Elinor Dashwood is thoughtful, considerate, and calm. Her younger sister Marianne is emotional and wildly romantic. Both are looking for a husband, but neither Elinors reason nor Mariannes passion can lead them to perfect happiness, as Marianne falls for an unscrupulous rascal and Elinor becomes attached to a man whos already engaged. In Jane Austens debut novel, published in 1811, the foibles of romance, human nature, and social manners are explored with great wit and irony. No wonder the novel has been beloved by readers for over 200 years.