Sense and Sensibilty

6RR Jane Austen. “By a Lady” London: Printed for the Author and Published by T. Egerton Whitehall, 1913. Second Edition. Notes Sense and Sensibility is a brilliant masterpiece of Regency literature that serves as a sharp, witty critique of the social and financial vulnerabilities facing 19th-century women. The narrative centers on two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who represent contrasting approaches to life and love following the death of their father, which leaves them financially destitute. The older sister, Elinor, embodies "sense"—prudence, emotional restraint, and social decorum—while the younger, Marianne, represents "sensibility"—intense passion, romantic idealism, and raw emotional expression. As both sisters navigate the treacherous, money-driven marriage market of English society, they experience intense romantic heartbreaks and social betrayals. Austen masterfully uses their parallel journeys to argue that a fulfilling life requires a delicate balance of both reason and passion, creating a story that is as much a serious psychological study as it is a delightful romantic comedy. The book holds an immense place in literary history as Jane Austen’s (1775–1817) very first published novel, marking the official public debut of one of the greatest wits in the English language. Austen began writing the first drafts of the story in the late 1790s under the title Elinor and Marianne, carefully revising it over more than a decade while living a quiet, observant life in the English countryside. Because of the intense institutional prejudice against female intellectuals in the early 19th century, Austen was forced to publish the novel entirely at her own financial risk through a commission with London publisher Thomas Egerton. When the book finally appeared on shelves in late October 1811, the title page famously omitted her name entirely, attributing the work simply to "By a Lady." This strategic pseudonym protected her social reputation while allowing her to quietly observe the immediate success of her work, which sold out its entire first print run of roughly 1,000 copies by 1813. The historic 1813 second edition of Sense and Sensibility, printed by C. Roworth for publisher Thomas Egerton, holds unique significance for collectors as the final printing produced during Jane Austen's lifetime to undergo her direct text corrections and stylistic revisions. Emerging just a few months after the sensational debut of Pride and Prejudice, this scarce edition was rushed to shelves to satisfy an exploding public demand for the mysterious anonymous author. Critically, it retains the legendary "By a Lady" attribution on the title page, as Austen fiercely guarded her anonymity until her death. This second edition features important alterations to punctuation, phrasing, and character dialogue that reflect Austen's growing artistic maturity and hands-on involvement with the publishing process. The lasting legacy of Sense and Sensibility lies in how it successfully modernized the British novel, pioneering a style of realistic social satire and psychological depth that permanently altered Western literature. By discarding the far-fetched plots of contemporary Gothic romances in favor of everyday domestic realism, Austen proved that ordinary human relationships and family dynamics could provide unparalleled dramatic tension. The novel has entered the global cultural lexicon, establishing the "complementary sisters" archetype that continues to inspire countless modern novels, television dramas, and Hollywood films—including the acclaimed, Oscar-winning 1995 cinematic adaptation. Description  Three volume set. Second Edition in three quarter leather with marble front and back covers. Two bookplate pastedowns to interior cover. Some rubbing on edges. Gold lettering on spine and bands. Mild foxing on pages. Front hinge of Volume two came loose and has been professionally restored to its original condition. Very fine overall.