The Complete Novels (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) (Roughcut)

~ (Author), Karen Joy Fowler (Introduction) "The family of Dashwood had been long settled in Sussex..." (more)
Key Phrases: court plaister, Sir Thomas, Miss Crawford, Captain Wentworth (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Now in Penguin Classics—a treasure trove of Jane Austen’s novels

Few novelists have conveyed the subtleties and nuances of their own social milieu with the wit and insight of Jane Austen. Here in one volume are her seven great novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Lady Susan. Through her vivacious and spirited heroines and their circle, Austen vividly portrays English middle-class life as the eighteenth century came to a close and the nineteenth century began. Each of the novels is a love story and a story about marriage—marriage for love, for financial security, for social status. But they are not romances; ironic, comic, and wise, they are masterly evocations of the society Jane Austen observed. This beautiful volume covers the literary career of one of England’s finest prose stylists of any century.

From the Back Cover

"These modern editions are to be strongly recommended."
—Brian Southam, The Jane Austen Society

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Roughcut: 1278 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics; Deluxe Paperback edition (March 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143039504
• ISBN-13: 978-0143039501
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,594 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #28 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > British > Classics > Austen, Jane
  #33 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( A ) > Austen, Jane

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

195 of 202 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Complete Edition -- Penguin Classics Deluxe, May 3, 2006

By	wm.penn (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

There are several complete editions on Amazon of Austen's novels, so I thought I would write a review recommending this one (the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition). It lays open in your hand, has nice paper and high-quality paperback binding and cover, and it has perfectly sized type and wide inside margins. Other than the substantial size and weight (though it is not nearly as inconvenient as quarto-sized complete editions, such as the classic Sherlock Holmes), it is a perfect volume for those who are more interested in reading Austen than admiring how she looks on the shelf.

By contrast, the Modern Library hardcover edition (which I compared in person at the bookstore) has such a narrow inside margin that the reader must strain to read bent text or to force the binding to open more and the paper to lay flatter. Otherwise, it was a nice edition. For me, they ruined it by this simple mistake.

The leather bound edition from the Library of Literary Classics is a nice idea, and I have not seen it in person. I did notice, however, that the table of contents shows how little space they manage to squeeze Austen's novels into. It has far fewer pages than the Penquin Classics Deluxe Edition. When previewing the pages of text, this seems apparent in the very small type. As I said, I have not seen it in person, so I may be wrong, but it looks like it might be a strain to read, whereas the Penguin is quite comfortable. Hopefully Penguin will provide preview images soon so potential buyers can "Look Inside" and compare for themselves.

It is wonderful that there are so many editions of Austen to choose from. The choice is personal and subjective. I will spend many, many hours reading mine, so I chose the one that I thought would be the most comfortable. I do not want to fight the book -- I want it to disappear so that my imagination may wander unhindered with Jane's characters. I hope you enjoy the novels, whichever edition you choose.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical , January 8, 2008

By	WyoGrl (Wyoming) - See all my reviews

I love this copy of Jane Austen's stories. It's great to have all the novels together and it's not too heavy or bulky to sit and read. A good addition to any library.

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Books Included, December 15, 2007

By	justjan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

The books included weren't listed so I went to Penguin Classics and copied their information:

Here in one volume are her seven great novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Lady Susan.
A Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition with French flaps and luxurious packaging
Features the definitive Penguin Classics texts recommended by the Jane Austen Society
New introduction by bestselling author of The Jane Austen Book Club Karen Joy Fowler