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Lady Susan and Other Works
Маловідомі перлини творчості видатної англійської письменниці Джейн Остін.
Підступна та дволика леді Сьюзен плете інтриги, попри презирство суспільства. Практична і хитра Шарлотта безрозсудно погоджується на заручини одразу із двома чоловіками. Дві різні за характерами та статусом дівчини, Еліс і Люсі, закохуються у нарциса Чарльза. Але його фінальний вибір обраниці шокує обох панянок. Історії шляхетних дам та галантних кавалерів з цієї книги такі різні, але однаково захопливі, дотепні та саркастичні.
До збірки увійшли твори:
- «Леді Сьюзен»
- «Генрі та Еліза»
- «Фредерік та Елфріда»
- «Джек та Еліс»
- «Три сестри»
Підступна та дволика леді Сьюзен плете інтриги, попри презирство суспільства. Практична і хитра Шарлотта безрозсудно погоджується на заручини одразу із двома чоловіками. Дві різні за характерами та статусом дівчини, Еліс і Люсі, закохуються у нарциса Чарльза. Але його фінальний вибір обраниці шокує обох панянок. Історії шляхетних дам та галантних кавалерів з цієї книги такі різні, але однаково захопливі, дотепні та саркастичні.
До збірки увійшли твори:
- «Леді Сьюзен»
- «Генрі та Еліза»
- «Фредерік та Елфріда»
- «Джек та Еліс»
- «Три сестри»
358 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1871
39 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Jane Austen
3,943 books74.6k followersJane 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 15, 2022
Ich kann kaum was zu der Geschichte sagen. Dafür ist sie nicht lang genug. Was aber nicht bedeutet, dass nichts passiert. Sie ist voller menschlichen Zündstoffs. Wieder gibt es Charakterzeichnungen vom feinsten. Es kommt der dumme Dandy vor, das Opferlamm und eine überaus fiese Hydra, um nur einige zu nennen.
Aber eines könnte ich doch sagen, denn wie heißt es so schön:
"Zeige mir deine Freunde und ich sage dir, wer du bist."
Das könnte passen auf Lady Susan.
Aber eines könnte ich doch sagen, denn wie heißt es so schön:
"Zeige mir deine Freunde und ich sage dir, wer du bist."
Das könnte passen auf Lady Susan.
April 18, 2014
Deceiving apperances, bad morales, scandals, romance, love, historical mockery and an aggressive discussion of the lack of female education, can be met within these pages. As this collection unites Austen's early and juvenile writing, her first attempts at writing a novel and the very last fragment of fiction she ever wrote, it really provides its reader with a broad perspective on Austen's development as a writer.
“But for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short.”
Reading this collection of stories and fragments was a delightful experience. I adored the absurdity and the mockery in Austen's earlier attempts at writing. While her juvenilia may not be considered great literature, it certainly makes for an interesting reading.
I adored the absurd hospitality in "Evelyn", the contradictory views on love presented in "The Three Sisters" and I particularly enjoyed the sense of scandal in "Catharine, or the Bower". Some of the minor characters in "Catharine, or the Bower" have definitely found their way into "Northanger Abbey", and it is easy to recognize Camilla as part of the inspiration for Isabella.
But most powerful of all is the development and perfection of Austen's narrative voice and her gradual ascent from obvious satire to elegantly hidden irony. As a reader you know that each of these small stories are another step on the road to the masterpieces Austen would eventually create. Every word is filled with prospect and the rich promise of Austen's natural talent lies beneath every sentence.
“Women are the only correspondents to be depended on.”
"Lady Susan" is a delicious farce of a novella; the scandalous and contriving Lady Susan makes for a great character study and her artful ways of flirting and scheming make her one of Austen's most deceitful characters.
"The Watsons" is a particular favorite of mine. I have always longed for it to be fully written, as I really admire the modest Emma Watson and her surrounding admirers and speculators. As the fragment takes it beginning in a dimly lit ballroom, it is captivating from beginning to end. I only wish there was more.
And finally, "Sandition". I have always been very hesitant to form a definite opinion of the few chapters that remains. It definitely marks another turn in Austen's writing; a turn I only wish I could investigate further.
While Austen's family liked to spread the sentiment that everything Austen wrote "came finished from her pen", it wasn't the truth. Austen's juvenilia and her last fragment "Sandition" proves that more than anything. Austen was a perfectionist, she rewrote and reworked all of her novels with a careful attention to detail (only consider "First Impression" which started as an epistolary novel and eventually was turned into "Pride and Prejudice"). It is impossible to guess what "Sandition" might have been as it remains unfinished. So when some critics argue that "Sandition" isn't fit to be seen, they are actually right. It wasn't meant to be seen, not yet. Austen could have gone in a thousand different directions than the original manuscript indicates. Sadly, we'll never know.
“But for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short.”
Reading this collection of stories and fragments was a delightful experience. I adored the absurdity and the mockery in Austen's earlier attempts at writing. While her juvenilia may not be considered great literature, it certainly makes for an interesting reading.
I adored the absurd hospitality in "Evelyn", the contradictory views on love presented in "The Three Sisters" and I particularly enjoyed the sense of scandal in "Catharine, or the Bower". Some of the minor characters in "Catharine, or the Bower" have definitely found their way into "Northanger Abbey", and it is easy to recognize Camilla as part of the inspiration for Isabella.
But most powerful of all is the development and perfection of Austen's narrative voice and her gradual ascent from obvious satire to elegantly hidden irony. As a reader you know that each of these small stories are another step on the road to the masterpieces Austen would eventually create. Every word is filled with prospect and the rich promise of Austen's natural talent lies beneath every sentence.
“Women are the only correspondents to be depended on.”
"Lady Susan" is a delicious farce of a novella; the scandalous and contriving Lady Susan makes for a great character study and her artful ways of flirting and scheming make her one of Austen's most deceitful characters.
"The Watsons" is a particular favorite of mine. I have always longed for it to be fully written, as I really admire the modest Emma Watson and her surrounding admirers and speculators. As the fragment takes it beginning in a dimly lit ballroom, it is captivating from beginning to end. I only wish there was more.
And finally, "Sandition". I have always been very hesitant to form a definite opinion of the few chapters that remains. It definitely marks another turn in Austen's writing; a turn I only wish I could investigate further.
While Austen's family liked to spread the sentiment that everything Austen wrote "came finished from her pen", it wasn't the truth. Austen's juvenilia and her last fragment "Sandition" proves that more than anything. Austen was a perfectionist, she rewrote and reworked all of her novels with a careful attention to detail (only consider "First Impression" which started as an epistolary novel and eventually was turned into "Pride and Prejudice"). It is impossible to guess what "Sandition" might have been as it remains unfinished. So when some critics argue that "Sandition" isn't fit to be seen, they are actually right. It wasn't meant to be seen, not yet. Austen could have gone in a thousand different directions than the original manuscript indicates. Sadly, we'll never know.
Read
January 17, 2024I am going to update with a review for each story as I read them and then give an average rating when I'm finished with all of the stories.
Frederic and Elfrida: 4 stars
This had me laughing out loud. Particularly the mention of ages and lengths of engagements. And sudden appearances of grown children. Dramatic and hilarious.
Jack and Alice: 3.5 stars
Another very enjoyable story with drama and excellent humor. The young Austen was quite interested in murder and death it seems.
Edgar and Emma: 3 stars
Very short with a few laugh out loud moments, but not so entertaining as the first two stories. I particularly liked the family who had so many children they could only bring nine with them at once.
Henry and Eliza: 4 stars
Another story full of funny moments. I'm surprised more of the violence of these childhood stories didn't make it into her adult writing. The drama and wit certainly carried over.
Love and Friendship: 3.5 stars
The drama and hilarity. Marriages taking place in moments, arrests, death. It's all so clever and fun. A little long at points, but very funny.
A History of England: 3.5 stars
I find this one very entertaining and, if I knew more English history, I'm sure I would be even more entertained. I love how she states that she's sure you agree with her, since she has presented such clever arguments when really she hasn't said much at all. A very entertaining piece of work.
The Three Sisters: 4 stars
This was fun and some moments reminded me of scenes from her novels. It was fun to see how these early writings might have impacted her later work.
Frederic and Elfrida: 4 stars
This had me laughing out loud. Particularly the mention of ages and lengths of engagements. And sudden appearances of grown children. Dramatic and hilarious.
Jack and Alice: 3.5 stars
Another very enjoyable story with drama and excellent humor. The young Austen was quite interested in murder and death it seems.
Edgar and Emma: 3 stars
Very short with a few laugh out loud moments, but not so entertaining as the first two stories. I particularly liked the family who had so many children they could only bring nine with them at once.
Henry and Eliza: 4 stars
Another story full of funny moments. I'm surprised more of the violence of these childhood stories didn't make it into her adult writing. The drama and wit certainly carried over.
Love and Friendship: 3.5 stars
The drama and hilarity. Marriages taking place in moments, arrests, death. It's all so clever and fun. A little long at points, but very funny.
A History of England: 3.5 stars
I find this one very entertaining and, if I knew more English history, I'm sure I would be even more entertained. I love how she states that she's sure you agree with her, since she has presented such clever arguments when really she hasn't said much at all. A very entertaining piece of work.
The Three Sisters: 4 stars
This was fun and some moments reminded me of scenes from her novels. It was fun to see how these early writings might have impacted her later work.
June 9, 2021
3.5 stars
January 21, 2021
SECOND READ JAN 2021
This selection of Jane Austen’s juvenilia and unfinished work is so entertaining. I laughed so much when reading this and felt I better understood the stories and the comedy on this second read.
A still adored A history of England, but I also really enjoyed Lady Susan, The Watsons and Sanditon! It is a shame more wasn’t done with these texts as they’re brilliant. They are funny, witty and very entertaining. I definitely recommend delving into this collection if you are an Austen fan!
FIRST READ JULY 2019
My favourite text in this collection is definitely ‘A history of England’. It shows Austen’s brilliant wit and comedy, and is such a fascinating read.
I found ‘Lady Susan’ quite entertaining.
It’s a shame that ‘The Watsons’ and ‘Sanditon’ were left unfinished, as I’d be interested to see where Austen was planning to take these stories.
This selection of Jane Austen’s juvenilia and unfinished work is so entertaining. I laughed so much when reading this and felt I better understood the stories and the comedy on this second read.
A still adored A history of England, but I also really enjoyed Lady Susan, The Watsons and Sanditon! It is a shame more wasn’t done with these texts as they’re brilliant. They are funny, witty and very entertaining. I definitely recommend delving into this collection if you are an Austen fan!
FIRST READ JULY 2019
My favourite text in this collection is definitely ‘A history of England’. It shows Austen’s brilliant wit and comedy, and is such a fascinating read.
I found ‘Lady Susan’ quite entertaining.
It’s a shame that ‘The Watsons’ and ‘Sanditon’ were left unfinished, as I’d be interested to see where Austen was planning to take these stories.
August 6, 2018
I read The Watsons and Sanditon in this edition (the other works are in another volume I am also reading). How sad that these lovely beginnings were never completed.
May 3, 2020
3.5
As much as I love Austen, I cannot rate this higher.
This books include what critics call Jane's juvenilia - short stories written and dedicated to her family members, dare I say these were from a period when she was still improving her skills and mastering the writing craft? I wanted to rate each individually, but promptly abandoned the idea, some are simply to short. I do like to imagine the stories they could've been had they been longer. Imagine another Sense & Sensibilty, another Emma...oh well, one can wish.
The Watson, Lady Susan and Sandition I've previously read and this was a nice refresher. I do like them all, albeit find them short which is fine as Austen intended them as novellas and even left some unfinished. I'm not generally a fan of the epistolary novel but Lady Susan is something else, I might even reconsider my opinion of the form.
Topic vary from love, to family relationships and ranks, life in general in the Austen era.
Austen's sense of humor is something else, I wish I could've met her if not even be friends with her. Might be time of a reread of her full length novels.
As much as I love Austen, I cannot rate this higher.
This books include what critics call Jane's juvenilia - short stories written and dedicated to her family members, dare I say these were from a period when she was still improving her skills and mastering the writing craft? I wanted to rate each individually, but promptly abandoned the idea, some are simply to short. I do like to imagine the stories they could've been had they been longer. Imagine another Sense & Sensibilty, another Emma...oh well, one can wish.
The Watson, Lady Susan and Sandition I've previously read and this was a nice refresher. I do like them all, albeit find them short which is fine as Austen intended them as novellas and even left some unfinished. I'm not generally a fan of the epistolary novel but Lady Susan is something else, I might even reconsider my opinion of the form.
Topic vary from love, to family relationships and ranks, life in general in the Austen era.
Austen's sense of humor is something else, I wish I could've met her if not even be friends with her. Might be time of a reread of her full length novels.
Read
August 5, 2023I'm not going to give this a star rating because I don't think that's quite fair for juvenilia not meant for publication and for unfinished works. But I am very glad to have read this!
Some of the juvenilia made me laugh out loud and some zoomed right over my head thanks to a lack of knowledge about Jane Austen's places and times, including the literature of the time which she is often satirizing or playing with. Reading them definitely gave me a fuller understanding of Austen as a writer and perhaps as a person, too, which was wonderful.
Honestly, Lady Susan was a tough re-read for me. The novella is executed to perfection, with sparkle and verve and cutting wit. But for some reason I could not get past being bothered by how awfully Susan treats her daughter.
I loved the unfinished Sanditon, which ends the collection, and wish very much Austen had been able to complete it. The perspective of the grounded 22-year-old protagonist Charlotte (maybe to some extent an Austen alter ego?), the introduction of Austen's first woman of color character, the new setting of capitalist enterprise: so promising!
Some of the juvenilia made me laugh out loud and some zoomed right over my head thanks to a lack of knowledge about Jane Austen's places and times, including the literature of the time which she is often satirizing or playing with. Reading them definitely gave me a fuller understanding of Austen as a writer and perhaps as a person, too, which was wonderful.
Honestly, Lady Susan was a tough re-read for me. The novella is executed to perfection, with sparkle and verve and cutting wit. But for some reason I could not get past being bothered by how awfully Susan treats her daughter.
I loved the unfinished Sanditon, which ends the collection, and wish very much Austen had been able to complete it. The perspective of the grounded 22-year-old protagonist Charlotte (maybe to some extent an Austen alter ego?), the introduction of Austen's first woman of color character, the new setting of capitalist enterprise: so promising!
January 1, 2024
This one is definitely only for people who really love Jane Austen or early 19th century literature. It’s a bit to wade through, and many of the stories, including Sandition, are unfinished, so there’s not a lot of payout. But as a lifelong Jane Austen fan, it was fun for me to hear her distinctive author voice again. Many of the short stories were written when the author was a preteen or teenager, and the way she satirized romance novels in her stories was very amusing. Lady Susan, the only finished novella in the bunch, was very well done with a main character you love to hate. The book ended with Sandition, the book Jane Austen was writing when she died. It definitely left me sad and wishing that she could have had the time to finish the story.
March 10, 2023
juvenilia (noun): collected writings of a well-known author which date back to prior their success
This is keenly felt while reading these stories and incomplete novels, though I continually found myself delighted by Jane's scathing wit, an aspect of her writing that is unfailingly downplayed in favor of sweeping romance whenever she is discussed. This naturally lands as my least favorite Austen, but doubt not it is still remarkable.
This is keenly felt while reading these stories and incomplete novels, though I continually found myself delighted by Jane's scathing wit, an aspect of her writing that is unfailingly downplayed in favor of sweeping romance whenever she is discussed. This naturally lands as my least favorite Austen, but doubt not it is still remarkable.
October 8, 2020
This is a mixed bag of everything, from juvenile exaggerated silly short stories about lovers to classics such as Lady Susan and The Watsons. It was such a pleasure reading everything, seeing glimpses of wit and humor perfected in later novels. Any Austen fan ought to read this, such a joy.
July 1, 2020
Pra mim é impossível não amar uma história contada pela Jane Austen. De certa forma esse livro é como se fosse uma edição de contos da autora, que terminam sempre com um gostinho de quero mais.
September 2, 2025
I enjoyed Lady Susan, the Watsons, and Sanditon, but none of the other short stories 😅
November 14, 2025
окрема вдячність дизайнеру та перекладачу
September 4, 2021
final Jane Austen book, I don't think I'll ever reread any of them. Clearly she's not the author for me
June 9, 2023
i wish that i could live inside jane austen’s mind
August 8, 2022
I have been meaning to read these "other" Jane Austen stories (there are more than I realised!) for a long time. Like, since high school, I think. Anyway, the Netflix Persuasion flop (which still had its merits, just needed all those awful anachronisms removed) made me want to dive into Jane Austen again. This was on my shelf, so presto!
I will talk about the stories in more detail later, but hands down the best was the titular novella, Lady Susan. And I found out there's a Netflix film about that one called Love and Friendship (confusing because there IS a story of the same name, but this film was about Lady Susan ).
I did enjoy The Watsons (there's a character called Emma Watson haha), Love and Friendship (which was ridiculous and involved a prison break!), Evelyn (also full of satire and from a male POV), Three Sisters (satire of sister jealousy and manipulation), and several other juvenilia.
Sanditon was okay, but I admit the setting at the bathing resort didn't really engage me as I don't have much experience with places like that (and if I'm honest, those old-fashioned bathing resorts kind of creep me out. Did you know they used to change clothes in a "bathing machine" on wheels and then get transported by horse to the water to "avoid impropriety"? So ridiculous, seriously what was wrong with dudes back then). I knew it was unfinished, as was The Watsons , but The Watsons felt more polished, and we knew where the story was going. Sanditon quite nearly breaks off mid-sentence! (Not exactly, but it didn't even really feel like it ended on the end of a chapter). It was very jarring, esp in the final story.
But anyway. The juvenilia was very different from her famous novels. More comedy, more satire, more adventures. Her heroines do some crazy things like run away from home or marry a lost lord after knowing him for a few hours or escape from prison out a window. In a few cases, she writes from a man's pov. She mocks society more openly in these stories which were largely meant to be for her family.
It was interesting to watch her hone her craft, and I laughed a lot. She makes fun of all kinds of things in Regency society - heroines who faint too much, bizarre age differences (at one point, a 35-year-old and a 50-year-old want to marry but are told they had to "wait until they were a little older"!). She mocks men who look down on novel reading, she mocks hypochondriacs, she mocks marriage conventions and doweries and marriages for financial gain. She pits sisters against each other, she overturns carriages, she mocks Queen Elizabeth a lot (not a fan, apparently. I mean, I think the whole lot would be better put out in the bin, screw British royalty, but Jane seems fond of Mary Queen of Scots.)
Anyway, good reading for any Austen fan for sure! I shouldn't have put it off so long...
I will talk about the stories in more detail later, but hands down the best was the titular novella, Lady Susan. And I found out there's a Netflix film about that one called Love and Friendship (confusing because there IS a story of the same name, but this film was about Lady Susan ).
I did enjoy The Watsons (there's a character called Emma Watson haha), Love and Friendship (which was ridiculous and involved a prison break!), Evelyn (also full of satire and from a male POV), Three Sisters (satire of sister jealousy and manipulation), and several other juvenilia.
Sanditon was okay, but I admit the setting at the bathing resort didn't really engage me as I don't have much experience with places like that (and if I'm honest, those old-fashioned bathing resorts kind of creep me out. Did you know they used to change clothes in a "bathing machine" on wheels and then get transported by horse to the water to "avoid impropriety"? So ridiculous, seriously what was wrong with dudes back then). I knew it was unfinished, as was The Watsons , but The Watsons felt more polished, and we knew where the story was going. Sanditon quite nearly breaks off mid-sentence! (Not exactly, but it didn't even really feel like it ended on the end of a chapter). It was very jarring, esp in the final story.
But anyway. The juvenilia was very different from her famous novels. More comedy, more satire, more adventures. Her heroines do some crazy things like run away from home or marry a lost lord after knowing him for a few hours or escape from prison out a window. In a few cases, she writes from a man's pov. She mocks society more openly in these stories which were largely meant to be for her family.
It was interesting to watch her hone her craft, and I laughed a lot. She makes fun of all kinds of things in Regency society - heroines who faint too much, bizarre age differences (at one point, a 35-year-old and a 50-year-old want to marry but are told they had to "wait until they were a little older"!). She mocks men who look down on novel reading, she mocks hypochondriacs, she mocks marriage conventions and doweries and marriages for financial gain. She pits sisters against each other, she overturns carriages, she mocks Queen Elizabeth a lot (not a fan, apparently. I mean, I think the whole lot would be better put out in the bin, screw British royalty, but Jane seems fond of Mary Queen of Scots.)
Anyway, good reading for any Austen fan for sure! I shouldn't have put it off so long...
April 19, 2015
A collection of Jane Austen's juvenilia and several unfinished works, including the beginning of a novel (Sanditon) that she was working on just before her death. Her early works show a young writer's particular interest in skewering the more ludicrous aspects of popular fiction of her day -- in one short work, for instance, two highly romantic female characters witness a tragic accident and alternately faint and go mad for several hours at a stretch (just as the fainting one revives, the sight of her raving friend sends her into a swoon again, and the mad one recovers her wits only long enough to see her unconscious friend before falling back into a fit). But even without the funnier bits, there are plenty of glimpses of Austen's developing literary sense and understanding of the promises and limitations of fiction writing, and these are worth exploring for Austen fans and neophytes alike.
July 4, 2016
I am a massive Jane Austen fan, so once I had read all of her books I decided it was high time I read her novellas and short stories. I couldn't really get into them at all. The stories weren't anything special, neither were the characters.
I suppose in her novels, Austen could really make you feel for her characters, whereas in short stories you don't have the time to do that.
I was quite disappointed though.
I suppose in her novels, Austen could really make you feel for her characters, whereas in short stories you don't have the time to do that.
I was quite disappointed though.
April 29, 2014
It's always interesting to see how an author evolved over his/her career, and Austen is no exception. The stories in this volume are lighthearted and juvenile, and would have been more enjoyable had I read them prior to her more mature work. That said, there's a charm & entertainment to them that foreshadows what she would go on to do as a writer.
November 26, 2025
Дуже люблю цю серію класики від КСД і нова книга теж мене потішила. Перш за все, хочу сказати про приємне оформлення, яке одразу ж впадає в око. Дивлячись на обкладинку можна подумати про ніжні історії, які заховалися під нею, але це зовсім не так. Тут і підступна леді Сьюзен, безрозсудні дівчата Еліс й Люсі, а також їхні кавалери, які можуть бути, як дотепними й галантними, так і доволі хитрими.
В «Леді Сьюзен та інші оповідання» Джейн Остін зібрано короткі історії про різних героїв, їхні стосунки та знайомства. Я не так багато читала у цієї письменниці, але саме ця книга стала для мене чимось новим. Наприклад, раніше не зустрічала такого, щоб деякі іменники та прикметники писалися з великої букви задля підсилення ефекту. Це, власне, побажання вельмишановної авторки.
Також пані Остін моментами дозволяє собі бути трішки саркастичною й висміювати деяких героїв. Це було доволі неочікувано, тому що я уявляла всю її творчість більш романтичною. Напевно, в кожному із оповідань є ще й трохи вигадки, тому що навіть зараз я не можу уявити, щоб молоді леді дозволяли собі такі речі, а в часи авторки – й поготів.
Останнє оповідання про леді Сьюзен найбільше зачарувало мене. Воно написане у вигляді листів між декількома героями, які дуже цікаво читати. В них не лише милі й приємні речі, але й хитрі підступи, які планує головна героїня.
Читалася книга дуже легко й швидко. Якщо любите творчість авторки й класичну літературу, тоді щиро раджу.
• Якщо є бажання когось недолюбити, то привід завжди знайдеться.
• Існує якась витончена насолода в тому, щоб упокорювати бунтівний дух; змушувати людину, наперед налаштовану неприязно, визнати твою перевагу.
🎧 Pillar Of The Establishment – John Lunn & The Chamber Orchestra Of London
Видавництво: КСД
Більше відгуків на книги за тегом #ВіраЧитає ❤️
В «Леді Сьюзен та інші оповідання» Джейн Остін зібрано короткі історії про різних героїв, їхні стосунки та знайомства. Я не так багато читала у цієї письменниці, але саме ця книга стала для мене чимось новим. Наприклад, раніше не зустрічала такого, щоб деякі іменники та прикметники писалися з великої букви задля підсилення ефекту. Це, власне, побажання вельмишановної авторки.
Також пані Остін моментами дозволяє собі бути трішки саркастичною й висміювати деяких героїв. Це було доволі неочікувано, тому що я уявляла всю її творчість більш романтичною. Напевно, в кожному із оповідань є ще й трохи вигадки, тому що навіть зараз я не можу уявити, щоб молоді леді дозволяли собі такі речі, а в часи авторки – й поготів.
Останнє оповідання про леді Сьюзен найбільше зачарувало мене. Воно написане у вигляді листів між декількома героями, які дуже цікаво читати. В них не лише милі й приємні речі, але й хитрі підступи, які планує головна героїня.
Читалася книга дуже легко й швидко. Якщо любите творчість авторки й класичну літературу, тоді щиро раджу.
• Якщо є бажання когось недолюбити, то привід завжди знайдеться.
• Існує якась витончена насолода в тому, щоб упокорювати бунтівний дух; змушувати людину, наперед налаштовану неприязно, визнати твою перевагу.
🎧 Pillar Of The Establishment – John Lunn & The Chamber Orchestra Of London
Видавництво: КСД
Більше відгуків на книги за тегом #ВіраЧитає ❤️
August 31, 2025
The first stories are pretty forgettable (although interesting as Jane's juvenilia), but the latter works in the collection let us glimpse into Austen's early genius and (seemingly) effortless humor.
Sandition is included (as the closing story) and my thoughts on it are a pretty mixed: I am very curious to know what threads she would draw and knot between the different characters, but I find that the novel is missing the subtlety of her other novels, I get the feeling that she's letting her narrator voice be very loud within the text, in a way that I didn't particularly enjoy. These opinions are a result of a comparison with P&P (which I've read most recently), so maybe they're not as reflective of her other works (which I haven't read for some time).
Besides that, Lady Susan, the epistolary comedy that is highlighted by the title of the collection, is wickedly funny in the true usage of the expression: Jane is a bit wicked with it, she let's us enjoy the drama that Lady Susan brings to the story, plays with our thirst for a good laugh in the face of her mean actions, and then shows us the victims of those actions, changing our opinion of Lady Susan (but not, necessarily, our enjoyment of her messiness), while continuing to poke fun at everyone - victims, wrong-doers, the ones in between.
What's also so interesting about this collection is how it allows us to see an evolution of Jane's writing, the growing maturity of her usage of free indirect speech and the letting go of the epistolary format. The Wordsworth edition of it is really good - the introduction and the endnotes really benefitted my reading!
Sandition is included (as the closing story) and my thoughts on it are a pretty mixed: I am very curious to know what threads she would draw and knot between the different characters, but I find that the novel is missing the subtlety of her other novels, I get the feeling that she's letting her narrator voice be very loud within the text, in a way that I didn't particularly enjoy. These opinions are a result of a comparison with P&P (which I've read most recently), so maybe they're not as reflective of her other works (which I haven't read for some time).
Besides that, Lady Susan, the epistolary comedy that is highlighted by the title of the collection, is wickedly funny in the true usage of the expression: Jane is a bit wicked with it, she let's us enjoy the drama that Lady Susan brings to the story, plays with our thirst for a good laugh in the face of her mean actions, and then shows us the victims of those actions, changing our opinion of Lady Susan (but not, necessarily, our enjoyment of her messiness), while continuing to poke fun at everyone - victims, wrong-doers, the ones in between.
What's also so interesting about this collection is how it allows us to see an evolution of Jane's writing, the growing maturity of her usage of free indirect speech and the letting go of the epistolary format. The Wordsworth edition of it is really good - the introduction and the endnotes really benefitted my reading!
July 4, 2018
An interesting, enjoyable, entertaining read. The story 'Lady Susan' is definitely worth reading. The character, Lady Susan, a mid 30s widow who is beautiful and a very good communicator. She is a very memorable, questionable character, being quite manipulative. She has no problems flirting with a married man. She is dismissive of her 16 year old daughter. The story is told in letters from various characters. All the characters have flaws but this helps to provide a balance in perspective. This approximately 60 page novella is of a standard on par with her six novels.
I also enjoyed 'Catharine', (unfinished 35 page story) about a young woman, an orphan, living with her overbearing aunt. Catharine is learning about what is expected of her in relation to the men of her aunt's acquaintance.
'The Watson's' is about Emma Watson, a young woman who comes from Ireland to live with her relatives and meets two eligible bachelors. Emma is a strong likeable character.
There are a number of very short stories with witty dialogue.
Sandition, Jane Austen's last unfinished novel is not as delightful as the above mentioned stories, possibly as the author was still in the process on introducing the characters and the setting to the reader.
For readers who enjoy Jane Austen's six novels, this is a very worthwhile recommended read.
I also enjoyed 'Catharine', (unfinished 35 page story) about a young woman, an orphan, living with her overbearing aunt. Catharine is learning about what is expected of her in relation to the men of her aunt's acquaintance.
'The Watson's' is about Emma Watson, a young woman who comes from Ireland to live with her relatives and meets two eligible bachelors. Emma is a strong likeable character.
There are a number of very short stories with witty dialogue.
Sandition, Jane Austen's last unfinished novel is not as delightful as the above mentioned stories, possibly as the author was still in the process on introducing the characters and the setting to the reader.
For readers who enjoy Jane Austen's six novels, this is a very worthwhile recommended read.
February 26, 2020
I hadn't read this collection of Austen's juvenilia and unfinished works for years and, when thinking about them, found the only detail I could recall was the invalid Mr Watson's relief that at dinner the 'very high partridges' were moved to another part of the table so the pungent smell wouldn't bother him. Realising that this says more about my interest in trivia than about these fragments, I spent some time getting re-acquainted with the novel fragments.
The tone of the later novels and their familiar small town settings come across clearly in 'The Watsons'. Provincial snobbery, family rivalries, and personal idiosyncrasies all promise some fun. Jane Watson with her £6,000, her knowledge of fashionable games played in Croydon and readiness to assume the role of guide and mentor to the uninitiated, seems like a prototype Mrs Elton; Tom Musgrave, self-consciously dashing in his curricle and keen to impress a pretty girl, seldom appears without a glimpse of Austen irony, but sharp-witted heroine, Emma has his measure. Surely she is Elizabeth Bennett in waiting. Introduced early and explicitly is the perennial theme of marriage and the vital need of a husband, preferably one who can materially help the family, for a girl with no money behind her, discussed pragmatically by Emma and her older sister for whom opportunities are slipping away. The anxiety of impecunious young women without suitors trapped in a society which left them with little to hope for except the most modest pleasures while gallantly striving to be useful and hide their disappointment, is poignantly evoked by Elizabeth Watson. The fragment ends before Emma's fate is revealed but there are hints and they don't necessarily point to the most 'eligible' man the younger Watsons might approve.
'Lady Susan' presents a protagonist from hell. Unscrupulous, manipulative, mercenary and cruel but never stuck for a scheme, she pits herself against the virtuous but dim people around, and is by far the most conpelling character in the story. Despite the situation's possibilities, I think the straitjacket epistolary structure quickly palls as Jane Austen, fan though she was of Richardson and Burney, seems to have felt in her rapid prose winding up.
'Sanditon' sets many hares running in establishing plot and characters, some clues about possible developments, but the fragment's early abandonment only allows speculation. Perhaps it's Austen's sharp presentation of commercialism in her day that seems surprising here, just fancy a regency girl looking over a display of trinkets and trying to resist the urge to buy something she didn't need! What's new?
The tone of the later novels and their familiar small town settings come across clearly in 'The Watsons'. Provincial snobbery, family rivalries, and personal idiosyncrasies all promise some fun. Jane Watson with her £6,000, her knowledge of fashionable games played in Croydon and readiness to assume the role of guide and mentor to the uninitiated, seems like a prototype Mrs Elton; Tom Musgrave, self-consciously dashing in his curricle and keen to impress a pretty girl, seldom appears without a glimpse of Austen irony, but sharp-witted heroine, Emma has his measure. Surely she is Elizabeth Bennett in waiting. Introduced early and explicitly is the perennial theme of marriage and the vital need of a husband, preferably one who can materially help the family, for a girl with no money behind her, discussed pragmatically by Emma and her older sister for whom opportunities are slipping away. The anxiety of impecunious young women without suitors trapped in a society which left them with little to hope for except the most modest pleasures while gallantly striving to be useful and hide their disappointment, is poignantly evoked by Elizabeth Watson. The fragment ends before Emma's fate is revealed but there are hints and they don't necessarily point to the most 'eligible' man the younger Watsons might approve.
'Lady Susan' presents a protagonist from hell. Unscrupulous, manipulative, mercenary and cruel but never stuck for a scheme, she pits herself against the virtuous but dim people around, and is by far the most conpelling character in the story. Despite the situation's possibilities, I think the straitjacket epistolary structure quickly palls as Jane Austen, fan though she was of Richardson and Burney, seems to have felt in her rapid prose winding up.
'Sanditon' sets many hares running in establishing plot and characters, some clues about possible developments, but the fragment's early abandonment only allows speculation. Perhaps it's Austen's sharp presentation of commercialism in her day that seems surprising here, just fancy a regency girl looking over a display of trinkets and trying to resist the urge to buy something she didn't need! What's new?
July 23, 2023
I enjoyed reading the whimsical and fun juvenile short stories. Can't believe how young Austen was, and how well read she must have been to write satire like that.
Lady Susan is a wonderful two-faced epistolary novella. Great way of using letters to show what people are thinking and how they present themselves around others.
The Watson's was an odd unfinished novel, had potential just weird what Jane Austen was planning to do with the novel.
Sanditon I wish didn't abruptly end so suddenly (ofc I know why). It was fun to read especially the Parker siblings. Looking forward to watching the last series of Sanditon on ITV very soon.
Reading this collection I believe means I have finished all of Jane Austen's writing. Looking at my Goodreads reviews, I think Persuasion is my favourite at 4 stars and majority of the others are 3 stars. I am sure this will change, as LS use to be 3 stars and the reread pushed it to 4 stars.
Looking forward to rereading them again and maybe getting some gorgeous editions for the bookcase.
Lady Susan is a wonderful two-faced epistolary novella. Great way of using letters to show what people are thinking and how they present themselves around others.
The Watson's was an odd unfinished novel, had potential just weird what Jane Austen was planning to do with the novel.
Sanditon I wish didn't abruptly end so suddenly (ofc I know why). It was fun to read especially the Parker siblings. Looking forward to watching the last series of Sanditon on ITV very soon.
Reading this collection I believe means I have finished all of Jane Austen's writing. Looking at my Goodreads reviews, I think Persuasion is my favourite at 4 stars and majority of the others are 3 stars. I am sure this will change, as LS use to be 3 stars and the reread pushed it to 4 stars.
Looking forward to rereading them again and maybe getting some gorgeous editions for the bookcase.
January 21, 2018
This collection of Jane Austen's short stories and unfinished novels was mostly delightful. There were a couple of stories I wasn't so interested in but being too busy with work is the main reason it took me a couple of weeks to read.
It was interesting to see how she started finding her writing style and how she was mocking the dramatic novels that were in fashion at the time. I really enjoyed Lady Susan and The Watsons in particular and felt that if they had been completed they would have been as good as her other novels.
A good volume if you are an Austen fan. It makes you appreciate her particular style and how she had to work for the quality and style we find in her well known novels.
It was interesting to see how she started finding her writing style and how she was mocking the dramatic novels that were in fashion at the time. I really enjoyed Lady Susan and The Watsons in particular and felt that if they had been completed they would have been as good as her other novels.
A good volume if you are an Austen fan. It makes you appreciate her particular style and how she had to work for the quality and style we find in her well known novels.
April 29, 2023
How could I give anything less than five stars to works by Jane Austen? This collection of writings is impressive in two parts.
The first impression is of amazement. The Juvenilia show that even the most celebrated authors start out with short, sometimes silly stories to practice their writing. You can see Austen's written voice forming in these early experiments. These works are an encouragement for any aspiring writer that it takes time and effort to find your own unique voice.
The second impression is one of regret, lying in the unfinished works. They are the beginnings of what would have been more celebrated Austen material in this day. Instead they are collected in a sadly often overlooked compilation of would-be's.
The first impression is of amazement. The Juvenilia show that even the most celebrated authors start out with short, sometimes silly stories to practice their writing. You can see Austen's written voice forming in these early experiments. These works are an encouragement for any aspiring writer that it takes time and effort to find your own unique voice.
The second impression is one of regret, lying in the unfinished works. They are the beginnings of what would have been more celebrated Austen material in this day. Instead they are collected in a sadly often overlooked compilation of would-be's.
October 23, 2019
Some of the juvenalia give you an idea of liveliness, but only a few pieces are truly worth your while to read. Definitely read Lady Susan -- it's not fully done in bulk, but the whole of the story is there. Both The Watsons and Sanditon are unfinished novels... Sanditon bid fair to be one of her funniest ever, if only she had finished it. As for The Watsons, I understand why she kept putting it by. It was, perhaps, a bit too dark.
It is interesting to see Austen grow from broad parody/satire to modern novelist. The texts are in approximate chronological order.
It is interesting to see Austen grow from broad parody/satire to modern novelist. The texts are in approximate chronological order.
March 1, 2023
I loved this collection so much. Much of Jane Austen’s earlier works from her childhood and teen years shows the same sense of humor albeit not as subtle as her novels. Both her humor and writing style noticeably sharpened over the years as she continued in her craft. My favorite in the collection is “Catherine,” an unfinished novel from c. 1792. It’s also fun to see how many of the same events and themes appear, such as the elopements in “Henry & Eliza” and “Love & Friendship” that feel similar to Lydia’s in Pride & Prejudice.
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