Pride and Prejudice - Alternative Format, Graphic novel

Title: Pride & Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen, adapted by Nancy Butler and Hugo Petrus (illus)

Bibliographic Information: Graphic Novel. Marvel Illustrated; 2009; unpaged

Part of a Series: Yes, Marvel Illustrated. Several classic stories, (Wizard of Oz, Treasure Island, Moby Dick etc.) adapted into a graphic novel format

Book tie-in: Based on the book Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Subject Headings:

• Courtship
• Family
• Graphic novel adaptation
• Interclass romance
• Jane Austen
• Marriage
• Marvel Comics
• Men/women relations
• Misunderstandings
• Mr. Darcy
• Nineteenth century
• Sisters
• Social classes -- England -- History -- 19th century
• Social scandal
• Young women

Plot Summary: Embark on a visual journey of Austen’s “hate to love” romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy is a solemn, proud, and brooding man who accompanies his friend Mr. Bingley to a ball. There they meet the Bennet family and as they keep their acquaintance, Mr. Bingley pursues Jane Bennet while Mr. Darcy’s own quiet affections for Elizabeth unknowingly grow. Social and family pressures wedge between the couples and unfortunately, Elizabeth’s own feelings for Mr. Darcy suffer because of misinformation and misunderstanding. However, as the two are continually obliged to meet in many social situations they eventually discover the truth about themselves and love for each other.

Appeal: Style/language: a mixture of original sounding Austen language and simple, concise language of graphic novels; old fashioned artistically with shades of muted brown cool tones. Storyline: familiar; condensed

Characters: familiar; character driven; drawn fashionably while remaining close to the period

Mood: humorous; romantic; serendipitous; old fashioned with new twist

Pacing: the visual story reads fluidly however reading the text can slow the pace

Setting: Regency society May appeal to those who are reluctant to read Austen, and younger men may find the format appealing.  

Features: Introduction by adaption author and the five original cover arts of the comic book publication

Prizes or Awards: None

Similar Works:

• Jane Eyre the graphic novel by Bronte, Corzine, Sanders (etc) with Classical Comics: Classical Literature adapted to graphic novel; England; love story; interclass relations (suggested by reviewer)
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies the graphic novel by Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith, Tony Lee, and Cliff Richards: graphic novel of an adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (suggested by reviewer)
• Sense and Sensibility the graphic novel by Austen, Butler, and Sonny Liew with Marvel Illustrated: same authors (both original and adaptor); Austen adaptation in a graphic novel format; England; Regency romance (suggestion by reviewer)

Reviewer’s Name: Julia Robinson

 

Form adapted from Fiction Annotation Form in Saricks, Joyce G. and Nancy Brown. Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library 2^nd. Chicago: ALA, 1997.