Sense and Sensibility

The first of Jane Austen's novels to be published, Sense and Sensibility marked the debut of England's primary novelist of manners. Convinced that "three or four families in a country village is the very thing to work upon", Austen created a brilliant tragicomedy of flirtation and folly.

Genteel dinner parties at a stately manor and romantic walks through luxuriant Devonshire draw two attractive sisters into the manipulations of landed gentry determined to marry well. But neither sense nor sensibility can guarantee happiness for either.

(P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

great narrator

Loved it! Great character voices. Kept me interested. It's a long story with a lot of dialogue and thoughts, and the narrator presents these effectively.

My Favorite AAM (Austen Awkward Moment)

This book contains my favorite AAM (Austen Awkward Moment) when poor Edward Farrers pays an ill-timed visit to the woman with whom he was in love, Miss Elinor Dashwood and found that the woman to whom he was engaged, Miss Lucy Steele was also visiting. One of course, should note that these are two separate women and also note they each knew the status of the other and did not like each other one little bit. This was a gloriously satisfying AAM. Poor Edmond, such an unlikely hero, shy, awkward, maybe even inelegant, not at all handsome but I like him. When the critical moment arrived, Edmond stood tall and manly.

Ours is a time of fast books; off with clothes and into bed then on to the next person. With the possible exceptions of P&P and Northanger Abbey, Austen novels are relatively slow. Except for the presence of children one would think nothing interesting ever happened outside the drawing or ball rooms. Oh yes, certain disgraceful activities are alluded to. Still, most of the action takes place in the mind and conversations; vital information is conveyed by letters and notes. Miss Austen often refers to novels and plays of the day to make social commentary or funny points. In Mansfield Park, there was a big fight over who was to play Agatha and Cecilla. Until one reads Lover's Vows by Mrs. Elizabeth Inchberg (nom de plume), a person just can't understand what the fight was about. To figure out Austen, works such as Regency Etiquette, Vanity Fair, and books by Fanny Burney, Mrs. Anne Radcliffe, with trips to the Shakespeare and Cowper sections of the library are helpful. Miss Austen can sure keep a body on his toes even after 200 years. Two other authors helped make Austen works real to me: Ms Pamela Aidon and Ms. Laurie Viera Rigler who clothed their extensive research in very enjoyable novels.

A Great Read

What did you love best about Sense and Sensibility?

This one of my favorites of all time. Austen does a great job of making you feel connected with the characters.

Sufficient for enjoyment

I found Nadia May's narration to be mediocre. Some of her female voices were in such a falsetto as to be annoying, but they were not predominant enough to ruin the audiobook. The quality of the recording was wanting. Perhaps this is only because all my other audiobooks are in the enhanced mode and this is not available in that mode.

Huge Austen Fan

I really like the reader of this book. This story is a must read for any Jane Austen fan.