Pride and Prejudice: Manga Classics

by Jane Austen, Po Tse, Stacy King (Editor)

Overview

Beloved by millions the world over, Pride and Prejudice is delightfully transformed in this bold new Manga Classics adaptation. In a remote English village, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, a not-so-well-to do country squire and his wife, must marry off their five vivacious daughters. At the very center of this all-consuming enterprise are the headstrong second daughter, Elizabeth and her aristocratic suitor Mister Darcy, two lovers in whom pride and prejudice must be overcome before love can bring the story to its magnificent conclusion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781927925171
Publisher:	UDON Entertainment Inc.
Publication date:	08/19/2014
Series:	Manga Classics Series
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. Austen’s use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary have earned her great and historical importance to critics and scholars.

Stacy King is an editor for Manga Classics, a critically-acclaimed line of modern adaptations of literary classics in a manga format. In addition to her editorial duties, she has also written the adaptations for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, the upcoming THE STORIES OF EDGAR ALLEN POE and DRACULA, along with creating the English-language scripts for other books in the line. She holds an Honors B.A. from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in English Literature. When not immersed in a book, she enjoys historical costuming and obsessing about cats.

Po Tse is a veteran in the comic-activists community. His uncanny talent of drawing authentic shoujo style as a male artist has made him a rare breed among his peers. Also known as Lemon Po to his followers and friends, Po’s drawing style is inspired by classic manga artists of the 80's. Aside from being a shoujo comic artist, Po is a domestic husband who enjoys making desserts to delight his friends and family.

Date of Birth:

December 16, 1775

Date of Death:

July 18, 1817

Place of Birth:

Village of Steventon in Hampshire, England

Place of Death:

Winchester, Hampshire, England

Education:

Taught at home by her father

Editorial Reviews

"This adaptation retains all of the charm and fun of the characters and situations, and is a great way to expose those without the time or inclination to pick up the novel. I can’t think of a better way to experience this story other than reading the original novel." School Library Journal

From the Publisher

The classic story of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is well known. Full of wit, humor, and stinging social commentary, the original book tells the story of five unmarried daughters, chief among them Elizabeth Bennet, and their difficulties in navigating English society at the turn of the 19th century. The complex attraction between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is one of the most celebrated romantic entanglements in literature. This book, however, is the manga comic version. Manga originated in Japan and is ideally suited for the Japanese language, but this book is in English. Manga comic panels are read from right to left, each page begins in the right-hand corner, and the “back” of the book is the “front.” This book is 368 pages long, which is longer than Austen’s original, and the plot is continually interrupted by sidebars trying to explain what is happening. Inserts containing character identifications, since the publisher appears to have little or no confidence that readers can tell the characters apart, also halt the plot. The dialog is dumbed down and the original story’s wit has been stripped. The cover art is in various shades of pink and the cartoon panels are in black and white, all of which reflects a basic lack of understanding of Austen’s views of women and their roles in society. The advertisement on the inside of the back cover says that the book is intended for young adults, and that it is a “great way” for adult readers to rediscover the classics. But it’s hard to fathom the real audience for this version. If young adults or adults want to enjoy Pride and Prejudice, they should read the original. Manga is an art form and has a place in culture, but this is not it. Part of the “Manga Classics” series. Reviewer: Leona Illig; Ages 15 up.

Children's Literature - Leona Illig

Udon publishes a deliciously dramatic graphic novel from the familiar tale of courtship between a prejudiced country girl and a prideful member of the upper class. Elizabeth Bennet’s mother decides that her daughters will be perfectly matched with her rich new neighbor, Mr. Bingley, and his guest, Mr. Darcy. Before the couples can pair off into the happiness of forever after, Elizabeth must see through the machinations of the dishonest Mr. Wickham, endure the manipulations of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and most importantly, conquer her own bias against Mr. Darcy. The animation studio, Morpheus, creates realistic settings and costumes, which strongly echo the TV and movie adaptations. King adapts Jane Austen’s work by stripping down the dialogue and descriptions and emphasizing the tragicomic elements. Austen’s cutting social critique softens into melodrama and comical episodes that prominently feature the absurdly avaricious Bennett matriarch. Tse’s artwork reflects the new direction, where roses soften the frames of character portraits and extra attention goes into the expressions. This work features highlights of dialogue from the original book and could act as a gateway to the world of the graphic novel. For manga lovers, this book would help make Austen accessible with the inclusion of comedy, which leavens the shoujo’s tendency toward the histrionic. The chibi version of a cranky Mr. Darcy is well worth the price of admission. Classrooms might benefit from their upcoming series of classics, including Les Miserables. This is a good read-alike for fans of Kaoru Moru’s Emma: A Victorian Romance and A Bride’s Story. Reviewer: Jessica Atherton; Ages 15 to 18.

VOYA, December 2014 (Vol. 37, No. 5) - Jessica Atherton