It is becoming a habit for me to have some piece of audible-literature on my iphone which I can listen to on the way to work. You have to be really careful about what you choose, some things don't listen well. Some things that you think would be great listens (for instance, Angels and Demons) are not and some things that you think would be terrible listens (for instance, The Wordy Shipmates) are great and memorable.
This audible version of Pride and Prejudice was the best EVER. Oh, it was so good. Lindsay Duncan was the reader, and she nailed every aspect and nuance of Elizabeth and Darcy's interactions. Lindsay Duncan is a Scottish actress, and she was in the HBO miniseries: Rome.
Though I have read Pride and Prejudice before, it seemed that Lindsay Duncan's reading enhanced some of the great quotes, and I became emotionally attached to the characters in a way that I have not experienced before. For instance, I wept a bit with Elizabeth when Lydia betrayed the family by running away with the vile Wickham. I also really enjoyed Mr. Bennet's dry humor and tolerance of the more foolish members of his family. For instance, I really appreciated this time around that though Mr. Bennet thinks Mr. Collins is so ridiculous, yet he says that he wouldn't give up his correspondence with him for the world because he finds it so amusing.
Finally, I love the picture of British 18th century life that Jane Austen shows us. She explains the troublesome concept of entail and the constant concerns about the propriety of expressing oneself. She portrays the structure of small towns and the social niceties, that ensure that men and women were introduced to each other. It was such a game of chess, and you had to know the rules. Our rules seem so blurred now, Austen's portrait was intriguing.
I cannot say enough good things about this audible book, and I encourage you to give the classics a listen.
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