I'm not 100% sure how it has taken me so long to read this classic. I remember there being a copy on my childhood bookshelf, but I didn't dare touch it. It was written in small font and it seemed a little scary. This was odd because I loved the film with Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfayden. Maybe I was scared that the novel would not live up to the film - oh how silly of me.  This week I sat on my bed and delved into my first Austen. It was wonderful.  The  romance , the  high society , the  witty banter.  I felt transported into another world for two days and only wish that I had taken longer to read so that I was still amongst the family and their country parishes. One of my favourite pastimes is visiting National Trust properties and although that's a littler harder at this time I felt like I too was exploring Darcey's home with Elizabeth.