Rejecting Jane article chronicles the fact that all but one of the publishers and agents failed to recognise her works, including Penguin Books and J. K. Rowling's publisher Bloomsbury, with the vast majority rejecting out of hand this apparent attempt by one of the world’s greatest known authors to gain a publishing deal. This despite the fact that one of the most famous opening lines in English literature, "Pride and Prejudice"’s "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" was left intact. On its publication the article
A Single Man thrill of life, they seem new anyway" Bob Mondello of NPR commented “An exquisite, almost sensual grief suffuses every frame of A Single Man.” Marc Savlov of "The Austin Chronicle" wrote “Everything fits perfectly, from titles to fin, but most of all Colin Firth, who dons the role of George like a fine bespoke suit.” Critics who liked the film include "The A.V. Club" film critic Nathan Rabin, who gave the film an A- score, arguing that ""A Single Man" is a film of tremendous style wedded to real substance, and rooted in "Firth's affecting lead performance as a man