What is Sense and Sensibility?
{{italictitle}} [[File:Houghton EC8 Au747 811s (B) - Sense and Sensibility spines.jpg|thumb|right|The three volumes of the first edition of ''Sense and Sensibility'', 1811]] '''''Sense and Sensibility''''' is a [[novel]] by [[Jane Austen]]. It was her first novel, and was published in 1811. The novel is mostly about two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, and their life and loves. The story takes place in southern [[England]] in the 1790s. Austen paid to have the book published. The publisher got a [[commission (remuneration)|commission]] on sales.<ref name=Jane> Jane Austen's World. ''Pride and Prejudice economics: or why a single man with a fortune of £4,000 per year is a desirable husband''. 2008. [http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/the-economics-of-pride-and-prejudice-or-why-a-single-man-with-a-fortune-of-4000-per-year-is-a-desirable-husband/ janeausensworld.wordpress.com]</ref> She made a profit of £140 (almost £5,000 in 2008 currency) on the first edition,<ref name=Jane/> which sold all 750 printed copies by July 1813. A second edition was advertised in October 1813. == Characters in ''Sense and Sensibility'' == [[Image:Sense and Sensibility Illustration Chap 12.jpg|right|thumb|220px|A 19th century illustration showing Willoughby cutting a lock of Marianne's hair]] *'''Henry Dashwood''' – a rich gentleman who dies at the beginning of the story. He is not able to leave an [[inheritance]] to his second wife and their three daughters. He asks '''John''', his son by his first wife, to help provide some money for them to live on. *'''Mrs. Dashwood''' – the second wife of '''Henry Dashwood'''. She is now left very poor when her husband dies. Much like her daughter Marianne, she shows her [[emotion]]s easily. *'''Elinor Dashwood''' – the sensible and quiet oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dashwood. She becomes fond of '''Edward Ferrars''', the brother-in-law of her older half-brother, John. She feels responsible to take care of her family, so she thinks about them more than about herse