Verstand und Gefühl

Elinor, nineteen and composed, and Marianne, seventeen and impulsive, are daughters of a gentleman whose estate goes to a son from his first marriage. They move with their mother to a cottage in Devon on a small income. Elinor's affection for Edward Ferrars meets obstacles she does not explain, while Marianne's whirlwind relationship with John Willoughby ends in public humiliation and illness. Austen uses the contrast between the sisters to question how much a person should show of what they feel.

The book suits anyone who enjoys period fiction with a sharp eye on money and manners. It's warm, funny in places, and carries a quiet message about the value of self-control.

Balanced in tone; a moderate read.

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