Review: Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility
by Jane Austen

Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis (Minnesota), 2010

I 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).