Sense and Sensibility (original 1811; edition 1965)

Today (May 2, 1965) I have just finished this book an I have much the same feeling of enjoyment I rememer so distinctly feeling in 1954--to my then surprise--after reading Pride and Prejudice. I found Sense and sensibility so deft, so well-done, so believeable, that my admiration is extreme. Of what moment? True, but nevertheless the craft of the author: that she can create such interest with such non-melodramatic effort seems fantastic. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are sisters, and the book is merely an account of their progress to matrimony. Yet how absorbing it all seems. And the delicious humor! E.g.: "Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieux to a place so much beloved. 'Dear, dear Norland!" said Marianne, as she wandered alone before the house, on the last evening of their being there; 'when shall I cease to regret you? when learn to feel at home elsewhwere? O happy house! could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view you no more! and you, ye well-known trees! but you will continue the same. No leaf will decay because we are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we can observe you no longer! No; you will continue the same..."' ( )

This was the first Jane Austen book I ever read, and I was really surprised by how much I liked it. It definitely had a dated sense to it, but it was a portrayal of that era, and it was a spectacular portrayal at that. And considering its age, I found it remarkably easy to identify with. There were plot twists I didn't see coming, thoughts and actions I sympathized with, decisions I yelled at the characters for. It was wonderful, plain and simple. Two thumbs up. ( )

It's not in my Top Three Austens but it's probably the best of the rest. I found something about Marianne terribly grating but I will probably reread it with a little more sense of perspective and hopefully not find her so much of a snivelling idiot. I'll have more to say if I do reread, I'm sure! ( )

I love Jane Austen, and since I enjoyed "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma," I had always wanted to read this book. I loved it, although it's sometimes too light on dialogue and heavy on description/summary of conversations. Since I enjoyed hearing the character's comments and their individual voices, I wanted more of this. "Sense and Sensibility" provides an interesting look at the consequences of living your life purely based on feeling or purely based on reason/logic. ( )

I think this needs to come back on my to-read list, as I have read a lot more about Jane Austen now, I might actually appreciate the story more as well. ( )

I liked Sense and Sensibility quite a lot, but at the same time it seemed to drag rather. Once I hit about chapter forty, I started wondering if things would ever get resolved. There were a lot of rather silly misunderstandings and assumptions. It makes sense, with the silly characters and the rather tangled love lives they have, but it dragged more for me than Pride and Prejudice did.

I also kind of forgot about the point of the novel, the ideas of sense and sensibility and which one is better. Obviously sense triumphs, given that Elinor marries the man she wants, and Marianne marries the sensible match. Sensibility doesn't come off too badly, though. Elinor gets to marry the man she loves, despite all the obstacles, and Marianne is still a sympathetic character despite her dramatics.

There were some especially fun passages and commentaries in and amongst the story, too. Some of the observations made me giggle rather. I do see what people mean about Austen's wit.

Still, I think I'm rather Austen'd out at the moment. I still have Mansfield Park and Emma to read, but I might wait for a while. ( )

It has been a very long time since I first read Sense and Sensibility. Thanks, however to the various TV adaptions and films that have been made of this story in the years since, it remained very much a story I knew well. In the last year or so I have increased the amount of re-reading I have been doing – and finding it a surprising joy. I re-read Northanger Abbey during my month of re-reading in July, in January I read Persuasion. Austen is certainly an author whose work it is really worth re-visiting. For those of us who read all Jane Austen’s novels a long time ago, and have sat through countless TV and film versions – it is easy to think we know the stories and characters so well that we don’t need to re-read them. However I have found that in re-reading things now which I first encountered as a much younger reader, I discover so much. To begin with I am reading them on a different level, with many, many years of reading experiences under my belt.
The story of Sense and Sensibility is one I am sure almost everyone knows. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood their mother and younger sister Margaret have to leave their home in Norland Park upon the death of their father. Norland Park is inherited by Elinor and Marianne’s half-brother John Dashwood. John Dashwood and his monstrous wife Fanny take up residence at Norland Park even before the bereaved women have left. During this time Elinor and Marianne become good friends with Edward Ferrars – brother to Fanny Dashwood their sister-in-law. As Elinor and Edward’s feelings for one another begin to deepen, Fanny becomes suspicious, determined her brother will do better than Elinor Dashwood. Mrs Dashwood is eventually invited by a relative Sir John Middleton, to make her home in Devon in Barton cottage, very close to his home in Barton Park.
The family then leave Sussex for Devon, to make their home in a much smaller house, not knowing the people with whom they are to be associating almost daily. Barely are the family settled into their new home when they are thrust into the life of Barton Park, Sir John married to a younger woman, having young children and a garrulous mother-in-law, Barton Park is a lively house. Frequently invited to dinner, the Dashwoods are soon a big part of Barton Park society, becoming friendly with the good hearted but gossipy Mrs Jennings and meeting the middle aged Colonel Brandon, who is immediately smitten with seventeen year old Marianne. However one day while out walking with her younger sister Margaret, Marianne encounters John Willoughby, a dashingly handsome young man – with whom she is soon recklessly infatuated.
“She was sensible and clever, but eager in everything; her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation.”
Marianne’s feelings for Willoughby are immediately obvious to everyone leaving her wide open to gossip. As Marianne becomes increasingly attached to Willoughby – Elinor’s heart is quietly broken, as she hears of a secret involving Edward, a secret she is duty bound to keep to herself. Marianne wears her heart on her sleeve, she is romantic and impetuous and ripe for heartbreak, which naturally soon follows. Elinor and Marianne accompany Mrs Jennings to London, following the hasty departure of Willoughby from Devon.
“Mrs. Jennings was a widow, with an ample jointure. She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married, and she had now therefore nothing to do but to marry all the rest of the world.”
Here Marianne’s irrepressible behaviour leaves her open to society’s speculation and gossip. She pursues Willoughby, sending him notes and generally behaving in a way not considered correct by society at the beginning of the nineteenth century. As Marianne is crushed by the aftermath of her recklessness, Elinor holds everything together, never once revealing her own hurt.
“Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxims.”
There are many interesting aspects to Sense and Sensibility, to begin with – although not the first novel that Jane Austen wrote – it was the first to be published. For me I have to say I think it lacks the emotional subtlety and quiet genius of Persuasion, and as regards sheer romance, nothing can quite compare to Pride and Prejudice. However it is still a joy to read – the comic creations which are so much a part of Austen’s writing are worth re-reading this novel for alone. Coming out of Austen’s early writing career though, Sense and Sensibility clearly shows her true brilliance, aside from a brilliantly readable story, which is still engaging readers more than 200 years after it was first published - there is a fascinating duality to many of the characters and events in the novel. Almost everyone who is central to the story has no father, mothers and daughters are at the heart of the novel, and two mothers are shown to have preferences for their second born children. Elinor represents the sense of the title, and Marianne the sensibility. In many of her novels Austen concerned herself with the unsuitability of some marriages, in a society which put family and fortune above finer feelings she must have witnessed such ridiculous mismatching many times. In Sense and Sensibility, the elder Dashwoods, and the Palmers particularly demonstrate this societal mismatching which Austen re-creates so brilliantly. Family ambitions and lack of money conspire to rob both Elinor and Marianne of their hopes.
In the end of course – I hope I’m not spoiling things for anyone who really doesn’t know how it all works out, Elinor’s good sense pays off – and Marianne by the time she is an old lady of nineteen has come to appreciate the worth of a man like Colonel Brandon.
I thoroughly enjoyed re-engaging with Elinor and Marianne – funnily enough I found Marianne highly annoying this time of reading, I liked Elinor as much as ever, and although I remember liking Colonel Brandon enormously – this time I appreciated dear Edward far more. ( )

charming, a detailed portrait of an age and class, but somewhat frivolous

I found the characters to somewhat self-absorbed and a bit silly. I couldn't empathise or feel any real emotion for their situations nor did I really care what happened to them.

And not even the gentlemen could sway me on this one! Just a bit disappointing. ( )

This is going to be a totally different type of review from me. In fact, it really isn't a review at all. It is more of an "ode to Jane Austen". I truly do think she ruined my dating life but I totally forgive her for it :)

First question you are going to have is why do I have a picture of Jane (played by Susannah Harker) from Pride and Prejudice on a post about Sense and Sensibility?

Answer: I listened to the audiobook version of Sense and Sensibility read by her and it was possibly the best audiobook I have ever heard! Yes better than Jim Dale reading Harry Potter (which I also really enjoyed)! If I am going to review anything in this post that is it. If you get a chance to pick up this audiobook version, you should. She is very good at making each character unique and keeping you engaged the whole book. It is unabridged so 14 hours long but well worth it.

Disclaimer: Yes, I have read Sense and Sensibility a few different times before listening to it on audio. It is my 2nd favorite Jane Austen novel behind Pride and Prejudice. So the story is very comforting and familiar. I have the characters I love, the ones who annoy me, and the ones I would like to throw to the wolves. However, as with all great books, it always leaves me with the the hope that in the end the nice guy does in fact finish with the girl of his dreams. Austen is one of the best at taking flawed characters that come from a place of good and making them find each other.

This book particularly appeals to me because out of all of Jane Austen's characters I am probably the most like Elinor. I am a little more open about my opinions but otherwise she is the closest to me personality wise. I would also like to think that out there is an E. Farris for me, as he is exactly the type of guy that I go for. Smart, Off-Beat humor, Loyal, Kind, and good to his word. So reading their rather understated romance always warms my heart. Plus, I love Brandon and his steadfast beautifully portrayed personality. He is the Bingley of this novel but Marianne takes awhile to realize that.

So my rating: 5
My Recommendation: Get thee to the bookstore and read it!

4.5 stars! I just finished. It was really cute. I'm kinda sad that it didn't have that whole Elinor-bursting-into-hysterics scene in it. Well, she did, but not with Edward sitting right there. Jane Austen has this way of skipping over the happy parts... But then there were extra scenes, too. Like Willoughby comes to the Palmer's house while Marianne is sick? Holy cow! I was soooo surprised!

It was SO SO SO SO CUTE! I loved it! ( )

Liked this almost as much as Pride & Prejudice! Also had the benefit of watching the movie beforehand (featuring the most excellent Emma Thompson). S&S quite similar in some ways to P&P, the way many of Fitzgerald's other stories echo Gatsby. Austen pulls it off more smoothly though. I'm actually glad I didn't read these sooner - I don't think I'd have enjoyed them as much if I'd read them in high school. ( )

It's been quite a while since I last read Sense and Sensibility and this is the first time I've listened to it on audiobook. As I listened to Nadia May's excellent narration, I realised that there was much I'd forgotten about the book since I last read it.

I had certainly forgotten the flashes of humour and the sharpness of the satire. For example, Austen is particularly pointed in her descriptions of the indulgence with which the less satisfactory mothers amongst her characters (Fanny Dashwood, Lady Middleton) treat the misbehaviour of their offspring. These scenes are laugh-out-loud funny. However, they also made me think how often Austen must have been exposed to the ill-disciplined children of her acquaintances!

There is arguably more social commentary in Sense and Sensibility than in Austen's other novels. While the dependence of single women and the devastating potential effect of inheritance laws is also central to the plot of Pride and Prejudice, it is in Sense and Sensibility that the actual effect is felt most keenly in the situation of the Mrs Dashwood and her daughters.

Primarily, though, Sense and Sensibility is about relationships - relationships between sisters, between mothers and children, between friends. It is these relationships, good and bad, positive and negative which form the core of the novel. They are more important than the ultimate romantic pairings and just as important as the theme suggested by the title, that is, the different approaches to life of those with contrasting temperaments.

Indeed, in my view, the romantic pairings form the least satisfactory element of the novel. The resolution of the relationship between Elinor and Edward is brought about by the somewhat unsatisfactory deus ex machina of Lucy Steele's decision to exchange one brother for another. And to my mind the union of Marianne and Colonel Brandon is problematic, notwithstanding Austen's explanation that Marianne grew to love her husband. . While expected in such a novel, the romantic relationships do not have the same impact as those of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth or even of Emma Woodhouse and Mr Knightley.

Overall, I've appreciated Sense and Sensibility much more this time around than I have on previous readings. While it does not have the same emotional effect on me as my favourite Austen novel - Persuasion - it remains a masterpiece. ( )

Given what I'm sure is below, my review's wholly unnecessary, although I'd like to complain about the precipitous marriage of Lucy Steele to Robert Ferrars. If she was going to go this way with the central conflict of the second half of the book, Austen could have resolved it even more suddenly: why not knock Lucy down with a carriage? Why not drown her in the Thames? Why not let loose a localized horde of zombies?

I'll say this to complainers about Mr Edward Ferrars: his woodenness is simply Elinor's, seen from the outside. Had we watched the novel from within Marianne's head, Edward and Elinor would have been indistinguishable. ( )

Who knows if I might have enjoyed the book more if I had not watched and loved the movie (the one with a dashing Alan Rickman in it) before reading the novel. Certainly, it provided me with much more insights and answers to plot holes which the movie provided, such as Lucy Steele's character and her baffling marriage with a Mr Ferrars.

In any case, I'm glad I watched the movie first, because Austen's lengthy narratives would have confused me and would probably have given me a headache if I hadn't any idea of what the story would be.

I do wonder if people read Austen for the romance, because I think the social commentaries are much more focused on, and the romance takes a back seat.

I have watched almost every movie adaptation of Austen's novels and am most curious as to how the novels played out, especially with Mansfield Park and Persuasion, the two Austens I have not yet read.

Also, I think it funny indeed that I now write and think in the style of Austen's characters, after a week of indulging in almost every adaptation on her novels.


**am i classy now?** ( )

Wonderful gentle humor and romance! Austen has a great understanding of human nature and the society of her times. ( )

Favorite Jane Austen book, hands-down. It brings together not one, but two heart-wrenching romances, and her biting wit and views on Regency society. Half of the story is about how women use their own means to connive and get what they want, at the cost of others’ happiness. The other half is about how giving up happiness can be horrible. Elinor is one of my favorite literature heroines and her ending is one of the happiest I’ve read. I’m not as a huge fan of Marianne (or Willoughby for that matter), but you still feel for her. A classic in the truest sense of the word. ( )

I don't remember this too well, but my whole high school went to see the movie version when it came out because the English department had gotten to go to England and meet the director and cast the previous summer. ( )

I quite liked this though it certainly didn't measure up to the brilliance of Pride and Prejudice. The beginning of the story was very intriguing and compelling and kept me eager for more. It got a bit dull for a while in the middle but picked up pace again once events began to happen. Elinor and Marianne were well developed and believable. It's obvious that Austen was very observent of the nature of people and this shows in her writing. Overall it was an interesting story and made me laugh quite a few times. ( )

Once I overcame my false ideas about what Jane Austen wrote -- that she was some obscure author whosed by the sweater-set-and-pearls English majors at Ivy league women's colleges -- I fell all over myself to catch up. This was my second excursion, following up Pride & Prejudice. (It helped that the Emma Thompson movie came out about the same time).

This story of two sisters with opposing views on love and life seems ubiquitous to me now, although there are likely some few people ignorant of the trials of Marianne and Elinor, so I won't go into the details of the plot. However, it is safe enough, I think, to talk about the ideas that roam under the skin of the story, the ideas Austen wanted to present to the reader -- that one's personal experience is not the be-all and end-all of one's life, that we live in an interconnected world with rules and expectations we defy at our own risk, that we need not be dead leaves blown by the winds of passion. In the guise of a domestic romance, Austen details these ideas because she saw them affecting the lives of people she knew and she could imagine beyond her own circle.

Of course, even without all that rather weighty philosophy and moralizing, we have a romantic tale with highs and lows, long periods of suspense and uncertainty, and rather well drawn characters and situations. Austen's ability to create comic scenes and use wry ironic humor to underline her points makes the book a lot more fun than the now unfamiliar and complicated language of the time might make apparent to modern eyes.

If you are not familiar with the period of the novel, or if the language and culture seem obscure to you, I very much recommend reading [The Annotated Sense and Sensibility]. ( )

It is always delightful to me to read (and re-read) Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility. This annotated version just added to and expanded on that delight. The extensive notes, illustrations, and maps explain much -- in language, in social behavior, in culture and in period of time -- that either no longer exists in the 21st century or has altered greatly over 200 years. Here, at last, I understand the ideas behind the "Cult of Sensibility". I know now the significance of the word "picturesque" so often invoked in the novel, and why it means much more in context and in that era than it means now -- which made many a bit of irony and comedy suddenly funny to me. Like the other edition in this series, it included a detailed chronology of the novel and an extensive bibliography of source material, making this a perfect edition for anyone taking a scholarly approach to Austen (or late 18th/early 19th century literature in general). As always, the format of text on the left side and notes on the right made for easy reading.

In short, this edition did exactly what good annotation does -- expand, illuminate, explain, and reveal. While I probably won't read this version exclusively when I reread the novel, I expect to revisit it periodically. ( )

I read this book three years ago and had no patience for it. I read it this week and found it beautiful in its characterizations and instructive in its values. It's a little old fashioned to call a book "instructive," I guess, but I felt instructed, especially by the quiet forbearance of Eleanor. As in Jane Austen's time, there are still plenty of irritating, shallow, or hurtful people in the world, and it's still the best course to remain as sanguine as possible when dealing with them. It felt especially a good lesson to revisit in the Internet age, where we are thrown into discourse with people we don't know very well, often with as little control as the Dashwood sisters have over who is invited to the parties they attend. We're living in an age of Mariannes, where expressing our feelings is valued over just bucking up. This book made me feel how much we could use more Eleanors. What I like especially about Eleanor is that she has strong opinions and feelings--she isn't so nice on the inside all the time--but she has the self-control to appear, on the outside, at all times gracious.

A word now about the character development--it is so masterful, where every character's inner nature is revealed almost exclusively through dialogue and action--a real 'show don't tell' kind of book before its time. I had not appreciated enough on my last reading how little direct narration there is in describing others, and how much the weight of character development depends on dialogue, which a very modern way of revealing characters, done so beautifully here, in a way contemporary writers could still learn from. ( )

I'm pretty sure I'm interrogating this book from the wrong perspective: I want Elinor to end up with Col. Brandon, and I want Marianne to be the spinster aunt of the family, the fun, sweet, understanding of youth kind. Like Jane Austen herself.

And Willoughby is such a dick. ( )

It's Austen. Love the bit where the sisters discuss whether they need to be wealthy to be happy. ( )

This book would have been perfect for my M.A. research on sensibility, and I wish that I had read it then. I don't know what I can say that would do Austen justice. This novel has the social commentary we are used to in Austen novels, plus an exploration of the inner life of the mind and its manifestions in the body. I also like what she does with gender in the novel. Men, we see, are less physically affected by a degenerate mind than are women. Fascinating. You have to read this book! ( )