Love and Friendship

by Jane Austen

Overview

When a noble youth arrives unannounced to request the hand of the matchless Laura, it seems their future is one of contentment and bliss -- that is until his family learn of the marriage and, one by one, they reject the new bride. So begins the series of unspeakable events that Laura must confront and overcome, by way of the occasional fainting fit and bout of delirium. Tragedy and comedy here go hand in hand as a very foolish young heroine is placed at the centre of Jane Austen's early satire on drawing-room society. Written as a series of letters, 'Love and Friendship' is a delicious romp through the highs and lows of a young girl's lot in life and a precursor of Austen's later works of genius. It is accompanied by 'The Three Sisters', another expertly crafted epistolary novel, and the brilliant 'A Collection of Letters' which has been described by Fay Weldon as 'five just about perfect short stories'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781528771627
Publisher:	Read & Co. Classics
Publication date:	10/06/2022
Pages:	44
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	7 - 9 Years

About the Author

Jane Austen (1775-1817) was an English author born in Hampshire, England. She's best-known for her novels in which she critiques 18th century society and displays her characteristically sharp wit. Austen's most famous works include Sense and Sensibility, 1811, Pride and Prejudice, 1813, and Emma, 1816. Although her works have now been translated and printed in editions across the globe, Austen was relatively unknown during her lifetime, publishing her novels anonymously.

Date of Birth:

December 16, 1775

Date of Death:

July 18, 1817

Place of Birth:

Village of Steventon in Hampshire, England

Place of Death:

Winchester, Hampshire, England

Education:

Taught at home by her father

Read an Excerpt

"Deceived in Freindship and Betrayed in Love."

Letter the First From Isabel to Laura

How often, in answer to my repeated intreaties that you would give my Daughter a regular detail of the Misfortunes and Adventures of your Life, have you said "No, my freind never will I comply with your request till I may be no longer in Danger of again experiencing such dreadful ones."

Surely that time is now at hand. You are this day 55. If a woman may ever be said to be in safety from the determined Perseverance of disagreeable Lovers and the cruel Persecutions of obstinate Fathers, surely it must be at such a time of Life.

Isabel

* * * *

Letter 2nd Laura to Isabel

Altho' I cannot agree with you in supposing that I shall never again be exposed to Misfortunes as unmerited as those I have already experienced, yet to avoid the imputation of Obstinacy or ill-nature, I will gratify the curiosity of your daughter; and may the fortitude with which I have suffered the many afflictions of my past Life, prove to her a useful lesson for the support of those which may befall her in her own.

Laura

* * * *

Letter 3rd Laura to Marianne

As the Daughter of my most intimate freind I think you entitled to that knowledge of my unhappy story, which your Mother has so often solicited me to give you.

My Father was a native of Ireland and an inhabitant of Wales; my Mother was the natural Daughter of a Scotch Peer by an italian Opera-girl--I was born in Spain and received my Education at a Convent in France.

When I had reached my eighteenth Year I was recalled by my Parents to my paternal roof in Wales. Our mansion was situated in oneof the most romantic parts of the Vale of Uske. Tho' my Charms are now considerably softened and somewhat impaired by the Misfortunes I have undergone, I was once beautiful. But lovely as I was the Graces of my Person were the least of my Perfections. Of every accomplishment accustomary to my sex, I was Mistress. When in the Convent, my progress had always exceeded my instructions, my Acquirements had been wonderfull for my age, and I had shortly surpassed my Masters.

In my Mind, every Virtue that could adorn it was centered; it was the Rendez-vous of every good Quality and of every noble sentiment.

A sensibility too tremblingly alive to every affliction of my Freinds, my Acquaintance and particularly to every affliction of my own, was my only fault, if a fault it could be called. Alas! how altered now! Tho' indeed my own Misfortunes do not make less impression on me than they ever did, yet now I never feel for those of an other. My accomplishments too, begin to fade--I can neither sing so well nor Dance so gracefully as I once did--and I have entirely forgot the Minuet dela Cour

Adeiu.

Laura.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	vii
	Love and Friendship	1
	The Three Sisters	41
	A Collection of Letters	59
	Notes	85
	Biographical note	87

Editorial Reviews

In addition to the title piece, this Austen volume includes two epistolary tales, "The Three Sisters" and "A Collection of Letters." Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Jane Austen is one of my favourite writers . . . very acute, very perceptive, and writing in close and honest detail about the tiny preoccupations of women’s lives – preoccupations which speak of much larger social and human issues." - Helen Fielding

From the Publisher