Lady Susan is an early novella written by Jane Austen that was only published after her death; Love and Friendship is one of her juvenilia stories. I combine them here because I always confuse them (thanks to the 2016 film!)
Lady Susan (posthumously published novella): written in letters, this story follows the widowed main character, Lady Susan Vernon, on her search to find a new husband for herself and a husband for her 16-year-old daughter, Frederica.
I find it interesting that Lady Susan is one of Austen’s only anti-heroes. Even Emma, who Jane wrote specifically as “a heroine whom no one but myself will much like”, has redeemable qualities, whereas Lady Susan’s mischievous schemes characterize her entirely. Throughout the story she is constantly plotting, saying one thing to someone and something else to others, and it makes her unlikeable and untrustworthy. She is tricky and charming, but discerning readers can see through her façade. Still, her plots and ploys are entertaining to follow — the book itself reminded me of modern reality TV: messy, dramatic, and pure entertainment! I honestly loved it!!
Love and Friendship (Juvenelia story): written in 15 installments, this short story is a parody of the romance novels Austen read as a child (as hinted by the undercutting subtitle “Deceived in Friendship and Betrayed in Love”). In form, the story resembles a fairy tale in featuring wild coincidences and turns of fortune, but Austen is determined to mock the conventions of romantic stories, from fainting spells to marriage. The story shows the development of Austen’s sharp wit and disdain for romantic sensibility, which is so characteristic of her writing style in later novels.
Love and Friendship (2016 movie): Love and Freindship is a film version of Lady Susan, borrowing only the title from Love and Freindship. Although adapted from Lady Susan, the film was confusingly produced under the borrowed title of Austen’s juvenile story Love and Freindship.
Similar Books:
Susan Alice by McVeigh
MANDY'S READING LIST 