British Accent Shadowing | Pride and Prejudice | Learn RP Pronunciation – Part 1

Welcome to British English Shadowing — where you can practise RP pronunciation,

intonation, and the natural rhythm of spoken English through classic literature.

In this episode, we’re beginning a new series using Pride and Prejudice by

Jane Austen — a beloved novel filled with elegant phrasing and expressive dialogue.

I’ll begin by reading the full passage, then we’ll go line by line so you can repeat after

me and build clarity, fluency, and confidence in your spoken English.

There’s a free PDF of today’s text linked in the description if you'd like to follow along.

Let’s get started. It is a truth universally acknowledged,

that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known

the feelings or views of such a man may be, on his first entering a neighbourhood, the truth

is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful

property of some one or other of their daughters. “My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one

day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?” Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. “But

it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been there, and she told me all about it.” Mr. Bennet

made no answer. “Do not you want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife, impatiently. “You want

to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.” This was invitation enough. “Why, my dear,

you must know Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the

north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much

delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before

Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.” “What is his

name?” “Bingley.” “Is he married or single?” “Oh, single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large

fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” “How so? how can it affect

them?” “My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome? You must know that I

am thinking of his marrying one of them.” “Is that his design in settling here?” “Design? Nonsense,

how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore

you must visit him as soon as he comes.” “I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go—

or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better; for as you are as handsome

as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party.” “My dear, you flatter me.

I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When

a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.” “In such

cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.” “But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr.

Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.” “It is more than I engage for, I assure you.”

“But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them.”

So let’s go line by line.

It is a truth universally acknowledged,

that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However

little known the feelings or views of such a man may be, on his first entering a neighbourhood,

the truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the

rightful property of some one or other of their daughters. “My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady