Introduction.

Hello there. My name is Phil Gutierrez, and I'm the Director of Admission and an English teacher at The Branson School in Marin County, CA (www.branson.org). I've been teaching English at Branson since 1994, and this spring, my class of nine juniors and I will be reading Jane Austen's wonderful novel, Pride and Prejudice.

My friend, Chair of the English Department, and noted romance writer, Kate Moore (www.katemoore.com) gave me five lenses through which to examine Austen's novel:

1. Parenting
2. Images of Marriage
3. Sisters
4. Distinctions of rank
5. Courtship practices

I've assigned specific students to each one of these lenses, and they'll report their findings regularly over the next six weeks.

I hope you enjoy our findings.

Phil