Sense and Sensibility

By: Jane Austen

Narrated by: Rosamund Pike

In this Audible Exclusive production, Academy Award® nominee Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) narrates one of Jane Austen’s most beloved works, Sense and Sensibility. In this timeless tale of misguided romance and heartbreak, two teenage heroines must overcome the pitfalls of Georgian England’s high society in order to achieve the love and happiness they seek. The admiration that Pike has for Austen’s work is shown clearly through this passionate delivery of Austen’s first published novel.

“The more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.”

Jane Austen’s first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, tells the classic tale of love and heartbreak in late 18th-century England. The story follows the romantic trials and tribulations of the daughters of the recently widowed Mrs. Dashwood as they encounter, and learn to handle, the emotionally reckless male characters of Georgian society. In order to find happiness, the two teenage heroines (Marianne and Elinor) must each learn to navigate through a life where status and money govern the rules of love.

A true classic of English literature, Sense and Sensibility is written with all the hallmarks of Austen’s style, providing strong female protagonists, great irony and wit, and showcasing her superb talent for character creation and dialogue.

About the Author

Jane Austen is one of the most influential and celebrated novelists in English literature. The daughter of a Hampshire clergyman, she was the seventh of eight children and was, from a young age, an avid reader and writer. After graduating from Oxford, Austen survived typhus and embarked on a literary career seeing her works published anonymously throughout her life.

Best known for Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), her six full-length novels have rarely been out of print and have spawned numerous film, television, and drama adaptations. Rich in satire, romance, and wit, Austen is renowned for her critiques of 18th-century British high society and the role of women within it.

About the Narrator

Rosamund Pike is an acclaimed English actress most recognized for her breakthrough role as a Bond girl in Die Another Day (2002), where she won the Empire Aware for Best Newcomer, and her towering lead performance in Gone Girl (2014), which won her an Empire Award for Best Actress. A graduate of English literature from Oxford University’s Wadham College, Pike began her career in stage productions and television appearances before later transitioning into film. Having often spoken of her admiration for the works of Jane Austen, Pike played Jane Bennett in a 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice as well as providing narration of this novel for Audible in 2015.

Public Domain (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Flawless

I loved Rosamund Pike's reading of this classic. So many things I hadn't noticed before just jumped out at me!
I particularly love her performance of Mrs. Jennings. :)

Applause, applause!!!

Applause, applause!! Tears of enjoyment is how I felt when coming to the end of this audible narration. It was such a good "performance" by both the author and narrator. Sounds corny I know, but I was actually having visions of jumping from my seat in an audience to give applause. The Brontes have always been my heart and soul but this novel has really upped my appreciation for Jane Austen, though I've always liked her and understood well her place in literature. Emma has always been one of my favorite books and I really liked Persuasion and Pride and Predjudice. I can't wait to now watch the movie version of this with Emma Thompson and I look forward to reading Mansfield Park and North Anger Abbey. Lastly, I must say that reading Austen is quite a comforting throwback to the days before the internet and social media (well, way before the days ;), days when one had to wonder for a while what may be going on with someone of interest to them, when we could allow our imagination to wonder a bit as to someone's thoughts, location and when we might see them again. Perhaps I didn't understand Austen's place in literature as much as I thought I did as I feel my eyes have been opened in some way to that by this particular novel.

Beautifully Produced

What a great production! The narration and tempo did justice to Jane Austin’s eloquent and timeless classic.

Characters Created to Touch the Heart

This is one of the best novels ever written and Rosamund Pike is wonderful in her dramatic reading. Two sisters with strikingly different personalities (one with sense and the other a drama queen/ or with extreme romantic sensibilities) have a change in fortune. A new home introduces them to new friends who will make lasting impressions. Both become broken-hearted but how they respond to their sorrows sets the stage for plot twists and turns that keep the reader eager to hope for goodwill to prevail. A classic with rare insides to human nature and family dynamics.

Lovely!

A lovely and thoughtful reading of a timeless story! Rosamund Pike is a wonderful narrator.

Loved the narration!

It was a joy to listen to! It took a couple of chapters to get into it, but then I really enjoyed the rest of the book. I will listen to this one again.

Rosamond Pike is fantastic

If you’ve never read the book get this Audible version. If you’ve read the book get it anyway. Ms. Pike’s performance is flawless. So very often a narrator has issues with different characters, especially men. I found her characterizations seamless.

Fabulous reading will look for more by R Pike

The novel goes without saying as incredible. Rosamond Pike's reading is delightful. Thoroughly enjoyed Jane Austin through this Audible production!

Rosomund Pike is a delight

I enjoyed the narration by Rosamund Pike. Her delivery was as I would have imagined Jane Austen herself may have read her stories, or heard the voices in her head as she wrote. This is a nice addition to the collection of the works of Jane Austin, and well worth the slight increase in price for the acclaimed narration by Rosamund Pike.

Rosamund Pike sets the bar for narrators..........

I am an obvious Austen admirer, and own several antique editions of her works, pre-library of Congress, a couple with illustrations protected on each side with special paper from their times...… so yeah...……. having listened to several audiobooks now, I am gaining an appreciation of, and preference for, narrators. Rosamund Pike is my current favorite, and it might likely help that she is also a highly regarded, and adept, actress. I also appreciate longer versions of works, with an especial presence for the unabridged editions. Borrow this one right away, and purchase it when you are able, for you will listen again and again. Brava, Ms. Pike, brava.