I read several Jane Austen novels in college and got interested in reading her catalog in my free time. So I wanted to share some of what I've learned about Jane Austen's works.
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is by far Austen's most notable and beloved work, which tracks given the popularity of adaptions such as the 1995 miniseries or 2005 film. What makes Pride and Prejudice able to stand the test of time, however, is the opposites attract dynamic. Elizabeth and Darcy are both stubborn in their ways of thinking: Elizabeth is prejudiced and quick to judge, while Darcy is prideful and arrogant in his station. This sets them up for conflict and later ignites both of their desire for growth as they learn more about themself and the other. The novel transcends a love story and is about growth, family, and social standing/connections.
Emma
Emma follows Emma Woodhouse as she attempts to matchmake those in her life, much to the distress of family friend Mr. Knightley. He recognizes that Emma, because of her personality and privilege, has a certain influence over others, particularly her new friend Harriet Smith, which can do more harm than good if she's not careful. Emma throws hurdles at the titular character that cause her to be more reflective and challenged, and ultimately grow as an individual.
Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility is Jane Austen's response to the sentimental movement in literature. It showcases the two sentiments of being in the novel's two main characters: Elinor Dashwood is sense, and Marianne Dashwood is sensibility. Throughout the novel, they both face challenges in romance, finance, and family that highlight the flaws of these reactions, and brings them closer to both having sense and sensibility.
Persuasion
In Persuasion, Austen is interested in exploring exactly that. The main character Anne Elliot is face to face with her main heartbreak, Frederick Wentworth. She was influenced to break off her attachment to Wentworth in the past, and they are brought back together, and both have changed/are in the process of changing. Dealing with themes of family, persuasion, and second chances, Persuasion is a short, yet impactful novel.
Mansfield Park
Mansfield Park finds Fanny Price perpetually on the back foot. From a poor upbringing, she becomes a ward of her more well-off aunt and uncle. Fanny bleeds into the background, watching the drama unfold among her cousins and their various entanglements. However, she also observes the picturesque escape of Mansfield Park, their place of residence. The novel observes themes of performance, class, and revelation.
Northanger Abbey
Similarly to Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey becomes an exploration of a place. Seventeen year old Catherine Morland is finally able to go out and explore the world, but her naivety doesn't do her any favors. She gets caught up in people and ideas, which gets her in trouble fairly often. One of these becomes influenced by the dark and dreary halls of Northanger Abbey, and can have serious consequences.
Lady Susan; The Watsons
Lady Susan is an epistolary novel, told through a series of letters, detailing the chaotic actions of Lady Susan on her family and prospective partners. Likewise, The Watsons is an unfinished manuscript. I hadn't heard of either of these projects, until I started reading Austen's catalog. They may or may not be published together.