What was the original title of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'?

The original title of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was ‘First Impressions.’ Austen began writing the novel in 1796, when she was about 20, and completed an early version in 1797.

Her father tried unsuccessfully to sell the manuscript to London bookseller Thomas Cadell in 1797. Austen later substantially revised the work, changing its title to ‘Pride and Prejudice’ around 1811–1812 before its publication in 1813.

The earlier title suits the novel’s concern with hasty judgments, especially Elizabeth Bennet’s first impressions of Fitzwilliam Darcy. The final title emphasizes the two faults that both characters must confront: Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice. Austen may also have been influenced by Fanny Burney’s novel ‘Cecilia,’ which uses the phrase ‘Pride and Prejudice.’

A common mix-up is assuming that ‘First Impressions’ was an alternate published title. It was the novel’s working title; the book first appeared in print as ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in three volumes on 28 January 1813.