Sense and sensibility

Sense and Sensibility tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, primarily the two oldest – Elinor and Marianne. Left almost penniless and homeless on the death of their father, they rely on the kindness of relatives and friends to find a new home together with their mother and younger sister. Each needs to resolve their problems by marrying well, but fate takes them on a bumpy road along which the impetuous Marianne falls for the duplicitous Willoughby, and consequently suffers, while Elinor, ever cautious, seems to be unlucky in love. As ever, Austen resolves her heroines’ fortunes in her inimitable and witty way.