Sense and Sensibility is the first published novel by Jane Austen. Originally published under the pseudonym "A Lady, " Sense and Sensibility tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, who, upon the death of their father, are left in reduced circumstances to live on the country estate of a distant relative. At Barton Park, the Dashwood sisters engage in romances with the reserved Edward Ferrars, the dashing yet fickle Mr. Willoughby, and the gentlemanly Colonel Brandon, and eventually find the fulfillment of their romantic yearnings.
Sense and Sensibility was among the first realistic romance novels to be published and shows Austen's skill at developing perceptive yet sympathetic characters. It has been translated into numerous languages and adapted for the stage and screen.