Persuasion and More (Xist Classics) - Sense and Sensibility

This is a gorgeous edition of compiled Jane Austen novels. I was hoping the picture wasn't misleading, but if anything, the book I received was even more beautiful than the picture illustrated. This will be displayed prominently in my growing home library. Thank you so much.

Just to be clear since some reviews have been tacked on to the wrong edition (aka same book, wrong edition), before...this is concerning the "Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics" Edition.
I got this as a Christmas gift, and from the outset, the presentation truly excited me. I love how they struck such a balance between the ornate and the simple with the floral designs. It is very inviting and enticing...if any person has a hard time reading, surely a book this beautiful will spark enough curiosity and motivation.

I won't bother with discussing plot in-depth considering that this is a collection of works rather than a single piece (besides, I've only finished "Emma" and am currently reading through "Mansfield Park"). But As I complete each tale, I'll be sure to leave a little comment/note about what drew me or not.

This edition's features:
This volume is a leatherbound, hardcover edition. It runs at 1221 pages. The paper used is thin, but it is a smooth professional-grade of paper with gold painted edges. It consists of 6 novels ("Sense and Sensibility", "Pride and Prejudice", "Mansfield Park", "Emma", "Northanger Abbey", and "Persuasion") by Jane Austen and one short fiction ("Lady Susan"...one of her earliest works and one that defined her narrative voice). Besides Jane Austen's actual works, there is also an introduction written by Sarah S. G. Frantz, and a very mini biography about Jane Austen in the back of the book.

Some customers have made note of the book being fragile or becoming unbound. From my experience, though, this book has held up quite well...but I will update this review if something should happen. But, I have had this book for almost a year, now, and it has "stood the test of time. I've taken it on the road with me to Dentist appointments and other places, left it in the car at times when I had to go shopping....it even survived some accidental rough-n-tumble situations. So, as expected based on the other book collections of this same series, this one is solidly put together.

COMMENTS ON THE NARRATIVES I'VE COMPLETED IN THIS EDITION:

"Emma" - The first Jane Austen I ever read. It's a wonderful, upbeat tale about a woman of confidence. Though romance is a vehicle, it's not the centerpiece. The actual tale involves how Emma learns to refine confidence into real wisdom...to not allow your success blind you to the reality of situation.

"Mansfield Park" - Whereas "Emma" is about a social butterfly and undeniable extrovert, this tale makes tale makes Fanny, the antithesis to Emma, the key heroine. It shows the strength and accuracy of perception of the "quiet ones". In books, rarely are noble and compassionate main characters shown as quietly resilient, with their own passionate emotions, and self-reflective...but Austen does it masterfully, convincingly, and in a relatable fashion.

In a publishing career that spanned less than a decade, Jane Austen revolutionized the literary romance, using it as a stage from which to address issues of gender politics and class – consciousness rarely expressed in her day. The novels included in this beautiful Collectible Edition — Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Lady Susan — represent all of Austen’s mature work as a novelist, and provide the reader with an introduction to the world she and her memorable characters inhabited.
Jane Austen: Seven Novels is part of Barnes & Noble’s Collectible Editions series. Each title in the series presents a classic work in an attractively designed edition bound in genuine bonded leather. These books make elegant additions to any home library. ( My new book shelf is on the way and I cannot wait to put this on display!)
I recommend this book to any Jane Austen fan.
When I saw this in the book store I knew I had to have it. I love Pride and Prejudice and this cover and binding were just too beautiful to pass up.
Sense and Sensibility – Easy to follow, I don’t remember a lot of it though.
Pride and Prejudice – My favorite! Whats not to like!
Mansfield Park – Not my favorite but a great read that makes you think about how you are treated as a woman.
Emma – I couldn’t get into this one.
Northanger Abbey – This one made me laugh a lot. A lot of her books are set in Bath she must have really liked it there.
Persuasion – I struggled with this one the most. I had a hard time connecting with the women characters. They seemed really bizarre to me.
Lady Susan – The shortest of all the previous books. It is a different kind of story as it consists of letters written between the characters. This one was the hardest for me to follow for that reason.
I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

I bought this book as soon as I saw it. It is beautiful. The page edges are painted gold. There is an attached gold ribbon. Unlike most hardcover books, the book was not glued to the center of the hardcover backing/binding. The book is held in place by the first and last page of the book. After 1.5 weeks of on and off reading, the book tore from the hardcover. Such a disappointment... The content is of course fantastic.

This book set is amazing. It's absolutely gorgeous. Lovely gold painted edges and a cute little ribbon. The cover is very beautiful too.

My only issue is the fact that because of all that gold paint, the pages stick together! Which is really frustrating when turning the pages, having to unstick them. Also, the book seems to be starting to fall apart from the front page. Which really disappointed me. I guess I won't have much of a read of this before it starts falling apart soon.

I love this book it gives the pleasure of being able to go back and revisit whichever novel i feel like rereading at the moment. It is very beautiful and very well made. The letters are a bit smaller than i would like but not too bad. I bought this on another popular auction site brand new for a very good price and it was packaged amazingly thus its condition when arrived was perfect.

The only con that i can see to this book is how heavy it is. It weighs about 4 pounds and its difficult to find a position in which it is comfortable to read. Ultimately some body part ends up in pain (neck,wrists,back). I am young so i thought id be able to handle it but no i can read about one hour intervals at a time. Also because of its size its not very practical to carry around to read in a spare moment.

I would definately recommend this book because i think its benefits definately out weigh everything else. Its affordable has stunning presentation and is from a wonderful author.

I love this book!! It is a beautiful novel. It is over 2.5" thick and it brings in the mystery of the 1800's.. I can not wait to finish all of the novels. This is the perfect gift for any Austen lover.

This book arrived a week before its expected date. This picture does not do it justice. The pages are beautifully trimmed in gold and the cover is textured with an antique feeling. I bought this book for my sister who needed it for a literature class and she cried when she saw it. I look forward to purchasing others like it.

I have been a Jane Austen fan for many years and have all of her books, however, this book with her complete works is much more than I expected. I like the cover design of gold and blue with the gold page endings. The arrangements of the books makes for a better reading and enjoyment. I would recommend all who love Jane Austen include this book in your Library collection. It is good for use in your book club meetings. I LOVE IT AND YOU WILL TOO!!!!