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Persuasion and Lady Susan
Persuasion
Jane Austen's last, most intense and most moving novel - the story of Anne Elliot, who, opposed by her father and a family friend, refuses an offer of marriage from an attractive naval officer with no fortune. Several years later, still in love, the two meet again.
Persuasion, writes David Daiches, is "the novel which in the end the experienced reader of Jane Austen puts at the head of the list."
Lady Susan
An uncharacteristic, short work, written in an exchange of letters which Mark Schorer describes in his introduction as "an extraordinary story about a totally immoral woman -- Jane Austen's only femme fatale -- that brings us Regency society in all its elegant corruption."
Jane Austen's last, most intense and most moving novel - the story of Anne Elliot, who, opposed by her father and a family friend, refuses an offer of marriage from an attractive naval officer with no fortune. Several years later, still in love, the two meet again.
Persuasion, writes David Daiches, is "the novel which in the end the experienced reader of Jane Austen puts at the head of the list."
Lady Susan
An uncharacteristic, short work, written in an exchange of letters which Mark Schorer describes in his introduction as "an extraordinary story about a totally immoral woman -- Jane Austen's only femme fatale -- that brings us Regency society in all its elegant corruption."
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1818
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80 people want to read
About the author
Jane Austen
3,969 books74.7k 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 11, 2020
I'm not sure what I was looking for reading this book. There does seem to be quite an emphasis on compatibility where women are somewhat able to have agency over who their affections and ties should go towards. The overall sense is that one should go towards whomever one has natural feelings towards, and a kind of compatibility. Here, Austen seems somewhat insistent that people marry and couple due to their own natural designs and that there is a rightful order, one that the social order can only influence but never eradicate. In a sense, these two stories maintain that overall a woman's instincts cannot truly go wrong when it comes to matters of the heart, even if they can be persuaded or sometimes influenced.
May 5, 2023
"Persuasion": In Anne Elliot, Jane Austen has created a deeply sympathetic character; a long-suffering middle sister, who strives to come out from the shadows cast by her morally inferior relations. She's a bit reminiscent of Elizabeth Bennet, but unlike with Eliza, it's not pride that keeps Anne from her true happiness, but the persuasive argument of a trusted friend. Persuasion is a theme running through the narrative of many of the sub-plots, as Austen reminds us that appearances can be deceptive, and that we must be careful in our judgements, lest they lead us astray. As usual, Austen writes with frankness and perspicacity, taking us into the head spaces of her characters as they muddle through their complicated motivations. Don't worry, it all works out in the end.
"Lady Susan": A remarkable work for Austen, as it is in epistolary form. The author of the general introduction suggests that she may have written all of her early drafts in this form, and that "Lady Susan" is therefore an unfinished novel. Because of this form, the characters directly express their feelings and motivations to one another, instead of through the omniscient third person perspective which I'm used to from Austen. They are also unreliable narrators, or at least the titular character is, since she is an unscrupulous schemer. It's an interesting break from Austen's usual main character: a morally grounded young woman adrift in a sea of social manipulations. Perhaps the message is that sweet naivete doesn't work so well for a woman like Lady Susan, who at the ripe age of thirty-five has lost the bloom of youth.
"Lady Susan": A remarkable work for Austen, as it is in epistolary form. The author of the general introduction suggests that she may have written all of her early drafts in this form, and that "Lady Susan" is therefore an unfinished novel. Because of this form, the characters directly express their feelings and motivations to one another, instead of through the omniscient third person perspective which I'm used to from Austen. They are also unreliable narrators, or at least the titular character is, since she is an unscrupulous schemer. It's an interesting break from Austen's usual main character: a morally grounded young woman adrift in a sea of social manipulations. Perhaps the message is that sweet naivete doesn't work so well for a woman like Lady Susan, who at the ripe age of thirty-five has lost the bloom of youth.
January 5, 2018
Only read "Persuasion" this go round. It's definitely a more quiet out of her novels but boy does it have staying power. My second time reading it and of course as always with Jane Austen, I noticed new things this time.
March 4, 2020
Persuasion (3/5), Lady Susan (4/5)
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July 29, 2020Persuasion is the first Jane Austen I've deemed "just fine". I adored Anne's dad, though, and the last chapter I really liked. Lady Susan is FANTASTIC, you should all read it.
October 2, 2016
Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen book, and in a three-way tie for my favorite all time book.
I feel quite a connection with Anne, and Captain Wentworth is my idea of an ideal man. I also think it's Austen's most mature work, and her most personal. There are several similarities to her own life in the story. Though, that could just be me reading more into things than are actually there.
This edition also contains the short story Lady Susan, which I have read before but didn't remember that well. I enjoyed it, and thought the telling of the story through letters to be really funny.
I feel quite a connection with Anne, and Captain Wentworth is my idea of an ideal man. I also think it's Austen's most mature work, and her most personal. There are several similarities to her own life in the story. Though, that could just be me reading more into things than are actually there.
This edition also contains the short story Lady Susan, which I have read before but didn't remember that well. I enjoyed it, and thought the telling of the story through letters to be really funny.
January 11, 2015
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews