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Introducing: Jane Austen Stories

October 2, 2025·43 min·3 clips

Mr Darcy dismisses Elizabeth Bennet at a ball as 'tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me' — a slight she later retells to her friends with amusement.

The episode opens with a brief introduction from Julie Andrews explaining the series will read Pride and Prejudice, first begun by Austen at age 20 and now sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Chapter One introduces the Bennet family through the sparring dialogue of Mr and Mrs Bennet over the arrival of Mr Bingley, a young man of four or five thousand a year who has taken Netherfield Park. Mrs Bennet is determined to match one of her five daughters to the newcomer and insists Mr Bennet visit him immediately. Mr Bennet teases his wife by feigning indifference until revealing he has already paid the call, sending Mrs Bennet into raptures. Austen's authorial summary describes Mr Bennet as a wit with sarcastic humour and his wife as a woman of mean understanding whose life's business was to get her daughters married. Chapter Two shows Mrs Bennet learning of Mr Bennet's visit through his wry revelation, and the family anticipating the forthcoming assembly ball. At the ball, Mr Bingley arrives with his sisters, brother-in-law Hurst, and his friend Mr Darcy. Bingley immediately charms the room, dancing every dance and admiring Jane Bennet. Darcy, whose ten thousand a year initially draws admiration, quickly alienates the company with his proud refusal to dance with anyone outside his own party. When Bingley urges Darcy to dance with Elizabeth, Darcy dismisses her as tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him, within her hearing. Elizabeth retells the story to her friends with amusement. Chapter Four describes Jane and Elizabeth's private conversation: Jane praises Bingley's agreeable qualities while Elizabeth teases Jane for being too generous in her assessment of people. Austen provides background on the Bingley family, including that their fortune was made in trade. The contrast between Bingley and Darcy is expanded through parallel descriptions. Chapter Five shows the Lucas family visiting the Bennets the next morning to exchange intelligence about the ball. Charlotte Lucas defends Darcy's pride as warranted by his position while Elizabeth maintains she could forgive it if he had not slighted her. Mary Bennet delivers a solemn lecture distinguishing pride from vanity. The episode closes with a preview of the next instalment.

As heard by us

Julie Andrews gives Austen a warm, poised introduction.

Jane Austen's Stories opens with a tidy, inviting look at Pride and Prejudice. Dame Julie Andrews sets the tone well, and the piece keeps its focus on the things that matter here: Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and the social pressure moving around them.

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Why you'd press play

Hear Julie Andrews open Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in a preview that steps into humour, heartbreak, scandal, and romance.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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