Sense and Sensibility

By: Jane Austen

Narrated by: Catherine Bilson, Terah Tucker, Graham Scott, Linda Barrans, Denis Daly

Sense and Sensibility follows the fortunes of sensible Elinor and her volatile younger sister, Marianne, as each searches for a spouse—a quest made urgent by the family’s financial embarrassment. While Elinor pursues the heart of clergyman, Edward Ferrars, Marianne impulsively falls in love with a glamorous but unscrupulous adventurer, Willoughby. Elinor sees trouble brewing but the enraptured Marianne does not. The sisters question each other’s choices in love.

More than in her other novels, Austen here includes portraits of ill-matched couples, such as the avaricious Fanny Dashwood and her hen-pecked husband John; and the daffy Charlotte Palmer and her gloomy and contemptuous spouse. Perhaps Austen here suggests that, while marriage seems inevitable for most people, conjugal happiness can be much harder to find.

Sense and Sensibility (written by ‘a lady’) was first published in 1811. It is a complete re-writing of Austen’s earlier epistolary novel, Elinor and Marianne.

Originally published in 1811.

Public Domain (P)2023 Voices of Today

Wonderful Performance

What stood out was the variety of voices. The cast made this audio book a compelling listen. Austin's use of language is wonderful, but I have to listen closely to get it all and that is so much easier to do when the character's voices are distinct and fit the personality of the character. I'm a big fan of Austin's dialogue, but I will say that in this book there isn't as much insulting or arguments when she is at her best.