…our party is enlarged by Mrs. Vernon’s brother, a handsome young man, who promises me some amusement. There is something about him that rather interests me, a sort of sauciness, of familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He is lively and seems clever, and when I have inspired him with greater respect for me than his sister’s kind offices have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt.
(from Lady Susan in Lady Susan, The Watsons and Sanditon, page 52)
Lady Susan is a very short novel (less than 100 pages) by Jane Austen, considered one of her “minor works.” It was likely written in 1793 or 1794, but it was not published until after her death. Lady Susan is an epistolary novel, and it’s the only novel I’ve read by Austen with a horrid “heroine” — but that’s what makes her so interesting.
Lady Susan Vernon is a recent widow who had an affair with a married man, whose wife’s jealousy, along with her efforts to find a husband for her daughter, have prompted her to flee and stay with her brother-in-law and his wife. Lady Susan is a very selfish person who acts horribly toward her daughter, Frederica, who refuses to marry the man her mother has chosen for her. In addition to stringing along Manwaring, the man with whom she had the affair, Lady Susan sets her sights on her sister-in-law’s brother, Reginald, much to Mrs. Vernon’s dismay. While Lady Susan’s close friend, Mrs. Johnson, indulges her despite the fact that her husband wants her to end their relationship, Mrs. Vernon sees Lady Susan for who she is and takes pity on Frederica.
I enjoyed Lady Susan and its overly dramatic characters, but the limitations of the epistolary novel are evident. There is little character development, and the primary voices in the book are Lady Susan’s and Mrs. Vernon’s, though a few minor characters chime in here and there. Because the book is written in letters, the conversations and actions are being retold after they happened, and they lose some of their immediacy.
Still, Lady Susan is highly entertaining. I found it interesting how Austen put a woman in the role of a shameless adulterer, though Lady Susan’s seeking another husband with a fortune is similar to the storylines in her more well-known novels. However, what’s different and intriguing is that Lady Susan is much older than the men she hopes to attract. And while I couldn’t like her or have much sympathy for her in the end, she certainly was amusing. Another must-read for Austen fans!
Disclosure: Lady Susan is from my personal library.
© 2010 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I cannot wait to borrow this for the challenge. Hopefully before the year runs out. 🙂
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Well, I was going to give it to you today, but since you’re not here, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow! 😉
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This does sound entertaining. Overly dramatic characters can get to me, but they probably wouldn’t in this book since it’s so short.
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Lady Susan is ridiculous but she made me laugh. I bet I would have tired of her if it had been a longer book, though.
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Never read it *hides in utter shame*
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Don’t feel bad! I only just read it. 🙂
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I read this a while ago. Good but it was slightly different for me.
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It definitely wasn’t the Austen I’m used to, but you really see how she grew as a writer.
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I would like to read this one and see her growth as an author.
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Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
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I have an affinity for epistolary novels, and Jane Austen as well, so I am definitely going to have to read this one.
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I enjoy epistolary novels, too. Hope you enjoy it!
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I didn’t realize Lady Susan was so different from Jane Austen’s other novels. Now, I can’t wait to find a copy even more. The plot kind of reminds me of Vanity Fair. Great review. 🙂
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Well, different from the novels of hers I’ve read so far. Emma is the only one I haven’t read yet. Haven’t read Vanity Fair, but you’ve intrigued me.
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Oh my goodness – I’ve never even heard of this one! I feel so ashamed! Must add it to my TBR pile.
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Don’t feel bad! I didn’t know about it until I really started reading Austen last year.
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I don’t know why I have never read this but it must be rectified!
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Definitely! 😉
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I’ve had this one my bookshelf for many years, but I had no idea what it was about! Thanks for reviewing it.
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My pleasure!
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Austenites are led to believe the canon consists of the six novels so well known. Not until I received a handsome Penguin edition of The Complete Novels did I discover Lady Susan. I think Lady Susan has been hidden from view because she is that awkward sister that stands out as the wayward swan of the flock. An adulteress! A schemer! A brazen flirt! A cruel mother! Tarnished feathers indeed.
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Yes! I was so surprised by Lady Susan. I think Austenites should all read the non-canonical works.
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