Cadell rejected it, sight unseen. She revised it and sold it in 1812 to Egerton, a publishing house, for 10 pounds, and it was published in January, 1813. It was the second novel she saw published, following Sense and Sensibility , published in 1811. Among the most important issues to understand for this novel are the passage and importance of property, the role of marriage in women's lives, and what alternatives were available for women.
Related issues revolve around social class and behaviors thought to belong to various classes.
In many of the characters' interactions and discussions of possible marriage, not just romance and finance but also class is an important issue. A man, too, might rise by marrying well, but generally, a woman took her husband's class status. To some extent, however, one's income is an indicator of class. As we learn in ch 7, during Mr Bennet's lifetime, during which the family may remain in their home, their total income is 4000 pounds per year, by which husband, wife, and five daughters are to be supported. Money aside, the difference in what the estates bring in each year suggest the difference in their size and, hence, importance.