Five stars hardly seems to be enough to describe this novel with. The only downfall is that this version is abridged. It's hard not to fall in love with the characters in this book. Mrs. Bennett is a "silly" woman and her husband is full of humor about her antics. Jane and Elizabeth are two of the most well-developed characters that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. And, as for Mr. Darcy, how can you not fall in love with him by the end of the book? I know I did. He is cruel-hearted at the beginning but sort of learns his leason after an unexpected refusal. As for Jane, she and her love are more or less torn apart because of a misunderstanding. Live with the two eldest Bennett sisters and experience high and low society with them. Encounter seemingly unsolvable problems and love and hate. This is a story that you will truly never forget.

Do you not believe that "real men wear black"? Do you prefer afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches over Budweiser and pretzels? Do you simply adore Hugh Grant? Even so, skip the movie, and read the book that any lady would hold dear. If you believe that the difference between a girl in a go-go dress and a lady in a flower print dress is as wide as the Grand Canyon, then the escapades of the Bennett sisters will enthrall you. Pride and Prejudice is a book that is light in the topics that move today's news, but is crucial for understanding the interactions of everyday life with those that you love. Jane Austin illustrates a clear understanding of how we ladies get ourselves in the predicaments that we inevitably do, and to our comfort, she shows that while the news changes everyday, the dynamics of human relationships will always be the same.

Jane Austen's 1811 novel, her first published, "Sense and Sensibility," receives a grand treatment in this Broadview Literary Texts edition, edited by Kathleen James-Cavan. Anyone who knows me knows how I doat on Jane Austen, and for the first time reading her in a Broadview edition, I find myself doating excessively. "Sense and Sensibility" was the first public exposure of Austen's masterful characterization, plotting, and satire to reach the reading public of the Romantic Era. Austen thrives on what I like to call 'the middle of the book,' writing the situations that complicate the lives of her characters, better than almost anyone - almost, it seems, preferring getting her characters and readers in a position to learn from their mistakes, than actually getting them out.

"Sense and Sensibility" begins with the illogic of early 19th century British inheritance law. The hereditary owner of Norland Park is on his deathbed, and invites the heirs of his estate, the Dashwood family, to reside at Norland. The Dashwood's and their three daughters come to live there, but are put into jeopardy soon after by the demise of both Mr. Dashwoods - bringing the next male heir (and the girls' half-brother), John Dashwood and his manipulative wife, Fanny to Norland. Greedy as they are, John and his wife soon drive their half-sisters, Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret, along with their mother, out of Norland, Sussex, to the Devonshire countryside. Here in Devonshire, in a small cottage, and at a considerably reduced income, the Dashwood sisters and their mother struggle to rebuild their life, while the two eldest daughters, Elinor, 19, and Marianne, 17, try to deal with life and love in the English countryside.

Like the well-known "Pride (Darcy) and Prejudice (Bennet)," "Sense and Sensibility"s title can be seen to refer to the character traits that mark its two principle characters - Sense on the side of the Enlightenment-influenced, almost certainly emotionally-repressed Elinor, and the overfine Sensibility of Marianne, a great admirer of dead leaves and the dirty ground. As opposed to the former novel, Austen does not really disparage either, except when carried to excess, as each young woman does, instead seeking, as was popular during the period, to reconcile, or strike a balance between rational logic and emotional response. In their love affairs, Elinor's with a distant cousin, the diffident and somewhat mysterious 24-year old Edward Ferrars, and Marianne's with a younger, and very handsome rogue John Willoughby, the young ladies' moral, social, and aesthetic principles are put to the test. While Elinor and Marianne are two of the most cultured, educated, and refined characters in the novel, and while Austen certainly privileges the country over the London metropolis, she makes clear that the ladies' limited interaction with society at large leaves them in a kind of sheltered ignorance which they must come to terms with, both for their sakes and for the sake of their lovers.

Austen always does a great job with her minor characters, especially those who serve in comic relief roles - or as the butts of her satire, and "Sense and Sensibility" is no different. In their avarice and greed, John and Fanny Dashwood are the epitome of wholly uncultured social climbers and mindless landowners. In her less than refined, but wholly maternal attitudes toward the Miss Dashwoods, Mrs. Jennings (mother of the neglected, but ever cheerful wife Charlotte Palmer and the reticent to a fault Lady Middleton) is as amusing a character, and as warm a mother as one will find in Austen. Colonel Brandon is a fit counterpart to Mrs. Jennings, in his reserved melancholy, while caring just as much about those around him as Mrs. Jennings. The comic pairings of Mr. Palmer and Sir John Middleton with their wives is absolute genius, both being the mirror opposite in style and attitude to their wives - and in particular the relationship between the Palmers, including the continual laughing of Charlotte at the fact that Mr. Palmer "never listens to me" and "never tells me anything," is both highly entertaining, and at the same time, one of the most troubling relationships in the novel.

I've praised James-Cavan's handling of this Broadview edition, and now may be a good time to say some more on that head. Broadview and its editors, like the people who put together the Norton Critical Editions, concern themselves with really presenting literary texts in a solid foundation of cultural, theoretical, and critical contexts. "Sense and Sensibility" contains a real treasure trove of such material - the two contemporary reviews of Austen's novel from 1812, generous selections of essays from the late 1700's and early 1800's on contemporary debates on the meanings of the words "sense" and "sensibility," and on the cult of sensibility and the picturesque. Also included are exerpts from poems referenced by Marianne throughout the novel, illustrations of the vehicles they travel in, and a map of the character's London residences. James-Cavan's excellent introduction also lays out the novel's issues in their contemporary, cultural, critical, and theoretical contexts, none more obtrusive than any other, and all quite helpful. Altogether, the Broadview "Sense and Sensibility" is a tremendous edition for Austen scholars and casual Janeites alike.

Jane Austen's 1811 novel, her first published, "Sense and Sensibility," receives a grand treatment in this Broadview Literary Texts edition, edited by Kathleen James-Cavan. Anyone who knows me knows how I doat on Jane Austen, and for the first time reading her in a Broadview edition, I find myself doating excessively. "Sense and Sensibility" was the first public exposure of Austen's masterful characterization, plotting, and satire to reach the reading public of the Romantic Era. Austen thrives on what I like to call 'the middle of the book,' writing the situations that complicate the lives of her characters, better than almost anyone - almost, it seems, preferring getting her characters and readers in a position to learn from their mistakes, than actually getting them out.

"Sense and Sensibility" begins with the illogic of early 19th century British inheritance law. The hereditary owner of Norland Park is on his deathbed, and invites the heirs of his estate, the Dashwood family, to reside at Norland. The Dashwood's and their three daughters come to live there, but are put into jeopardy soon after by the demise of both Mr. Dashwoods - bringing the next male heir (and the girls' half-brother), John Dashwood and his manipulative wife, Fanny to Norland. Greedy as they are, John and his wife soon drive their half-sisters, Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret, along with their mother, out of Norland, Sussex, to the Devonshire countryside. Here in Devonshire, in a small cottage, and at a considerably reduced income, the Dashwood sisters and their mother struggle to rebuild their life, while the two eldest daughters, Elinor, 19, and Marianne, 17, try to deal with life and love in the English countryside.

Like the well-known "Pride (Darcy) and Prejudice (Bennet)," "Sense and Sensibility"s title can be seen to refer to the character traits that mark its two principle characters - Sense on the side of the Enlightenment-influenced, almost certainly emotionally-repressed Elinor, and the overfine Sensibility of Marianne, a great admirer of "dead leaves" and the "picturesque." As opposed to the former novel, Austen does not really disparage either, except when carried to excess, as each young woman does, instead seeking, as was popular during the period, to reconcile, or strike a balance between rational logic and emotional response. In their love affairs, Elinor's with a distant cousin, the diffident and somewhat mysterious 24-year old Edward Ferrars, and Marianne's with a younger, and very handsome rogue John Willoughby, the young ladies' moral, social, and aesthetic principles are put to the test. While Elinor and Marianne are two of the most cultured, educated, and refined characters in the novel, and while Austen certainly privileges the country over the London metropolis, she makes clear that the ladies' limited interaction with society at large leaves them in a kind of sheltered ignorance which they must come to terms with, both for their sakes and for the sake of their lovers.

Austen always does a great job with her minor characters, especially those who serve in comic relief roles - or as the butts of her satire, and "Sense and Sensibility" is no different. In their avarice and greed, John and Fanny Dashwood are the epitome of wholly uncultured social climbers and mindless landowners. In her less than refined, but wholly maternal attitudes toward the Miss Dashwoods, Mrs. Jennings (mother of the neglected, but ever cheerful wife Charlotte Palmer and the reticent to a fault Lady Middleton) is as amusing a character, and as warm a mother as one will find in Austen. Colonel Brandon is a fit counterpart to Mrs. Jennings, in his reserved melancholy, while caring just as much about those around him as Mrs. Jennings. The comic pairings of Mr. Palmer and Sir John Middleton with their wives is absolute genius, both being the mirror opposite in style and attitude to their wives - and in particular the relationship between the Palmers, including the continual laughing of Charlotte at the fact that Mr. Palmer "never listens to me" and "never tells me anything," is both highly entertaining, and at the same time, one of the most troubling relationships in the novel.

I've praised James-Cavan's handling of this Broadview edition, and now may be a good time to say some more on that head. Broadview and its editors, like the people who put together the Norton Critical Editions, concern themselves with really presenting literary texts in a solid foundation of cultural, theoretical, and critical contexts. "Sense and Sensibility" contains a real treasure trove of such material - the two contemporary reviews of Austen's novel from 1812, generous selections of essays from the late 1700's and early 1800's on contemporary debates on the meanings of the words "sense" and "sensibility," and on the cult of sensibility and the picturesque. Also included are exerpts from poems referenced by Marianne throughout the novel, illustrations of the vehicles they travel in, and a map of the character's London residences. James-Cavan's excellent introduction also lays out the novel's issues in their contemporary, cultural, critical, and theoretical contexts, none more obtrusive than any other, and all quite helpful. Altogether, the Broadview "Sense and Sensibility" is a tremendous edition for Austen scholars and casual Janeites alike.

As a faithful and long standing admirer of Jane Austen's works, I have many books in my library dedicated to the study, the examination and the pure enjoyment of the works of the great English author. None is more appreciated and often consulted than "Approaches to Teaching Austen's Pride and Prejudice".

Prof. Folsom has compiled a rare gem: a book that satisfies the needs of the scholars and awakens the interest of the less knowledgeable reader. The reader is offered sixteen essays touching upon Social History, Austen's unpublished writing and reading, the structure and theme of the book and the language.

Through clear prose, the essays contribute fresh insights or reinforce well known information, often displaying a sparkle of the same kind of wit which has made the Author so beloved.

Every time I read part of this book, or its entirety, I find myself with a great urge to pick up once again Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". I cannot think of a better testimonial to the validity of the work.

This book is a marvelous tool for collectors of Jane Austen's books. Gilson has obviously performed a thorough investigation and produced a polished piece which comes fairly close to being complete. As a collector, I have only rarely come across editions of jane austen's work which Gilson has not detailed in his book. The occassional pictures included within the text were a welcome treat. I had hoped to see more but detailed descriptions painted quite vivid and accurate pictures within my mind.
This book was not intended for light reading. It is scholarly and reference oriented. It is the kind of a book a collector would need at his side constantly, not one to be read from cover to cover and then placed on the shelf.
The only criticism I have of Gilson's work is that he neglects to include any trace of the emotion that one would expect from someone who liked, respected, even loved an author enough to spend so much time on her work.
For myself, I thrill at finding old editions of Jane Austen's books. Thumbing through the leaves of these books is like entering a time machine. It's both an intriguing and surreal experience which has kept me interested for many years.

Please, the book is in public domain and downloadable from Project Gutterberg or the UVA e-books site.

I have read all Jane Austens books. They are funny and colourless. Most of all I liked the book: Pride and Prejudice.But Emma is funnier. I have seen the movie:Emma,and the movie: Pride and Prejudice.They were very funny!

In this work, Ms. Irene Collins presents to the reader a lovely opportunity to look, not only into the clerical connections of Jane Austen, but also into that of the country parish generally. Those who have read through the charming prose of Jane Austen, yet wanted to take a deeper look into the life of the country parson--a profession so many of her characters possess--would do well to read this book. The main body is composed of nine chapters covering the whole realm of the parson's livng; from his education, to the various neighborhoods he occipied, to the nature and method of worship. Within each she eloquently relates the subject matter to Jane Austen herself; by which, the reader is treated to a lovely portrait of the authoress' life. It also contains several illustrations and eight pages of glossed photographs and pictures. Anyone looking to glimpse into the rural parish of late 18th and early 19th century England, which Jane Austen knew as home, would thoroughly enjoy reading this splendid book.

I found this book to be refreshing and quite different from any other biography of Jane Austen which I have read (and I have read many!). Mr. Tucker comes up with a great number of surprising facts that other biographers seem to have missed. The book is also very well-written. It was a disappointment to me to turn the last page and find there was no more. I highly recommend it.

Jane Austen's 'Outlandish Cousin': The Life and Letters of Eliza de Feuillide by Austen biographer Deirdre Le Faye is the informative and engaging story of Eliza de Feuillide, a grand woman who is best known to history as the strong-willed first cousin of Jane Austin. Eliza's international life, her time in the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, her marriage to a French aristocrat, her sudden widowhood when the guillotine claimed her husband in 1794, and much, much more are covered in depth in this fascinating, aptly researched, and exceptionally well-written life story which is enhanced with excerpts drawn from Eliza's elegantly written correspondence. Jane Austen's 'Outlandish Cousin' is especially recommended reading for students and scholars of Jane Austen and 18th Century French history.

A brilliant and informative book written by my great-great grandfather and great-grandmother - buy it!