Jane Austen’s first published novel, with its two heroines and ambiguously happy ending, is something of a puzzle to her fans. Published in 1811, Sense and Sensibility contains elements of traditional novels of the time, while also looking forward to Austen’s revolutionary novels to come. It’s packed with memorable monsters such as Fanny Dashwood and Mrs. Ferrars, as well as comic characters like Mrs. Jennings and Charlotte Palmer. We’ll discuss all this as well as themes such as money, motherhood, and moderation. Finally, we'll examine the scene that commentator Robert Rodi says is “the most indelibly romantic scene in the book, if not in all of 19th century English literature”.  The course will be a mix of lecture and discussion.

Required Reading: Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen

Registration deadline: March 12