Though not the first novel she wrote, Sense and Sensibility was the first Jane Austen published. Though she initially called it Elinor and Marianne, Austen jettisoned both the title and the epistolary mode in which it was originally written, but kept the essential theme: the necessity of finding a workable middle ground between passion and reason. The story revolves around the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne. Whereas the former is a sensible, rational creature, her younger sister is wildly romantic--a characteristic that offers Austen plenty of scope for both satire and compassion. Commenting on Edward Ferrars, a potential suitor for Elinor's hand, Marianne admits that while she "loves him tenderly", she finds him disappointing as a possible lover for her sister:

Oh! Mama, how spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night! I felt for my sister most severely. Yet she bore it with so much composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it. I could hardly keep my seat. To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference!

Soon, however, Marianne meets a man who measures up to her ideal: Mr Willoughby, a new neighbour. So swept away by passion is Marianne that her behaviour begins to border on the scandalous. Then Willoughby abandons her; meanwhile, Elinor's growing affection for Edward suffers a check when he admits he is secretly engaged to a childhood sweetheart. misfortunes and the lessons they draw before coming finally to the requisite happy ending forms the heart of the novel. Though Marianne's disregard for social conventions and willingness to consider the world well-lost for love may appeal to modern readers, it is Elinor whom Austen herself most evidently admired; a truly happy marriage, she shows us, exists only where sense and sensibility meet and mix in proper measure. --Alix Wilber, Amazon.com

Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willougby, she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love - and its threatened loss - the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.

2008-04-03 A classic - Austen does it again!

I finished this book on the train this morning, and the last 40 or so pages made it all worth it. I'd only read two Austens prior to this - Persuasion and the wonderful Pride and Prejudice which, coupled with the Colin Firth TV adaptation, is probably my all time favourite. I tried to keep and open mind and not try to compare them too much. However, this is a very different book. It has a much more serious, sombre tone - of course with Austen's trademark comedic characters thrown in! If you've never read an Austen before, I would recommend starting with this one.

The similarity in plot, at least, occurs at the beginning of the novel. Yet again we see the injustice of the period which dictated that family estates could not pass to female offspring, which meant homes sometimes passing to distant male relatives and the females of the house being cast out. This forms the foundation of the plot - the events that occur following an enforced move to another part of the country, the characters encountered and the trials suffered by the two sisters.

I'd say that in terms of character development, S&S is a slow burner. As always, the women are more developed than the men. There is a vast range of players, each demonstrating the desirable and not so desirable aspects of human nature. Vanity, selfishness, artfulness and avarice are all expertly demonstrated. A great supporting character is the daft Mrs Jennings who is initially chided for her imprudence, but in the end shows her kindness and selflessness and proves herself to be invaluable to the two sisters. Another is the detestable Lucy Steele who plays the role of Elinor's tormentor. The skill of Austen is demonstrated here, I actually wanted to reach into the pages and strangle the girl! By the end of the book you can't help but feel a fondness and admiration for both Elinor and Marianne. This book tells the story of how they both react in the face of adversity. Elinor's fortitude and stoicism and Marianne's wanton abandon to her emotions; and at the end of the book Elinor's thawing and sympathy for the selfish scoundrel Willoughby and her ultimate blissful happiness and Marianne's maturing and growing self awareness which then leads to her happiness also, both showing an integrity not possessed by their peers. I can't go without giving the blokes a mention too...there's no Darcy here unfortunately but there is the wonderful Colonel Brandon, kind and considerate who spends the majority of the novel despairing of ever having the woman he loves.

This is a warm, funny, at times serious, insightful book with beautifully written characters and Austen's deft plot twists. Its a must read for new fans. I'm now looking forward to reading Emma!