Lady Susan Vernon is a woman of remarkable charm and striking intelligence. Recently widowed, yet never without confidence or direction, she moves from one drawing room to another with elegant ease. Wherever she goes, admiration follows, but so do quiet whispers and unsettled hearts.
   Through a series of letters, Jane Austen reveals a world in which affection can be carefully shaped into strategy and conversation becomes a field of influence. Lady Susan knows how to command attention and how to bend sentiment in her favor. Yet her wit and grace cannot fully shield her from the consequences of her choices.
   This novella offers a clear and brilliant study of society, desire and self interest. It portrays a woman who refuses to live quietly or modestly and instead seeks a life shaped by her own design. Lady Susan remains one of Austen’s most vivid portraits of confidence, complexity and the price of personal freedom