An Eligible Bachelor: Austen, Love, and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice and Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Carmen Gomez-Galisteo

doi:10.5334/as.92

Abstract

Jane Austen’s six novels have been the starting point of many sequels, continuations, and adaptations. One of such is Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, a rewriting of Pride and Prejudice set in 21^st-century U.S.A., where the search for an eligible bachelor becomes a TV reality show. This essay analyzes how Sittenfeld modifies Austen’s characterization of the main characters and their matrimonial quest taking into account how marriage has changed since the 19^th century, exploring what elements persist and what adjustments need to be made in order to bring the spirit of the original to our current days and if such an attempt is ultimately successful.

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An Eligible Bachelor: Austen, Love, and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice and Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

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