Jane Austen’s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice is often listed among book lovers and romantics alike as one of their favorite works of literature. Those who have been charmed by Elizabeth Bennett’s romantic mishaps and snap judgments have long sought similar works of fiction. As possibly Austen’s most notable work, finding books like Pride and Prejudice isn’t too difficult a task.
austen was and has influenced many writers and there are numerous published works exploring similar themes and time periods. Often lauded as one of the pinnacle works of feminist literature, there are many other books like Pride and Prejudice written by authors who spearheaded the idea that women could be novelists, and very good ones.
You are reading: Books to read if you like pride and prejudice
So, whether you’re into romance or pride and prejudice history, here are 10 books you’re sure to love just as much.
10 books like pride and prejudice
jane eyre, by charlotte brontë
although author charlotte brontë cited pride and prejudice as disappointing and “a carefully fenced and well-cultivated garden, with neat borders and delicate flowers; But…no open country, no fresh air…”There is very little doubt that her most famous novel was influenced, however slightly, by Austen’s titular work.
Originally published in 1847 under the male pseudonym Currer Bell, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre is often considered one of the earliest works of feminist literature and is a pinnacle example of the Bildungsroman genre.
The novel unsurprisingly follows orphan Jane Eyre as she moves from an abusive home to a bleak school for orphaned girls until she eventually becomes governess to a rich boy at an estate called Thornfield Hall.
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While playing her role as governess, Jane develops a love interest for Thornfield Hall’s teacher, Mr. rochester. there are significant developments in jane eyre that make it a fascinating read and will keep you enthralled until the very end.
Innovative for her time, Jane Eyre deals with topics such as love marriage, the class system, and mental illness in the Victorian era, and is a great choice if you’re looking for books like Pride and Prejudice.
Have you already read this book? then be sure to check out our list of books like jane eyre!
to the lighthouse, by virginia woolf
Although Virginia Woolf’s 1927 novel To the Lighthouse was published more than 100 years after Pride and Prejudice, it still has some similarities to the last novel and is a great read if you’re looking for books. I like it.
The book, written in Woolf’s unique stream-of-consciousness style commonly found in 1920s novels, primarily follows the Ramsay family at their summer home on the Isle of Skye in Scotland over over several years.
as is famous in woolf’s works and in many modernist novels of the time, it is not a plot-driven narrative; however, it deals with issues similar to pride and prejudice when it comes to the rhetoric about marriage, class, and social roles.
rebecca, by daphne du maurier
daphne du maurier’s 1938 gothic novel rebecca is an excellent choice if you’re looking for books like pride and prejudice.
This mystery novel is told from the point of view of the unnamed main character, the second Mrs. Winter, as she reflects on past events at her husband’s lavish but emotionally haunted Cornish Manderley estate.
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Throughout the novel, the narrator grapples with being the replacement for the late Rebecca, Mr. Winter’s first wife. As the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, treats the narrator with disdain and is ignored by her new husband, she begins to doubt her sanity and validity compared to Rebecca’s seemingly perfect idea.
The novel is creepy and unsettling and explores life in upper class England including pride and prejudice. Famously made into an Academy Award-winning feature film by iconic director Alfred Hitchcock in 1940 and constantly being compared to the works of the Brontë sisters, there’s no doubt that Rebecca is a wonderful read.
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Have you already read this book? Then be sure to check out our list for more books like Rebecca!
wuthering heights, by emily brontë
When looking for books like Pride and Prejudice, you can’t go wrong choosing a work by a Brontë sister, and Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel Wuthering Heights is an excellent choice.
Originally published under the male pseudonym Ellis Bell, Wuthering Heights was Emily Brontë’s first and only novel. At first it follows Mr. Lockwood as he rents Thrushcross Grange in the remote Yorkshire moors and his relationship with his mysterious landlord, Heathcliff, owner of the farm, Wuthering Heights.
The novel then follows Heathcliff’s story throughout his life from his early childhood to how he got to where he was. he also follows his relationship with his adoptive sister, catherine.
The novel, often classified and a gothic tragedy, deals with themes similar to novels of its time, such as social class, birth and love.
Have you already read this book? then be sure to check out our list of books like Wuthering Heights!
the house of joy, by edith wharton
if you liked pride and prejudice for its upper class view of life and social norms, then the house of joy by edith wharton is another great reading option for you .
Although set in early 20th century New York City and not in England, Wharton’s 1905 novel deals with themes very similar to pride and prejudice. The novel follows socialite Lily Bart who, although she was born into wealth and high social standing, has left herself and her family impoverished.
One of the few ways he could get out of his financial ruin is to get married, however, he has waited too long and, at 29, was deemed to have about ten more years to be in the “marriage market”. .”
The book follows themes like keeping up with social norms, the effects of class, and a woman’s right to build her own life at a time when that was such a radical idea. Because of these themes, it’s a great option if you’re looking for books like Pride and Prejudice.
middlemarch, by george eliot
if you like pride and prejudice because of its view of cultural and social norms and customs in england during the 1810s, then george eliot’s middlemarch might be a good title to add to your reading list as well.
Published in 1871, the novel spans the years 1829 to 1832 and is set in the fictional English Midlands town of Middlemarch. The novel, whose full title is Middlemarch, A Study of Provincial Life, is considered one of Eliot’s (the male pseudonym of Mary Anne Evans) best works.
Although the story is fictional, middlemarch is considered a historical novel and is one of the best reflections on, surprisingly, English provincial life in the 1830s. It is an excellent window into the systems of classes in England during that time and the role women played in that society.
emma, by jane austen
When searching for books like Pride and Prejudice, you can’t go wrong choosing another one of Jane Austen’s novels, and emma is a great choice!
Published in 1816, the novel follows Emma Woodhouse, a young woman living in British high society who thinks she’s a bit of a matchmaker, though she has no thoughts of marrying herself.
as the novel progresses, emma looks for matches for her friends, makes mistakes and misunderstands the romantic feelings towards some of the characters. it’s similar to pride and prejudice in that it follows many of the same themes of love, marriage, and not realizing what’s right in front of you.
the tenant of wildfell hall, by anne brontë
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if you want a novel like pride and prejudice but would like something a little more serious and not as frivolous as the austen book, then the tenant of wildfell hall by anne brontë is an excellent choice.
Although all of the Brontë sisters’ works are considered monumental feminist literature, wildfell hall is often credited as the first overtly feminist novel.
Originally published in 1848 under the pseudonym Acton Bell, Wildfell Hallfollows the story of Helen Graham as she settles on the Wildfell Hall estate after fleeing her abusive, alcoholic husband.
At the time of its publication, it was considered too graphic a novel to receive critical acclaim, even from the author’s own sister, Charlotte Brontë. themes such as alcoholism, domestic violence, the role of women in a male-dominated society, and gender relations were thought to be presented too blatantly in the novel.
However, wildfell hall is an excellent depiction of class and society at the time, and is certainly an illuminating read if you’re interested in a more realistic look at gender relations. in Victorian England.
little women, by louisa may allcott
if you’re looking for books like pride and prejudice because you liked the strong female lead as she navigates love and life, then louisa may allcott’s 1868 coming of age novel little women is it. a great choice for you.
This novel follows the story of the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, as they learn, grow, and deal with love and loss in the state of Massachusetts during and after the American Civil War.
The novel deals with feminist themes in much the same way as the other books on this list, and again is a great insight into upper and middle class American lifestyle in the late 19th century.
Have you already read this book? Check out our list of books as little women!
bridget jones diary, by helen fielding
Although the most recent of the novels on this list of books like Pride and Prejudice was published in 1927, the last novel we are going to talk about is Helen Fielding’s 1996 novel, Bridget Jones’s Diary .
Perhaps most famous for its 2001 film adaptation starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, Bridget Jones’s Diary is essentially a modern narrative of pride and prejudice, set in the London of mid-1990s. .
although pride and prejudice is sometimes praised as a feminist novel, bridget jones’s diary has received mixed reviews in modern society and there are certainly some aspects of the book that have not aged well, especially on the normalization of workplace sexual harassment.
however, if you’re looking for a fun and romantic read with a flawed and relatable main character, bridget jones’s diary is a wonderful choice for you.
There are numerous books like Pride and Prejudice that are worth reading, whether you like Jane Austen for her romance or her social criticism.
Have you read any great books like Pride and Prejudice that aren’t on the list? tell us in the comments!
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