Key to detailed timeline:

The material in quotes is taken from Pride and Prejudice as it helps to put certain events on certain dates

Most of the entries are my own interpretation as to when events took place, based on phrases such as 'a few days later,' or 'the following week' etc, and working backwards or forwards from specific dates mentioned in the text. It would be possible to make a case for certain events taking place on different dates. On occasions where Jane Austen gave a specific date, I have indicated it as follows:

Stars mean that the starred day or date was mentioned in Pride and Prejudice.

Example

*26 Tuesday* (in the November section) The Netherfield ball

means that Jane Austen tells us the ball takes place on Tuesday 26th November.

9 *Monday* Darcy looks over Netherfield with Bingley

means that Jane Austen tells us it was a Monday

I have noted the important events on the timeline, but not every little discussion or action.

1799 July

10 Wednesday Bingley tells Darcy he means to look for a country house

29 Monday Darcy visits Georgiana in Ramsgate and learns that she is about to elope with Wickham

1799 August

1 Thursday Darcy takes Georgiana back to London

1799 September

2 Monday Bingley writes to Darcy and says he's found an estate to lease in Hertfordshire

9 *Monday* Darcy looks over Netherfield with Bingley

11 Wednesday Mrs Bennet tells Mr Bennet that Bingley is to take Netherfield "by the end of next week" and "Bingley takes possession of Netherfield before Michaelmas"

20 Friday Bingley's servants arrive

24 Tuesday Bingley moves in to Netherfield

26 Thursday Mr Bennet calls on Bingley.

29 Sunday *Michaelmas*

30 Monday Bingley returns Mr Bennet's visit.

1799 October

1 Tuesday Mrs Bennet invites Bingley to dinner, but he refuses as he is going to town the following day.

2 Wednesday Bingley goes to town

11 Friday Meryton Assembly

15 Tuesday The Bennet ladies visit Caroline and Louisa.

18 Friday Caroline and Louisa return the call

19 Saturday Dinner party (not specifically mentioned in P&P but see 25th Oct)

25 Friday "She (Jane) has known him (Bingley) only a fortnight. She danced with him at Meryton, saw him one morning at his own house and has dined in company with him four times"

1799 November

4 Monday Party at Lucas Lodge

12 Tuesday Jane goes to Netherfield and is taken ill

13 Wednesday Lizzy goes to see her

14 Thursday Lizzy sends a note to her mother, saying Jane is very ill

15 Friday Lizzy sees Darcy in the shrubbery

16 Saturday Lizzy writes to her mother for the carriage. Bingley persuades them to stay another day

17 *Sunday* Jane and Lizzy leave

*18 Monday* Mr Collins arrives. (Mr Bennet tells Mrs Bennet that they are expecting Mr Collins. Mr Collins proposes "waiting on you on Monday November 18th" and "I shall trespass on your hospitality til the Saturday se'ennight following" he says

19 Tuesday "After breakfast" the Bennets walk into Meryton with Mr Collins, and meet Wickham

20 Wednesday "The next day" Lizzy meets Wickham at her aunt's party. He slanders Darcy.

21 Thursday "The next day" Lizzy tells Jane what Wickham has told her of Darcy. The Bingleys call at Longbourn with an invitation to the Netherfield ball.

22 Friday "Rain"

23 Saturday "Rain"

24 Sunday "Rain"

25 Monday Rain

*26 Tuesday* The Netherfield ball.

27 *Wednesday* "The next day" Mr Collins proposes to Lizzy and Bingley leaves for London. Charlotte listens to Mr Collins.

28 Thursday "The morrow" produced no abatement of Mrs Bennet's ill humour. Caroline writes to Jane to say that the whole party have left Netherfield and have no plan to return. Darcy persuades Bingley that Jane does not love him

29 Friday "The next morning" Mr Collins proposes to Charlotte. Jane "sent Caroline an early answer to her letter"

30 Saturday "The following morning" Charlotte tells Lizzy she's engaged to Mr Collins. Mr Collins leaves.

1799 December

3 *Tuesday* Letter of thanks from Mr Collins to Bennets

4 Wednesday "Bingley had been gone a week"

16 *Monday* Mr Collins returns to Longbourn on "the Monday fortnight"

17 Tuesday Jane receives a letter from Caroline telling her of Miss Darcy

21 *Saturday* "Mr Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of Saturday."

23 *Monday* "The following Monday Mrs Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came . . . to spend Christmas at Longbourn"

30 Monday The Gardiners and Jane leave. "The Gardiners stayed a week at Longbourn"

31 Tuesday Mr Collins arrives in Hertfordshire "soon after it had been quitted by . . . Jane. . . his marriage was fast approaching".

Jane writes to Caroline.

1800 January

1 *Wednesday*"On Wednesday" Charlotte asks Lizzy to visit her in Kent

2 *Thursday* "Thursday was to be the wedding day"

6 Monday "Jane had been a week in town without seeing Caroline"

7 Tuesday My aunt is going into town "tomorrow". Jane calls on Caroline

21 Tuesday After "waiting at home every morning for a fortnight" Jane's call on Caroline is returned.

1800 February

1800 March

24 Monday Elizabeth goes to Hunsford to stay with Mr and Mrs Collins. Easter "is almost three weeks away," Elizabeth's visit is for "six weeks".

Dating the visit to Hunsford is somewhat problematic, as Lizzy's visit cannot be for exactly six weeks, because she leaves Hunsford on a Saturday, but if she arrives on a Saturday she would have to go to church the following day, which she does not.

I have made her visit 6 weeks less 2 days, which overcomes this problem.

28 Friday Darcy receives a letter from Lady Catherine, saying that Lizzy is at the parsonage.

1800 April

7 Monday Darcy goes to Rosings.

This date is worked backwards from Easter day, April 13th, which is "almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival".

Darcy tells Colonel Fitzwilliam he has saved Bingley from an imprudent match.

8 Tuesday Darcy goes to the Parsonage.

13 *Sunday Easter Day* "It was some days . . . almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival" before Lizzy dines at Rosings

14 Monday "The next morning" Darcy goes to the Parsonage and finds Elizabeth alone

19 Saturday An indeterminate time has passed. "More than once did Elizabeth in her ramble . . . meet Mr Darcy"

22 Tuesday "One day as she walked" . . . Elizabeth meets Col Fitzwilliam, he tells her Darcy separated a friend from an undesirable connection.

Elizabeth refuses to go to Rosings, pleading a headache. "In less than a fortnight she should herself be with Jane again. His visit to Rosings was to end on the day after next"

Darcy proposes.

23 Wednesday "The next morning "Darcy gives her the letter

24 Thursday Darcy returns to London. (from chapter 41 Darcy was at Rosings nearly three weeks".) Elizabeth dines at Rosings and must be in town next Saturday. I take this to mean a week on Saturday, as it is the only way 'seeing Jane in less than a fortnight' can fit in with the timing.

1800 May

3 Saturday Elizabeth leaves Kent and goes to Mr Gardiners "where they were to remain a few days"

8 Thursday "It was the second week of May" when Elizabeth left the Gardiners. "In a fortnight the officers were to go from Meryton".

9 Friday "The next morning" Elizabeth tells Jane about Darcy's proposal

21 Wednesday Elizabeth sees Wickham as the officers dine at Longbourn. Her conversation unsettles him as she now knows the truth

22 Thursday The officers leave Meryton. Lydia goes with them, under the care of Mrs Forster

1800 June

5 Thursday "After the first fortnight or three weeks of her (Lydia's) absence" (this is a fortnight after)

12 Thursday "After the first fortnight or three weeks of her (Lydia's) absence . .. "(this is 3 weeks after) "everything wore a happier aspect. The families who had been in town for the winter came back"

16 Monday "By the middle of June" Kitty regains her cheerfulness. Then, "A fortnight only was wanting" of Elizabeth's tour of the Lakes when a letter came from Mrs Gardiner . . . "prevented . . . from setting out till a fortnight later in July". This could mean a fortnight after the middle of June, but not necessarily. JA is just passing over time here, first with Lydia's 2 or 3 week absence, then with Kitty's restoration, then Lizzy receiving a letter. The letter could be received a week after the 16th June

23 Monday Letter arrives from Mrs Gardiner, postponing tour

1800 July

8 Tuesday The start of Lizzy's tour was originally planned for this date, but was then delayed by two weeks

22 Tuesday Lizzy's tour begins. There is enough in Derbyshire "to occupy the chief of their three weeks. "They see the principal wonders of Derbyshire (I speculate it takes 2 weeks) then "to the little town of Lambton they bent their steps"

August 1800

2 *Saturday* Lydia and Wickham "were off Saturday night about twelve"

3 Sunday Jane's first letter is written. Lydia and Wickham are missed at 8 in the morning. An express reaches Longbourn at twelve (midnight) The latter half of the letter is dated a day later, Monday

4 *Monday* Mrs Gardiner suggests they visit Pemberley. Elizabeth asks the chambermaid in Bakewell, when she retires at night, if the family are at Pemberley, and learns they are away.

The latter half of Jane's letter is written, telling of Lydia's elopement. "They were off Saturday night about twelve . . . but were not missed till yesterday morning at eight". Colonel Foster arrives at Longbourn.

5 Tuesday Elizabeth leaves Bakewell and goes to Pemberley and meets Darcy. She stays in an inn in Lambton.

Mr Bennet goes to London in search of Lydia. Jane writes her second letter. "By this time you have received my hurried letter," (posted Monday). "Colonel Forster came yesterday. My father is going to London with Colonel Forster instantly."

6 Wednesday The rest of Darcy's party arrive. Georgiana calls on Elizabeth. Bingley says "It is above eight months "since they met, at the Netherfield ball on "26th November".

Mr Bennet writes home to say he has arrived safely.

7 Thursday Elizabeth returns the call on the Darcys.

8 Friday Elizabeth receives Jane's letter "on the third morning" she had spent there and returns to Longbourn.

9 Saturday "Sleeping one night on the road" Elizabeth and the Gardiners arrive at Longbourn by "dinner-time. In the afternoon" seems to imply that dinner was at, perhaps, three or four o'clock.

Darcy leaves Derbyshire for London. "He left Derbyshire only one day after ourselves. . . . visited Mrs Younge as soon as he got to town . . . It was two or three days before he could get from her what he wanted."

10 *Sunday* "The whole party were in hopes of a letter the next morning. Mr Gardiner had waited only for the letters before he set off . . . left Longbourn on Sunday"

12 Tuesday Mrs Gardiner receives a letter from her husband. Darcy discovers Wickham's address. "They met several times."

15 Friday Mr Gardiner writes again, to say they might expect their father the following day, which was Saturday. Darcy calls on Mr Gardiner "the evening before I" (Mrs Gardiner) "came home but could not see him because Mr Bennet was with him."

16 Saturday Mr Bennet comes home to Longbourn.

Mrs Gardiner leaves Longbourn and returns to London.

Darcy calls on Mr Gardiner and stays for several hours . . . "it was all over before I arrived", says Mrs Gardiner.

17 *Sunday* "They" (Darcy and Mr Gardiner) "met again on Sunday"

18 Monday Mr Gardiner writes to say the marriage is arranged "Two days after Mr Bennet's return" an express arrives from Mr Gardiner. It is dated "Monday August 2." This date is only accurate for the 1802 calendar, which means it's impossible to reconcile with Tuesday 26th November for the Netherfield ball, using any calendar. It is also impossible to reconcile with Lydia staying with her aunt and uncle for two weeks before she marries, then a few days later telling Lizzy about Darcy's presence at the wedding, and Lizzy writing straight away to her aunt, and receiving a reply by return, dated 6th September. If we assume this is just a mistake, and Monday August 18 is meant, then the timeline works."She (Lydia) comes to us today."

(Elizabeth's tour was due to have ended on this date, had all gone well)

19 Tuesday "When all this was resolved on he (Darcy) returned again to his friends at Pemberley . . arranging that he should be in London . . . when the wedding took place"

1800 September

1 *Monday* "Monday morning came" and Lydia marries. "I (Lydia) was there (with the Gardiners) a fortnight ". . . "As soon as the ceremony as over they should proceed to Longbourn . . . I am married to-day," says Lydia when she arrives. . . . "not to remain above ten days"

2 Tuesday Darcy dines with the Gardiners. "He dined with us the next day" (after wedding)

3 Wednesday Darcy "was to leave town again on Wednesday or Thursday."

5 Friday Lizzy writes to her aunt

6 Saturday Mrs Gardiner replies, dating her letter Sept 6

7 Sunday Lizzy receives a letter "as soon as she possibly could"

11 Thursday Lydia and Wickham leave. "The loss of her daughter made Mrs Bennet very dull for several days." . . but "this was shortly relieved" by the news that Bingley was to return to Netherfield "in a day or two"

15 Monday Mrs Bennet's spirits restored by news of Bingley's imminent arrival

17 Wednesday Bingley arrives. "He comes down on Thursday at the latest, very likely on Wednesday . .. "

20 Saturday "On the third morning after his arrival in Hertfordshire "Bingley calls on the Bennets, accompanied by Darcy

23 *Tuesday* "They did not see the gentlemen again till Tuesday." "For dinner there was soup and venison "Even Mr Darcy acknowledged that the partridges were remarkably well done"

24 Wednesday "On the evening before my going to London" Darcy tells Bingley about Jane being in town, and his deception

25 Thursday "A few days after this visit, Mr Bingley called again and alone. His friend (Darcy ) had left him that morning for London"

26 Friday "Tomorrow "Bingley comes to dinner

27 Saturday "Tomorrow "Bingley comes to shoot with Mr Bennet. Bingley returns to dinner and proposes to Jane. "From this time "Bingley" was . . . a daily visitor at Longbourn "

1800 October

3 Friday "About a week after Bingley's engagement" Lady Catherine calls. She calls on Darcy on her way back through London and tells him of her visit

4 Saturday "The next morning" a letter arrives from Mr Collins, advising Elizabeth not to marry Darcy. The rest of his letter is about . . . Charlotte's situation

6 Monday Darcy returns. "Before many days had passed after Lady Catherine's visit" Bingley brings Darcy to Longbourn. They walk out. Darcy proposes.

7 Tuesday "The next morning " Darcy calls. He asks Mr Bennet for Lizzy's hand after dinner. Mrs Bennet is told.

8 Wednesday "On the morrow" Darcy comes to dinner

10 Friday Elizabeth writes to her aunt, who "had already lost three days of happiness." Darcy writes to Lady Catherine. Mr Bennet writes to Mr Collins

11 Saturday "Before any answer could arrive from Mr Collins", Mr Collins himself arrives, with his wife

27 Monday Elizabeth receives letter from Lydia

28 Tuesday Elizabeth and Jane marry

If you would like to quote this timeline on a website, elist etc, then please do so, but please provide a link back to this page.

To go to the details of placing Pride and Prejudice in 1799/1800, click here