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Sanditon

Lady Susan • The Watsons and the Complete Juvenilia

Illustrated by Marjolein Bastin
Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

Gems of literature in a luxurious and unique design by Marjolein Bastin.

The Marjolein Bastin Classics Series is a chance to rediscover classic literature in collectible, luxuriously illustrated volumes. For the first time ever, the internationally celebrated artwork of Marjolein Bastin graces the pages of not just one, but three of Jane Austen’s unfinished works—Sanditon, Lady Susan, and The Watsons—making it an absolute must-have for every Austen fan. Beyond bringing these stories to life, Bastin’s series adds elaborately designed ephemera, such as four-color maps, letters, family trees, and sheet music.

Three unfinished novels, three very different stories: While the young Emma in The Watsons has to return to her impoverished family and come to terms with completely new life circumstances, Lady Susan is already a seasoned woman. In this sharp-tongued epistolary novel, the widow seems to achieve every amorous goal with as much charm as guile. The outline for Sanditon presents numerous endearing and quirky characters who make the picturesque coastal town in Sussex an interesting vacation destination and the setting for all kinds of romantic entanglements. The stories are complemented by Jane Austen’s juvenilia, consisting of stage plays, stories and ideas that the author wrote down between the ages of 11 and 17. They bear witness to great creativity, imagination, wit and the desire to surprise and provoke her readers.

In this decorative edition, the unfinished novels and youthful works of the world-famous author appear together for the first time—in a new translation and lavishly illustrated by Marjolein Bastin. Whether an ideal gift for a Jane Austen devotee or a treat for yourself, the Marjolein Bastin Classics Series—as a set or individually purchased—is perfect for anyone who feels a connection to enduring literary gems.

About The Author

About The Illustrator

Marjolein Bastin’s passion for the natural world is of a universal quality that appeals to people the world over. You can find Marjolein’s artwork on greeting cards, calendars, dinnerware, bedding, gifts, and many other products. But for Marjolein, only one thing remains important: spending every day behind her desk painting the natural world around her.

She also writes and illustrates children’s books featuring the endearing Vera the Mouse character, which she created. Through her art and words, Marjolein offers people a simple reminder to pause and enjoy nature and allow it to be a source of serenity, energy, and healing. Finding inspiration in a bird lighting on a branch or a leaf drying in the autumn sun, Marjolein takes long walks each afternoon to seek new ideas for her artwork and her writings. Marjolein and her husband, Gaston, divide their time between country homes in Holland, Switzerland, and in Missouri, as well a tropical retreat in the Cayman Islands. Each setting provides a unique glimpse of what nature has to offer throughout the world. The couple has a son, Mischa, a daughter, Sanna, and two grandchildren.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (December 16, 2025)
  • Length: 360 pages
  • ISBN13: 9798881602116

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