No spoilers here. Jane Austen may be the most skilled writer I’ve come across. I have shied away from her books for a silly reason, namely that they are more feminine. I know, it’s dumb.

But as to this book: what she was able to accomplish in less than 200 pages is astonishing. How she was able to use subtleties of describing her characters’ professions; travels; discussions of love, loss, and courtship; and views on the importance of rank and class to coherently describe theories on England’s changing society is remarkable. Not to pick on Tolstoy, but I feel that Austen did more in 200 pages to discuss these themes than he was able to do in 1200 pages (not to mention that second epilogue which we could have done without).

Which of her novels should I read next? I am thoroughly taken with what I read in Persuasion. Was this her best novel or are the others as masterful?