In Jane Austen’s first published novel, two sisters with very different temperaments experience similar situations: powerful romances followed by devastating heartbreak. The reserved Elinor, whose sense bars her from outwardly expressing her desires, and the passionate Marianne, whose sensibility drives her to wear her heart on the sleeve of her gown, respond to challenges and navigate the nuances of relationships quite dissimilarly, prompting a fascinating exploration of the ways in which a person’s personality shapes their success and social outcomes.… Continue reading
Tag: British literature
In postwar England, an upstanding English butler embarks on a road trip through the English countryside—his first vacation in decades. While this butler, whom we come to know as “Mr. Stevens,” initially reflects upon his many years of service to the great Lord Darlington with confidence and satisfaction, inklings of doubt and shame creep into his conscience as he moves from town to town.… Continue reading
After a long break from Jane Austen literature, I reentered British high society by diving into one of her under-appreciated and more controversial novels: Mansfield Park.
As a young girl from a poor family, Fanny Price is sent to live on the large estate belonging to her Aunt and Uncle Bertram.… Continue reading
