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ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.1/5)
Genre: Classic Literature, Fiction, Epistolary Novel, Satire

Book Review:
If you think you know Jane Austen, think again. Her novels are filled with witty, intelligent heroines like Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse, young women whose charm and goodness ultimately triumph. But in Lady Susan, Austen introduces us to a very different kind of heroine. She is charming, yes, and brilliant, but she is also manipulative, selfish, and utterly without moral scruple. She is, in short, an anti-heroine, and she is absolutely fascinating.

Lady Susan is an early work, written in the 1790s but not published until after Austen's death. It is written in epistolary form—as a series of letters between the characters—which gives it a unique, intimate feel. We see events from multiple perspectives, and we are privy to Lady Susan's own thoughts as she coolly plans her next move.

The story centers on Lady Susan Vernon, a beautiful and captivating young widow. She arrives at Churchill, the estate of her brother-in-law, Charles Vernon, ostensibly to escape the scandal of her flirtations elsewhere. But she has a plan: to secure a wealthy husband for herself and to dispose of her unwanted daughter, Frederica, in a marriage that will suit her own purposes.

Lady Susan is a master manipulator. She flatters, charms, and deceives everyone around her. She sets her sights on the wealthy but foolish Sir James Martin for herself, while simultaneously encouraging the attentions of the handsome and eligible Reginald De Courcy, the brother of Mrs. Vernon. Meanwhile, she is carrying on a secret correspondence with the married Mr. Manwaring, a man with whom she is clearly in love.

Lady Susan is a deliciously wicked comedy of manners. Austen's satire is sharper and darker here than in any of her other works. We watch with a mixture of horror and fascination as Lady Susan weaves her web of deception. But unlike Austen's more conventional villains, Lady Susan is never caught or punished. In fact, the novella ends with her triumph—a deeply unsettling conclusion that challenges our expectations of poetic justice.

Lady Susan is a gem. It is a short, sharp, and utterly entertaining read. It offers a unique glimpse into Austen's development as a writer and showcases her extraordinary talent for creating complex, memorable characters. This Penguin Little Black Classics edition is the perfect way to discover this subversive masterpiece.

If you love Jane Austen, you must read Lady Susan. If you've never read Austen, this is a fascinating, unexpected place to start. It is a story about a woman who plays by her own rules, and she is unforgettable. Highly recommended.