In Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen wrote: “Money is the best recipe for happiness.” It’s a thought-provoking quote that is as relevant today as it was 204 years ago. Austen was known to have quite a few musings on the financial side of things. Inheritance, the economics of marriage and women’s dowries are all elements that run through her novels. But what does it mean in today’s world and exactly how wealthy was Mr Darcy?

Are we talking Daniel Day Lewis or Daniel O’Donnell? He was quite a catch when it came to his bank account. Darcy’s income of £10,000 in 1813 is equivalent to €740,000 today – and that was just 4% of his fortune.

He isn’t quite on par with Daniel O’Donnell (who earned €2.9m in 2015) but he would certainly be able to afford a fancy mansion in Dublin 4. No wonder Elizabeth Bennet was keen. And if he looked anything like Colin Firth in the 1995 BBC production, we would be interested too.

Elizabeth Bennet’s father had an annual income of £2,000. Thanks to historical inflation calculators, this is equivalent to €147,000, still not bad money but quite a drop from the dashing Darcy. On the death of her father, Elizabeth’s own annual income dropped to a mere £40 a year (€2,960).

Dr Mary Breen of the English department in UCC says not only is this a stark difference in terms of worth, but you also need to view income in terms of lifestyle: “Many of the heroines in Austen’s novels are from the lower gentry class, like Austen. Appearance was everything and marrying for money was essential for their financial future. The alternative was to be a spinster relying on your father or brothers.”

The competition was tough when it came to bagging a wealthy man.

“Women had dress allowances because it was important to look your best. Even the most sensible of girls such as Elizabeth Bennet put effort into getting ready for the balls. If your only hope of marriage is looking pretty, being demure and the perfect lady, then your dress is pretty important.”

So, how much were those fancy gowns? Fathers could spend anything upwards of £100 (€6,400) for his daughter’s “coming out” and that doesn’t include the gown for her presentation to the court. Court dresses could cost as much as £500 (€37,000). This really puts into perspective the world in which Austen’s ladies lived.

This isn’t just literary embellishment. Dr Breen talks about the diary of Mary Matthew, an Irish lady of the same social class as Austen.

“Interestingly, she kept a diary of her household expenses in perfect order and you will find that she spends most of her money on her French hairdresser.”

So ladies, the next time you get the nails done, take a moment to appreciate it as a treat rather than essential maintenance to find a man. CL