From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
Happy dance in the Jane Austen book world today. With the release of Coralie Bickford-Smith’s new cover design of Love and Freindship and Other Youthful Writings, the Penguin Clothbound Classics set of Jane Austen novels now includes seven books: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion, and Northanger Abbey.
BOOK SET DESCRIPTION
Few novelists have conveyed the subtleties and nuances of their own social milieu with the wit and insight of Jane Austen. Through her vivacious and spirited heroines and their circle, she painted vivid portraits of English middle-class life as the eighteenth century came to a close. Each of these novels is a love story and a story about marriage—marriage for love, for financial security, for social status. But they are not mere romances. Ironic, comic, and wise, they are masterly studies of the society Austen observed. The seven books in this box set—Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Love and Freindship (early writings and juvenilia)—contain some of the most brilliant, dazzling prose in the English language. Part of Penguin’s beautiful Hardcover Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design.
Since Pride and Prejudice, the first book in series was introduced in 2009, book designer Bickford Smith has completed over 20 new covers of classic novels. Beside Austen, the series includes books by authors Charles Dickens, F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Elliot, William Shakespeare, Wilkie Collins, Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell and others. The covers are inspired by the style of design from the early twentieth-century with motifs indicative of the stories in the novels. The pink shoes on the cover of Love and Freindship are so charming.
BOOK SET INFORMATION
- Jane Austen: The Complete Works, 7-Book Boxed Set: Sense and Sensibility; Pride and Prejudice; Mansfield Park; Emma; Northanger Abbey; Persuasion; Love and Freindship
- Penguin Classics; Box edition (November 24, 2015)
- Hardcover (clothbound) 3120 pages
- ISBN: 978-0141395203
- Genre: Classic Literature
ADDITIONAL INFO | ADD TO GOODREADS
We received a review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Austenprose is an Amazon affiliate. Cover image courtesy of Penguin Classics © 2015; text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2012, austenprose.com. Last updated on 6 March 2022.
These are absolutely mouth watering, aren’t they?
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Thank you for telling us Laurel Ann! :) I love those cloth-bound books from Penguin. On Mansfield Park those look like the necklaces Fanny received from Edmund and Mr. Crawford.
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Thanks for the chance to win this great set!!!!
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Yes, thanks for the chance to win these books!
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The Contest has already ended!
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I don’t understand, @Kate’s Bookshelf, what do you mean that it has already ended?
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They look absolutely beautiful. I would love to win those!
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I am entering the contest anyway.
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They are beautiful. I am thrilled they are being honored with their new look. Thank you for this wonderful chance!
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‘Handsome is as handsome does’…or, how about, ‘you can tell a book by its cover’!
Thanks, Laurel Ann, for offering this to your readers!
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The link took me to Facebook?? I’m not a member so can’t enter. Shame, as I would love to win these.
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Thanks for offering the second giveaway chance! I’d definitely go with Captain Wentworth in that throwdown – always bet on the British navy!
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I would like to know more of the personality of Henry Tilney. I had not yet read Northanger Abbey (only one of Jane’s that I hadnt read) I did se a movie version of it which based on what im hearing from others, was a bad version of it.
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Patricia, Henry Tilney is my favorite Austen hero because he is very witty, smart, sensitive and charming. Hard act to follow.
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I wanted to win this the first time around, so glad you are offering us another chance!! I definitely love my Henry Tilney from the movie.. I haven’t read them yet so you have to pick me pick me pick me so that I CAN read these exquisite editions!! You’ll have to write a post to explain to me who you think you would win and why, since I would be making stuff up. But please don’t mess up Henry’s face, he is too adorable in his smoldering looks, don’t hurt him!
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so glad for this xtra opp to enter ! thx penguin ;)
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Ok, Tilney is my favorite. I love him. So much. That being said, Wentworth is a captain who was won his fortune in fights (albeit with ships…) but he’s gotta be more in shape, and more up on fighting than Tilney. If we were talking about a battle of wits, Tilney, no question. :)
Hoping to win! :)
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You have no idea how long I have been lusting after this collection…they are simply stunning. Since I did not win from Penguin the first time…I will try again for the two! Thanks for the second chance and I love that they put so much thought into the cover design. It shows they appreciate how much us Janeites adore the smallest details!
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How can we resist Persuasion?…
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Capt. Wentworth pierces my soul.
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I love Captain Wentworth so I cannot say that Tilney could win. Just no. It must be Wentworth.
Thank you to Penguin for the additional chance to win.
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Oh wow, this is amazing! I’ve been lusting after these hardbound books. I’d definitely love to win these.
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How beautiful!! How perfectly fitting that the exterior of the book should be as wonderful as what’s inside!!!!
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I would love to win these books……..for me…but especially for my sister-in-law who is a true Jane Austen fan!!
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I am certain Captain Wentworth would win! He is a man of war where Henry Tilney is a country rector. Go Team Wentworth!
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Ive not had a chance to read either of those but would love to! Could a Janite tell me more about Persuasion, specifically? That was her last, correct?
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Hi Meaghan, Persuasion is a second chance at love story that will pierce your soul. Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth meet, fall in love, and want to marry, but Anne takes the advise of family friend to reject him. Wentworth leaves for service in the Royal Navy and returns 7 years later. It is a great story that you should discover.
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it’s my fave of all the JA books! a book of hope…
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The books look delicious!
Captain Wentworth would win, without question. While Mr. Tilney has some redeeming qualities, to be sure, he can in no way compare to the smoldering, ever-faithful Captain Wentworth. And that letter! No one can beat that letter! You pierce my soul! Tilney can not compete.
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I must agree Jennifer, that the “you pierce my soul” letter is unbeatable in the swoon department, but Henry is just so darn witty. He makes me laugh which makes him tops in my book. I am also a sucker for a man in blue, so Capt. Wentworth is a very close second for me in the throw down. In the long run, Wentworth would make the better husband and Tilney the party man.
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Hands down, Captain Wentworth. Henry Tilney, besides being a moron, has the added turn-off of being a jerk when it comes to Northanger’s Gothic-loving heroine. While Wentworth may have allowed himself to succumb to pride and almost fallen for the inferior wiles of the ditzy Louisa, he is a sensitive gentleman with the good sense to have loved and gained one of Austen’s most lovable ladies.
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Henry Tilney a moron and a jerk? *faints*
OMGoodness. I am speechless.
Henry deserves more respect. They are both entirely different personalities. Both heroes have their faults and charms. It is a tight throw down for me, but Henry wins because he is smart and he is not afraid to admit he likes muslin.
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Perhaps I spoke in haste – it’s actually been quite a while since I last read Northanger Abbey. I just recall Henry being hesitant to marry Catherine, being rather unduly and openly critical of her interests, and having little appeal by himself. But I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly: certainly a man who likes muslin can’t be all bad!
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What beautiful editions!!! I can’t say for certain who would win. I certainly think Henry Tilney is kind of a jerk, so maybe I’m rooting for Wentworth by default. Persuasion is on my TBR list. :)
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Oh my. Another Henry is a jerk fan. Where is this coming from?
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i can see some of this response b/c of Henry’s response when Catherine gets conned into going on the carriage ride w/ her brother & friends on the rainy day date. Rather than inquire of Catherine for her own reasons, Henry snubs her. Yet their agreement was clear regarding the walking out only if it didn’t rain… and it had rained so she was free to take up another invite..
or so it seems to me ;) …
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Very pretty
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Difficult choice as I like both these gentlemen, but my vote would go to Captain Wentworth, perhaps Jane’s most romantic hero. He continued to love Anne after everyone else had consigned her to the shelf.
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Please feel free to pick me to win one of these delightful editions of some of my favorite stories! <3
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Sometimes you really can tell a book is good by its cover. :)
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A throw down between Mr. Tilley and Captain Wentworth? No contest! Captain Wentworth is winning that all the way!
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Ooops- sorry about the typo- *I* know it is Mr. Tilney, but the spell checker, which I didn’t notice, doesn’t.
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The winner must surely be Mr. Tilney! He says “it is well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible”, and he’s one of MY many holds upon happiness! Let the witty one win!
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Phew. I was really worried there that I was the only Henry fan. Thanks for reminding me of that great quote. I think it is my life mantra.
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Well, being a military man, Capt. Wentworth might win in fist fight, but Henry Tilney will always win in a throw down for my heart. Thus, I pick Mr. Tilney. Swoon…
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LOL – yes Captain Wentworth could whoop Mr. Tilney in a physical fight, but Henry would win on smarts!
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ooo not in this girl’s books !
he didn’t get to become Captain w/o substantial smarts !
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Definitely Captain Wentworth, purely by virtue of his letter-writing finesse. :)
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It’s been a while since I read Northanger Abbey, but from what I remember I would probably go with Capt. Wentworth, because of his constancy. Faithfulness is a great quality that is sadly lacking in many people.
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Great giveaway! Captain Wentworth would win.
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Captain Wentworth without a doubt. He stayed true to Anne for all those years and saw the qualities in her that so many others overlooked. Besides, Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel! I love these new Penguin hardcover editions.
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Well, if it came down to a fist fight, I think Captain Wentworth would take Henry Tilney. Henry would probably win a verbal sparring, but Captain Wentworth is in the navy, and has learned a thing or two of combat.
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Beautiful books! Thanks for the opportunity. Henry Tilney wins the slap down. He’s quick in action and on his toes. Captain Wentworth would still be assessing the situation and possible risks while Henry Tilney made his first, second, and third move.
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Thanks for the opportunity to enter the sweepstakes! Gorgeous set!
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I would love to own this set. Thanks for the opportunity. I have to say I do not understand Henry Tilney’s haters!!! He is such a gentleman, Any Austen hero deserves more respect, however…the constancy of Captain Wentworth’s love wins my heart. What woman wouldn’t die to have a second chance with their lost love???? And he can write!!!!!! My smelling salts!!! My poor nervers…you don’t know what I suffer!
Rita Watts (ritalacerdawatts@aol.com)
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It’s such a lovely collection! I have P&P, S&S, and Emma.
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The book covers are lovely. How nice that Penguin is giving your readers another chance! Thank you too, Laurel Ann.
I guess I would have to pick Captain Wentworth. His letter to Anne waxed quite eloquent and was so romantic.
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Captain Wentworth, I think. Mr. Tilney is much too genteel.
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