Marianne Dashwood is impulsive and easily swept away by grand emotions, in stark contrast to her sensible and balanced sister Elinor. Marianne, passionate and romantic, succumbs to the charms of the charming yet unreliable John Willoughby, while Elinor stoically handles the news that the one she loves, Edward Ferrars, is engaged to another. Jane Austen's first novel, Sense and Sensibility, portrays with unique precision the transition from Enlightenment to Romanticism through two unforgettable female characters. The tale of Marianne and Elinor Dashwood has never ceased to captivate readers worldwide and is a true classic of English literature. JANE AUSTEN [1775–1817] was an English author. Her novels are set in the English nobility, often portrayed with sharp irony. Social rules and codes are often barriers to finding happiness, especially for the women her novels center around. Austen is one of the most beloved authors of all time and her works are constantly being adapted for film, television and the stage.