"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid." - Jane Austen.
Sense and Sensibility.
Chapter 1.
Mr Dashwood and his family live in an estate at Norland Park. The estate is not theirs but from an old man who is a relative of Mr John Dashwood. Mr John Dashwood is Mr Dashwood's son from a previous marriage. The old man dies and leaves his house to Mr Dashwood. When Mr Dashwood passes away shortly after, the house is inherited by his son. Mr Dashwood was not a rich man and left his family with only 10.000 £, but at his deathbed he makes John promise to take care for his family. As soon as he has died, Mrs John Dashwood (Fanny) moves into the house, which is a very impolite thing to do, because it gives Mrs Dashwood the feeling as if she has been degraded from the owner of the house to just a guest. Mrs Dashwood is very extreme in her emotions. Elinor is the eldest of the three sisters. She is very realistic and has coolness in judgement. Marianne is very sensitive and very outspoken. She has a high passion for music and thinks others to be flawed when they don't share her taste or passion. Margaret is the youngest of three. She has imbibed Marianne's view of romance, but lacks her sense. The story begins somewhere in September.
Chapter 2.
John Dashwood and Mrs John Dashwood have a conversation about the promise John made to his father. His wife does not approve of his decision to give a 1000 £ to each of his three half-sisters. At the end of the conversation she has convinced him that being helpful and letting them stay at the house is kindness enough; he does not need to give them any money.
Chapter 3.
Mrs Dashwood would like to move out of Norland Park, but with her income; there are not many other options. .
Elinor meets Mrs John Dashwoods brother, Edward Ferrars. Edward is a very amiable guy. Mrs Dashwood is immediately very fond of him, because, above all, he is nothing like his sister.