Austen, J., & Grahame-Smith, S. (2009). Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books.
ISBN-13: 9781594743344
•Plot Summary
Lizzie Bennett is one of give girls in the Bennett family, the second to the oldest, and the most proficient at helping rid her region of Unmentionables-aka Zombies. Taking the original Jane Austen classic, author Seth Grahame-Smith has revamped (or newly zombied) the material with the insertion of a plague that has been sweeping across England for two years. As the tale opens, the Unmentionables have been dormant, but rise again. Like the original, Lizzie still comes head to head with the insufferable Mr.Darcy, sister Jane still falls in love with the sweet and fabulously wealthy Mr.Bingley, and Mr.Darcy tries to thwart Jane's happiness-to the detriment of his own friendship/relationship with Lizzie. Lizzie still turns down her cousin, Mr.Collins, as he is ridiculous. Her best friend, Charlotte, still agrees to marry him days later. Lady Catherine is still too overbearing, and in the end, Mr.Darcy still saves the day. Unlike the original, Charlotte marries Mr.Collins because she is becoming a zombie and wants a husband to behead and bury her-he just doesn't notice the fact she is gray, and covered in sores. Lady Catherine is trying to find a cure for the plague, and her first altercation with Lizzie involves not just family, but a dispute over ninjas. Mr.Darcy still throws Bingley off from Jane due to Lizzie's family, but also because he mistakes Jane's cold as a possible sign of her becoming a zombie. When Lady Catherine comes to confront Lizzie about a possible alliance with Mr.Darcy, the two have more than a battle of words, they also have a battle of katanas and ninjas. Mr.Darcy still foots the bills for Lydia's running away with Mr.Wickham, but he and Lizzie have to finish off a few hundred zombies before they can have their happily ever after.
•Critical Evaluation
Hilarious recycling of Austen's original material, keeping all of the elements that caused us to have love/hate relationships with Darcy, Mr.Collins, Lydia, and Lady Catherine, as well as find Jane and Lizzie endearing. Gives the reader the same taste of language as Austen too.
•Reader’s Annotation
Perfect introduction to Austen's ability to create period satire, especially for reluctant teen readers. All the features of the original, but with today's brand of humor to keep the reader amused.
•Information about the author
The author, actually named Seth Jared Greenberg is from Rockville Center, New York. Born on January 4, 1976, he is not just an author, but also a film producer. Besides this novel, has also written an alternative novel about Abraham Lincoln and vampires, though his intended prequel to this novel was unable to be completed by Greenberg, and was written by another author instead.
Besides writing the novels, and a book on porn, Greenberg has also authored an Incredible Hulk comic book, and is in the process of producing a film based on the Abraham Lincoln novel.
•Genre
Humor
•Curriculum Ties
English Literature
•Booktalking Ideas
Classics and humor, alternative novels
•Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 10-12/Ages 15-19
•Challenge Issues
N/A
•Why did you include this book in you’re the titles you selected?
I loved Austen's original novel, but the addition of a zombie element was too good to pass up. The classic style of the cover, combined with the unorthodox show of blood on the lady's mouth, definitely drew my attention.
