This review specifically refers to the audiobook. It's important to note that this collection of three Jane Austen books—Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion—is a collection of abridged versions. It's not the right pick if you are looking for a week-long binge of the full-length versions of these classics. But for the reader who wants to sample Austen via audio without committing to reading three full books, this recording (8+ hours at 1.0x speed) is a lovely option. The narrator is Prunella Scales from Fawlty Towers (which I haven't seen), but I pictured Isobel Crawley from Downton Abbey—respectable but not the highest ranking woman in the village, kind but a bit of a gossip.

If you're looking for a quick introduction into the works of Austen, this is a good option. The narration of the abridged stories is well done and you can enjoy several stories for the length of what is generally one. It is a good option if you'd like to either get an introduction or a refresh of the stories so that you can discuss them again.

If you love Jane Austen you will definitely enjoy this audiobook, it is great to have all those awesome writings in just one audiobook. I think this is a great gift for daughters and friends. Also for people who travels a lot because you just put it in play and start traveling through the histories. Narrator it is good and enjoyable.

It was very noticeable that they were all abridged, especially Sense & Sensibility. I hadn't read any of these three books before, but I don't feel like listening to these was an adequate replacement for reading the originals. I did, however, think the narrator did an excellent job. Her voice sounded very much of the time period that the books are from.

I voluntarily listened and reviewed this audiobook. This audiobook is well written and the characters are described well. This audiobook was pretty good. Jane Austen is a great author, her writing style is great. The narrator did a pretty good job reading this book. This audiobook is in stores now for A$24.99 (AUD).

4 stars because the abridged execution is done very well. I think that someone looking to get into classic literature could test the waters with this collection. Prepare for the voice and accent of the narrator! I felt as if my governess was reading me a bedtime story, so maybe not the audiobook for a road trip!

I love Jane Austen books but I just couldn't listen to this audiobook because I just didn't like the narration.

Oh how I love Jane Austen and will take every opportunity to read her again and again! And these audiobooks are fabulous. The narrator is exactly how I would imagine Jane Austen herself narrating these pages. I had to look her up because I thought she was as good as the narrator for The Outlander books (Davina Porter blows me away). And no surprise this narrator, Prunella Scales, is a prolific actress all the way back from Faulty Towers. Oh I love her in that! All that to say, perfect narration selection for such classics as these!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I listened to the audiobook version of this title. I found the narrator dry and hard to listen to. The collection itself is a good sample of Austen's work.

This collection is a treat: four Jane Austen classics in one great collection and with fantastic narration. Obviously, this would be a great addition for her fans, but I think the narration brings the book to life in a way that it would also be fun for a wider audience to experience for the first time.

I received an audioARC in exchange for an honest review.

I got an ARC of this audiobook.

The narrator was fantastic. Her tone through the narration was just the sort of thing that gets me sucked into an audiobook. She gave the characters life and at times her voice gave the story more depth than me reading it alone would have done. When she was reading a character that was meant to be overbearing or annoying, she really sold it. I immediately know exactly what each character was supposed to be by her voice. One of the best narrators I have heard yet.

The stories themselves have been reviewed so many times and I am far from an expert on classic English literature that my views are probably short of what someone should be reading. I found myself snorting through Sense and Sensibility and getting wrapped up in Emma (at one point I even shouted out "Emma done fucked up now" which really should say all that needs to be said about me). If it weren't for the narrator I wouldn't have enjoyed these books. I have such an issue engaging in classic literature, but with narration like this I can see why people love these stories.

My biggest issue is these books are abridged. I wanted the full stories. This is the first time that I was sad that I didn't get more pages in a classic.

The Jane Austen Collection: Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Persuasion by Jane Austen
Narrated by: Prunella Scales
Publication Date: November 5, 2020
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Description from NetGalley...
“This collection includes:
Sense and Sensibility - The three Dashwood sisters move to a cottage in Devon with their widowed mother. There, they experience love, romance and heartbreak. The older sister, Elinor, is more sensible, steadfast and wary; the middle sister, Marianne, is more impulsive and idealistic. Each will find love: but the routes that take them there will be very different.

Emma - Impressively witty, beautiful and vain, with a penchant for meddling, Emma Woodhouse is mischievous force to be reckoned with. Though she has convinced herself that she will never marry, she somehow has garnered skills for 'matchmaking'.

Persuasion - An overlooked middle daughter destined to be a spinster. A handsome rejected naval officer. A family on the brink of financial ruin.
Anne Elliot has never forgotten about the man to whom she was persuaded out of an engagement by her family. When he returns to Anne's life eight years later, will she be able to secure a second chance?
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Note from the Publishers...
“William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time.”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @harperaudio @wmcollinsbooks @deccarecords for the audiobook ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
I am a big fan of Jane Austen and her books, so this audiobook was a must-listen to me. Prunella Scales was wonderful, of course. If you don’t know who she is, she was in Fawlty Towers. All the three works included here are the abridged versions. I’m quite familiar with these three books, and having the abridged version read to me was perfect. Scales’ accent, voice, intonations and interpretation of the stories were matched well to each versions. I also enjoy having great stories read to me, especially by someone with a British accent. 😁🇬🇧

I am a great lover of Jane Austen and her works and jumped at the opportunity to listen to this collection of three novels read by Prunella Scales. The works, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion, are all abridged, but if you love Austen, have read these before, or just want to bathe in a bit of Austen while you're out and about or too busy to read, this collection is for you! They all work very well in their abridged version. The only work I'm not as familiar with is Persuasion, which I have in physical form and look forward to reading again, even more so after listening to this collection.

The narrator, Prunella Scales, has done an excellent job of bringing these classic Jane Austen favorites to life. She has managed to give voice to the movie screen in my mind. The three stories in this collection are Austen fan favorites, easily making the Top Ten list of most classic literature lists. This collection would be a perfect way to introduce younger readers to Jane Austen, along with adding a great reading experience to your drive to work.

I am a reader who is very fond of the works of Jane Austen. I have read and reread her books always enjoying them and taking away something different each time. I have also listened to many of the novels.

This collection is narrated by Prunella Scales, a British actress. Her accent, voice and tone seem perfect for the works that are in this collection. There are three of Austen’s well-known novels here. Each features engaging characters and the keen observations of the author.

There is only one thing that I don’t love about this collection and that is that the books are abridged. Still, it is a wonderful omnibus for a quicker Jane Austen experience or for those who want an introduction and may follow up with the full narrations at a later date.

Many, many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this enjoyable collection. All opinions are my own.

The Jane Austen Collection narrated by Prunella Scales is a complete delight to listen to. These books are all classics for a reason. Austen's work is timeless and perfect place to start when delving into classics. This collection includes Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Persuasion. Emma is my favorite Jane Austen book and listening to this audio version even further propelled my love of the timeless classic. Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility are my second and fourth favorite Austen novels and it was a joy listening to them in an Audio format as well. Listening to audiobooks of classics are a great way to get into classics. I highly recommend this!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.