Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1811. Set in Regency-era England, this classic work of English literature explores love, family duty, and social expectations through the contrasting temperaments of two sisters navigating a world governed by inheritance, propriety, and marriage.

After the death of their father leaves them financially insecure, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, along with their mother and younger sister, are forced to leave their family home and adapt to a more modest life. Elinor, guided by restraint and reason, conceals her feelings while quietly enduring disappointment. Marianne, passionate and romantic, openly embraces emotion and falls deeply in love, convinced that sincerity and intensity are virtues above all else.

As the sisters encounter a small circle of suitors, relatives, and acquaintances - misunderstandings, secrets, and social pressures begin to test both philosophies. Romantic hopes clash with economic reality, and personal integrity is weighed against convention. Austen carefully traces how each sister’s outlook shapes her choices, revealing the costs of excess in both restraint and emotional abandon.

Widely regarded as one of Jane Austen’s finest novels, Sense and Sensibility blends sharp social observation with enduring romance. Its exploration of character, morality, and the quiet strength required to navigate society has secured its place as a cornerstone of classic romance fiction and a lasting portrait of Regency England.