Sense and Sensibility

by Jane Austen

Book Overview

Jane Austen's first published work, meticulously constructed and sparkling with her unique wit

Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141439661
• ISBN13: 9780141439662
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.1" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

This is a wonderful book about self-sacrifice.

Sence and Sensibility is probably my favorite book written by Jane Austen. I enjoyed it immensely. I respect and love the character of Elinor Dashwood and the self-sacrificing way she forgot herself when her sister Marianne needed her comfort. By the second volume, I couldn't put this book down. One suspenseful moment literally made my jaw drop, and I rejoiced when certain characters got their reward! When I finished it, I knew I needed my own copy. I love the Chilton Publishing additions of the Jane Austen books. They are so beautiful and the perfect size for me. I am looking forward to reading my new copy of Sence and Sensibility!

Cool.

Ordered a “good” hardcover for this and it is dope when it arrived. It has NO defects at all. good as new tho the side of the book is quite not good, it is acceptable.

Good reading but not excellent

Not as good as "Pride and Prejudice" of the same author, although some chapters are brilliant. Particularly good are those where Jane Austin applying her great satirical talent. I liked very much how she painted the character of John Dashwood: soft but very biting image of the selfish and greedy fellow. Balance of judgment and passion - dilemma as old as Seneca writing and beyond - revealed in this novel slightly in obsolete form, but essence is the same: you suffer more when submit to passions, but who can live by the rule of judgment only?

Makes Me Wish I Had Sisters!

For a long time, this was one of my least favorite of all Jane Austen's novels. But having re-read it recently (it was the first selection for our Jane Austen Book Group on The Book Club Forum), I found myself falling in love with the story for the first time. Elinor is a heroine that one can easily love and respect, especially in the way she controls, and yet deeply feels her emotions. Marianne, however, did grate on my nerves some, but I respect her allowing herself to give herself completely to Willoughby. Elinor and Marianne really do seem like opposite sides of the same coin: one hold everything in, one lets everything out. This book also has some of the best comic characters, especially Mrs. Jennings, the jolly matchmaker. One has to admit how uninteresting her life has to be if her ambition is to marry off every eligible young woman she meets! I also think that Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood, the sisters' half brother and sister-in-law are hilarious in their coldness and selfishness. You can tell that John likes to think of himself as charitable toward his sisters, but in reality he is completely self-centered. His wife, Fanny, is a wonderful villain for the book; she makes her husband seem positively warm.

a sign of the times......

After finally getting round to reading the books that launched my top three period film loves (P & P Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A & E, 1996), S & S Sense & Sensibility (Special Edition), and best of all Persuasion Persuasion), it was fascinating to note what Emma Thompson did and did not use in her screenplay of S & S. As to the novel itself-most surprising and gratifying was the biting satire, wit and sarcasm in Miss Austen's writing. Her carefully veiled views on "society" good and bad will stand as a historical and societal timeline into the era. A woman's place, or lack thereof, is keenly felt, as is the feeling of helplessness of women with the unfortunate prospect of being born without means. As well as what some women gave up to secure "a good match". Knowing Miss Austen's own background, the reader doesn't have to wonder how much of her own life was catalyst for her social commentary dished up in the beguiling text of romance. 4 stars-recommended.

Great Read

The present novel is about two young women, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. They are part of a family living in Sussex. The family is of average financial means or a bit higher than average but the family loses its home when the father dies; and, the mother and sisters move to a smaller cottage in Devonshire. The novel follows the romances and complications of the two girls. Beyond knowing those facts, you should not read any more about the plot until you read the novel, or you will risk spoiling the read. I will not give away the plot, but will only describe the writing style and structure. I read Austen's "Mansfield Park," then read some analysis by Nabokov from his Cornell "Lectures on Literature" and the comments of Jane Stabler from the introduction of the Oxford version. After that I got a bit excited and read Austen's early writing "Sense and Sensibility," along with the analysis by Margaret Doody in the Oxford version. Yes, I guess I am now an Austen fan, and it is a pity that she did not live longer. "Pride and Prejudice" is my third Austen novel and so far the most fun to read. Based on the three novels written over two different time periods, it is clear that she developed a certain fixed writing style and a common structure. She uses the early pages to introduce the families, and other characters, and give start the story. She moves characters around from place to place in part for time shifting. She does a wrap up in the last few chapters. Those opening chapters are an obstacle for most readers. She uses her own vocabulary and has an unusual way of structuring her prose. That structure is a trademark of Austen's writing. Also, she manages to work in a lot of drama and social issues with some humour and irony. Based on what Nabokov and others are saying, she got her inspiration from Sheridan, Richardson, Henry Fielding, Sir Walter Scott, and the poetry of Cowper. She modulates the complexity of the prose to reflect the characters - such as making the sentences of Sir Thomas Bertram in "Mansfield Park" somewhat elaborate instead of describing how the character is dressed or a similar description to convey qualities and traits, i.e.: she uses the complexity of speech to convey character. Also, she uses lateral shifts and epigrammatic notations and similar literary techniques. These techniques are interesting for some readers but just confusing for others. It is all part of the price of admission to entering the world of Jane Austen, and it is part of the fun in reading her novels. Overall, once you get past reading and digesting 50 pages or so and have absorbed the Jane Austen vocabulary (words such as felicity, remonstrance, countenance, etc.) and understand the structure of her prose, the book becomes a compelling read. The second Austen novel seems much easier than the first. This was written by a young Jane Austen and honed for over a decade before being published. By way of comparison, it is an interesting read but less c

Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility is an excellent book. When I started it I really did not know what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised. I will say though that this book is hard to get through at times, due to the old language used. But if you stay with the book, it will be worth it. The characters are wonderful, and you will find yourself wanting them to be happy. The Dashwood family gives a "girl power" message that makes it even easier to enjoy. Also, this book is easy to relate to, for everyone has known a Maryanne or Elinor before, maybe you are like one of them. I could identify with Maryanne, because I am involved in everything (and love it all) and I know I share my feelings too much. Although this book will be enjoyed more by young females, anyone would like it, for it also has a lot of humor in it used to display the dramatic situations the Dashwood sisters keep finding themselves in. The book became even more enjoyable when I saw the movie, seeing this amazing book acted out was great. I believe all of Jane Austen's books are worth reading, this one especially!