Sense and Sensibility is a novel by Jane Austen, published in 1811. It was published anonymously; By A Lady appears on the title page where the author's name might have been. It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor (age 19), and Marianne (age 16 1/2) as they come of age. They have an older half-brother, John, and a younger sister, Margaret, 13.
The novel follows the three Dashwood sisters as they must move with their widowed mother from the estate on which they grew up, Norland Park. Because Norland is passed down to John, the product of Mr. Dashwood's first marriage, and his young son, the four Dashwood women need to look for a new home. They have the opportunity to rent a modest home, Barton Cottage, on the property of a distant relative, Sir John Middleton. There they experience love, romance, and heartbreak. The novel is likely set in southwest England, London, and Sussex between 1792 and 1797.
The novel, which sold out its first print run of 750 copies in the middle of 1813, marked a success for its author. It had a second print run later that year. It was the first Austen title to be republished in England after her death, and the first illustrated Austen produced in Britain, in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series of 1833. The novel has been in continuous publication since 1811, and has many times been illustrated, excerpted, abridged, and adapted for stage and film. In March 2020, there were 20 different editions available as new books.
Adaptations
Screen
1971: This adaptation for BBC television was dramatized by Denis Constanduros and directed by David Giles.
1981: This seven-episode TV serial was directed by Rodney Bennett.
1995: This theatrical release was adapted by Emma Thompson and directed by Ang Lee.
2000: A Tamil version titled Kandukondain Kandukondain stars Mammootty (Colonel Brandon), Ajith Kumar (Edward Ferrars), Tabu (Elinor), and Aishwarya Rai (Marianne).
2008: This three-episode BBC TV series was adapted by Andrew Davies and directed by John Alexander.
Radio
In 2013, Helen Edmundson adapted Sense and Sensibility for BBC Radio 4.
Stage
2013: Sense & Sensibility, the Musical (book and lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow and music by Neal Hampton) received its world premiere by the Denver Center Theatre Company in April 2013, as staged by Tony-nominated director Marcia Milgrom Dodge.
2014: The Utah Shakespeare Festival presented Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan's adaptation.
2016: The Bedlam theatrical troupe mounted a well-received minimalist production that was adapted by Kate Hamill and directed by Eric Tucker, from a repertory run in 2014.
Literatur
In 2013, author Joanna Trollope published Sense & Sensibility: A Novel as a part of a series called The Austen Project by the publisher, bringing the characters into the present day and providing modern satire.
2009: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is a mashup parody novel by Ben H. Winters, with Jane Austen, credited as co-author.
2016: Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility published by UDON Entertainment's Manga Classics imprint was published in August 2016.
Introduction:
The title of Sense and Sensibility is connected to one of those minor problems which delight the cumin-splitters of criticism. In the Cecilia of Madame D'Arblaythe forerunner, if not the model, of Miss Austenis a sentence which at first sight suggests some relationship to the name of the book which, in the present series, inaugurated Miss Austen's novels. 'The whole of this unfortunate business'says a certain didactic Dr. Lyster, talking in capitals,