Jane Austen: Three Complete Novels: Sense and Sensibility; Pride and Prejudice; Emma

by Jane Austen

Includes Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Literature, Historical Fiction, Novels

882 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.

Reviews

[Sabina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm totally at a lost for words when it comes to Jane Austen. Her stories just keep getting better every reread. I'm reading the battered copy my aunts and my mother used to read. I hope, nay I'm sure, my future children will get to love her works too!

[Squire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read Pride and Prejudice in this volume.

Fluffy, lightweight story of the romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Sparkling dialog and expertly paced. Darcy is a magnificently flawed character, but none of the other characters really registered with me. This is Elizabeth's story and for all the trials she went through, I never really got a good sense of who she was. The other characters are just window dressing. Maybe I expected too much from this book. It HAS survived for more than 200 years, never going out of print. I understand and appreciate it's place in literary history; it's just not for me.

The adequate intro to this volume claims that Pride and Prejudice has been likened to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which sums up my feelings about this book.

But I can now check this one (and Austen) off my TBR.

[Jordan Swails]

Pride & Prejudice Review:

Starting (once again) on a Summer Classics Tour by request of my most well-read friend…and while I would have preferred *several* pages cut from the conversation and leisure times at Netherfield during Jane’s illness, I’ve been enlightened on their importance. Still an enjoyable read. Such angst. Upon finishing, Mr. Bennet remains my favorite of all the characters: “If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure.”


Sense & Sensibility Review:

I’m not sure I liked a single character here…onwards to Emma…


Emma Review:

This varied storyline was definitely more enjoyable than Sense & Sensibility, but wow is Emma a meddlesome one. What baffles me the most after being three Austens in is how much dialogue the lady could write. The plot in all three stories moves almost entirely along through conversations and letters, and yet isn’t lacking in page count. Well done, Miss Austen.

[Elsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sense and Sensibility - 4/25 - 5/2/2021 - The trials and tribulations of love in eighteenth century England as two sisters of different temperaments experience the inconstancies of potential suitors and the baffling actions of family members in a variety of ways.
Pride and Prejudice - 5/4-5/2021 - Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy are the pattern for couples who grow to love each other despite or maybe even because of their original antipathy. Again, families play their roles in creating complications not only for Elizabeth and Darcy but also for Jane and Bingley.
Emma - 5/8-11/2021 - Unlike the first two books, problems in love are not created or exacerbated by the families of the main character but by Emma's own interpretations of the behaviors of others and her scheming and matchmaking. However, all turns out well in the end with all lovers properly united and even those of lesser character find their match.

[A YOGAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teetassen-Terror und die Große Heirats-Strategie
Wer dachte, die einzige Bedrohung im frühen 19. Jahrhundert sei Napoleon, hat die wahre Revolution verpasst: Jane Austen, Tochter eines Landpfarrers, transformierte die Literatur mit solcher Wucht, dass ihre Romane noch heute die gesamte Popkultur unterwandern. Dieser Band liefert das ultimative Set für den Überlebenskampf im englischen Landadel: Stolz und Vorurteil fungiert als Handbuch für alle, die ihren eigenen störrischen Stolz erfolgreich mit der überheblichen Arroganz eines Fitzwilliam Darcy kollidieren lassen wollen, während scharfe Sitten mit funkelndem Dialog aufgespießt werden.

[Carrie Froese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find Emma as captivating as Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility but perhaps I'm bitter because there is much to dismay and vex me in these times of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Elinor now found the difference between the expectation of an unpleasant event, however certain the mind may be told to consider it. And certainty itself."

[Jacob Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sense and Sensibility. Probably about a 3.5 stars. Some great humor and few very poignant moments for our characters. Excited to read more since I have heard this is the weakest of her novels.

[Milica · Rating 5 out of 5]

gordost i predrasuda*

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began with Pride and Prejudice. After watching the movies, I wanted to read the book. Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were just as I imagined. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice could never be filmed in its entirety--there's just too much to fill in. I imagine Austen's stories would have been enjoyed in her day as much as we enjoy watching TV and DVDs today.

I'll get to the other novels sometime in the future.

[L MCLEOD · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat to re-read these three classics by Jane Austen. For a woman writing two centuries ago she had an amazingly modern outlook and such a witty perception of the vagaries of human nature. I found myself often smiling at her observations and I can see why people have used her work to inspire modern re-tellings of these stories.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ummmmm, sublime. Struggled through this as a teenager, read it again in a Novels class at USU years ago and enjoyed the banter in class, but really, really loved the writing this time. My sister and I saw a stage production this summer at the Utah Shakespeare Festival -- amazing! Enjoy!!

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading all three novels in one book was a bit cumbersome. However, I truely enjoyed the books themselves.

[Helena Myers · Rating 1 out of 5]

hated it. couldn't finish.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read Pride and Prejudice; began Emma

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cumbersome to read, both in girth and language, but brilliant.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sublime

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orgulho e Preconceito
Emma
Razão e Sensibilidade