Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of five daughters whom Mrs Bennett is anxious to dispose of in marriage, is the most intelligent and delightful of all Jane Austen's heroines.
Her vitality, vivacity and wit, her hasty dismissal of superior Mr Darcy - 'the most disagreeable man in the world' - how he improves his manners and she changes her mind, are the central ingredients of Pride and Prejudice. It is Jane Austen's best-loved novel and through the depth and sparkle of its comedy we are encouraged to consider what balance of energy and order, playfulness and regulation constitutes real strength of character.
