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    Sense and Sensibility
    Sense and Sensibility
    Sense and Sensibility
    Audiobook (abridged)3 hours

    Sense and Sensibility

    Written by Jane Austen

    Narrated by Juliet Stevenson

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    When Mrs Dashwood is forced by an avaricious daughter-in-law to leave the family home in Sussex, she takes her three daughters to live in a modest cottage in Devon. For Elinor, the eldest daughter, the move means a painful separation from the man she loves, but her sister Marianne finds in Devon the romance and excitement which she longs for. The contrasting fortunes and temperaments of the two girls, as they struggle to cope in their different ways with the cruel events which fate has in store for them, are portrayed by Jane Austen with her usual irony, humour and profound sensitivity.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNaxos Audiobooks
    Release dateJun 15, 1996
    ISBN9789629544584
    Author

    Jane Austen

    Jane Austen was born in 1775 in rural Hampshire, the daughter of an affluent village rector who encouraged her in her artistic pursuits. In novels such as Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma she developed her subtle analysis of contemporary life through depictions of the middle-classes in small towns. Her sharp wit and incisive portraits of ordinary people have given her novels enduring popularity. She died in 1817.

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    Reviews for Sense and Sensibility

    4/5

    251 ratings219 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Love this book, love the author, even loved the movie. Austen has such a way with worlds and her descriptions that I can see it like a movie in my mind. I have read this book no less thn 5 times and I still get the same rush each time I read it.
    • 4/5
      I read Sense and Sensibility as part of the Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011. The book (a pretty hardcover version) had been sitting on my shelves for some time, so it was a good opportunity to get onto it! Sense and Sensibility is the only Jane Austen novel I haven’t seen as a movie or series (yes, I know, shameful) so I was relying on Miss Austen herself to tell me all about this book.I’m sure everyone knows the plot of this book (or can Google it), but in short, it’s the story of two single sisters of marriageable age and their trials and tribulations when it comes to men. There’s the cad, the gentleman (actually, two of them), a trip to London and a nasty illness. The sisters are very different – Elinor is sensible and restrained, while Marianne is passionate and impulsive. The Austen wit is hard at work in this novel, and I enjoyed being able to chuckle at some of the actions of the characters (especially Marianne’s outbursts). It is finely written and captures the time well. I could picture Barton and the Dashwood’s cottage easily. I found myself on the edge of my seat at Marianne’s illness, wishing for penicillin – Austen captured well the despair that Elinor found herself in.I did enjoy this book, but I still think Pride and Prejudice is my favourite. Elinor is a little too restrained for my liking, while Marianne is a bit too impetuous.
    • 2/5
      Once again, I am reading all of Jane Austen's books on DailyLit.com and hoping for a positive connection of any kind.This one started off with a promising plot, then quickly delved into tedious conversation and interminablyboring plot conventions.Marianne had real Promise!Sure hope that the final one, Pride and Prejudice, lives up to the current love hypeof witty banter and romantic fun. So far, it's all been a major waste of time.
    • 3/5
      I liked Sense and Sensibility quite a lot, but at the same time it seemed to drag rather. Once I hit about chapter forty, I started wondering if things would ever get resolved. There were a lot of rather silly misunderstandings and assumptions. It makes sense, with the silly characters and the rather tangled love lives they have, but it dragged more for me than Pride and Prejudice did.

      I also kind of forgot about the point of the novel, the ideas of sense and sensibility and which one is better. Obviously sense triumphs, given that Elinor marries the man she wants, and Marianne marries the sensible match. Sensibility doesn't come off too badly, though. Elinor gets to marry the man she loves, despite all the obstacles, and Marianne is still a sympathetic character despite her dramatics.

      There were some especially fun passages and commentaries in and amongst the story, too. Some of the observations made me giggle rather. I do see what people mean about Austen's wit.

      Still, I think I'm rather Austen'd out at the moment. I still have Mansfield Park and Emma to read, but I might wait for a while.
    • 4/5
      As the introduction helpfully points out - very few people put S & S at the top of their list of the best Austen novels! (from the 1902 edition available from Project Gutenberg). But this is still a great book. Her characters are so well imagined, finely drawn and believable. While they play out their personalities in a now strange environment, one can readily 'see' people with these same characteristics in ANY environment. Read June 2010 in e-book format.
    • 4/5
      WARNING: The following contains spoilers so do not read if you want to be surprised.This is the story of the two Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne. When their father was dying he made their stepbrother, John, promise to take care of their mother and her daughters (which includes a younger sister, Margaret). Although John promised his father he would do so after his death his wife talked him out of settling a monetary amount on them. So John inherited the entire estate including the house in which the girls had been raised. For a short while the widow and her daughters lived with John and his wife but Mrs. Dashwood was determined to find a place to move to. Meanwhile Elinor and Mrs. John Dashwood's brother, Edward Ferrars, became fond of each other. Mrs. John Dashwood was concerned by this involvement and affronted her mother-in-law by talking of Edward's prospects and "of the danger attending any young woman who attempted to draw him in". Elinor's mother then received an offer of a cottage on an estate owned by a relative, Sir John Middleton. The only difficulty was that the cottage was in Devonshire, far from Sussex where they had been living. But the offer of Barton Cottage was so reasonable that the widow decided to move, sight unseen.At Barton Cottage the family settled in quickly aided by their landlord and neighbour, Sir John, although his wife was less welcoming. Two visitors to the Middleton house, Lady Middleton's mother, Mrs. Jennings, and a friend of Sir John's, Colonel Brandon, helped offset Lady Middleton's coldness. Soon it was apparent that Colonel Brandon was smitten by Marianne even though he was quite a bit older. However, Marianne was soon swept off her feet (literally) by a dashing young man, Willoughby, who rescued her when she fell and hurt her ankle one day. Willoughby was visiting his aunt in the neighbourhood from whom he was expecting to inherit quite a fortune. Elinor and her mother were convinced that Marianne and Willoughby were engaged although Marianne did not say anything. When Willoughby was suddenly called away, Marianne was devastated.Elinor also learned that Edward Ferrars was engaged to another, a young woman who was a relation of Mrs. Jennings, Lucy. Their engagement was a secret but Lucy had divulged it to Elinor during a visit made to Barton. Elinor could not talk of this disappointment to anyone so she kept it bottled up, unlike Marianne who pined for Willoughby quite openly.Mrs. Jennings decided to move to her house in London in January and she invited the two Dashwood girls to stay with her so they could enjoy the season. Although Elinor was reluctant to go, Marianne was wild to accept the invitation because she could then see Willoughby again. Immediately on their arrival in "town" she wrote to Willoughby, unseemly conduct for a young woman unless she was engaged. Despite several other letters Willoughby did not arrive to call and when they finally saw him at a dance he was very cold. It turns out he was about to be married to a young lady with a sizable fortune. Marianne was inconsolable.The engagement between Lucy and Edward became known to his mother who declared she would cut him off if he married Lucy. Edward, a fine young gentleman, insisted on carrying out his promise even though, in his heart, he no longer cared for her. He was offered a "living" by Colonel Brandon, meaning he could serve as minister in the church in the Colonel's area. However, the living was only 200 pounds a year, really not enough to support him and a wife. Edward offered to let Lucy out of her promise but Lucy declared she could make do with any amount (secretly hoping to get assistance from the Colonel) so long as they could be together.However, while Edward was off being confirmed his brother, Robert (who had become the sole beneficiary of his mother's fortune), wooed Lucy and they ran off together to be married. In the meantime Marianne became so ill everyone thought she would die. Colonel Brandon rode off to fetch Marianne's mother and Willoughby, although now married, came to tell Elinor that he had always loved Marianne but due to mounting debts he had felt he had to marry another. Marianne did recover and when she was well enough Elinor told her about Willoughby's visit. Both Elinor and Marianne forgave Willoughby and even felt sorry for him because his life with his wife was bound to be unhappy.By the end of the book Elinor is married to Edward Ferrars and Marianne to Colonel Brandon so the two sisters lived very close to each other.Although Elinor and Marianne managed to forgive Willoughby I thought he was a thorough scoundrel. I also disliked John Dashwood and his wife. The laws of inheritance among the gentry certainly were not just. And women were quite obviously second class citizens. Ms Austen's characters never resonate with me as much as some other English writers like George Eliot and Thomas Hardy. Their lives seem so empty, concerned only with making calls, dancing, performing music or drawing. Nevertheless this was a book worth reading and another one off the 1001 list.
    • 4/5
      The first time i read this book, i wasn't too crazy about it. But after reading it again a few times it has really grown on me.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this book as much as I alawys enjoy Austen. A perfect ending as usual.
    • 3/5
      An entertaining book. The story follows the love-lives of two young ladies in Victorian England. While I won't say it was a totally predictable story, it seemed inevitable that both sisters would ultimately make the "good marriage" that the book seemed destined to conclude with. Nevertheless, it was very well written and for the most part enjoyable.
    • 3/5
      Jane Austen is certainly an acquired taste. I typically wake away from her novels feeling like the story was good - and it sticks with me for while - but the proper prose of Austen's writing makes her novels somewhat difficult to get through. As always, Austen has a good story to tell - Elinor and Marianne are two sisters who experiences in love mirror each other, even if they come to different conclusions. The ups and downs of these sisters' lives, and the vivid characterizations of the secondary characters (I particularly like their brother John Dashwood) makes this novel well worth the effort.
    • 4/5
      Pure Austen, this story of two sisters and their different approaches to family, fortune and romance echoes her other works, but also carries a few surprises. Within the very claustrophobic world of Austen’s late 18th-early 19th century upper/middle class English world, we see an absolute universe of character. Instead of traveling elsewhere in her stories, she simply goes deep. In this novel, she analyzes the differences and relative merits of the sensible and the emotional approaches to life, and along the way provides sufficient color, romance, adventure and dry humor to entertain a contemporary reader with an interest in finely drawn characters.
    • 5/5
      Title Sense and Sensibility Insight EditionAuthor Jane Austen Publisher Bethany HouseISBN 978-0-7642-0740-2$14.99 In Sense and Sensibility we meet the Dashwood family, three charming girls and their widowed mother, who are forced to move from their beloved home after the death of their father. Promising his father that he would provided for the needs of his stepmother and sisters, John Dashwood’s wife Fanny, eager to get her hands on the family fortune, convinces her husband that the sum was too great and it should be extremely lowered. With little money the family is forced to move to a cottage offered by relatives. We then gain a glimpse into the lives of the two eldest sisters, Elinor, who happens to be practical and the very charming Marianne, who lives for the moment. Different as day and night each sister experiences their own version of love. Elinor with the somewhat stuffy Edward Ferrars, brother to the intolerable Mrs. Fanny Dashwood, and Marianne with the enchanting Willoughby who has the ability to charm a snake. All the while the reasonable but slightly older, Colonel Brandon comes calling for the unwilling Marianne. Although the suitors of the Dashwood girls are both hiding enormous secrets, once discovered these secrets could break both of the girls hearts. In the end which will win Sense or Sensibility?Sense and Sensibility was the first novel of Jane Austen’s to be published, now Bethany House has published the insight edition. The perfect edition to add or start your Austen collection. Complete with notes pertaining to everything from historical/cultural events, definitions during Jane’s era, to facts and tidbits about Jane’s life. Also included is comments featuring facts pertaining to the movies and pop culture surround the novel. Readers will be pleased to know that the story of Sense and Sensibility has not been altered from the one the Jane Austen wrote. The Insight edition is exactly what it claims, an insight in the world of Sense and Sensibility and the world in which Jane Austen lived. Once again I will say that this is the perfect edition to either start or add to your Jane Austen collection. This book was provided for review thanks to Bethany House
    • 4/5
      I watched the film and fortunately, although it was disapointing,it didn't put me off reading the book. Good thing too as this book is fabulous.
    • 1/5
      This book is a character study that is superbly well- written, however I found I was impatient with the extensive descriptions. I also had to reread to capture meaning. I could not finish this book.
    • 3/5
      Finally finished reading this. I don't know if it was because it was my first read on a Kindle or not. But it took me a while to get into this book, it may even be that it isn't my usual genre. I liked it but not one of my favorites. 
    • 4/5
      Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis (Minnesota), 2010I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publisher Sense and Sensibility is the first published book of Jane Austen; next year is the anniversary: 200 years. A book without age and wrinkles; full of wits, surprises, change of scenes and characters described inside their soul (Does Jane Austen describe the psychology of the characters? No, we're lucky, Freud and friends not yet born!). A tale of two sisters opposite until the end of the book. Elinor and Marianne, following different paths, at last find love and happiness. The themes of Sense and Sensibility are the conjectures of the soul and concealed feeling, rational (Elinor) and irrational (Marianne). At the turn of the century, Jane Austen presents old and new cultural movement: classicism and romanticism. The first as Elinor with judgment and moderation, the second as Marianne with extravagance and imagination. Within the other characters I liked Willoughby: he follows the evil's path whom 'had led him likewise to punishment' (p. 295), and Willoughby also is the man who is forgiven by Elinor.This edition comes with notes about historical anecdotes, unscientific ranking of the characters, themes of faith relate to Austen's life and references from Sense and Sensibility's movies (I like these notes!). It seems another book to take to school; I don't think so: Sense and Sensibility is not so boring, take it in your everyday life.Sense and Sensibility is a classic book, or as written by Italo Calvino 'A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say' (the translation in mine).
    • 3/5
      I love Elinor, she is such a wonderful character, Marianne on the other hand is just exasperating. Her moping and ridiculous dramatics were tedious, I can't imagine being quite so understanding if I were in the same position as Elinor. I guess though that is the point ... Sense and Sensibility. I love Austen's biting sarcasm, she always manages to make me giggle and her bad characters really are awful, so it's easy to barack against them. An enjoyable read.
    • 2/5
      So-so. Ashamed to admit that I couldn't finish a re-read of the book, and actually preferred the BBC series (which had much of the dialogue, but was easier to stick with) - the characters are mere sketches, the dialogue drawn out in places, and I can't imagine a 'what happened next' for one of the sisters in particular - not exactly a suitably romantic or dramatic conclusion for either Elinor or Marianne. A rather pedestrian story, presumably read by others for the 'label' of Jane Austen.
    • 5/5
      I was attracted to this book by the film version starring Emma Thompson. I had watched snippets of it, and found it to be charming, witty, humorous, and very interesting, versus the dull, stilted, talky story I expected. So now it is years later and to break up my usual diet of crime fiction, I read this 400 page novel, one of Austen's seven, over four days. I will read more Jane Austen! What did I like? The prose was beautiful, never boring, though sometimes I got so lost in the words that I lost track of the point. I fully utilized Kindle's "definition" feature, and looked up perhaps five times the usual number, but with pleasure. The characters were very interesting, though saints or sinners with no gray between. And the rich detail about people's behaviors and motivations.....I came away feeling that an hour with Jane Austen and she would have looked into my soul and known me better than I. I enjoyed discovering words no longer in use, as well as expressions used 200 years ago that I had thought were made up by my father's generation, e.g., "blockhead". I noted the sheer enjoyment that was shared when meeting friends and loved ones, and how thoroughly people (for the most part) enjoyed visits, both announced and unexpected, and how much pleasure there was in walks in the countryside. In the end, good triumphs over evil, but there is a minor character, an innocent victim, whose future will not be all roses. Completed 8/18/11, rated 4.5
    • 5/5
      I have always loved Sense and Sensibility best out of all of Jane Austen's novels, no doubt partly because it features the three Dashwood sisters (however invisible young Margaret may be), and I am one of three sisters myself. This tale of sensible Elinor and romantic Marianne, whose differing approaches to life and love are tested throughout the book, features the same sort of contest between desire and duty that gives Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre such power. It is a fitting tribute to Austen's powers as a writer, that although Elinor's "sense" is clearly meant to triumph, Marianne's "sensibility" is portrayed with such loving fondness.The story of a family of dependent women, whose fate is entirely in the hands of their male relatives, I have always found Sense and Sensibility to contain some of Austen's sharpest social criticism. The Dashwood women find themselves unwelcome guests in their own home when John Dashwood inherits the estate at Norland, and are only saved from the unpleasantness of the horrible Fanny by the kindness of Mrs. Dashwood's (male) cousin, Sir John Middleton. I have always found it fascinating that while Austen clearly endorses the more passive role that Elinor stakes out for herself, vis-a-vis romance, she simultaneously offers a very pointed critique of the enforced passivity of women, when it comes to economic activities and inheritance law.In the end though, for all its philosophical framework and subtle social commentary, Sense an Sensibility is most successful because Austen understands the complicated relations between women, particularly the bond between sisters.
    • 5/5
      Of the three Jane Austen books I've read, I liked this one best -- I'm sure Pride and Prejudice would hold that title, but I haven't attempted it since I was fifteen or sixteen, and think I need to go back to it now that I've gained a bit of confidence with Austen.I always have trouble connecting emotionally with Austen -- some combination of her habit of telling not showing in regards to the growth of strong emotion and the reservedness of most of her heroines -- but I love movies based on her books, so there has to be something there, right? The last Austen book I went through was Emma, my enjoyment of which was somewhat marred by my impatience with its heroine, but here I was able to fully appreciate Austen's sly humor. Mr and Mrs Palmer slayed me. Elinor was likeable, if quiet, and Marianne was infinitely sympathetic, though obviously very silly.My main quibble was that I found Marianne's ending very... rushed, and not thoroughly convincing. I like Col. Brandon better than Willoughby (whom I thought brought out her worst traits) from the start, but my liking him does not a romance build. Still, I really enjoyed this book.
    • 5/5
      Re-reading this book just solidified my opinion that it is the best of the Jane Austen novels. I know everyone has their hearts set on Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Darcy, but I believe that her first novel is raw and real and much more relatable. It truly remains as fresh a cautionary tale today as it ever was. The Dashwood sisters learn that the path to love isn't always straight and narrow and sometimes you're heart has to be broken for you to appreciate how whole a heart can be. Filled with memorable characters, witty dialogue, and unforgettable romance, this is a book readers won't soon forget. I really enjoyed discussing the book with my library Jane Austen Book and Film Club, we talked about how societal obligations have changed but the heart has remained the same and then we watched the Masterpiece Theater version. Overall, a must read. And if you haven't watch the 1995 movie version. It's amazing and you won't regret it.
    • 5/5
      I've actually already read this book, but I think it's my favorite Jane Austen, so I decided to read it again. Or at least it used to be my favorite. On rereading it, I think Emma or Persuasion might have the edge. But it's still very good. I'm not sure I understood all of Austen's semi-snide comments on human behaviour as a teenager.
    • 4/5
      Sense and Sensibility is another classic Jane Austen book about marriage. She traces the courtship of two sisters with all the ups and downs, misunderstandings and risks that accompany giving your heart to another. One sister is restrained and sensible while the other is very emotional and artistic. It is interesting to see how there different personalities influence their way of falling in love.
    • 3/5
      I feel like I should hate this book....but I don't. The beginning was extremely slow and monotonous but I was determined to get through it. I absolutely hated how it took so long to jus get to the point. Although I did like the story and the romance :)
    • 4/5
      I didn't find Elinor Dashwood quite as appealing as Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice) or as funny as Emma Woodhouse (Emma) and would have to say, therefore, that I liked this book a bit less than those two. On the other hand, Austen's tongue in cheek comments about the unpleasant characters in the novel were delicious.Another recommended novel.
    • 4/5
      Perhaps because I was very much impressed by the romance of Lizzie Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, I read through the first part of Sense and Sensibility with a bit of a disappointment, as I felt this book didn't have as forceful emotion and love and wittiness as Pride and Prejudice. I felt Sense and Sensibility a lot more sedate. This book’s heroine Elinor is the master of calmness and restrain, more like Jane Bennet, Lizzie’s older sister in Pride and Prejudice. She has not the wittiness and spirit of Lizzie. Elinor’s beau Edward has the reserve of Mr Darcy, but not his dashing look or richness. However, a proof to Jane Austen's masterful writing, even before reading half of the book I was as hooked, as spellbound, as when I read Pride and Prejudice. Reading this book I was again drowned in Jane’s world; and it was very difficult to get out of it.This time it’s the love stories of the Miss Dashwoods, Elinor and Marianne. The heroes are Edwards Ferrars and Colonel Brandon. The black sheep this time is Willoughby (who resembles Wickham from Pride and Prejudice).Jane successfully gives a faithful and acute portray of the 18th century England, giving us a detailed look at the view of the society at that time about man and woman relationship, about family, about money and virtue. As in Pride and Prejudice (which was actually published two years after this book), in Sense and Sensibility it is very clear how dependent women are financially on their families or husbands. Not a situation to be envied on. It is very interesting as well to see how view has change over the time from then to now. The Dashwood sisters seem to forgive Willoughby’s conducts toward Marianne more easily after it was known that he left her for money. They hated him more when they thought that he was only pretending to fall in love with Marianne. I would’ve hated him no less if a guy is to leave me for financial reason! Maybe in those days people have resigned to the fact that fortune often obstructs love. Maybe this is the reason that Willoughby’s long defence of his attitude to Elinor is not depicted in the modern film adaptation (1995, starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman). It is interesting to see Jane’s descriptions of mothers. It doesn’t seem that she has a very good opinion on them. In Pride and Prejudice Mrs Bennet is borderline annoying in her stupidity. In this book Mrs Dashwood is kind and smart enough, but still too romantic to be wise. Perhaps Jane’s books including this one is always well liked because it appeals to our romantic sides, and also in her books the good will always be rewarded and the bad punished. Goodness of heart, wisdom and sense prevail.
    • 5/5
      My second favorite Jane Austen novel. I love Elanor's equanimity and it has been an inspiration for many years. I love the representation of so many different characters in this first novel of Jane's and it is a great promise of the wonders to come.
    • 3/5
      It was good to find out what really happened in the story, compete with more complicated relationships, different points of view for storytelling, and Willoughby's attempt at vindication at the end. But overall, I liked Emma Thompson's movie better! And thought this was much less heart-felt than Persuasion, my favorite so far.
    • 5/5
      Ms. Austen tells an engaging tale and illustrates two very different ways of conducting oneself in the society of her time. While Marianne is engaging and not afraid to let the whole world know how she feels about everything, Elinor's story makes the case for observing the mores of the time. Some would say Elinor doesn't fully "feel" her joys and heartaches, but I think the story does a good job of showing just how detrimental to herself Marianne's excesses are. I really liked, however, how kind and loving Elinor is to both her mother and sister. She disagrees with their emotional excesses, but it doesn't separate her from them, or even cause her to blame them for the burdens they require her to shoulder.