Reading Club: Pride and Prejudice

The SNFCC Book Club, coordinated by the author Panos Tsiros, continues in December. 

On Monday, December 28, bibliophiles renew their monthly online appointment, from 18:30 to 20:30, to discuss the book they read during the month that just passed. The group of readers will once again have the opportunity to come together and use the book of the month as a starting point to share experiences, emotions and ideas, as well as to create new friendships and exchange opinions.

December Book of the Month: Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

One of the world’s greatest novelists, Jane Austen (1775-1817) staged her own quiet revolution on the male-dominated literary scene of 19th century Great Britain, by anonymously publishing books written in an entirely personal style. A style that breaks out of the stereotypes of classical romanticism and is characterized by a spirit of realism, a critical attitude against English society and its views, elegant expression, subtle irony, caustic humor and profound tenderness. Her novels remain, for two centuries and counting, extremely popular in all corners of the world, and are being read again and again by the international reading public. Indeed, many of them have also known great success as adaptations for the screen, theater and television. 

Austen, who was the seventh daughter of an Anglican pastor with eight children, drew her inspiration for most of the characters in her books from her members of her extended family; Austen, herself, was an introvert who avoided going out and socializing. Blessed with rare insight, a keen eye for observation, and sensitivity, she wrote her first novel at age 14, and was fortunate enough to see four of her most important works (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma) published during her lifetime. 

In her book Pride and Prejudice (1813), one of the best-selling novels of all time, the famous author focuses on the British Regency period, and the insular microcosm of rural England, where financial interests and social climbing ambitions are intertwined with secret and overt love affairs. The story’s protagonist is Mrs. Bennet with her five unmarried daughters, who are not part of the upper class and live in a house they do not own. Despite the difficulties, however, Mrs. Bennet is determined to secure good marriages for all of her daughters. When she hears, therefore, that two wealthy bachelors have arrived in the area to spend the summer, she begins plotting feverishly. Will she succeed? Or will the heart prevail over logic?

Panos Tsiros was born in Athens in 1970. He studied at the School of Philosophy of the University of Ioannina, and went on to pursue postgraduate studies in Philosophy in England, completing his thesis on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico–Philosophicus. He has worked in secondary education for several years. His first collection of short stories, Ferte mou to kefali tis Marias Kensora (Bring me the head of Maria Kensora), was published in 2007 by Gavriilidis Publications, followed, in 2013, by another short story collection, entitled Den ein’ etsi? (Isn’t it so?), published by Mikri Arktos. His third collection, I monaksia ton skilon (The loneliness of dogs) was released by Nefeli Publishing in 2019. He has collaborated with several magazines, and a number of his short stories have been translated into French.

Monday 28/12 | 18.30-20.30

For adults
Up to 50 participants
Participation by online pre-registration

Pre-registration starts on Tuesday 03/12 at 12.00

Coordinator: Panos Tsiros, author

To take part in the Reading Club, registered participants are required to have read the book of the month. 

December's Reading Club will take place online, via Zoom.