Lady Susan | Jane Austen

The Sleeping Novel. This is how the novel "Lady Susan" by Jane Austen is described, as it was not published until more than 50 years after her death, although it was written — according to critics and scholars — when the author was eighteen years old and represents her early attempts at writing. This novel differs from other Austen novels in two ways. First, it is an epistolary novel, meaning it is written in the form of a series of letters with multiple narrative voices. Second, the main character, Lady Susan, derives her charm from being a provocative and unlikable character, unlike the main characters in Austen's other works. It is a captivating and highly enjoyable literary piece that reveals the author's early understanding of social machinations and early skill in constructing the plot. Although it is her less mature work, it remains, in the opinion of critics, a shining gem overflowing with cleverness, humor, and playful malice that captivates the mind.