Lady Susan

Told in letters, this posthumously published Jane Austen novella follows the scheming of the eponymous Lady Susan Vernon, an unscrupulous widow who loves to toy with those around her, especially the men she easily charms. When Lady Susan goes to visit her brother Charles and his new wife Catherine (who she disdains), desires and manipulations criss-cross and misunderstandings abound. Susan's penchant for playing with everyone around her creates quite a tangle, ultimately ensnaring her daughter and a gaggle of others.

Lady Susan is alive with large personalities and gossipy letters, and it has a lot less morality and direct romance than Austen's other books. Here's a messy, woman-driven classic that's sure to delight.