Lady Susan by Jane Austen

 

Lady Susan by Jane Austen.

This edition published 25th August 2022 by Penguin Classics.

Originally published 1815.

Audio book narrated by Emilia Fox.

From the cover of the book:

Recently widowed, the unscrupulous and beautiful Lady Susan Vernon is determined to scheme her way through high society in the hope of a profitable new match - all while trying to marry off her unfortunate daughter. 

Told through a series of letters, Jane Austen's magnificent first novella is as subversive as it is charming.

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Lady Susan is an early work by Austen, written in 1794, but not published until 1871 long after her death.

This is an epstolary novella (with a short conclusion tying up the ends of the story) about the recenty widowed Lady Susan Vernon. Charming and beautiful, but short of funds and encumbered with a sixteen year old daughter (Frederica) she cannot wait to be rid of, Lady Susan enjoys playing the coquette.

Having caused trouble by overstaying her welcome with the Mainwaring family, by wresting the affections of Mr Mainwaring from his wife, and those of Sir James Martin from the young lady he had been wooing, Lady Susan arrives at Churchill - home of her late husband's brother and his wife Catherine. Her reputation precedes her, but she is on her best behaviour until Catherine's brother Reginald De Courcy comes to stay, who she cannot resist amusing herself with.

Ructions within the house are soon increased by the arrival of shy Frederica who has run away from school, and idiotic Sir James, who Lady Susan intends for her daughter - much to Frederica's distress. In close order, Frederica falls in love with Reginald, and Lady Susan's capricious nature gets the better of her (mostly through jealousy and spite). Suffice to say Lady Susan wears out her welcome once more, and leaves a trail of trouble in her wake... 

For a book told (almost) entirely through letters between Lady Susan and her friend Alicia Johnson, and Catherine and her parents, with occasional additions to/from Reginald, this works incredibly well as a novella. The story is thoroughly absorbing, and Lady Susan's behaviour is scandalous. I like to think of her as Austen's Becky Sharp, as she displays just the same narcissitic behaviours and doesn't give two hoots for anyone but herself. Love her, or loathe her, she is certainly audacious!

There is some nice comedy in this one, and Austen's wit has a ball with the male characters who make fools of themselves throughout over a pretty face and strategically batted eyelashes. Lots of fun!

Lady Susan is available to buy now in multiple formats.

About the author:

Jane Austen, the daughter of a clergyman, was born in Hampshire in 1775, and later lived in Bath and the village of Chawton. As a child and teenager, she wrote brilliantly witty stories for her family's amusement, as well as a novella, Lady Susan.

Her first published novel was Sense and Sensibility, which appeared in 1811 and was soon followed by Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma.

Austen died in 1817, and Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published posthumously in 1818.