Sense and Sensibility” ~ After a death in the family, the once wealthy Dashwoods are reduced in their monetary means and are compelled by their change in circumstances to move to a humble cottage on the estate of a distant relative. Can the Dashwood sisters weather the trials of meagre living and find true love among the eligible men from the higher echelons of society now that they must suffer their reduced circumstances? This one gives the clash of values characteristic of the writer, with wealth and temptation and opportunity versus rectitude and character and propriety as well as prudence playing the major part. How love itself must give way to rectitude and character is the chief theme, with the obvious lesson that giving way to temptation for now might close the door to happiness, love and future in fact. An unlikely fave, since most people would put this book at the bottom of their lists, but it has always been a favorite of mine. Fanny Price will always have a special place in my heart. In my opinion, she is one of the few introverted (not shy!) characters that have ever been authentically written. I could see a lot of myself in her and her need to not be around people. I also loved that it is more of a bildungsroman as opposed to a proper love story.

The most gentle love story from Austen repertoire, with the usual cache of gentle women and men following a normal course of life for their day while falling into easy traps of faults or follies and realising their mistakes and generally rising above, with their counterpart of men and women of small follies or serious faults of character providing examples of how not to be or behave. I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”

Retailers:

Mark Twain was not an admirer of Jane Austen’s work as he once declared: “I often want to criticize Jane Austen, but her books madden me so that I can't conceal my frenzy from the reader; and therefore I have to stop every time I begin. Every time I read “Pride and Prejudice” I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.” This is not the exact edition I have, but it's the closest I can come. Mine is the Literary Classics/Gramercy edition that has all the published novels plus Lady Susan, which, while I consider it to be not quite on the level of Austen's true masterpieces, is extremely worth reading, both as a piece of interesting Austenalia, and in its own right as a novel.

I am not reviewing a particular edition. I had a Jane Austen omnibus edition once, and it was not easy to read from. I just wanted to make some notes regarding ALL the novels, which I re-read in 2017 with an online discussion group.Pride & Prejudice: I honestly had read it years ago and it was an instant and solid lovable novel to me. I always had issues with Classics and reading this book made a huge difference that played a huge role in adding Classics into my booklist. The young man however has excellent character and fortunately realises what is what, and love triumphs even without money. In February, I read Sense and Sensibility. Once again this was my first time reading this novel and I loved it so much. Marianne and Elinor were delightful protagonists and I loved their dynamic so much. Willoughby is forever the worst and I hate him. He's just absolutely despicable. I loved how adorably awkward Edward was and I really liked Colonel Brandon. I just found everything about this book to be delightful and honestly relatable. This new, enhanced leather-bound edition includes all the completed novels of beloved author Jane Austen. Her novels introduce us to a variety of characters, from the strong willed (Elizabeth Bennet) to the weakling (Fanny Price)women to the men we want to be with (Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy) to the ones we could do without (Willoughby, anyone?). And you can't forget the comic foils, most often seen in the matron role of the book. We all know who we want to be, who we're cheering for, who we despise,and who we feel sorry for. There's a character for every person.

The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”Since this is a bind up, I'm not entirely sure how I want to do this, but I think I'll just break it down generally for each book. Sense and Sensibility- Elinor and Marianne- what a plot! What amazing comic characters! I knew everything that was going to happen to Marianne when she came to London, and still I was reading as fast as I could to see what would happen next. What a coup de theatre when M. is expecting Willoughby to come walking in the door, and Colonel Brandon appears. Matched a little later by Willoughby's sudden appearance on a dark and stormy night. The twist involving Lucy Steele becoming Mrs. Ferrars- Mrs. Robert Ferrars- is a good one, handled well. But I have so many more books I want to read/listen to that this just isn’t going to happen any time soon. And I need to admit defeat!!!

It seems like a romance and at some level it is but only after normal intelligent and prudent women - young and old - use decorum and wise counsel added to commonsense. This like other books by the author is about how to live well and safe and be good and decent, sensible and honourable, prudent and not blinded by illusions, and find love and romance and marriage as well. Pride and Prejudice- the favorite of many, and with good reason. I can honestly say I appreciated it more than ever. I must say I still have a thing for Lydia and her "natural self-consequence." Is the whole thing too "light and bright and sparkling"? Of course not!A complete collection of Jane's much-loved classic titles, presented in a beautifully illustrated, bonded leather bound cover. Collected together in one volume, The Complete Novels show the development of Austen as a writer and social commentator. From the early optimism and youthful energy of Northanger Abbey to the quiet and subtle art of Persuasion, this collection reveals the breadth of one of the best loved novelists of all time. Generally, I enjoyed this whole-long experience and I admit, Jane Austen is brilliantly a pioneer author. Emma” ~ The delightful tale of a girl who thinks she knows everyone’s heart and is ignorant of her own takes The final clinching one was of course his taking all the trouble to make amends to the grievous injury caused to her family by his silence, about someone he should have and did not warn people about, and keeping not only silent about it - the efforts he made to make sure about making amends to the injury caused by his reticence - but making sure her uncle would not tell anyone either.