Love and Freindship: And Other Youthful Writings (Penguin Classics)

Austens hilarious early stories and sketchescomplete with her delightfully quirky spelling habitsnow collected in one volume, includingLady Susan, the basis for Whit Stillman's feature filmLove and Friendshipstarring Kate Beckinsale andChlo Sevigny

Jane Austens earliest writing dates from when she was just eleven-years-old, and already shows the hallmarks of her mature work. But it is also a product of the times in which she grew updark, grotesque, often surprisingly bawdy, and a far cry from the polished, sparkling novels of manners for which she became famous. Drunken heroines, babies who bite off their mothers fingers, and a letter-writer who has murdered her whole family all feature in these highly spirited pieces. This edition includes all of Austens juvenilia, including her History of England - written by a 'partial, prejudiced and ignorant Historian and the novella Lady Susan, in which the anti-heroine schemes and cheats her way through high society.With atitle that captures a young Austens original idiosyncratic spelling habits andan introduction by Christine Alexanderthat shows how Austen was self-consciously fashioning herself as a writer from an early age, this is a must-have for any Austen lover.