The Classics Club monthly meme is another way to bring members of The Classics Club together. The post for the month will go up on the main page of this blog on the 2nd of the month, and you’ll have all month to respond over at your blog.
Q: What is your favourite opening sentence from a classic novel (and why)?
A:
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
~ Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pretty much every line from Pride and Prejudice would be my favorite line; but the thing I find so interesting is how untrue that is today. Many woman are financially self-sufficient and less and less women are getting married. This not to say that Pride and Prejudice is irrelevant, times have just changed.
As quoted by Gloria Steinem:
“A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle”.
Too bad about that procreation bit.
I love the P&P quote! I also love that book!!
Angie
It really is the best opening line, isn't it?
I think it still has some truth if you take it in the literal sense… super rich men (or men aiming to be powerful, like politicians) tend to start looking for a "good" trophy wife to help their lives look more complete and to make himself look more honest. It's definitely taken a darker turn than back in Austen's day, I think.