Mobile
Friday, May 8, 2009
Arts / News Book Review: Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Posted By Chris Deal on Fri, May 8, 2009 at 12:44 PM
In the study of English literature, there are few writers more respected than Jane Austen. Her works did more to change the way women were seen in the 18th and 19th centuries than any other writer, showing their inequality, reliant on the institution of marriage to leave the bounds of the familial home, independence all but impossible. Austen's works, especially Pride and Prejudice, were open critiques of the sentimental novel, where the protagonist was completely obsessed with love. Considered by some to be her greatest literary work, Pride and Prejudice is to this day one of the most popular and well-loved books in history, but it is also quite boring, and there is a distinct lack of zombies.
In Seth Grahame-Smith's revision of the classic, he alters words and lines to create a world where the dead return to search out the flesh of the living. Here, men and women are esteemed for their upbringing, conversational skills, and the ability to slay the undead. If you're at all aware of where the original novel's story goes, then you'll know where this one is heading, but the fun is in the zombie apocalypse, and the ninjas. Yes, there are ninjas too.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies occupies a bizarre place on the pop culture landscape, halfway between Romero and 18th century realism, all in a modern world where critics have been constantly bemoaning the demise of literature for decades. While containing the skeleton of an undeniable classic, this book is a piece of entertainment, and it will, most likely, not hold up as the original has. Is it a great book? It has zombies and ninjas, but it's not a great book, though it is entertaining.
Speaking of...
-
The Moffett Restaurant Group Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Barrington’s Restaurant
Oct 12, 2020 -
Cancer's better with a side of 'shrooms
Aug 7, 2020 -
The Art of Influence
Aug 2, 2020 - More »
Latest in The CLog
More by Chris Deal
-
Taking a bite into Charlie Huston's vampire series
Oct 29, 2009 -
Literary monsters
Oct 14, 2009 -
Book review: Gordon Highland's Major Inversions
Oct 5, 2009 - More »
-
Bank errors continue to cause wrongful foreclosures
Charlotte's Bank of America is all mixed up in this mess.
-
5 Reasons To Buy Home Insurance Policy
-
Marilyn Chambers found dead
Porn star Marilyn Chambers found dead at age 56.
