Lady Susan, The Watsons and Sanditon by Jane Austen (Penguin Classics)

Description

“Lady Susan,” “The Watsons,” and “Sanditon” are three lesser-known works by the English novelist Jane Austen. These novellas and fragments were written by Austen but were not published during her lifetime. They offer insights into her writing style and themes but are generally less well-known compared to her major novels. Here’s a brief overview of each:

1. “Lady Susan” (also known as “The Watsons”):
   • “Lady Susan” is an epistolary novel, meaning it is composed of letters exchanged between characters.
   • The story revolves around Lady Susan Vernon, a recently widowed woman known for her beauty and cunning. She is not your typical Austen heroine; she is manipulative and self-serving.
   • The novella explores themes of marriage, society, and the consequences of deceitful behavior.
   • It is a shorter work compared to Austen’s full-length novels and provides a glimpse into her early writing style.
2. “The Watsons”:
   • “The Watsons” is an unfinished novel, and Austen left it incomplete.
   • The story follows the Watson family and their social interactions in a small English town.
   • The novel explores themes of social class, marriage, and family dynamics, which are common themes in Austen’s works.
   • While the story is incomplete, it still offers valuable insights into Austen’s character development and narrative style.
3. “Sanditon”:
   • “Sanditon” is another unfinished novel by Jane Austen, and it is considered her final work.
   • The story is set in the fictional seaside resort of Sanditon and introduces a cast of characters, including Mr. Parker, a landowner with grand plans for the town.
   • “Sanditon” explores themes of health, hypochondria, and the changing dynamics of society, particularly the emerging seaside tourism industry.
   • Like “The Watsons,” “Sanditon” remains incomplete, but it provides readers with a sense of Austen’s storytelling and her willingness to adapt to changing social norms.

These works may not be as famous as Austen’s completed novels like “Pride and Prejudice” or “Sense and Sensibility,” but they offer valuable insights into her development as a writer and her exploration of themes that are central to her more renowned works. Readers interested in delving deeper into Jane Austen’s writing style and lesser-known works may find these novellas and fragments worth exploring.