PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

A young lady ought to be married by the age of 23. The sole quest of a young woman's mother is to see her daughter entered into a proper and timely marriage. How times have changed from Jane Austen's to ours! From initial impressions through each twist and turn of pride or prejudice, the listener becomes intimately involved with the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darby. Kate Reading is a fine reader of this classic. She sets a pleasing pace to keep the story moving enough for Austen's words to resonate. Reading has just enough Britishness to her voice to reflect the story's culture, and she maintains adequate variation for each of the many characters of both sexes. Reading's delivery helps the listener appreciate Austen's control of plot and detail, as well as her exquisite diction. This is a recording worthy of repeated listening. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 02/ JAN 03]