About Sense and Sensibility
The story (no spoilers)
After their father dies, the Dashwood sisters lose their home and move to a small cottage. Calm, careful Elinor and passionate Marianne both fall in love, and each handles her heart in a very different way.
Who it's for
A gentle way into Jane Austen at B1: shorter and steadier than Pride and Prejudice, with the same wit.
- Level
- CEFR B1
- Length
- 4 parts · about 1,900 words
- Reading time
- about 16 minutes (~4 min per part)
- Author
- Jane Austen
If you liked this, read
- Pride and Prejudice · B1–B2
- Little Women · A2–B1
- Jane Eyre · B2
Looking for something easier or harder? See Easy English books by level (A1–B2).
Reading Sense and Sensibility in English: quick answers
- What English level is Sense and Sensibility on SeoJae Story?
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is retold in simplified English at CEFR B1 (intermediate). It is split into 4 short parts, and every sentence has a Korean translation you can show or hide, so a learner at that level can follow the story without a dictionary.
- Is Sense and Sensibility hard to read in English?
- The original is written for native readers, with long sentences and older vocabulary, so most learners find it hard. This retelling keeps the story but uses simpler English at CEFR B1 (intermediate), so if you read English at that level you can follow it, and the Korean translation is there for any line that stops you. If it feels too hard, start with an easier book one level down.
- How long does it take to read Sense and Sensibility in simple English?
- About 16 minutes of reading in total — roughly 4 minutes per part across 4 parts. Listening to the audio narration, reviewing the vocabulary and taking each part's comprehension check adds a little more.
- Is this the full, unabridged text of Sense and Sensibility?
- No. It is an abridged graded retelling written for English learners that follows the story of the original in 4 parts. Every part also lets you read the matching unabridged chapters from the original, split into short readings.
- Is Sense and Sensibility free to read here?
- Yes. All 4 parts are free to read online, with the Korean translation, audio narration, vocabulary flashcards and comprehension questions included.
- Is Sense and Sensibility in the public domain?
- Yes. Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility is in the public domain, and the original text is freely available from Project Gutenberg (eBook #21839). SeoJae Story's simplified retelling and Korean translation are original text written for learners.