When Is Pride and Prejudice Set?
Pride and Prejudice is set in Regency England. Scholars date the story from autumn 1811 to the end of 1812, even though Austen never names the year.
The action moves between Hertfordshire, Kent, Derbyshire and London.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Period | Regency England |
| Dates (scholars) | Autumn 1811 to late 1812 |
| Year named in text? | No |
| Starts | Before Michaelmas (29 September) 1811, when Bingley takes Netherfield |
| Main places | Hertfordshire, Kent, Derbyshire, London |
| Published | 1813 |
What historical period is it set in?
Pride and Prejudice is set in the Regency, the period that began in 1811 when George III was declared unfit to rule and his son became Prince Regent. Britain was at war with Napoleon, and the militia regiments quartered in towns such as Meryton are part of the plot.
↑ Back to the topDoes the book say what year it is?
It does not. Austen mentions days, weeks, months, church festivals and dated letters but never the year. The scholars R. W. Chapman and MacKinnon built a calendar from those clues, and their 1811 to 1812 chronology is the standard one. In it, Bingley takes Netherfield before Michaelmas, 29 September 1811, and Mr Collins's letter arrives on Tuesday 15 October 1811.
↑ Back to the topHow long does the story last?
The action runs for about a year. Lydia's elopement falls in August 1812, Darcy's second proposal comes in the autumn, and the double wedding takes place before Christmas. A few readers place the story earlier, closer to the years Austen first drafted it, but the 1811 to 1812 dating is the usual one.
↑ Back to the topWhere is Pride and Prejudice set?
The Bennets live at Longbourn, near Meryton in Hertfordshire. Bingley rents Netherfield Park nearby. Elizabeth visits Kent, where Mr Collins lives and Lady Catherine de Bourgh's Rosings stands, and later travels to Derbyshire, where Darcy's home, Pemberley, is. London appears as the place where Jane's hopes fade and Lydia's scandal unfolds.
↑ Back to the topMore about Pride and Prejudice
This guide covers the book only. Film and TV versions differ in places.