Though not the first novel she wrote, Sense and Sensibility was the first Jane Austen published. Though she initially called it Elinor and Marianne, Austen jettisoned both the title and the epistolary mode in which it was originally written, but kept the essential theme: the necessity of finding a workable middle ground between passion and reason. The story revolves around the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne. Whereas the former is a sensible, rational creature, her younger sister is wildly romantic--a characteristic that offers Austen plenty of scope for both satire and compassion. Commenting on Edward Ferrars, a potential suitor for Elinor's hand, Marianne admits that while she "loves him tenderly," she finds him disappointing as a possible lover for her sister: Oh! Mama, how spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night! I felt for my sister most severely. Yet she bore it with so much composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it. I could hardly keep my seat. To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference! Soon however, Marianne meets a man who measures up to her ideal: Mr. Willoughby, a new neighbor. So swept away by passion is Marianne that her behavior begins to border on the scandalous. Then Willoughby abandons her; meanwhile, Elinor's growing affection for Edward suffers a check when he admits he is secretly engaged to a childhood sweetheart. How each of the sisters reacts to their romantic misfortunes, and the lessons they draw before coming finally to the requisite happy ending forms the heart of the novel. Though Marianne's disregard for social conventions and willingness to consider the world well-lost for love may appeal to modern readers, it is Elinor whom Austen herself most evidently admired; a truly happy marriage, she shows us, exists only where sense and sensibility meet and mix in proper measure. --Alix Wilber

From Library Journal
Austen is the hot property of the entertainment world with new feature film versions of Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility on the silver screen and Pride and Prejudice hitting the TV airwaves on PBS. Such high visibility will inevitably draw renewed interest in the original source materials. These new Modern Library editions offer quality hardcovers at affordable prices.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
For many students of literature Jane Austen is not simply A novelist but The novelist, an international treasure. Sense and Sensibility, her first novel, tells the stories of the Dashwood sisters--Eleanor, reserved and restrained (sense), and Marianne, emotional and impetuous (sensibility), and their troubled love lives. Narrator Sarah Badel is first-rate. She is engaged herself in the telling of this tale, charmingly but not overbearingly dramatic, able to differentiate consistently among many characters, properly approving some of the time and disapproving at others--altogether an admirable reader for an admirable piece of fiction. Austen's numerous fans will not be disappointed. T.H. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

The Scotsman
"And while Emma Thompson's film rakes in the awards, there are not fewer than four audio versions available of Sense and Sensibility. But Jane Austen's pace and tone is perfect: any abridgement means a loss."

Sunday Telegraph
"Cover to Cover's unabridged readings of classic novels are in a class of their own."

Gramophone
"Sarah Badel has an attractive voice and a confident and intelligent delivery and takes the narrative at a fairly rattling pace - not too fast for enjoyment, and many listeners prefer a reader who doesn't dawdle."

Deirdre Donahue, USA TODAY, December 3, 1998
"These Cover to Cover tapes offer up a delectable feast for fans of the spoken word. We're talking class act here - from the elegant covers to the accomplished readers."

FROM OUR EDITORS

This first of Jane Austen's published novels is the story of two starkly different English sisters: Elinor Dashwood, the epitome of prudence & self-control, and her younger, more impetuous sister Marianne, who embodies emotion, openness, & sheer enthusiasm.

ANNOTATION

The Dashwood sisters are very different from each other in appearance and temperament; Elinor's good sense and readiness to observe social forms contrast with Marianne's impulsive candor and warm but excessive sensibility. Both struggle to maintain their integrity and find happiness in the face of a competitive marriage market.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Though not the first novel she wrote, Sense and Sensibility was the first that Jane Austen published. Austen pursues a central theme: the necessity of finding a workable middle ground between passion and reason. The story revolves around the Dashwood sisters, Elinor, a sensible, rational creature, and Marianne, who is wildly romantic -- characteristics that offer Austen plenty of scope for both satire and compassion. How each of the sisters reacts to their romantic adventures and misfortunes, and the lessons they draw before coming finally to the requisite happy ending, forms the heart of the novel. While Marianne's disregard for social coventions and willingness to consider the world well-lost for love is appealing to modern readers, Elinor is the sister most admired by Austen herself. A truly happy marriage, we are shown, exists only where sense and sensibility meet and mix in proper measure. Sense and Sensibility is introduced by Professor H.M. Daleski.

SYNOPSIS

Two sisters of opposing temperaments but who share the pangs of tragic love provide the subjects for Sense and Sensibility. Elinor, practical and conventional, is the epitome of sense; Marianne, emotional and sentimental, the embodiment of sensibility. To each comes the sorrow of unhappy love: Elinor desires a man who is promised to another while Marianne loses her heart to a scoundrel who jilts her. Their mutual suffering brings a closer understanding between the two sisters — and true love finally triumphs when sense gives way to sensibility and sensibility gives way to sense.

The handsome volumes in The Collectors Library present great works of world literature in a handy hardback format. Printed on high-quality paper and bound in real cloth, each complete and unabridged volume has a specially commissioned afterword, brief biography of the author and a further-reading list. This easily accessible series offers readers the perfect opportunity to discover, or rediscover, some of the world's most endearing literary works.

The volumes in The Collector's Library are sumptuously produced, enduring editions to own, to collect and to treasure.

FROM THE CRITICS

AudioFile - Carolyn R. Angus

Jane Austen￯﾿ﾽs first novel is a romantic adventure governed by the restraints of proper eighteenth-century British manners and featuring the two Dashwood sisters: cautious, sensible Elinor and impetuous, hopelessly romantic Marianne. British actress and seasoned audiobook narrator Wanda McCaddon gives a spirited reading, using skillful phrasing to interpret the text. She gives the characters distinct voices and captures their personalities perfectly. The twisted plot of loves lost and loves gained and, most importantly, the wit and subtle irony of Austen￯﾿ﾽs writing are intact. Avid Austen readers will respond to McCaddon￯﾿ﾽs fresh, thoughtful presentation perhaps wishing it were unabridged. C.R.A. ￯﾿ﾽAudioFile, Portland, Maine

AudioFile - Ted Hipple

For many students of literature Jane Austen is not simply A novelist but The novelist, an international treasure. Sense and Sensibility, her first novel, tells the stories of the Dashwood sisters--Eleanor, reserved and restrained (sense), and Marianne, emotional and impetuous (sensibility), and their troubled love lives. Narrator Sarah Badel is first_rate. She is engaged herself in the telling of this tale, charmingly but not overbearingly dramatic, able to differentiate consistently among many characters, properly approving some of the time and disapproving at others--altogether an admirable reader for an admirable piece of fiction. Austen's numerous fans will not be disappointed. T.H. ￯﾿ﾽAudioFile, Portland, Maine

AudioFile - Paul E. Ferrari

It￯﾿ﾽs a clich￯﾿ﾽ to say that reason triumphs over emotion in a Jane Austen novel, but the struggle is always far more interesting than the outcome. That￯﾿ﾽs why Marianne Dashwood￯﾿ﾽs passage from grief to good sense or Edward Ferrars￯﾿ﾽs from quiet, unrequited faith to modest victory all delight the listener and ensure Austen￯﾿ﾽs continued popularity. But how to choose among the current glut of Austen audios? Susannah Harker, familiar to Austen fans for her portrayal of Jane Bennet in the BBC￯﾿ﾽs production of Pride and Prejudice, makes that task easier. As a trained British actress, she highlights the rich consonant qualities of Austen￯﾿ﾽs prose. But more important, as a skilled reader, she possesses a complete range of pitch and the acute tonal nuance needed to capture Austen￯﾿ﾽs delicate satire. If our Jane were to select a reader today, I suspect it would be Harker. P.E.F. Winner of AUDIOFILE￯﾿ﾽs Earphones Award ￯﾿ﾽAudioFile, Portland, Maine

AudioFile - Julie A. Bell

Elinor Dashwood keeps both feelings and tongue in check; whereas, her dear younger sister, Marianne, is impulsive, spontaneous and emotional. The talented Julie Christie does a fine job with this abridgment of Austen's classic. Her portrayals of men are respectable although her female characterizations contain more variations and distinctions. Elinor's quiet determination contrasts nicely with Marianne's more passionate speech. Christie also captures the effusive Mrs. Jennings; the nervous, bubbly, yet insincere, Miss Steel; and the cold, haughty Mrs. John Dashwood. In spite of Christie's voice fading at sentence endings from time to time, her consistent performance successfully renders the characters' sensibilities and the sensible era in which they lived. J.H.B. ￯﾿ﾽAudioFile, Portland, Maine

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING