--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I asked her what she'd thought of…" description: "\"“When I asked her what she'd thought of Pride and Prejudice, she only wondered aloud how anyone could have written a novel set in the first part of the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/michelle-cooper-40904_humor_when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-p_692155.jpg" --- # When I asked her what she'd thought of Pride and… ![“When I asked her what she'd thought of Pride and Prejudice, she only wondered aloud how anyone could have written a novel set in the first part of the nineteenth century without once mentioning Napoleon.” quote by Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/michelle-cooper-40904_humor_when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-p_692155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/michelle-cooper-40904_humor_when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-p_692155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/michelle-cooper-40904_humor_when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-p_692155.jpg) > ““When I asked her what she'd thought of Pride and Prejudice, she only wondered aloud how anyone could have written a novel set in the first part of the nineteenth century without once mentioning Napoleon.”” [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She critiques the anachronistic focus of classic literature, highlighting modern readers' expectations for contemporary relevance. **In simple terms:** She finds classic novels oddly missing modern references. Key Takeaway Question historical context in reading. Themes literature history anachronism Mood thoughtful critical Type literary analytical When to use this quote - school assignments - book clubs - reading groups Key Concepts modern relevance historical awareness literary criticism Questions to Reflect On - How does historical setting affect your enjoyment? - Do you think authors should anticipate future readers? A Different Perspective Not all readers seek modern references in classics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Nineteenth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nineteenth-century/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Pride And Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride-and-prejudice/) ## Related quotes > [“The celestial brightness of Pride and Prejudice is unequalled even in Jane Austen's other work; after a life of much disappointment and grief, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jenkins/the-celestial-brightness-of-pride-and-prejudice-is-unequalled-even-in/) [Elizabeth Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jenkins/) > [It taught me to hope," said he, "as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before." 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When you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kumar/whatever-lessens-suffering-in-yourself-and-others-that-is-right/) [Satish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kumar/) > [It's absurd to think of 'Pride and Prejudice,' this classic, beloved book, beset with a zombie uprising. The goal is to make you suspend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/it-s-absurd-to-think-of-pride-and-prejudice-this-classic-beloved-book/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [“When The Journal of Words compiled its list of the one hundred best novels written in English, do you know that Pride and Prejudice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/when-the-journal-of-words-compiled-its-list-of-the-one-hundred-best/) [Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/) > [“As he walked out into the North Carolina sunshine, Lola's hand in his, a smile curved one corner of his lips. 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She stopped in on her way to pick up Pride and Prejudice and to berate me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-shaffer/what-on-earth-did-you-say-to-isola-she-stopped-in-on-her-way-to-pick/) [Mary Ann Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-shaffer/) > [“Can you put your hands on my crotch?” “Why, hell no, I cannot.” I didn’t remember anything like this happening in Pride and Prejudice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/can-you-put-your-hands-on-my-crotch-why-hell-no-i-cannot-i-didn-t/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [I feel that Pride and Prejudice is an incredibly well constructed novel on every level. The dialogue is great. The character development is great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-feel-that-pride-and-prejudice-is-an-incredibly-well-constructed/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [It's different to read a book for pleasure than to read it analytically. In the past, I'd read Pride and Prejudice for pleasure. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/it-s-different-to-read-a-book-for-pleasure-than-to-read-it/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) ## More by Michelle Cooper > [“When I was little, I longed and longed to be older, except now I can't recall what exactly it was that I most keenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/when-i-was-little-i-longed-and-longed-to-be-older-except-now-i-can-t/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) > [“There’s a fine line between gossip and history, when one is talking about kings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/there-s-a-fine-line-between-gossip-and-history-when-one-is-talking/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) > [“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-single-man-in-2/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) > [“I wondered whether mad people would be better off if their memories could be neatened up, or taken off the shelves on which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/i-wondered-whether-mad-people-would-be-better-off-if-their-memories/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) > [ “Do you know what it is?' \[Toby\] said thoughtfully. 'It's that they haven't had anything really awful happen to them. No wonder they seem… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/do-you-know-what-it-is-toby-said-thoughtfully-it-s-that-they-haven-t/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) > [“The way she told it, the English counties are littered with aging spinsters who accidentally displayed a spark of intelligence at a debutante dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/the-way-she-told-it-the-english-counties-are-littered-with-aging/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) > [“Simon called you 'Machiavelli disguised as a debutante.'" "Gosh," I said, not sure whether to feel flattered or insulted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/simon-called-you-machiavelli-disguised-as-a-debutante-gosh-i-said-not/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) > [“She seemed to think reading was some sort of hobby, as opposed to being as necessary as breathing, sleeping, and eating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/she-seemed-to-think-reading-was-some-sort-of-hobby-as-opposed-to/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) > [“And I’ll gaze across the chasm to the other side of the island, where I can still sometimes catch sight of a curly-haired urchin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/and-i-ll-gaze-across-the-chasm-to-the-other-side-of-the-island-where/) [Michelle Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) [Explore all 10 Michelle Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/) ## More Humor quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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Munt > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [“Not wise, perhaps, to be rude to the Pope's favorite son, but my viper tongue still required a fool now and then on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/not-wise-perhaps-to-be-rude-to-the-pope-s-favorite-son-but-my-viper/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/) [Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [“ “Do Southerners laugh at different things than Northerners do? Yes, I say--Northerners.” Roy Blount, Jr., Roy Blount’s Book of Southern Humor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/do-southerners-laugh-at-different-things-than-northerners-do-yes-i/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [I love being my silly ole self! Lifes a lot better when you have a good sense of humor and you smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-being-my-silly-ole-self-lifes-a-lot-better-when-you-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) [Browse all 33,155 Humor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I asked her what she'd thought of Pride and Prejudice, she only wondered aloud how anyone could have written a novel set in the first part of the nineteenth century without once mentioning Napoleon.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michelle Cooper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-pride-and-prejudice-she-only/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Humor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-pride-and-prejudice-she-only/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/michelle-cooper-40904_humor_when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-p_692155.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/michelle-cooper-40904_humor_when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-p_692155.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7b/michelle-cooper-40904_humor_when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-p_692155.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I asked her what she'd thought of Pride and Prejudice, she only wondered aloud how anyone could have…” — Michelle Cooper", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michelle Cooper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-cooper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When I asked her what she'd...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-pride-and-prejudice-she-only/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-cooper/when-i-asked-her-what-she-d-thought-of-pride-and-prejudice-she-only/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```