LADY SUSAN

I just finished reading this book.

Lady Susan is one of Jane Austen's rare unpublished works. It was written in an epistolary fashion ( letters of correspondence - I know!! I was like what???? too : ) ). Bibilomania claims that though Austen completed writing the novel , it was never published because the vogue of writing books in an epistolary fashion was long past.
I disagree.
One of Jane Austen's most famous masterpieces, Pride and Prejudice , was originally written in the form of letters and was titled 'First Impressions'. After her publisher declined to publish it, she re-wrote and transformed it into the ever famous, ever lasting and ever impressing 'Pride and Prejudice' which ranks as one of my favourite books. If she could rewrite 'Pride and Prejudice' why could she not 'Lady Susan'?

Probably because of the simplicity of the theme which would have been quite unremarkable in the regular tried and dried style of writing. I speculate. I do not judge.

But anyways, Lady Susan did deserve to be published. The self titled protagonist of this novel 'Lady Susan' is quite deliciously wicked. Not in the style of Scarlett in 'Gone with the Wind'( you end up Empathizing with her , never SYMPATHETIC-that would be the biggest insult to Scarlett!), but more malicious, more conniving and just as unconcerned with the results of her trifling with the lives of the people around her. A manipulative bitch in simple terms. : ) .

Her character,her actions are portrayed in a fantastic manner; unfortunately, to the exclusion of all other characters in the novel. Therein lies the weakness of this novel. Unlike her other novels where every character is clearly dilineated and given an individuality that could quite easily carry itself outside the lines of the novel , here, most of the characters are held firmly in place strictly by the storyline. They could never survive outside the book.The end too seemed a little abrupt. Expected, but abrupt.

Yet, Lady Susan is a book worth a read and a sigh of admiration as it's very language, description and predictable irony is so purely 'Jane Austen'.