Marianne Dashwood can’t understand her sister. How could the attractive, witty, and charming Elinor fall for the quiet, self-effacing, and rather dull Edward Ferrars? Similarly, Elinor worries that Marianne’s heart-first approach to life will hurt her, especially when it comes to the dashing John Willoughby. Meanwhile, both Edward and Willoughby harbor secrets that will force these women to doubt their philosophies, their judgment, and their chances for happiness. A compelling story with finely drawn characters, Sense and Sensibility remains one of Jane Austen’s best-loved novels and reflects Austen’s own uncertainty about whether sense or sensibility should ultimately triumph.
