37 pages • 1 hour read •
Lady Susan
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Book Brief
56
Novel • Fiction
•
Classic Fiction•
British LiteratureEngland • 1810s
•
Love1871
Dover Publications
Adult
14+ years
Super Short Summary
Lady Susan by Jane Austen follows the exploits of a charming, manipulative widow, Lady Susan, who seduces and deceives multiple men and women to secure advantageous marriages for herself and her daughter, Frederica. The novella begins with Lady Susan visiting the Manwarings, causing domestic strife, and later moving to her brother-in-law’s home where she ensnares Catherine's brother, Reginald, turning him against his family.
Mysterious
Humorous
Contemplative
Romantic
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
47,709 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Jane Austen's Lady Susan showcases her signature wit and sharp social commentary through a compelling, epistolary narrative. Admirers praise its incisive character portrayals and cunning protagonist, but some find the plot hurried compared to Austen's later works. Despite these contentions, it remains an insightful and engaging read.
Who Should Read Lady Susan?
A reader who enjoys Lady Susan by Jane Austen would likely appreciate witty social satire, complex character studies, and epistolary novels. Fans of Austen’s other works or Pride and Prejudice will find similar themes of romance, societal expectations, and a strong, clever heroine. This book also appeals to readers who enjoy Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.
47,709 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Mrs. Catherine Vernon
Mrs. Catherine Vernon
The wife of Lady Susan’s brother-in-law, who is suspicious of Lady Susan’s motives and becomes a maternal figure to Susan’s daughter, Frederica, while navigating social dynamics and familial tensions.
Miss Frederica Vernon
Miss Frederica Vernon
Lady Susan’s 16-year-old daughter, who is portrayed as timid and shy by some, yet finds ways to assert her desires and navigate the challenges posed by her mother’s ambitions and social manipulations.
Mr. Reginald De Courcy
Mr. Reginald De Courcy
Catherine’s younger brother, a handsome and earnest young man who becomes ensnared by Lady Susan's allure, leading to complications in his perceptions and relationships.
Mrs. Alicia Johnson
Mrs. Alicia Johnson
Lady Susan’s close friend confined by an unhappy marriage, secretly plotting and longing for freedom from her husband to partake in societal intrigues.
Mr. Charles Vernon
Mr. Charles Vernon
Lady Susan’s brother-in-law and Catherine’s husband, who is good-natured and largely oblivious to the intrigues between the women in his life, maintaining a supportive yet passive role within the family dynamics.
Lady Susan is unique among Jane Austen's works as it is an epistolary novel, composed entirely of letters exchanged between the characters, showcasing Austen's skill in crafting narratives through correspondence.
Although Lady Susan was written in the mid-1790s, it was not published until 1871, over fifty years after Austen's death, when her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh included it in his biography A Memoir of Jane Austen.
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The novella centers on the character Lady Susan Vernon, who is considered one of Austen's most manipulative and charming anti-heroines, offering a contrast to the more typical protagonists found in her later works.
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56
Novel • Fiction
•
Classic Fiction•
British LiteratureEngland • 1810s
•
Love1871
Dover Publications
Adult
14+ years
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