Sense and Sensibility Book Adaptations (Part I)
- Samiha Bala
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
Ah, Sense and Sensibility, the oft-forgotten older sister of Pride and Prejudice. The quiet, polite Elinor Dashwood to the energetic, youthful Marianne. Pride and Prejudice might be more beloved, but it stands on the foundation Austen built in Sense and Sensibility, the first novel she ever published. This novel deserves some love, too! I went hunting for book adaptations of Sense and Sensibility, and here's what I found.
If you need to reread Sense and Sensibility before JASP 2025 but are short on time (or just want to enjoy bobblehead Jane Austen characters), this YA graphic novel adaptation is absolutely adorable.
Written by Nancy Butler with incredible art by Sonny Liew, this pastel-hued, coming-of-age volume is the perfect way to sink back into the world of Elinor and Marianne.
In the third book in Dev's Austen-inspired romance series about the high-powered Rajes family, ruthlessly sensible Yash Raje meets free-spirit India Dashwood. I love an adaptation that takes the heart of the original work and makes the rest its own, and I think that's exactly what Dev does in this book. What better way for sense and sensibility to battle it out in the modern day than a romance between a hyper-controlled political candidate and a stress management coach/yoga teacher?
Other books in this series include Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors; Recipe for Persuasion; and The Emma Project, each featuring a different member of the Rajes family.
Dev gave a talk for Jane Austen & Co.'s 'The Many Flavors of Jane Austen' series, in which she talked about her Austen-adjacent Rajes Family series. She also co-hosted the talk "Food, Family, & Identity" for the 'Staying Home With Jane Austen' series. Dev was a JASP 2019 speaker. You can read her interview here.
Amanda Grange is doing the Lord's work, diving into each one of Jane Austen's male protagonists' psyches and giving us insight into what in God's name is going through their heads.
In her fifth volume of her series Jane Austen Heroes, she takes us through Colonel Brandon's life, his first loves and losses, and leads us through his experience of the events of Sense and Sensibility. For a new perspective on an old classic, check out Grange's take on Colonel Brandon.
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters and Jane Austen
From the same publisher that gave you Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!
The moment I saw this beautiful creation, I knew I had to include it in this list. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is not an adaptation of the original work, but instead an extension. Picture everything exactly as it happened but add sea monsters. I don't know what else I have to say to sell you on this.
Reading this before JASP 2025 could be particularly helpful as this year's symposium will take place in historic New Bern, North Carolina, right on the Neuse River and not too far from the sea. Who knows what monsters lurk in those depths? It's best to be prepared!
That's all I have for today, folks! Keep an eye out for part two.
There are still a few places left for JASP 2025! Our four-day symposium will explore Jane Austen through lectures, workshops, small-group discussions and other activities, including our Regency ball! Register here. We hope to celebrate Jane Austen's 250th birthday with you in New Bern, NC!
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