Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Awesomely Austen

by Katherine Woodfine, Églantine Ceulemans (Illustrations)

A fresh, funny and accessible retelling of Jane Austen's best-known story, with witty black and white illustrations throughout.

Elizabeth Bennet is the second eldest in a family of five daughters. Although their mother is very keen to see them all married to wealthy men, Elizabeth is determined that she will only ever marry for love.

At a ball, Elizabeth meets Mr Darcy, who at first she believes is proud and haughty.

But perhaps there is more to him than first meets the eye...

Katherine Woodfine is best known for her historical series, The Sinclair Mysteries, which includes The Clockwork Sparrow. A huge fan of Jane Austen from a young age, she's perfectly placed to bring the Bennet sisters to a new audience.

Eglantine Ceulemans captures all of Austen's satire and wit, bringing her colourful casts to life with warm and funny black and white illustrations.

Illustrated and retold editions are also available Emma , Persuasion , Sense and Sensibility , Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey . The perfect way to discover Austen for the first time, this bright and bold collection features some of the most inspiring and famous heroines in English literature. For readers aged eight and up.

Genres: Classics, Romance, Retellings, Fiction, Middle Grade, Regency, Childrens

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2019

About the author

Katherine Woodfine is the author of more than 15 books for children, including the Sinclair’s Mysteries and Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series. Her first published novel, The Clockwork Sparrow, was a Sunday Times bestseller and was nominated for numerous awards. A champion of children’s literature, she has previously worked on projects including the Children’s Laureate, YALC (the UK’s first young adult literature convention) and children’s books podcast Down the Rabbit Hole. She now combines writing with reviewing children’s books. She lives in Lancashire, UK in an old house near a castle, with her family and two black cats. Find out more at katherinewoodfine.co.uk

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

As promised on the cover, the words are witty and the doodles delightful. Loved this collaboration to bring the classic "Pride and Prejudice" to life for young readers. I am happy to report that many of my favorite lines are included in this summarized version. Mr. & Mrs. Bennet are especially well done. There are some fun bits at the end including notes from the author and illustrator, a brief bio on Jane Austen, and a section about life in 1813. Katherine Woodfine notes her preference for the BBC version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. I heartily support this opinion, although the Kiera Knightly version does have gorgeous cinematography. There are seven books in the Awesomely Austen series. Katy Birchall has written a version of "Emma" and that may be one I try next. Choose your favorite Austen story to share with a young reader you know. These would make excellent Christmas gifts.

[thebooksthief_ Ania ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75/5⭐️
Retteling „Dumy i uprzedzenia” w wersji dla młodszych. Jest to jedna z powieści po angielsku na początek. Prosto i ładnie napisana, jednak nie oddaje stylu pisania Jane Austen. To wydanie dodatkowo zawiera mapę bohaterów i drzewa geanologiczne oraz piękne ilustracje. Sama historia nie jest diametralnie zmieniona. Dzięki tej książce jeszcze bardziej polubiłam bohaterów oryginalnej wersji. Naprawdę polecam dla wszystkich fanów Austen i nie tylko.
Książka z wydawnictwa Hodder and Stoughton.

[kavkav_10 s.s · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AWESOME and I really enjoyed it.

Lots of people like my big sis said that Pride and Prejudice would not be good and I think that Katherine Woodfine did a great favour by retelling it in a funny and enjoyable way.

After reading this book, I found out that olden time's love was very, uh,

weird........

Like Jane and Mr.Bingley just met and they already like each other? Okayyy cuz it would take me 1000 visits to finally like someone. Mr. Darcy and Lizzy's relationship was the sweetest. It took some development but it was soooooo CUTE!!

When they first introduced Mr.Darcy, anyone would have thought he was a spoiled brat but his inside-character was awesome.

The doodles were like the best part of the story!! They were so funny and enjoyable to see. I love the way Eglantine Ceulemans draws, Its AWESOME!

I like olden-time's love stories because they're so sweet and I guess Pride and Prejudice was one of my favourites....

So, I guess Imma soon try and read the novel by Jane Austen.

Overall, I guess this book was great and you should definitely read it.

: )

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly entertaining, abridged version of the classic, aimed at younger readers. Katherine Woodfine captured all my favourite moments and conversations of the original, but simplified the prose for contemporary readers. Sadly, this means the effect of Jane’s wickedly funny and sometimes biting words are muted in this still good adaptation.

[Hana]

Really impressed by how much of the original language this uses, while still making it accessible for the target age!

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molto ben fatto questo retelling di Orgoglio e pregiudizio per la collana per bambini Magnifica Jane Austen, ma ho notato che è molto più facile riadattare O&P o Ragione e sentimento che non Emma o gli altri romanzi canonici. Forse perché si conoscono meglio o forse perché sono più brevi, è molto raro che presentino delle incongruenze o che gli escamotage a cui si deve ricorrere per variare la storia siano poco credibili. Woodfine è riuscita a non tagliare alcun personaggio e a scrivere un ottimo riassunto di Orgoglio e pregiudizio, usufruendo spesso delle citazioni austeniane. Ottimo lavoro!

[Rosasencenizas Cristina Rod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha encantado. 💖
Es una versión súper fresca y entretenida del clásico.
Una lectura diseñada e ideal para los más jóvenes.

Orgullo y prejuicio siempre ha sido un clásico que me ha ganado el corazón.
De hecho, su adaptación es de mis pelis favoritas.

Y poder leer esta obra ilustrada tan hermosa y divertida de ver... ¡wow! Me ha llenado de amor el corazoncito.

Un clásico con ese romance enemies to lovers tan pintoresco y atractivo qué tanto nos gusta.

Sin duda, queda recomendado al 100%

Una versión fresca y con ilustraciones divertidas del famoso relato de Jane Austen.

4/5⭐️

[ボート • lilbbtpinbookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

เราชอบเรื่อง pride & prejudice อยู่แล้ว อ่านมาหลายสำนวนอยู่ ในเล่มนี้ถือว่าดีมากเลยสำหรับเยาวชน หรือผู้ที่เริ่มอ่านนิยายภาษาอังกฤษ เพราะใช้ภาษาที่ง่าย เนื้อเรื่องก็สั้น กระชับ เข้าใจง่าย เนื้อเรื่องหลักไม่หายไปเลย ยังคงสนุกเหมือนเดิม katherine ถ่ายทอดงานของ jane austen ออกมาได้อย่างดี

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking for a good kids version of P&P for awhile now, and managed to find this one simply delightful. its all (that I could tell) direct quotes from the book, just shortened down to a kid-sized package. I appreciated that it wasn't dumbed down, and the heart of the story was still there. Of course I would always rather read the real thing, but this would be a great introduction for younger readers.

[Teofil Rar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book with many beautiful words and illustrations!Five stars from me!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Oona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waar is de context en waar zijn de details?😭
Letterlijk minder context dan de film

[Amna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing i never expected mr Darcy to marry miss Bennet such a nice ending

[Nia Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have absolutely loved reading this series of books so far and Katherine Woodfine’s Pride and Prejudice did not disappoint. She has kept the essence of Jane Austen’s work but made it accessible to younger readers. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 11-year old daughter and I are seeing this play soon and I wanted her to know the story before we went. This does a wonderful job of making it more understandable and entertaining for someone her age. Love this story and I was so happy while reading this aloud.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the novels of Jane Austen since I was in my teens and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is my favourite, so was delighted to be invited to review this retelling for the Vine programme.

I admit to being a little apprehensive about this book and series, though was immediately charmed by the cover art and curious to read it.

Essentially Katherine Woodfine has retold Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in accessible language aimed at readers 9-12. I certainly felt that Woodfine had honoured her source material. Throughout the text is accompanied by the sweet, quirky illustrations of Eglantine Ceulemans.

There is also a useful family tree and illustrated character list at the beginning and extra information at the end about Jane Austen and the society she writes about.

I loved it and would have no hesitation in recommending it. The hardback is a handy size with a textured cover.

Currently two other volumes are available in the Awesomely Austen series and I am intending to order both and eventually collect all six.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride and Prejudice was, is and always will be one of my favorite Jane Austen novels of all time! The story of the Bennet sisters is very moving and somewhat funny, especially as Mrs. Bennet is always on the lookout for rich unmarried men! I also enjoyed the relationship between Mr. Dracy and Elizabeth Bennet, and how they get to love each other in the end, despide not liking each other at first. The illustrations are an added bonus too in this edition of Pride and Preudice.

[Petra_Ratiu10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!!! It was very fresh and charming! The only thing I didn't really like was that in the middle of the book, the story stops being as interesting as it was. But that's just a personal taste, and I love it all the same!

[Danny Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy buena edición para niños, lindas ilustraciones y rápido de leer.

[liyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

[Trista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this aloud to both my 8 and 12 year old. We loved it! I was hesitant to read a retelling of a Jane Austen since my kids had zero knowledge of the original, but this version was brilliant. It kept all the important plot points in and didn't modernize or change anything that I could tell. It was so fun to watch my kids go from hating Mr Darcy to shipping him with Elizabeth. The back of the book has a helpful mini guide detailing what life was like in the 1800s. We are reading Emma next. Fyi, I did have to order this book from Book Depository as it isn't available in the US for another month or so.

[Yomi Mi Ri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ha sido una muy buena experiencia, más o menos sabía lo que me iba a encontrar ya que he leído Orgullo y prejuicio, pero este libro busca acercar a los más jóvenes a los clásicos, al menos a Jane Austen, con una letra grande y una trama adaptada a un lenguaje más de esta época, sin perder la esencia del gran clásico, además que ver una ilustración de vez en cuando, le da un toque divertido, sobre todo porque encontré esos animalitos al rededor de las escenas claves ja, ja, ja. No podría decirles más si es que han leído el original Orgullo y prejuicio.

[Nana (suzy.reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Či ste alebo nie ste fanúšikovia klasických kníh, myslím si, že táto si vás získa na plnej čiare. Pýchu a predsudok zbožňujem odkedy som ju prvýkrát držala v ruke a táto detská verzia je rovnako úžasná. Na začiatku knihy je zhrnutie hlavných postáv a v niektorých častiach knihy sa nachádzajú aj veľmi pekné ilustrácie.

Som veľkým fanúšikom tejto detskej verzie a určite ju budem odporúčať ďalej. Ak nepatríte medzi milovníkov klasiky ale chceli by ste ju začať čítať tak táto detská verzia je ideálna. Číta sa neskutočne ľahko, rýchlo a oceňujem aj väčšie písmenká.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a young reader or listener who is not quite ready for Austen, this adaptation does a fantastic job retelling the story. Great illustrations too.

[Diana Vivanco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una edición muy bonita!

[Leo]

My dumb brain is too small to comprehend Jane Austen novels so I have to turn to these instead 😩😩

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I enjoyed this together. I was so happy how much she took to it!

[Książkomanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐

No zakochałam się...

[Susan Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 a very good elementary/middle school version of P&P

[Violet_the_bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendidly retold and illustrated novel that had a special place in my heart from the very first page! In the future I definitely want to read the original version of this book too! Five stars and more from me!!!
100/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤

[Nancy • uncafelector · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orgullo y prejuicio es un clásico que no pasa de moda. Lo he leído tantas veces que ya perdí la cuenta. Ni hablar de la veces que he visto la película y aún me emociona como la primera vez. Así que cuando me llegó este hermoso ejemplar no podía estar más emocionada.⠀

Esta es una versión fresca de la famosa novela de Jane Austen, adaptada para jóvenes y niños. Su lectura es muy amena y debo decir que es muy fiel a la novela original. Como pueden ver es una portada divina, pasta dura y sus divertidas ilustraciones son el complemento perfecto. ⠀

En las primeras páginas podemos encontrar un árbol genealógico que les ayudará a los más pequeños a identificar a los personajes. Yo leí el libro con mis hijas y les fue de mucha utilidad. ⠀

Otra cosa que amé de esta hermosa edición (ademas de la historia que la mayoría ya conocemos), es que en la últimas páginas podemos encontrar información para los jóvenes lectores sobre quien era Jane Austen, como era la vida en 1813 y unas notas de la escritora Katherine Woodfine y de la ilustradora Églantine Ceulemans contándonos un poco de ellas y su amor por las novelas de Jane Austen.⠀

En conclusión, esta versión va enfocada a los jóvenes lectores y como madre lo agradezco, ya que su escritura sencilla es fácil de comprender para los niños, y una manera muy agradable para darles a conocer los clásicos.

No me quiero despedir sin decir que este libro es tan bello, que les encantará no importa la edad que tengan.⠀