Lady Susan (Jane, #2) (Elite Classics, #16) (Lady Susan Vernon)

by Jane Austen

'Of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a Man of his age! - just old enough to be formal, ungovernable and to have the Gout - too old to be agreable, and too young to die.'

The scheming and unscrupulous Lady Susan is unlike any Austen heroine you've met in this fascinating early novella.

One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

• ISBN10: 0241251338
• ISBN13: 9780241251331
• Publish Date: 3 March 2016 (first published 30 June 1980)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Imprint: Penguin Classics
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 128
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/isbn/9780241251331

Reviews

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Lady Susan was a Jane Austen novel I had not yet read, and with the recent release of the film Love & Friendship, thought this would be as good a time as any. Lady Susan, one of Austen's novellas, was as witty as ever but it did take me a while to get into. The novel was compiled of letters and I needed time to adjust and get the characters in order. Once I got in the flow I enjoyed the novella more and grew to loath Lady Susan and her conniving Bitchy ways (and yes the capital B is intentional). Otherwise, the characters, Fredrica, Reginald, Alicia, etc were unremarkable and to be honest, quite forgettable.

After seeing the film, it saddens me to say that it is one of the few occasions where the movie is better. I felt the imagery was better and the plot did not feel as disjointed as its book counterpart. While it was still a little slow, the costumes (oh the bustles!) made up for it.

Overall, despite my oh so wanting to like them both were a disappointment from a favored author.