I thought I’d read this before but since I can’t find any evidence that I have, I waited till July to read Lady Susan even though this cloth-bound version was almost too cute to resist (and also, I was rereading quite a bit of Austen in June)!

Lady Susan is part of Austen’s juvenilia, or her earlier writings. It’s an epistolary novella, written entirely in letters mostly between Lady Susan and her friend, as well as Mrs Vernon (Lady Susan’s sister-in-law) and her mother. Lady Susan is an accomplished flirt and skilful manipulator who arrives at her brother and sister-in-law’s place and charms Mrs Vernon’s brother, Reginald.

Reading this, I couldn’t help but think that Lady Susan is the anti-Fanny. She’s charming and she knows it, and her morals are utterly wicked. By right, we shouldn’t be sympathising with her… except she sounds fun (to read, perhaps not to be her friend). Lady Susan knows what she wants and she takes it, and that makes her much more interesting than her daughter, Frederica, who resembles Fanny somewhat. I wonder if this is because Frederica isn’t the principal heroine, that she seems less sympathetic, or if she was a proto-version of Fanny.

Also, now that I think about it, perhaps Lady Susan is the most interesting character because she’s the character that pushes the book forward. Mrs Vernon is clearly Lady Susan’s antithesis, but she doesn’t do much. Lady Susan’s daughter has perhaps one letter, and spends the rest of the time terrified of her mother; I don’t blame her for that. Reginald, the brother that Lady Susan charms is… too easily led to be the hero, given that the last chapter of the book describes Frederica as remaining with Mrs Vernon’s family until “such time as Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered and finessed into an affection for her”. He seems a bit of a pushover!

All in all, this is an interesting novella and it’s very unlike Austen’s later works. Reading this, it’s clear that the young Austen has a gift for characterisations – and for writing villains. Of course, given that this is her juvenilia, I think it’s more for Austen fans who want to read more of her work rather than for people looking to dive into her stories.

P.s. If all goes according to plan, all three book reviews this week will be about Austen-related books so STAY TUNED!