2021: Jane Austen: Lady Susan: Thoughts while reading

[Elke]

Lady Susan is a short epistolary novel by Jane Austen, possibly written in 1794 but not published until 1871. It was left untitled and was first published in 1871 by her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh in his A Memoir of Jane Austen.

This early complete work, that Jane Austen never submitted for publication, describes the schemes of the main character (the widowed Lady Susan) as she seeks a new husband for herself, and one for her daughter.

I don’t want to spoil anything here but from what I read in summaries, Lady Susan is an interesting character!

Lady Susan is included in editions of Jane’s short works, and if anyone wants to read a free copy, I found it on ibooks on my iphone as well as on Project Gutenberg here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/946/9...

[Elke]

I am very much looking forward to this short epistolary novel so picked it up for a quick intro and because of that format, we jump right into the action, learning things about people firsthand. A fun fast start! And a very different tone, it seems...quite snarky.

[Elke]

Oh, my - Lady Susan is the ultimate terrible mother!

[Hon Lady Selene]

Ultimate terrible mother, you say??
I'm in! 😄

This is my least known Austen, having only read it once, looking forward to it, Ladies!

[Elke]

The epistolary format is delightful - you get to see many sides to the story!

[Philina]

I‘m delighted with it as well!
I think it‘s fascinating to see such a clear anti-heroine as the protagonist. All the other Austen books had the „good girl“ point of view.

[Heather]

Elke wrote: "Lady Susan is a short epistolary novel by Jane Austen, possibly written in 1794 but not published until 1871. It was left untitled and was first published in 1871 by her nephew James Edward Austen-..."

Snarky is a perfect word!!
As I read these characters I was thinking "Ouch!" "Yikes!" "Oh, dear!"