Love and Friendship

From the collection of Austen’s juvenilia, this epistolary novella displays the author’s propensity for writing entertaining stories for her family, with early signs of her talent for social commentary and witticisms. Much like Northanger Abbey, this novella parodies popular works of Austen’s time with over the top drama and farcical scenes (like a series of hilarious fainting spells meant to poke fun at romantic swooning). Each letter details one episode in the life of Laura, the narrator; I like to imagine Jane reading them aloud to her family each night after finishing her writing for the day. If you’re curious about the trajectory of Austen’s career, her juvenilia provides a fun, frolicsome peek at her beginnings.