History Literature / PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies

* OldMaster: Lady Catherine may be a mean old lady, but [[VillainousValour she's no coward]] and gives quite the fight against the much younger Elizabeth.

%%* BattleCouple: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (Zero Context Example)

* LadyOfWar: Lady Catherine, literally. She may be a mean old lady, but [[VillainousValour she's no coward]] and gives quite the fight against the much younger Elizabeth.

%%* TrainingFromHell: The Bennett girls, again. (Zero Context Example)

-->Some scholars believe that the zombies were a last-minute addition to the novel, requested by the publishers in a shameless attempt to boost sales. Others argue that the hordes of the living dead are integral to Jane Austen's plot and social commentary. What do you think? Can you imagine [[Literature/PrideAndPrejudice what this novel might be like without the violent zombie mayhem]]?

* AdaptationExpansion: In a way. Zombies provide the impetus for a number of otherwise unexplained events in the original story, such as the presence of the militia regiment in Hertfordshire. The absence of the Collins couple in the last third is given an explanation here, too.

* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: In the original ''Pride and Prejudice'', Wickham is something of a karma houdini. He gambles, contracts massive debts, and gets them paid off by [[spoiler:almost marrying Georgiana and having Darcy hush it up, and later on actually marrying Lydia ''after'' eloping to keep it quiet (though marrying Lydia may be the far worse punishment)]]. In this book, he's [[spoiler:crippled for life and left to the care of Lydia, who herself has no concept of the fate in store for her]].

%%* LadyOfWar: The Bennet girls, again. Lady Catherine, literally. (Zero Context Example)
* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: The Bennet girls come across a zombie mother and infant (which they have never seen before and are deeply disturbed by) and find themselves unable to kill them. Afterward they swear never to talk about it.

* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: In the original ''Pride and Prejudice'', Wickham is something of a karma houdini. He gambles, contracts massive debts, and gets them paid off by [[spoiler:almost marrying Georgiana and having Darcy hush it up, and later on actually marrying Lydia ''after'' eloping to keep it quiet (though marrying Lydia may be the far worst punishment)]]. In this book, he's [[spoiler:crippled for life and left to the care of Lydia, who herself has no concept of the fate in store for her]].

ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Really. Seth Grahame-Smith took the original text of ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'', and spiced it up a little with [[EverybodyWasKungFuFighting Shaolin Kung Fu]], [[KatanasAreJustBetter katanas]], and the "[[NotUsingTheZWord unmentionables]]," or [[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies zombies]]. However, the basic story is remarkably unchanged. A recommended read for anyone who likes Regency romance or zombie mayhem. Or both.

A [[Film/PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies movie version]] starring Creator/LilyJames, Creator/SamRiley, Creator/MattSmith, Creator/LenaHeadey and Creator/CharlesDance, and Creator/NataliePortman as one of the producers (she was originally attached to star as well) was released in February 2016.

A prequel is now released, ''Dawn of the Dreadfuls''. Also has a SpiritualSuccessor, ''Literature/SenseAndSensibilityAndSeaMonsters'' (and by now a whole new genre of LiteraryMashUps, as well). Grahame-Smith is also the writer of the parodic survival guide ''Literature/HowToSurviveAHorrorMovie'' and ''Literature/AbrahamLincolnVampireHunter''.

Finally, the sequel ''Dreadfully Ever After'' wraps up the whole story.

** Captain Cannon's adjutant, Lieutenant Tindall, is in his twenties and is a brave yet rigid and untested officer who views StayInTheKitchen chivalry as more important than effective fighting.

** Captain Cannon's adjutant, Lieutenant Tindall, is in his twenties and is a brave yet rigid and untested officer who views Victorian chivalry as more important than effective fighting.

* EnsignNewbie: In ''Dawn of the Dreadfuls'', Ensign Pratt, the third-in-command of the newly arrived soldiers, is a very short and youthful officer who faints the first time he sees a zombie killed up close.

* RecycledInSpace: ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'' [[AC:[[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies AND ZOMBIES!]]]] ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin We told you]].)

** Which in turn leads to some all around Wall Banging when you consider how the reader is constantly reminded that Elizabeth wields a (not at all Chinese) katana.

* ActionGirl: All the Bennets.

* AffectionateParody: This book is infinitely more amusing if you actually read the original book.
* ApologeticAttacker: Jane Bennet.
* AttackPatternAlpha: "Girls! Pentagram of Death!"

* BadassNormal: Mr. Bennet.
* BattleCouple: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy

* BigBad: Lady Catherine for ''Dreadfully Ever After'' if not the entire series.
* BloodKnight: Elizabeth becomes one of these.
* BodyHorror: Yikes, [[spoiler:Charlotte]]. And pretty much any scene involving a zombie. Period.

* TheDandy: In ''Dreadfully Ever After'', we have Bunny Mac Farquhar, a quintessential dandy, along with all of his friends.
* TheDeadHaveEyes: Some do, some don't, but all zombies can hear and find their victims.
* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:Charlotte Lucas.]]

* DemotedToExtra: Jane only appears briefly in Dreadfully Ever After and Lydia is only mentioned

** We do find out in ''Dreadfully Ever After'', however, that he [[LaserGuidedKarma got his due]] and spent the next few years trying to [[TheAtoner atone]] for his disgrace.
* TheDitz: Mrs. Bennet
* DoubleEntendre: See GCPTR below.

* EarnYourHappyEnding
* EverythingsDeaderWithZombies
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: [[spoiler:The antidote doesn't work]].

** "He tried to put on a serious expression, but, lacking practice, failed miserably."
%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* HaveAGayOldTime: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]].

* IndulgentFantasySegue - Elizabeth swiftly decapitates Lydia to shut her the hell up. Or not.
* InverseNinjaLaw: Averted. Elizabeth kills three ninjas one on one. Blindfolded. The third and most skilled she kills by catching and returning his own shuriken.

* KillUsBoth: In ''Dawn of the Dreadfuls'' an infected [[spoiler:Dr. Keckilpenny]] and a zombie.
* LadyOfWar: The Bennet girls, again. Lady Catherine, literally.

* MisplacedWildlife / WeAllLiveInAmerica: A stampede of critters running from a stampede of zombies includes such North American fauna as chipmunks and skunks. Seth Grahame-Smith is, of course, American.
* MyCard: Appears several times. In ''Dreadfully Ever After'' Bunny actually uses his ''pet rabbit'' as a calling card once.
* NiceGuy: Charles Bingley
* [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot Ninja Pirate Zombie... Romance?]]
* NotAZombie: No one seems to notice [[spoiler:Charlotte]] is slowly becoming a zombie until the last act of the book.
** Elizabeth knew - and kept helping [[spoiler:Charlotte]] try to act proper - but not until she was ''told'' about it and then sworn to keep quiet.
** Lady Catherine ''definitely'' knew about it. The only reason she kept inviting over [[spoiler:the Collins]] so often was so [[spoiler:Charlotte could be fed antidote in her tea]].

* ThePlague

* RuleOfCool

* ToiletHumour
* TrainingFromHell: The Bennett girls, again.

* UnusualEuphemism: "most English parts," meaning a man's... oh, you know.
** Also the "unmentionables", "dreadfuls", or "the sorry stricken". [[NotUsingTheZWord Never the "z" word]], watch your language!

* TheVirus

* {{Xenafication}}: The Bennett sisters are all skilled zombie fighters.

* ZombieInfectee: [[spoiler:Charlotte Lucas]].

->''It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.''

* AdaptedOut: Inverted. The film is one of the few versions of the story to include Louisa Bingley, Mr. Bingley's other sister. Usually it's just Caroline who shows up in adaptations.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In-universe. Darcy and a [[TheDitz silly girl]] have a discussion about how little she knows about balls. She, of course, is talking about a [[DancesAndBalls dance]], and Elizabeth seems to be the only one who realizes that Darcy is "[[GettingCrapPastTheRadar flirting with]] [[ToiletHumour impropriety]]".

* DirtyCoward: In ''Dawn of the Dreadfuls''[[spoiler:Master Hawksworth]] frequently makes excuses to avoid fighting, and the one time he does join a battle he panics, steals another soldier's horse, and rides for his life, abandoning a hundred soldiers to be eaten by the zombie horde.

* RecycledInSpace: ''PrideAndPrejudice'' [[AC:[[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies AND ZOMBIES!]]]] ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin We told you]].)

* CulturalPosturing / MyKungFuIsBetterThanYourKungFu: The Bennett girls were trained by Shaolin masters, while Lady Catherine is versed in the "deadly arts" of Japan. This leads to some tension between her and Elizabeth, who feels she must defend the honor of the Chinese whenever Lady Catherine gloats about their alleged inferiority.

** In ''Dawn of the Dreadfuls'' [[spoiler: Lt. Tindale]] swears that he will never let himself become a zombie. True to his word, when the battle becomes hopeless, he takes a last look at the window where the Bennet girls are watching and shoots himself in the head.
** In ''Dreadfully Ever After'' it is mentioned that [[LadyOfWar Lady Catherine]] has a specific sword that she keeps to commit [[{{Seppuku}} harakiri]] with in the case that she ever contract the "strange plague". In the same book, [[spoiler: Darcy]] intends to use that sword on himself after he is infected and realizes that no one can stop him becoming a [[IAmAMonster monster]]. However, [[InterruptedSuicide that isn't]] how [[EarnYourHappyEnding it ends]].

* BolivianArmyEnding: The film ends with [[spoiler: Wickham leading an army of zombies towards the wedding party, the Bennetts prepared to fight]].
* TheCaretaker: [[spoiler: Lydia makes a surprisingly cheerful caretaker to Wickham post "eloping", once Mr. Darcy renders him quadriplegic]].

* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Charlotte Lucas.]]

* DirtyCoward: In ''Dawn of the Dreadfuls''[[spoiler: Master Hawksworth]] frequently makes excuses to avoid fighting, and the one time he does join a battle he panics, steals another soldier's horse, and rides for his life, abandoning a hundred soldiers to be eaten by the zombie horde.

* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: In the original ''Pride and Prejudice'', Wickham is something of a karma houdini. He gambles, contracts massive debts, and gets them paid off by [[spoiler: almost marrying Georgiana and having Darcy hush it up, and later on actually marrying Lydia ''after'' eloping to keep it quiet (though marrying Lydia may be the far worst punishment)]]. In this book, he's [[spoiler: crippled for life and left to the care of Lydia, who herself has no concept of the fate in store for her]].

* KillUsBoth: In ''Dawn of the Dreadfuls'' an infected [[spoiler: Dr. Keckilpenny]] and a zombie.

* MercyKill: [[spoiler: Elizabeth considers doing this for Charlotte before she starts turning, but decides against it]].

* NotAZombie: No one seems to notice [[spoiler: Charlotte]] is slowly becoming a zombie until the last act of the book.
** Elizabeth knew - and kept helping [[spoiler: Charlotte]] try to act proper - but not until she was ''told'' about it and then sworn to keep quiet.
** Lady Catherine ''definitely'' knew about it. The only reason she kept inviting over [[spoiler: the Collins]] so often was so [[spoiler: Charlotte could be fed antidote in her tea]].

* SlidingScaleOfComedyAndHorror: The film is definitely balanced. As it's mashing a romantic comedy with a zombie invasion, most of the original comedy from the book is intact. Horror elements are mostly played straight, such as the reveal that [[spoiler: Wickham is raising a zombie army]]. However there are many moments that are PlayedForLaughs in a straight-laced way - as Darcy's AnguishedDeclarationOfLove becomes a kung-fu fight between him and Lizzie.

* ZombieInfectee: [[spoiler: Charlotte Lucas]].

* ZombieApocalypse: Averted. Zombies are somewhere between a nuisance and an enemy army in terms of threat. Also, they appear to be confined to England. (Which makes sense considering that England is an island and zombies probably wouldn't be able to swim.)\\

* FollowTheLeader: Quite a few other authors have attempted this sort of thing since, including "Mr. Darcy, Vampire."

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Regency England is far more brutal than it was in real life, likely a result of the plague. Duels to the death are common, and servants are often savagely beaten.