Books by Jane Austen

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Book SynopsisNo novel in English has given more pleasure than Pride and Prejudice—one of the great classics in literature. Critics in every generation reexamine and reinterpret it, but the rest of us simply fall in love with it—and with its wonderfully charming and intelligent heroine, Elizabeth Bennet. We are captivated not only by Pride and Prejudice''s romantic suspense but also by the fascinations of the world we visit in its pages. The life of the English country gentry at the turn of the nineteenth century is made as real to us as our own, not only by Jane Austen’s wit and feeling but by her subtle observation of the way people behave in society and how we are true or treacherous to each other and ourselves.

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Book SynopsisFrom the editor of the popular Annotated Pride and Prejudice comes an annotated edition of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility that makes this tale of two sisters in love an even more enjoyable read. Here is the complete text of the novel with more than 2,000 annotations on facing pages, including: -Explanations of historical context-Citations from Austen’s life, letters, and other writings-Definitions and clarifications-Literary comments and analysis-Multiple maps of England and London-An introduction, bibliography, and detailed chronology of events-More than 100 informative illustrations Filled with fascinating information about everything from the rules of inheritance that could leave a wealthy man’s daughters almost penniless to the fashionable cult of sensibility that Austen so brilliantly satirizes, David M. Shapard’s Annotated Sense and Sensibility is an entertaining and edifying delig

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Book SynopsisThis series provides unabridged versions of pre-20th-century novels, complete with an introduction, glossary, extended writing questions and activities. Their sewn binding and hard laminated covers make them hardwearing for class use.

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Book Synopsis''...the more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.''Marianne Dashwood is young, flirtatious and ready to meet a knight in shining armour. Her sister, Elinor, is more restrained - she knows that when it comes to romance, slow and steady wins the race. But while both seem to have found what they want, the path to happiness isn''t as straightforward as they first thought. True love has a habit of breaking the rules and turning up whenever it''s least expected...

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Book SynopsisWhen the gorgeous Henry Crawford and his pretty sister Mary come to Mansfield Park, they''ve no idea what a disturbance they will cause. There they find the Bertram family, with their beautiful daughters and handsome sons - and Fanny Price. Eighteen-year-old Fanny has grown up in the shadow of her glamorous relations. In fact, no one seems to remember she''s there at all, which is why they don''t notice that she''s gradually been falling in love. But while she hides a secret passion, she has no idea she''s become an object of interest herself for another admirer. As a scandal begins to unfold that will have devastating effects on everyone, Fanny discovers that love will blossom in the most unusual of places...

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Book SynopsisLike many girls, Emma Woodhouse thinks she knows best. Her heart is in the right place - but her head isn''t. Beautiful, clever and rich, she only wants to help others arrange things as she thinks they should be done. Emma has no interest in true love for herself: convinced she''s just not destined to find it, she believes she must instead devote herself to playing Cupid for others. Ignoring the warnings of good family friend Mr Knightley, Emma sets out to find a husband for her favourite new companion, the lovely, shy Harriet Smith. But absolutely nothing goes to plan - and in the process, Emma has a lot of learning to do: about others, but most of all about herself.

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Book SynopsisEight years ago, Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth fell head over heels in love. But Anne''s snobbish family put a stop to their engagement, believing the young naval captain wasn''t good enough for her. Pretty, intelligent Anne soon realises it was a terrible mistake, and spends her twenties in the shadow of her father and her selfish sisters. But she never forgets.Then Captain Wentworth - by now a successful, wealthy man, looking for a wife - walks back into her life. Can he forgive her? Does he still love her? And could they ever be happy, after all this time?

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisWhy does spirited, lively Elizabeth Bennet so rudely reject the proposal of the handsome, rich Mr Darcy? What could he possibly have done to offend her? Elizabeth is proud of her ability to judge others; Mr Darcy is proud of his family name. When their social worlds collide, feelings run high. Misunderstandings, poor judgement and wicked lies bring danger to the Bennet family. Can broken hearts be mended? Can hurtful words be forgiven? Can the Bennets be drawn back from the brink of disgrace? Will Elizabeth’s prejudice and Darcy’s pride be the ruin of them both?

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Book SynopsisEight years ago, Anne Elliot was persuaded that her family’s honour was more important than her own happiness. She has suffered ever since. Now the man she turned away has returned. Can Captain Wentworth forgive Anne, or will he be charmed instead by the beautiful Louisa? Will Anne be persuaded to marry her cousin, or will she find the strength to follow her heart? The extravagance of Anne’s foolish father, the greedy plotting of false friends, and a near-fatal accident bring danger into Anne’s safe world. Their hearts assailed by resentment, regrets and rivals, can Anne and Captain Wentworth now reach across the void that separates them to love each other again?

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Book SynopsisCatherine Morland has little experience of the world. When a neighbour takes her to visit the fashionable city of Bath, her naiveté leaves her vulnerable. Who should Catherine trust? Whose friendship is genuine and whose will be harmful? Catherine’s adventure becomes sinister when she visits Northanger Abbey. What is hidden in the locked cabinet? Why are the General’s children afraid of him? What terrible secrets does he keep in his dead wife’s bedroom? Guided only by the gothic horror stories she so loves reading, Catherine stumbles through her adventures. Will hers be a happy ending? Will she find a hero to share her ‘happily ever after’?

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Book SynopsisAt the tender age of ten, Fanny Price moves from her poor family home to live with her wealthy cousins at Mansfield Park. Settling into this proud family is only the first of many challenges she will have to face. Can Fanny, uneducated and inexperienced, win any respect or love, or will the spiteful Mrs Norris turn everybody against her? When plays, balls and marriage proposals challenge Fanny’s judgement, will she be strong enough to do what is right? When jealousy, duty and flattery challenge Fanny’s heart, will it be strong enough to guide her towards true love? Just how strong is Fanny Price?

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Book SynopsisSanditon is Jane Austen’s last novel, unfinished when she died in 1817. A comedy, it continues the strain of burlesque and caricature she wrote as a teenager and in private throughout her life. In her ground-breaking essay, Todd contextualizes Austen’s life and work, Sanditon’s connection with Northanger Abbey (1819) and Emma (1816), Jane Austen’s insecurity of income and home, and the Austen family’s financial speculations. She examines the work’s discussion of the moral and social problems of capitalism, entrepreneurship, and growing tourism, and their effect on traditional values and rural communities. Todd explains the early nineteenth-century culture of self: the exploitation of hypochondria, health fads, seaside resorts, and miracle cures. Arguing that Sanditon is an innovative, ebullient study of human beings ’ vagaries (rather than using common sense, Sanditon’s characters follow intuition and bodily signs), she shows Austen’s themes to be akin to contemporary concerns about self-obsession and the culture of narcissism, as well as a comic study of the gap between how we think of ourselves and how we appear and sound to others.

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Book SynopsisWhy does spirited, lively Elizabeth Bennet so rudely reject the proposal of the handsome, rich Mr Darcy? What could he possibly have done to offend her? Elizabeth is proud of her ability to judge others; Mr Darcy is proud of his family name. When their social worlds collide, feelings run high. Misunderstandings, poor judgement and wicked lies bring danger to the Bennet family. Can broken hearts be mended? Can hurtful words be forgiven? Can the Bennets be drawn back from the brink of disgrace? Will Elizabeth’s prejudice and Darcy’s pride be the ruin of them both?

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Book SynopsisMarianne seeks a man who shares her eager spirit; Elinor is in love with the polite, considerate Edward Ferrars. Their younger sister Margaret watches in bewilderment as Marianne and Elinor experience the joys and heartaches of early adult life. Is Marianne too warm or is Elinor too cold? Whose example should Margaret follow? Margaret records the dangers presented by scheming friends and deceitful lovers. Will Elinor’s sense be strong enough to support both sisters, or will Marianne’s sensibility bring tragedy? What will you learn as you read Margaret’s account?

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Book SynopsisAt the tender age of ten, Fanny Price moves from her poor family home to live with her wealthy cousins at Mansfield Park. Settling into this proud family is only the first of many challenges she will have to face. Can Fanny, uneducated and inexperienced, win any respect or love, or will the spiteful Mrs Norris turn everybody against her? When plays, balls and marriage proposals challenge Fanny’s judgement, will she be strong enough to do what is right? When jealousy, duty and flattery challenge Fanny’s heart, will it be strong enough to guide her towards true love? Just how strong is Fanny Price?

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