Jane Austen pioneered the modern novel by focusing on realistic depictions of ordinary people, with an eye toward unraveling the social structures that ruled Victorian England. This volume explores the role of class in Jane Austen's life and in Pride and Prejudice, providing a critical background on the life of the author and the influences that shaped her writing. Ten articles explore topics such as the rapidly changing class structures in Britain during the time of the novel, and what class meant for women. The book also includes twenty-first-century perspectives on the intersection of class and gender. Contributors include Emily Auerbach, Terry Eagleton, and Sarah Mahoney.