Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility was first published by Jane Austen in 1811 anonymously, it was her first published novel. Although it was only moderately successful at the time it was published, it has become a beloved novel to many in the time since. It has been adapted several times, including in 1995, starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Hugh Laurie, as well as a BBC One miniseries in 2008 and a new movie coming out in October of this year. It deals with pregnancy and classism, and the odd jealous, catty woman.

Marianne could not be more different from her older sister Elinor. While Elinor is the picture of manners and propriety, Marianne is ruled more by emotion. When she feels, she feels with her whole body and she can't help but let everyone know about it. She does nothing by a half measure, even when Elinor tries to rein her in and remind her that she exists within polite society. It's no surprise that Marianne will need to find a husband who is just as demonstrative as she is. Elinor, on the other hand, loves just as deeply but in a much quieter way - to the point that her sister wonders if she feels love at all. Their differences are never more apparent than the year after their father dies and they both fall in love.

I have often said that Sense and Sensibility is my favorite of Jane Austen's novels, but it has been some time since I've read it and I wanted to see if my tastes had changed in that time. They have not. While Pride and Prejudice may be the better known of her books, and is a story that I love, I still prefer Sense and Sensibility. The characters are so charming, even if they are a little extra at times, and it's hard to not be sympathetic to them. The sisters are thrown into a maelstrom that is not, for the most part, of their creation and you are forced to watch as they navigate events they have no control over. The writing is quite funny at times, it generally does not feel as slow as Pride and Prejudice does, and there are a number of fun secondary characters. All in all, I loved it.

I'm giving Sense and Sensibility five stars. It stays put as my favorite Jane Austen book, though Pride and Prejudice did rise a little in my opinion after my reread this year.

Pairs well with apricot marmalade and being cautious about disinheriting your children.

My favorite quotes:

"'The rent of this cottage is said to be low, but we have it on very hard terms if we are to dine at the Park whever anyone is staying either with them or with us.'"

"...she was sure, had quite doted upon the worthless hussy, and was now, by all accounts, almost broken-hearted..."

Review of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen