This book demonstrates the pure entertainment value of a
good book. I had a great time reading
it! A short story from Jane Austen, and
written as a series of letters, this is great fun.
Lady Susan is a recent widow with very few morals or
redeeming qualities other than her beauty and her ability to talk her way
through just about any situation. She
has a teen-age daughter whom she cares very little for. She wants every man in her vicinity to fall
swooning at her feet and does whatever it takes to get them to do so. She has had to leave the home of the
Manwarings whom she was visiting because of her outrageous behavior with the
husband of the house so she came to stay with her late husband’s brother and
his wife. She had never actually met the
wife but had done all in her power to keep them from marrying years ago. At their house she meets the brother of her
sister-in-law and determines to make him fall in love with her though she is 10
years older than him. She also maintains
a highly inappropriate correspondence with Mr. Manwaring. She is also trying to marry off her daughter
to a silly young man that the daughter despises. A manipulative (and busy!) woman, Lady Susan
is completely without scruples. See how all her plans work (or don’t work) and
whether she will get what she wants or not kept me entertained all the way
through.
The letters are between Lady Susan and her friend and
various other members of Lady Susan’s family.
It’s quite entertaining to see the same events through the eyes of
people with radically different viewpoints. This is nothing like Pride and Prejudice
except that the sharp social commentary is there. It’s interesting and different to have the
lead female character not be so young, definitely in her mid 30’s. She’s quite willing to use her female wiles
to get what she wants. How interesting
that this was written when the author was a teen. The book is altogether
different and fun and surprising for fans of Jane Austen.
- Would I pay money for it? Because it's a short story I would probably try to find it in a book with other Austen writings.
- Would I read more by this author? Yes, I love Jane Austen.
- Would I recommend this to a friend? yes
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