The best version of Pride and Prejudice would be Bridget Jones’s Diary, written by Helen Fielding. The story of Bridget and Mark is similar to the love line of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Detailed answer:
The plot of both books coincides in several moments. Austen’s Elizabeth and Fielding’s Bridget try to look for a perfect match. They want an ideal man for life and get distracted by abominable men thinking he is the one. But this is the only trait they have in common. Lizzy is intelligent, self-sufficient, and confident. Bridget is awkward, insecure, and funny.
The other character, Mr. Wickham, is similar to Fielding’s Daniel Cleaver. They are handsome, successful, and popular among women. While Mr. Wickham enjoys Elizabeth’s company, Mr. Cleaver tries to win Bridget’s heart. Both gentlemen create fictionalized stories about Darcy and their long-time friendship. These fantasies eventually make Bridget and Elizabeth neglect them. They act the same while trying to receive their affection.
Mark Darcy and his counterpart Fitzwilliam are the saviors in both books. In Bridget Jones’s Diary, Mark spares her mom from prison and disgrace due to Julio’s cheating. In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy saves Lydia from humiliation by ensuring her marriage with Wickham. Both stories have a similar ending where Lizzy and Bridget realize they love and care for Darcy. Bridget Jones’s Diary depicts the same issues and has a similar storyline. For this reason, it can be considered a contemporary version of Pride and Prejudice.