January 28, 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen's most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice.
In the two centuries since its publication, Pride and Prejudice has delighted millions of readers and inspired thousands of adaptations, derivative works, and even fictional speculations about the its author's own love life (as in Elsa Solender's newly-released paperback, Jane Austen in Love).
Austen fans have been known to embrace the e-book versions Pride and Prejudice and her other works, but the novel's beloved status keeps print book sales healthy. Lately, it has even inspired Penguin Classics to include it as it's "A" for "Austen," the first in its new Drop Cap series, a line of gorgeously collectible hardcovers. The foil-stamped covers features original art by typographer Jessica Hische, and was designed in collaboration with Penguin Art Director Paul Buckley.
Bi-centennial Pride and Prejudice celebrations include a re-enactment of the ball at Netherfield--a pivotal scene in the novel--which was orchestrated and filmed by the BBC and will air later this spring.
Read more about Jane Austen's publishing history and the Jane Austen Society of North America.
Read more blog posts about the Penguin Classics publishing program:
• Penguin Classics and the NYPL Cenntennial Celebration.
• Penguin Classics and the Kama Sutra.
Check out the BBC website for details on the Netherfield Ball reenactment.
Images courtesy of: Penguin Classics & Amazon/Elsa Solender
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