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“What could I do! Facts are such horrid things!!!��

One of Lady Susan Vernon’s many eye opening and indecent phrases in this scandalous little book. A woman who would make many women flinch and men recoil, for the audacious and brazen way that Lady Susan declares her intentions and goes about seducing the man she intends to marry now that she is a widow. This story is set in a very rigid and conservative society, where women had their ‘place�� which makes this ‘conquest�� all the more exciting because the hunted becomes the hunter and makes no apologies for it.

Her antics were shameless, her methods devious, her attitude selfish, and plans bodacious which made her such a 'deliciously corrupt character' and brilliant in this story.

The Plot

Lady Susan is a beautiful and charming woman who has been left a widow at the age of 35 with a 16-year-old daughter, Frederica. A woman who possesses many other talents too which she puts to ‘good�� use in securing herself a gentleman husband. And her sights have been set on her sister-in-law’s brother Reginald, who is quickly bewitched by her charms, flirtatious ways and coquettish behaviours.

As well as beautiful, witty, and high spirited, Lady Susan is also conniving, self centred and a moral delinquent whose seductive machinations have drawn the interest of men who are disarmed by her, but also the attention of the women who ridicule her.

Written in letter form, the true intentions of the manipulative widow are unapologetically and unashamedly laid bare. So much so that the reader has no work to do but sit back and savour the mischievous exploits and cunning handiwork of a seductress at work.

Review and Comments

It is true that these types of stories amuse me to no end. Here we have the beautiful stylish and charming woman who exudes class, wealth, and sophistication, but the person on the inside is devious, immoral, and audacious which should be detestable. However, in a society that places so much emphasis on outward appearances, respectability and formality, these characters are all the more fascinating for me, because they are huge contradictions of themselves.

Wickedly scheming and manipulative �� and so I was hooked.
Shockingly ambitious and improper �� I just love it.
Disgracefully ignoble and disreputable - oh give me more.

I loved that Jane Austen created this book character and was incredibly mature to write such a story at a young age. However, to appeal to the moralists, it was said the young Jane Austen could not afford to let her heroine succeed with such an audacious plan for fear of upsetting its illiberal and myopic readers of the times. Forgivable for succumbing to culture pressures because the 19-year-old Jane Austen goes on to write Pride and Prejudice, and others, which really does challenge the delicate and conciliatory role of women.

Nevertheless, this was a very worthy and elegantly written story about a fascinating and intriguing book character. One I’d rather not know but one I am happy to indulge because Lady Susan is wickedly immoral, energetic, enterprising, and cunning, and so added much spice and drama to this story.