Customer Reviews

The Complete Novels of Jane Austen, Vol. 1 (Sense & Sensibility / Pride & Prejudice / Mansfield Park)

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Jane Austen is still where she belongs, between book covers. We know the stories are good, but what isn't immediately obvious is the many recent adaptations is what an impeccable writer of English prose she is - no posturing word-dropper, no purveyer of hoary terminology, but a fine, simple, straightforward narrator.

She is brief but telling, using tilt and tone to make us smile. She doesn't bore with tedious flashbacks or podding descriptions of a new character's background. And she tells us what we wanted to know, just when we want to know it. As I am wondering what became of Mr. Bingley, he turns up; as I am trying to remember what the party is doing in Bath, it becomes clear. She's always ahead, dropping just the right number of crumbs.

Jane's world moved slowly, and reading her takes time. Her cncerns are universal - how to fill the hours of the day, the pairing of single young men and women, the effects of money, household matters. Her ethical domain is dominated by consideration - of others' feelings, needs, requirements. The occasional rebellious spirit is not admired, concepts such as fulfillment and freedom never enter her head. As for "needs" beyond basic physical ones - an idea that would have astonished her - she would have substituted "obligations."

But there is something about all this that keeps us going back, and back and back.

I'd gone through several mistake-purchases of Jane Austen collections before finding the Modern Library versions. I highly recommend them: they are error-free (a major problem in the deluge of Austen compilations), high quality (good binding - firm enough to last, but pliable enough to actual read the book without having to crack the spine; pages are of a quality weight paper), the book size is also manageable. I own both volumes, have read through them repeatedly, and am glad to have finally found a quality set.

This hardback is a solid binding on good quality paper. It easily stands up to the many re-readings Austen's novels deserve.

This review is not for the novels of Jane Austen, rather for the item offered here on amazon.com

Much to my surprise, after I ordered "The Complete Novels of Jane Austen (Modern Library Series)" ISBN 0679600264, only one book arrived. As pictured above, Vol I contains S&S, P&P, and MP.

The other three novels must be in Vol II, you surmise? Wrong! THAT IS ALL YOU GET !

Apparently, "complete" is a relative term, meaning "half of". At best, this listing shows ignorance. At worst, this listing is fraud.

Not sure if you want to read a Jane Austen novel after seeing the movie based on her book? I can only speak for myself, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading these novels. It became clear to me upon reading these timeless tales of human relationships why Hollywood has been feverishly adapting Austen's stories for film. These stories never lose their relevance! Austen had a way of portraying the eccentricities and weaknesses of human nature in a gentle but honest fashion. The heros and heroines in these novels are witty, amusing and endearingly flawed as they blunder their way along to true happiness, though never quite in the way they imagine. This collection of her novels is a well-loved and worthy addition to my permanent collection.

Now that Jane Austen's work has made it onto the big screen in a big way, the myth that her novels merely dealt with the niceties of social interaction in the early nineteenth century is being blown clean away. Her novels are a world in miniature, but a brutal world that left women at the mercy of men for their fortunes and misfortunes. Take for instance the start of "Sense and Sensibility": the head of the household dies, leaving his wife and daughters dependent on the goodwill of his son from a previous marriage. The son's good intentions are shorn away in a cutting dialogue between him and his wife until what he gives his step-family will keep them only in genteel poverty. Small wonder then that the often-quoted start of "Pride and Prejudice" is so loaded with irony--a rich husband was a catch indeed for he could save you and your loved ones from poverty. Despite the grim circumstances of her novels and their often claustrophobic atmosphere, Jane Austen's wit gives her work a deceptive lightness. Her work may be about women struggling to survive in a world that tried to keep them on the margins but it has all the sharpness and pace to ensure her books have been read for over 150 years.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single reader in possession of a large admiration for Jane Austen and her works must be desirous of reading all of them. Whether you never before have had the chance to meet Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, or return again and again to visit your good friend Elizabeth Bennet, the _Complete Novels of Jane Austen_ (Modern Library Series) Volume I presents a delightful way to make new acquaintances and renew old ones. In this collection, _Sense and Sensibility_, _Pride and Prejudice_ and _Mansfield Park_ immediately engage you in the trials and triumphs of Elinor and Marianne, Elizabeth and her sisters, and Fanny Price. The compact, pleasant volume makes the very act of reading a joy. Uncluttered and elegant, like Jane Austen's prose, this edition allows the stories to shine for themselves. You will cry with Marianne, search your own heart with Elizabeth, and suffer with Fanny. Alive with wit and humor, Jane Austen's novels will provoke your thoughts and lighten your heart. When you finish Volume I of this marvelous edition, nothing will do but to read Volume II.

I assume anyone buying the complete works of an author is already a fan, so I'll leave out the review of the stories themselves and focus on the book as physical objects. The superficial side of me likes the way these two volumes look on my book shelves. They don't take up too much space and yet have presence. As a reader, I also found the books to be comfortable to hold (and I generally don't like hardbacks) and compact enough to fit in my not-enormous purse. The binding doesn't crack and the paper and font are easy on the eyes.

This isn't the cheapest Jane Austen compilation you'll find, but given that I've already gone through multiple copies of Pride and Prejudice, I think the price is offset by the quality. These books will stand up to heavy use.

I wanted to write this so others can be assisted when ordering, as it can be confusing. When searching for the 'complete novels' of Jane Austen, Volume I of The Modern Library comes up readily, but it only contains three novels, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park. The description does not seem to mention that there is a Volume II, even though one would assume so, as there is a Volume I...So one might think one has the complete novels when in fact only three arrive. I happened to see both volumes at a book store and was then searching for them online. In order to get Volume II, one really has to put it in the search as Volume II, then it will show up, and it contains Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. I looked at several editions of the complete novels, but The Modern Library convinced me with the good readable font and sturdy hard cover, I really like the whole layout a lot, I think it will give enjoyment for years to come, can be read and reread without falling apart. Even in the era of the e-reader I would highly recommend it.

I purchased this for my SIL's Christmas present along with the second volume. They came in today. The covers are nice and sturdy, the jackets not too bent up from the mail. The binding seems very solid--doesn't "crack" when you open it. The pages are nice and thick and should stand up to many years of re-reads. The print is centered perfectly on the pages and in a nice, readable font.

I'm very happy I purchased these. The price was great and qualified for free shipping. I can't wait to give them to my SIL because she's a huge Austen fan and loves to collect classic books. I think these will make a nice addition to her bookshelf and keep her entertained for years to come.