关于<PrideandPreduce>之真爱的探讨Austen'sapparentreticenceinmattersofcontemporarypoliticshasoftenprovokedcommentfromcritics.Formostofheradultlife,BritainwasatwarwithFranceandexperiencingcasualtiesonanunprecedentedscale.Herbrothers,FrankandCharles,servedintheRoyalNavy,incareersthatbroughtnotonlywealthandhonour,butalsoconstantdanger.ItisevidentfromcommentsinAusten'ssurvivinglettersthatshewasfarfromignorantoftheinternationalconflict;manyreadershavethereforeponderedovertherelativeabsenceofreferencetocurrentaffairsinherfiction.ThequestionisparticularlyacuteinPrideandPrejudice,atoncethemostmilitaryandthemostwittyandeffervescentofallthenovels.Herethemilitiaareembodiedinforce,andyettheregimentbilletedatmerytonseemsdesignedtoprovidedancingpartnersforthelocalcommunity,ratherthanprotectionagainstaforeignfoe.ItishardtoimagineMrWickham,ChamberlayneorDennyengagedinactionotherthanintheballroomoratthecardtable.Whenseeninthelightofcontemporaryhistory,however,theanxietygeneratedbythemilitiatakesonfurtherdimensions.By1813,whenPrideandPrejudicewaspublished,theBritisharmywastwentytimeslargerthanithadbeenattheoutbreakofthewar.WhenthecharacterofMrsBennethadbeensketchedoutinthe1790s,herambitionofgettingherdaughtersmarriedoffhadprobablyseemedarelativelystraightforwarddevicetoayoungwriternurturedoneighteenth-centurydramaandcomicnovels.15yearslater,Britishwomenhadenduredthedeepdistressesbroughtonbyprolongedhostilities-fearoffoodshortages,terroratthethoughtofmilitaryinvasion,and,worstofall,theexperienceoflosingsons,husbands,fathers,brothers,andfriendsintheconflict.ThesensitivityofMrsBennet'snervesbegingstoseemmorecomprehensiblewhenthecollectiveanxietytowhichshehasbeensubjectedforsomanyyearsistakenintoaccount,whilehermatrimonialobsessionsacquireanaltogetherdarkertone.AsthedeathtollroseinsuccessivecampaignsagainstFrance,thenumbersofeligibleEnglishmenwereinevitablydeclining.Ifthepoliticaleconomist,theRevdThomasMalthus,articulatedwidespreadanxietiesabouttheBritishpopulationexceedingthenation'sagricult