Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen- 1811

 

Last month I  read Pride and Prejudice.  My goal is to read one of her novels per month until completed, something I wish I had done long ago but better late than never,

Sense and Sensibility and tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they come of age and learn about love and life.

Elinor is the elder sister, 19, and she is known for her sense. She is level-headed and practical, and she tries to control her emotions. Marianne is the younger sister, 16,and she is known for her sensibility. She is passionate and expressive, and she wears her heart on her sleeve.

The sisters lose their father when Marianne is still young, and their family is forced to leave their home and move to a more modest cottage. Elinor and Marianne must then learn to navigate the social world and find their place in it.

Elinor meets and falls in love with Edward Ferrars, a sensible and kind man. However, Edward is not wealthy, and his family objects to the match. Marianne, on the other hand, is swept off her feet by John Willoughby, a charming and handsome man. However, Willoughby is not all he seems, and he eventually breaks Marianne's heart.

Through their experiences, Elinor and Marianne learn the importance of both sense and sensibility. They also learn that true love is more important than money or social status.

Sense and Sensibility has been adapted into several films and television series. The most famous adaptation is the 1995 film starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman, which I hope to see soon.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1812)

Pride and Prejudice (1812) by Jane Austen is one of the most popular novels ever written.  It is on every list of best 100 novels of all time.  I last read it about forty years ago.  I am not sure what motivated me to read it again now.  Maybe I was a desire to have the greatest writers in the world represented on The Reading Life.  

I will just keep my post short.  The plot line focuses on Elizabeth Bennet, one of five daughters of Mr and Mrs Bennet.  All are of marriageable age without when we meet them suitors.  The Bennet's family income is derived from his property but they have a big legal problem.  The estate is entailed, meaning it can be inherited only by a male descendent.  As of now a distant male cousin is inline to inherit the estate, he can turn everyone out if he wishes.  So the plot turns around a search for a husband rich enough to provide for the family for at least one of the girls.  

I throughly enjoyed rereading Pride and Prejudice.  I like the ironic tone of Austen, her subtle observations and her acute character developments.

I have begun rereading Emma, I work I read about ten years ago.  I decided to read it next as there is an entire chapter in The Rhetoric of Fiction by Wayne Booth devoted to the narrative method in Emma and I will reread this chapter after completing Emma.

Mel u