Lady Susan by Jane Austen is an epistolary format novella. It follows the story of Lady Susan, a widow, and the whole story is told through letters. This protagonist is completely different than the heroines of Austen’s works, which was surprising for me. I found an audiobook of this story and was immediately intrigued.
It’s a little difficult to explain the story because of its format, but the themes of power, survival, and even reputation are woven from the beginning. It’s lighter in tone, but Lady Susan looks at marriage as a strategy rather than anything to do with love. Her reputation is discussed with different people saying different things, showing how gossip was like a social currency. Being a widow, Lady Susan has limited options, and she tries to use her charm to try and make a better life. It’s understandable to a point, but her behaviour towards her daughter is a little harsh.
This story unfolds through letters exchanged between different characters. At the center of the story is Lady Susan Vernon, a beautiful, intelligent, widowed, and manipulative woman. Recently arrived at her brother-in-law’s estate, she immediately begins orchestrating her next advantageous marriage while simultaneously interfering in the romantic lives of those around her. The format made the story seem more intimate to me because of access to private thoughts, schemes, and shifting alliances. I thought it helps bring in the comedy too, as we witness contradictions between what characters say publicly and what they confess privately.
The letters going back and forth are so ironic, with biting commentary on society. Conversations are layered with subtext, and social niceties thinly veil ruthless ambition. The novella maintains a good pace to keep you interested. It does not have a romantically satisfying arc as I expect from Austen, but it’s like a satire, which kept me intrigued.
Lady Susan by Jane Austen is an engaging novella. It keeps the titular character in a morally ambiguous area, where you can’t hate her or like her. This was extremely interesting for me because it is rare, especially in classics. Overall, I enjoyed this story; unexpected but interesting.
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