Sense and sensibility - Jane Austen

The first of Jane Austen s published novels, Sense and Sensibility began its life as Elinor and Marianne, which Jane first wrote when she was only 20 years old. Named after its two heroines, Elinor and Marianne, the novel tells the tale of sensible Elinor Dashwood, the older of two sisters, who believes in privacy, propriety and logic, and flighty Marianne, the younger sister, who follows her heart without so much as a second thought for the consequences. The story unfolds in the aftermath of the death of the sisters father, as the two women fall in love, have their hearts broken, and finally understand the need for both sense and sensibility in order to find lasting happiness. Jane Austen made final revisions to her early work in 1809, having given it the name Sense and Sensibility by which, of course, we know it today. As much a comment on social etiquette as a story about love and belonging, this timeless favourite illuminates Jane Austen s world. This edition was published to coincide with the bicentenary of the book's original publication in 1811, and brings together Jane Austen's complete and unabridged text with 75 original artworks by Niroot Puttapipat , each capturing the spirit of Regency England with stunning and evocative accuracy.