I love 'Pride and Prejudice'- have it on my nightstand now.
I love Russian history and lit as well. 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' is one of the best novellas ever written, IMHO. Dostoevsky can be a hard slog- I think Tolstoy is much easier to read, although Dostoevsky is pretty good at depicting madness and desperation in his characters, and he offers a strong glimpse into the customs, mores and daily lives of the pre-Revolution citizenry.