Lady Susan

     Last evening I read rather a good short story that was in the form of letters.  It was called Lady Susan and it is by Jane Austen.  I had never personally heard of the short story when I was first given it by a friend who was actually giving me Austen's Persuasion but Lady Susan came with it.  I do not know if it is a lesser known work but I think it is not a lesser well written work.  Before you jump to conclusions, I do not, would not, ever compare it to Jane Austen's five other novels by a long shot but I still think it is worthy of recognition as an insightful and enjoyable read.  Without giving away too much, for I want you to read the short story and if I spoil it you won't want to, I will give a short synopsis of it.  Lady Susan focuses on the character of, well... Lady Susan. :) However, unlike in Austen's other novels, Lady Susan is not a honorable woman.  She is of gentry status recently widowed with a sixteen-year-old daughter.  Lady Susan herself is roughly thirty-five.  Her chief crime is that she is a conniving flirt who knows it and doesn't care about the consequences as long as she can continue on as she always has.  Her other crime is that she is cruel to her daughter, who, unlike Lady Susan tries to make her out to be, is rather a sweet child.   Telling more would give it all away so you'll just have to read it to discover what happens.  As I mentioned before, the story is told in the form of letters but it is quite easy to follow.  You might want to take an index card and write down the names of the characters and who they are as you read so as to keep them straight.  There aren't too many of them but when Lord or Lady is attached to almost every name they all start to look like.  Pick it up and read it, you won't regret it.

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.