Talk: The Making of Pride and Prejudice

On Pride and Prejudice Day take a deep-dive into the extraordinary journey of Jane Austen’s most beloved novel, from first draft to publication and beyond.

This talk follows the extraordinary journey of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s most beloved novel, from first draft to publication and on through some of its most important and influential editions and incarnations.

It draws on a wealth of glorious Pride and Prejudice material from the museum collection, from a rare first edition through to the first American edition, Hugh Thomson’s gorgeously illustrated “Peacock edition”, and on to the first paperback edition in the 1930s. It also dips into adaptations of the novel, from the first theatrical adaptations to the first film released in 1940, and BBC TV adaptations from 1938 – 1995.

Along the way you’ll explore reactions to the novel through the ages, beginning with a letter Jane Austen wrote to her sister on the novel’s first publication, and take a look at the novel’s critical reception and legacy.

Tickets: £15

📖 This event is part of the Pride and Prejudice Festival at Jane Austen's House, 24-28 January 2026.