From Lady Susan to Love and Friendship: Austen’s Wit on Screen

Love and Friendship is a 2016 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s early novella Lady Susan, written in the 1790s but published posthumously in 1871. Directed by Whit Stillman and starring Kate Beckinsale as the cunning and charming Lady Susan Vernon, the film stands out from other Austen adaptations for its biting wit and satirical tone. Unlike Austen’s more romantic heroines, Lady Susan is manipulative and self-serving, using her beauty and intelligence to secure advantageous marriages. The film embraces this sharp humor and social critique, offering a delightful and lesser-known look at Austen’s early style and her talent for irony.