.

Thanks to Barrington Stoke Ltd and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Beth Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having read A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood and Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen last year, I knew this one would be one I wanted to pick up. I then realised just before the book was released that this one is actually published by Barrington Stoke, a dyslexia friendly publisher. I’ve read a few books published by them, and after reading this one with Alex, we found out there’s also retellings of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights that we’d love to pick up in the future.

Rather than this book being inspired by Pride & Prejudice, it’s actually a direct retelling of the story using the same characters, plot and basis for the writing. It’s a simplified version of the story which takes the bare bones but keeps the feeling, plot and even some of the main quotes from the original book, which I loved.

Laura Wood did an incredible job of taking this story and making a much shorter, more accessible version that still gave me the atmosphere and feeling that the original book did. If I ever wanted to have a taste of the original book without watching an adaptation, I’d definitely pick this one up happily!

★★★★★
4.5 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

[B.S. Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to be one of those people who believed everyone had to read the classics. But in reality, books change, language changes, and society changes what they consume. The classics may have been wonderful, but they are simply not compatible with a lot of modern readers.

That being said, it's a huge feat to take on a retelling of such a famous story and it was done marvellously. Full of the charm and elegance of the original tale, this will sweep you into one of the worlds most iconic love stories in a new and fresh way. Of course this isn't exactly true to the original and has a quicker pace, but this is exactly what you should expect.

With modern language, this retelling carefully rewords the witty remarks and jokes that simply wouldn't make sense in this time, changes antiquated terms and creates a more accessible way to enjoy classic literature. Perfect for younger readers or anybody who may struggle with reading, I definitely hope Laura Wood turns her hand to some more tales soon!

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

=I love the BBC adaptation of this book. But the book itself? I have tried three times and struggled each one. By comparison, this retelling was a complete breeze to get through. It's clear and accessible - I could easily follow what was happening without my attention wandering.

As my knowledge of this story is based on the TV show, I am not confidently able to say how much was kept and how much was trimmed to get a 122k book down into something this slim. However, it felt like it had kept the spirit and overall feel of the show, as well as all the narrative elements I can recall! And I think spirit in a retelling like this is as important as plot - probably more so, because it's what makes it into an accessible version of the story, rather than a grocery-list recount of the beats.

I believe PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is a satire of Georgian courting and the concerns of the gentlefolk. This retelling certainly brings out the silliness of the situation, poking fun at characters like Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins. I was giggling a fair bit at most of their appearances.