Sense and Sensibility

About Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility is the first published novel of Jane Austen, brought out on 30 October 1811 by Thomas Egerton of London in three volumes. The title page did not carry her name. It said only that the book was written by a lady, and it was as an anonymous author that Austen first reached readers. Over two centuries later the novel is still in print, still studied in classrooms and still loved by readers who enjoy sharp observation, wit and warm characters. Our listing sits in the critical study section of the store, so please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492 for details of the copy in stock, such as the publisher, any notes or introduction, and the number of pages.

What is Sense and Sensibility about?

The novel centres on two sisters of the Dashwood family, Elinor and Marianne. After the death of their father, the sisters and their widowed mother lose much of their income and move to a modest cottage in Devon. Elinor is calm and prudent, while Marianne is passionate and openly emotional. As each of them faces questions of love and disappointment, their different temperaments are tested. This description does not reveal how events unfold, so that new readers can enjoy the story fresh.

Main themes to look for

• The contrast between sense, meaning good judgment and self-control, and sensibility, meaning deep feeling and emotional openness
• Social conduct and propriety in English country society
• Inheritance, money and the limited choices open to women of the time
• Marriage as both a personal bond and a matter of financial security
• Family loyalty, sisterhood and the cost of acting on impulse

The novel is generally thought to be set between about 1792 and 1797, moving from Sussex to Devon with visits to London.

Why Sense and Sensibility still matters

Early reviewers praised its realism and its characters, and later critics have kept finding new things to say about it. Readers have debated its tone and its balance between the two sisters, and the book has also been read from feminist and ecological points of view. It has been adapted repeatedly for the stage, screen, radio and print, with Ang Lee’s 1995 film, written by Emma Thompson, and a 2008 BBC series among the best known. A novel that can be read in so many ways is a good choice for discussion and for serious study.

Who should read this book

• Students of English literature at college and university level in Kashmir and across India
• Readers who want to study Austen’s debut and compare it with her later work
• Teachers preparing lessons on the English novel
• Book lovers who enjoy social comedy and finely drawn characters
• Anyone starting a collection of classic English fiction

How to study Sense and Sensibility

Begin with a quick first read for pleasure, then read again with a pencil. Make a chart with two columns for Elinor and Marianne and note how each one reacts to the same kind of situation. Track how money and property shape the choices of every family in the book. Write a few lines on each chapter in your own words, since summary practice helps with essays and viva questions. If your copy has an introduction or notes, read them after finishing the story so that nothing is spoiled. Always check your own course outline for what is required, as we cannot promise that any edition matches a particular syllabus.

Books for readers across Kashmir

Lafz Bookstore in Srinagar serves schools, colleges and readers across J&K and India, with English literature and classics next to Islamic, academic and Kashmir titles. Sense and Sensibility makes a good gift for a student or for a friend who loves a well-told story.

Edition details

Author: Jane Austen. Language: English. First published in 1811. For the publisher, notes and number of pages of the copy in stock, please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492. Same-day dispatch from Srinagar. Delivery takes about 1 day in Srinagar and 3 to 10 days across the rest of India.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote Sense and Sensibility? Jane Austen, in her first published novel.

When did it first appear? On 30 October 1811, in three volumes.

Does the description give away the ending? No, only the premise and themes.

Does this edition include notes? Please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492 for details of the copy in stock.

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