30 Oct 2024
Jane Austen, On This Day
30 October 2024 Cheryl

30 October 1811: Sense and Sensibility is published

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

The first French translation of Sense and Sensibility was undertaken by Madame Isabelle de Montolieu in 1815 as Raison et Sensibilité, ou les Deux Manières d’aimer (Reason and Sensibility, or the Two Ways of Loving). Montolieu had only the most basic knowledge of English and had her assistants provide a summary of Austen’s novels, which she then translated into an embellished French that often radically altered Austen’s plots and characters. [1]

Sense and Sensibility is the first novel written by Jane Austen. It began as a story called Elinor and Marianne in about 1795 as a novel-in-letters. About two years later, the title was changed to Sense and Sensibility before the manuscript was put aside. Over a decade later, in 1809, Jane Austen, now settled at Chawton Cottage, revisited her early work, reshaping it into the form we know today. It was accepted for publication by Thomas Egerton of London in 1810 and released in 1811 as a three-volume set, its author modestly identified on the title page only as “By A Lady.”

The novel follows the Dashwood family—three sisters and their widowed mother—who are forced to leave their family estate at Norland Park after the death of Mr Dashwood, the inheritance falling to their half-brother, John. They move to Barton Cottage, a modest home on the property of their distant relative, Sir John Middleton.

At the heart of the tale are Elinor, the serene and rational elder sister, and Marianne, her passionate and impulsive counterpart. Together, they embody the novel’s exploration of sense and sensibility—reason versus emotion—as they encounter love, heartbreak, and the trials of growing up. Their experiences at Barton Cottage, shaped by the lively company of Sir John, the gossiping Mrs Jennings, and the enigmatic Colonel Brandon, provide a vivid portrait of late Georgian society. The interplay between these two heroines not only defines the novel’s central conflict but also underscores Austen’s nuanced commentary on human nature and social expectations.

The reception of Sense and Sensibility was quietly triumphant. The first print run of 750 copies sold out by mid-1813, prompting a second edition later that year. Its enduring appeal was affirmed when it became the first Austen novel republished in England after her death, and also the first to receive illustrations in a British edition. Since its initial publication, the novel has never been out of print, inspiring numerous adaptations for stage, film, and television, and securing its place as a cornerstone of English literature.

Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.