Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
by Jenners • 01/19/2011 • 3.5 Stars, A Authors, Classics, Fiction, G Authors, Humor, P Titles • 83 Comments
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance – Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!
by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Publisher: Quirk Classics, 2009
Pages: 317
Genre: Fiction, Horror/Classic
Where I Got It: Courtesy of Quirk Books
My Rating: 3.5 stars
As the subtitle succinctly states, this book is “The classic Regency romance—now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem.” When I first saw this unholy marriage of Jane Austen and zombies, I thought it was a joke—simply a funny idea for which someone mocked up a terrific book cover. (Just look at that cover!) Once I realized it was an actual book, it was hard to imagine how it might read. Yet it seemed wrong to read a mash-up of a famous book when you’ve never read the famous book in its original and “pure” form. So, when the book was first released, I passed it by—determined to read “unsullied” Jane Austen first. As you may recall, I read and reviewed Pride and Prejudice last year (in the guise of a Valley Girl no less) so I now felt “qualified” to read this version. So when Quirk Books offered me a review copy, I jumped at the chance—much like a zombie might jump an unsuspecting traveler along the road to Meryton.
Not quite knowing what to expect, I went in with an open mind—curious to see how Grahame-Smith would mix in the zombie action. The first line of the book sets the tone quite well:
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.
Staying true to Austen’s general story line and prose while cleverly and seamlessly working in a mysterious plague that has left England overrun with the living dead, Grahame-Smith has a ton of fun recasting the well-known Austen characters as zombie hunters (the Bennet sisters), soon-to-be zombies (poor Charlotte Lucas!), and horrors beyond all imagining (Mrs. Bennet, whose character is left virtually untouched). As we see the romance between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet play out, we are also treated to several scenes of Elizabeth’s kick-ass fighting abilities. Her takedown of famed zombie hunter Lady Catherine De Bourgh would rival any Tarantino fight scene in terms of choreography, violence and gore.
Is it wrong that I enjoyed the zombie version of Pride and Prejudice more than the original? Probably. I’m sure all the Austen purists out there shudder at the fact of this book’s existence. However, I liked it. It cracked me up, and the zombie storyline did make for a more exciting and fast-paced read. As it says on the back of the book jacket: “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually read.” However, the purist in me recoils at the idea of someone ONLY reading this version and not giving Austen’s book a try too. But I console myself in imagining this book as a “gateway drug” to classic literature. And would it really be wrong to expose reluctant readers to Austen only via mash-ups? Who am I to say? All I know is that I thought this book was rather well done. That being said, I don’t feel compelled to read the prequel or sequel. (Sorry, Quirk … although I might consider checking out Android Karenina, after I’ve read the original of course.)
The other aspect of this book I enjoyed was the Reader’s Discussion Guide at the end. Consider these questions:
Some critics have suggested that the zombies represent the authors’ views toward marriage—an endless curse that sucks the life out of you and just won’t die. Do you agree, or do you have another opinion about the symbolism of the unmentionables?
Does Mrs. Bennet have a single redeeming quality?
Some scholars believe that the zombies were a last-minute addition to the novel, requested by the publisher in a shameless attempt to boost sales. Others argue that the hordes of living dead are integral to Jane Austen’s plot and social commentary. What do you think? Can you imagine what this novel might be like without the violent zombie mayhem?
I suspect you already know if you want to read this book or not. However, if you’re curious or intrigued by the concept but not sure whether to make the leap, I’m here to tell you it was surprisingly well-done and enjoyable. Go ahead … read it. You’ll like it, and you’ll pick up the handy tip that you can distract zombies by laying out cauliflower (which they mistake for fresh brains).
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I always wondered about this book since I’m an Austen fan. Maybe I’ll look into it more closely. Thanks for the review Jenners
A few Austen fans have said they liked it. If you don’t mind a little bit of fun with your classics, it was enjoyable.
I’m a sucker for these Austen spinoffs. I love the originals of course, and these are just for fun
Yes, poor Charlotte!
I always wonder how the Austen fans felt about these types of books. Most seem to enjoy them.
Sounds like a blast! I gave this book the eye a few days ago…now I think I might just pick it up for the hell of it, lol.
It is a “what the hell” kind of read.
I am very intrigued! I may just enjoy it more than the original too! At least there will be two of us committing Jane Austen sacrilege!
Yes … join in my blasphemy! I thought the zombies livened up the book.
I’m a huge Austen fan, but I loved this one too. =D
Glad to hear from an Austen fan who read it!
I’m glad you enjoyed this so much. I’ve been on the fence between being intrigued and amused and supremely put off by this novel.
I can see why you would feel that way. I think any reader’s enjoyment would come down to how much they revere Austen and how much they can tolerate zombies!
I really need to read this one. I’ve had it on the shelves for far too long.
I’d be curious to see what you think of it as you’re more “classics” oriented than I am.
A gateway drug? I love it! I want to read this book, I admit it, but it never manages to rise to the top of my pile. I think I feel guilty. One day…
Don’t feel guilty … it isn’t really a “must read” but a “fun to read.” : )
I tried the first two chapters but didn’t like it. I’m not particularly fond of Zombies anyway, I prefer vampires. I just hate the idea of someone making so much money from large chunks of plagiarism. The mashups with historical characters seem less likely to annoy me. I’ve been thinking about Elizabeth Tudor, vampire slayer as a possible read. I just sort of wish writers would leave Jane Austen alone!
I do think it is nuts how many authors (in one form or another) reinvent or “destroy” Austen’s work. There are so many versions out there … from “respectful” ones that continue the story to things like this book.
I’ve always been curious about this book. I’m a Jane Austin fan but not so much a purist that I would refuse to read the zombie version. I was a little worried that the book would suck and so I never picked it up. However, since you’ve given it a thumbs up, I might add it to my list of books to read
If you can get it from a library, that would be best of all. I enjoyed it but I don’t know if I would BUY it.
I’ve got the book, but have been in two minds (all the more brains for zombies then…) as to whether to read it. I was scared it would get repetitive… I don’t like gore but I do like humour, so I might like it after all?
The gore is there but it isn’t too bad … it is more on the humorous side. (And watch all those extra brains you have…)
i did muddle through this one last year but prefer my zombies in the movie form. i’m a sucker for the original dawn of the dead, filmed in a shopping mall in monroeville, pa. my husband is such a fan that he and i actually traveled there on one of our road trips. glad you enjoyed this one but looking back, the cover of this one was my favorite part. lol.
Cracks me up that you travel to see zombie movie locations! My favorite zombie movie is Shaun of the Dead. Very funny.
I tried to read this at the same time as P&P, thinking it would help me get through Austen. But even the zombies couldn’t help me…I failed at both.
Well, if zombies can’t help, you’re doomed never to read P&P. (Not such a great loss though.)
Hmm had no interest to read this, but your review left me intrigued… Might just have to read it now
Perhaps you can read it as a bedtime story! HAHA! : )
I’ve been tempted to try this, but, like you, want to read the original first… which I haven’t! I feel all embarrassed admitting it, but now you’ve got me interested in the Zombie version, so I might cheat and try this one out first!
Don’t feel too bad … I only read the original for the first time last year (and I’m 43)! Go ahead and cheat … I like the zombie one better anyway.
I almost downloaded this for my Nook yesterday, but then I saw a comment that it was just the first 2 chapters so I didn’t. But now I’m wishing I did!
If you want, I can send you my review copy. Just e-mail me your address. : )
Never having read the original I was at a total loss as to what to expect. Funny in places I’ll give you that but I didn’t enjoy this at all. Have you read any of the similiar adaptations – I believe there are now several out there.
This was the only one of these mash-ups that I’ve read, and I don’t feel all that compelled to read more. I did read this book in little chunks over a period of weeks, and I think that helped to make it more palatable.
I’m not a huge fan of zombies and I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice (watched the movie, kinda), but since I’m not sure I like either of them individually, maybe two bads equal a good? lol
Or two indifferences equal a “skip it.” : )
I have this book but haven’t yet gotten the chance to read it. When I first saw it, I was scandalized, and then after a lot of thinking, I decided it would probably be a lot of fun to see what could be done to meld these two very different stories. I do really like Austen, and this book is totally a bastardization of her work, but like I said, it is probably really fun and has merits of it’s own too. Great review, Jenners. I am glad you liked it!
I would be very very curious to see your reaction to this after your initial reaction. It was kind of fun to see the two wildly different worlds melded together.
I love what he did with Wickham. Too funny! However, I found myself getting bored in parts…the parts where it was mostly Austen’s writing because if I was going to read Austen, I wouldn’t have picked up this book. I wanted more original writing, but I did find it enjoyable.
Wickham did get his comeuppance, didn’t he? (As did Lydia.)
I read it in little chunks over a long period of time … and I think that is the way to go with it.
I will probably read this one day – in the name of research prior to teaching the original
Glad you enjoyed it!
Who knows … it might be a good way to get your boys interested in Austen!
I actually read this last fall for my Jane Austen book group discussion. Yes, our JA group read and discussed it! It just occurred to me that maybe Charlotte’s demise as a zombie was a metaphor for her marriage to Mr. Collins — it would kind of suck the life out of you to be married to him!
It was very amusing and clever but I don’t have much desire to read any of the other versions, though I’ve heard Seth Grahame-Smith’s other book, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” was pretty good.
I love that you read and discussed this for your Jane Austen book group! And I do think you are on to something about Charlotte’s marriage to Mr. Collins!
I enjoyed this one as well, but not so much the one with sea monsters.
I remember you liking it. I don’t feel the need to read a bunch of these mash-ups, but I could see treating myself to an occasional one every so often. I’ll skip the sea monster one though.
I really liked Dawn of the Dreadfuls, which is the prequel to this one. So I’d suggest that one instead.
I’m glad you enjoyed this! I don’t think it’s for me, but it’s not because I’m a purist – zombies just don’t appeal to me. Having said that, I’m reading a fantasy book that’s out of my comfort zone and I’m really enjoying it, so never say never.
You mean flesh-eating reanimated dead people don’t appeal to you? Why ever not? ; )
And I have learned that I need to stop making snap judgments about books. I’ve been so surprised when I push myself out of my comfort zone to find I like more types of books than I think I do.
I’ve been on the fence about these types of books since they came out. It never sounded like something I’d enjoy. I might actually put this on my TBR list now. I’m really glad you reviewed this.
Glad to be of service. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it or that it would work as a full book but the marriage of Austen and zombies worked surprisingly well. I’ll be curious to see what you think if you read it.
With Pride and Prejudice being my favorite book, I’ve been wanting to read this. After reading your review, I realize I need to get on it. I love Austen, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a little fun with her work.
I would love to see Elizabeth take out Lady Catherine De Bourgh. What a shrew!
I think you might get a kick out of it. I felt it was a surprisingly good match-up — despite how awful it sounds originally. And it was good to see Lady Catherine (and Wickham) get their comeuppance in this book.
I thought it was a funny premise, but only for about 30 pages. After that I got bored. Maybe it would have made a good SNL skit series or something? I skipped to the end, enjoyed Wickham’s horrible fate, but didn’t want to read more at all.
I see your point. I read it in bits and pieces and it went down better that way. I don’t know if I would have liked reading it from start to finish with no break; I might have tired of it as well. Of course, SNL skits often go on longer than they should as well.
All too true!
I’ve already read and enjoyed Austin, and this struck me as a funny concept that would get boring for a whole book. Like you when you a movie trailer and it’s fun but you get the feeling that was the best bits of the whole movie. I think your review probably gave me the best bits of the zombie book.
That may very well be true. When I read it, I read in little chunks over several weeks so that may have helped. And, like I said, this book was kind of enough for me … I don’t feel the need to read more.
This sounds like something I’d enjoy. So many of your choices make my booklist.
I think we have similar sensibilities. : )
I have this book sitting on my bookshelf. Totally meant to read it before the baby came, but never got around to it. And a little busy now to read it. Maybe soon.
Babies do have a way of stopping mommys from reading, relaxing, sleeping, showering. I’m amazed you can even find time to blog!!!
I love Pride and Prejudice and even wrote my term paper in college on a comparison between Jane Austen and Elizabeth Bennett. So, I’m terrified to read this book, but I may just do it….
It would be interesting to see your reaction. Part of what I liked about it is that Elizabeth is a kick-ass zombie killer — it almost gives her the physical side that you know she had in Austen’s books but makes it really come to life.
Um, good to know about the cauliflower trick….
Very handy, huh? And the best use yet of a vegetable I think.
Particularly “that” vegetable! Enjoyed your review of the book.
I’ve just not enjoyed Jane Austen, I so looked forward to Mr. Darcy and then just couldn’t finish it. Maybe I’ll try again. I’m going to give Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter a go, just to get in on the mash up versions.
I think I’ve heard good things about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. I’ll be curious to see what you think.
I love the cover!
The zombies leaving Mrs. Bennett alone shows good taste on their part, but only exacerbates the suffering of the remaining characters. Perhaps they could have thrown in a ravenous cannibal to dispense with her altogether? Oh, and throw in that clergyman/cousin (can’t recall his name) as a palate cleanser.
I think this is a book I could sink my teeth into…no wait, that’s vampires, not zombies.
If I only had a brain, I’d know these answers already.
For a movie with a fun take on P&P, check out Lost in Austen.
Well you’re so “punny” this morning! Har har har.
And Mr. Collins (the clergyman/cousin) does meet a fitting end in this book.
even though i love the original stories, i think i would get a kick
out of the zombie ones, too. too bad mrs. bennett was left alone.
i thought she was worse than a zombie already.
I agree wholeheartedly … Mrs. Bennett is worse than a zombie! This book was a fun time.
Okay, now that I’ve officially read and enjoyed a Jane Austen novel, I’m going to have to tackle this eventually! First, though, I will be reading plain old Pride and Prejudice. I love the “gateway drug” thing — so true! Perhaps reading one’s classics laced with the undead is a bit like getting all your news from Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart — more entertaining than the “real” thing but with the basic goodness still in tact.
A former coworker and Austen enthusiast read the original and the zombified version pretty much side by side. She told me that, though she would always love Pride and Prejudice, the story actually made more sense when zombies were introduced. That, coupled with your review, makes me think I should definitely get to this one eventually.
I love your Colbert/Stewart analogy — that is so perfect.
And your coworker has a point … the zombies kind of made for a more “sensible” story. I think it would be a neat little sideline to your classics reclamation project to read the “real” thing and the mash-ups! Mix it up a little! : )
Oh…good IDEA! Hmm…
It’s amazing how many books there are now in this genre! I saw one for Wuthering Heights in WalMart awhile back and almost bought it. Can’t remember the title….maybe Wuthering Bite? (It was vampire oriented) The only one I’ve read is Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter and I thought it was fun. Not having read any Austen (shock!), I’m not sure this one appeals to me.
There are a lot of these mash-up books out there now. This was the first one I ever remember seeing. I’m not sure if it started this whole thing or if just the first one I was aware of. And if the title isn’t Wuthering Bites, it should be!
I was hugely impressed at how much I loved this book! Thanks for a great review.
I was too … it was really kind of fun and worked better than I would have expected.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! I really got a kick out of this one, though I thought the parts with Wickham at the end were a little distasteful.
True … but then Wickham was a pretty distasteful character.